The Valbona-Theth Pass is the #1 reason people visit. It’s a 17km trek that takes 6–9 hours, depending on your fitness. The view from the top of the pass is the defining image of the Albanian Alps
Valbona is a remote mountain village serving as the primary base for trekking in Northern Albania and is the starting (or ending) point for the legendary Valbona-to-Theth mountain pass.
During the communist era, Valbona was so isolated and strategically sensitive due to its proximity to the Yugoslavian border that it was effectively a "forbidden zone" for most Albanians, requiring special permits to enter; this isolation ironically helped preserve the traditional stone architecture and the unique "Gheg" dialect of the mountain highlanders