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Komani Lake & Shala River Day Trip

Already staying in the north? See the shorter Shkodra departure →

5.063 Google reviewsDay trip from Tirana, Durrës or Shkodra

Komani is a reservoir that drowned a river canyon, and the ferry through it is the best two and a half hours of boat travel in the country. The walls rise straight out of the water, there is no road and no shoreline, and every so often a house appears halfway up a cliff with a rope for a driveway.

Itinerary

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

  1. 04:30

    Pickup and the drive north

    Early start, there is no way around it. Coffee stop near Lezha once everyone has had a chance to sleep.

  2. 08:30

    Board the Komani ferry

    Through the tunnel above the dam and onto the boat. Find a seat on the top deck early; the light is best on the way up.

  3. 11:00

    Change to the Shala boats

    At the top of the lake we transfer to small open boats and turn into the Shala valley.

  4. 11:45

    Shala River: swim and lunch

    Pebble beach, loungers, and water clear enough to count stones on the bottom. Lunch at the riverside restaurant, trout on request.

  5. 14:30

    Back down the lake

    Return boat and ferry, with the afternoon light on the far wall of the gorge.

  6. 18:00

    The drive home

    Back in Shkodra around 19:00, Tirana and the coast between 20:30 and 21:30 depending on your hotel.

Experience & Highlights

  • Two and a half hours through the Komani gorge by ferry
  • Speedboat up the Shala River into the Alps
  • Swim and a pebble beach at Nderlysaj
  • Lunch by the river, trout if you want it
  • Hotel pickup in Tirana, Durrës, Golem or Shkodra

Full Description

At the top of the lake we change into small boats and turn up the Shala, which runs out of the Theth valley. The water here is a pale green you can see the bottom through at three metres, and cold enough that getting in is a decision. There is a pebble beach, sun loungers, and a couple of hours to swim, eat and do nothing.

This is a long day: pickup before dawn, home after dark. It is also the single most requested trip in Albania, and doing it as a day return from Tirana or the coast saves you two hotel nights in Shkodra.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tirana, Durrës, Golem or Shkodra
  • Air-conditioned transport both ways
  • Komani ferry ticket
  • Shala River boat transfer
  • English-speaking guide and bottled water

Not included

  • Lunch at the Shala River (about €10 to €15)
  • Sun loungers on the beach (€3 to €5)
  • Alcoholic drinks

Good to know

  • This is a 14 to 16 hour day depending on your pickup point. If that sounds like too much, the Shkodra departure is four hours shorter.
  • The Shala water is cold year-round, usually 12 to 16 degrees even in August. Most people swim anyway.
  • The ferry runs to a fixed schedule and does not wait. We build in buffer, but a road closure on the north highway can shorten the Shala stop.
  • Bring a swimsuit, a towel, sunscreen and a layer for the boat. The gorge is windy even on hot days.

Good questions, honest answers

How long is the Komani Lake and Shala River day trip?

Fourteen to sixteen hours door to door from Tirana or the Durrës coast, with a pickup around 04:30 and a return between 20:30 and 21:30. From Shkodra the same trip runs about ten hours. The driving is the reason; the boats themselves take roughly five hours in total.

How cold is the Shala River?

Between about 12 and 16 degrees even at the end of August, because it comes off the Theth massif. It is a sharp entry and then pleasant. Most of the group ends up in the water.

Is Komani Lake worth it as a day trip?

If your alternative is skipping it, yes. Doing it as a return from Tirana or the coast is a long day but it saves two nights in Shkodra and you see the gorge in both directions, in morning and afternoon light. If you have the time, staying overnight in the north is more relaxed.

Plan the rest of your trip

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