Clarity and peace of mind at Thethi and Arapi Peak

The journey begins early Saturday morning with a 3.5-hour bus journey from Prishtina to Albania’s historic northern city of Shkodra. After coffee and some of the city’s famed burek, we will switch to an off-road vehicle for the breathtaking three-hour journey to Theth, perched high in Valbona National Park.

After settling into the guesthouse, we will take a leisurely hike to discover the beautiful natural and man-made wonders around Theth: the village church, a nearby waterfall, and the canyon’s panoramic views. This hike will allow plenty of time to take pictures and interact with the village community before we sit down to a traditional dinner prepared by a local family.

The second day will center on reaching the summit of the imposing Mt. Arapi, which served as the backdrop for our exploration on day one. Though it is a “mere” 2217 meters in height, its impressive 800-meter south wall plunges directly to the center of the valley, making it one of the park’s major landmarks and a hot destination for serious hikers. We will begin the hike by exploring some of the caves at the foot of the mountain, including Albania’s longest horizontal cave – 2585 meters long. The entire journey should last around 8-10 hours with some unbeatable summit views as your reward. Following the day’s hike, we will return to Shkodra and then on to Prishtina.