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Shala River & Komani Lake Day Trip
4.8
56 Ratings
Koman
Often described as ‘Albania’s Thailand’, the Shala River is surely among Albania’s most stunning locales. Accessible only via boat and framed by rugged mountain peaks, the river serves as an ideal retreat for individuals seeking a respite from cellular connectivity. The river originates from the Albanian Alps.
Often described as ‘Albania’s Thailand’, the Shala River is surely among Albania’s most stunning locales. Accessible only via boat and framed by rugged mountain peaks, the river serves as an ideal retreat for individuals seeking a respite from cellular connectivity. The river originates from the Albanian Alps.
Duration:
15 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Komani Lake - Our tour begins from Tirana at 06:00. After breakfast en route, the first highlight is Komani Lake. This lake was created when the rugged Drini Valley was dammed in the early 1970s, enabling Albania to rapidly develop its industrial base and become an energy exporter. We embark on a boat trip that navigates between mountains towering…
- Komani Lake - Our tour begins from Tirana at 06:00. After breakfast en route, the first highlight is Komani Lake. This lake was created when the rugged Drini Valley was dammed in the early 1970s, enabling Albania to rapidly develop its industrial base and become an energy exporter. We embark on a boat trip that navigates between mountains towering 1000-1500 meters high and through a series of deep, stunning, interconnected lakes, with minimal signs of human activity along the shores. The journey to Shala River takes 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat, and the return trip is the same duration.
- Shala River - Shala River is a tourist destination often described by visitors as the most beautiful gem of Komani Lake, likened to the Thailand of Albania. The river is known for its hazy, crystal-clear waters. The towering, tree-covered rocks seem to reach for the sky, protecting this natural beauty that Mother Nature has so generously provided for our eyes and hearts. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuits, as some of us will take a dip in this paradise, often called the Albanian Thailand. We return to the boat at Komani Dam around 15:30. From there, we drive back to Tirana after a long but unforgettable experience.
- Tirana - After the incredible experience at Shala River and Komani Lake, we travel the same route back to Tirana/Shkodra.
What's Included
- Transportation Tirana - Komani lake - Tirana
- English speaking tour guide
- Pick up and drop off from the hotel located in Tirana
- Boat ticket
- Transportation Tirana - Komani lake - Tirana
- English speaking tour guide
- Pick up and drop off from the hotel located in Tirana
- Boat ticket
What's Not Included
- Foods and drinks
- Tips for the tour guide & driver
- Foods and drinks
- Tips for the tour guide & driver
Location
Komani Lake
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(56 Ratings)
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Strawberrisc
Oct 28, 2024
Off Season Visit - Absolutely loved visiting in October. I was staying at a random place but Rei used location services on WhatsApp to pick me up. Lovely bunch of people on the trip. Was advised to pack for cold on the boat which I did. Had a great, 30 minute guided hike then time to explore. There was a mix up with the boat going back due to the clock change so everyone was refunded 20 Euro but it really was not necessary. I'll remember this trip for a long time. Magical.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sam
Oct 24, 2024
Beautiful trip through nature - It was a very nice trip on the Komani lake and the Shala river. It was just very cold on the way over the lake, long pants and a sweater / cardigan is definitely recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jacinta_b
Oct 21, 2024
Shala river - Everyone was very friendly on the trip and breathtaking views of the lakes. A bit of confusion over the pick up bit was eventually sorted. Would recommend
Review provided by Viator
195mariskav
Oct 18, 2024
Fantastich - It was a long day but definitely worth it. It was fantastic. Our Guide,Edi was also very nice. We had a lot of fun with him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F81pjjuanp
Sep 24, 2024
Great guide and service, beautiful views despite the weather - From the moment of being picked up from our hotel, Klajdi was helpful and friendly.
Unfortunately, the weather was terrible for our visit, but together with Kladji and the other members of our tour, we still had a great day. He not only helped everyone onto and off of the boats, but also got absolutely soaking wet pushing boats out that weren't even part of the tour. A great host. Not to mention our driver who was handling the Albanian roads like a pro, which he undoubtedly was. We would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tirana, regardless of the weather, just bring waterproofs!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onam_e
Sep 20, 2024
Basic, but wonderful. - Fantastic journey through a beautiful region. Sights are stunning, and the tour is refreshingly no-nonsense. To be sure, the vessel is no yacht; boats are noisy and bare-boned.
I was dismayed to see how much trash floated on the surface of this incredibly beautiful lake; I like environmental consciousness.
Tour guides are friendly and helpful, but this is not a tour where they do much talking or instructing. I definitely recommend this tour to any traveler who appreciates the basic, down to earth experience, without frills or embellishments.
Review provided by Viator
Milan
Sep 14, 2024
Long excursion with beautiful views. - It was a great excursion. We were picked up from Tirana. This went very smoothly due to the close whatsapp contact with the Guide beforehand. You spend a lot of time on the bus and on the boat. But everywhere the views are beautiful. The entire excursion took us over 15 hours. So excursion is definitely recommended for anyone going to Tirana!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Louisa_s
Sep 13, 2024
Absolute highlight of our Albania trip!! - The trip was incredible! The landscape around the river and lake was stunning. We took a 3-hour bus ride with a few breaks for coffee and restrooms. Then, we had an hour-long boat ride to the lake. Be sure to pack good water shoes, as you’ll need to walk through some shallow water over rocky ground. We eventually reached Komani Lake, where you can relax, swim, or go zip-lining.
Also, our guide, Deo, was amazing!! Super friendly and funny, and he always went out of his way to make sure that everyone was alright and was very responsible with the group.
100000% can recommend!!! Thank you for the amazing experience!
Review provided by Viator
Wendyljoy_k
Oct 24, 2024
Beautiful view but lacks depth and tour guide is flat - It was a nice tour. Beautiful scenery and perfect weather despite the chill of winter but sometimes, I feel like group tour can be too crowded. Also, the boat drivers were smoking like a chimney. Seriously. Lay off the second-hand smoke please. This is a kind of tour where you feel like you just hired a driver to take you to Shala Lake without thorough explanation and detailed instructions what time we’re getting back to the boat or off it. It would be nice to get a heads up. I’m rating it four star regardless as I love nature overall.
Review provided by Viator
Lucy_s
Sep 20, 2024
We received a message... - We received a message during the night that our meeting point was changed from a pickup from our hotel to a roundabout quite a walk away. Also the message informed us that we would need to wade through a knee-deep river for 15 minutes which we were not prepared for and were physically unable to do. Therefore our trip was cancelled at the last minute. This was very disappointing as we had stayed an extra night in Tirana especially to go on this trip.
Review provided by Viator
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