Have you been wanting to visit Theth village, Albania? Well, you’re not alone, it’s insanely beautiful, with a gruesome, but intriguing history.
Due to the stunning mountains and waterfalls, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albania. Just a few years ago Theth village was still a sleepy small settlement in the Albanian Alps.
Now it has really expanded, to the point where it can be hard to find accommodation in the summer. Here are 4 reasons to consider staying somewhere besides Theth Albania on your trip.
Northern Albania Is More Than Just Theth Village
If you’ve read any popular blog, you’ve probably run across the advice to hike from Valbona to Theth (or vice versa) in the Albanian Alps.
This might seem a little harsh but, most of the time this is recommended because it’s the only place/area where the person writing the blog went.
Due to this, more people come and visit and then they also write about it. It kind of snowballs.
Before starting my own travel blog, I was naive to the fact that many travel bloggers recommend places simply because they didn’t want or have time to visit anywhere else.
When I was volunteering at a hostel in Shkoder, Albania, I met many travelers who acted like they could check northern Albania off their bucket list because they took the Koman ferry and did the famous Valbona to Theth hike.
No, I’m not saying you shouldn’t visit Theth and Valbona – they are absolutely gorgeous.
But I do want to show that there is a lot more to northern Albania than these places. This is why I’ve come up with some good alternatives to Theth village for you.
PSsst don't forget to cover yourself with travel insurance, my favorite is SafetyWing ✔️
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High Season In Theth Village
If you’re familiar with travel, you’ll know high and low season refers to how busy a certain destination or landmark gets.
Usually better weather means more tourists, so summer is often the highest point for places. Theth village is no different.
The whole of Albania comes alive in the summer, but there are some hot spots like the Albanian Riviera and Theth National Park.
In the last 5 years, Theth has exploded in tourism. Each year there are more and more people visiting.
If you’ve read a blog saying that Theth is peaceful, they probably visited a while ago because that’s just not the case anymore. They keep building more and more guest houses to fill the need.
When I was volunteering at the hostel, we had to keep telling people that there was no accommodation in Theth, and that literally every bed was taken every night.
Now if you are still set on visiting Theth, you can always book early or try to go in the shoulder seasons May/June or late September.
The mountains have extreme weather so the guest houses usually only operate around May – September. Some recommendations for staying in Theth.
- Solo budget travelers: Guest House Rrashkadoli or Shpella Guesthouse
- Budget rooms for couples or friends: Rupa Guest House or Bujtina Terthorja
- Perfect for a romantic getaway: Bujtina Miqesia
Higher Costs In Theth Village
Because a lot of the cheaper guest houses get booked quickly, you might find prices to be quite high if you’re on a budget.
On my first trip to Albania many years ago, I didn’t book anything which I laugh thinking about now.
All I did was show up at Theth village and called the number of some guy that was given to me. He didn’t answer so I showed someone his name and number and they pointed me in the right direction.
If you’re looking for accommodation in Theth village and can’t find vacancies or any options in your price range, it could be a good idea to consider alternative destinations.
Supporting Locals In Other Areas
Since Theth village has seen a huge influx of tourists, it has resulted in more tourism money going to locals.
This is great to see, but there are also a lot of other similar areas that could do with a tourism boost.
If you’re trying to be a more conscious traveler, like being mindful about supporting the local economy, visiting other villages would help.
PSsst exploring the Albanian Alps means you need to have some sturdy hiking boots, a light waterproof jacket, and a filter water bottle
3 Great Alternatives To Theth Albania
There are a lot of great alternatives to staying in the Theth village. Many have beautiful hotels and quaint guesthouses. Here are a few suggestions to look into.
Razma / Razëm
The small village of Razem is the closest option to Shkoder. It’s about an hour’s drive, 42km from the city center, following SH21.
It’s also known as the road to Theth – yes that’s the name translated from Albanian (Rruge per Thethe). This small village has some cute hotels with restaurants. Most people enjoy hiking and cycling there.
If you stay at Hotel Kulla e Arte, you also have access to table tennis, their garden, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a sauna, and a hot tub. After a long day of hiking, a hot tub would be divine.
Boga / Bogë
If you keep following the Rruge per Thethe, you’ll come to the small village of Boge. It’s about an hour’s drive (47km) from Shkoder city center.
The drive itself is gorgeous but the village also has amazing views from the guest houses. There’s a lovely budget guesthouse with bungalows Boga Alpine Resort and an amazing, luxury resort, Hotel Kulla e Bajraktarit.
Vermosh / Lëpushë
The village of Vermosh is located at the northernmost point of Albania, very close to the Montenegrin border. Just like Theth village, Vermosh is surrounded by mountains so there’s plenty of hiking to be done.
There are also some nearby waterfalls to explore. For a budget stay, check out Peraj Guesthouse. On the road before Vermosh, there’s a similar village called Lëpushë that would be nice to stay in.
Guesthouse Alpini is a good budget option for Lëpushë village. To reach Vermosh and Lëpushë, it’s about a 2-hour drive (96 km) from Shkoder city center.
If you’d prefer not to go so far, you can still follow SH20 and stay at Selca Cem in the village of Selcë which still is a beautiful area to stay in.
Final Thoughts
I hope these tips about Theth Albania help you plan your trip. It’s possible to visit Theth village, but I’d highly recommend trying to visit in May, June, or September.
Don’t forget to check out the alternative recommendations too, they are worth it.
Planning to stay in Shkoder? Check out the 6 best hostels in the city center.