How To Visit Shala River, North Albania (But Should You?)

So you are wondering if you should take a trip to Shala River while visiting North Albania? Or you are looking to find out how to actually see Lumi i Shala, and if you should stay for the night or opt for the day tour? Are you wondering if Shala River is worth visiting? Or controversially – should it even be visited?

Good news! You landed on the right page.

In this short post, I will tell you everything you need to know about visiting the beautiful Shala River in northern Albania.

Disclaimer: This is not your typical guide to the Sahala River. I am a little torn while writing this post, and I will also rant a bit. I will, of course, provide you with all the information you need in order to visit Shal River, but I will also debate on whether Shala River should be visited at all.

I wanted to see the Komani Lake so much!

I heard legends about how beautiful it is and that it is called the Thailand of Europe. I have a soft spot for beautiful lakes, so I started researching how to spend my time at Lake Komani.

This is when I came across the possibility of taking a day trip to the Shala River. This sounded like a great option as I could travel along Lake Komani in one day, but also swim in the river and just spend the day in nature. That sounded like my kind of fun.

So after some research, I booked my trip and set off. And although I had a wonderful time and am totally glad I went, I returned with mixed feelings. I’ll tell you why later in this post.

For now, let me provide you with some logistics and general information on how to visit the Shala River.

What is Lumi i Shala (Shala River)

Shala is a river and protected area in Northern Albania. It is a side branch of the Komani Lake and flows through the Albanian Alps with the actual source being in the famous village of Theth. Shala River is famous for its crystal clear water, and although it is pretty cold, swimming in Shala is a true delight!

Both Komani Lake and Shala River are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful and magical places in Albania!

How to visit Shala River

On a day tour from Shkoder

The most popular way of getting to Shala River is by taking a day tour from Shkoder.

The only way to reach the Shala River is by boat from the Koman ferry port so if you book a tour they will take care of your transportation to Koman and then board you on a little boat to Shala. The boats leave between 9 and 10 a.m. from May to October. These are the smaller boats, the big boats go as far as Fierza.

If you book a tour through your hotel or travel agency you will be picked up by bus from Shkoder, dropped off at Koman, and shown into your boat. Keep an eye on your ”captian” because the ferry station gets very hectic. Also, you will want to remember the bus and driver for your return journey.

If you take a tour from Shkoder, departure is at 6:30 a.m.

I recommend booking your bus seat the night before as they get full pretty quickly. If you book your trip from a hostel/hotel it will cost between 25 and 30€. When you book a Shala River bus you can provide them with your hotel/hostel name and they will pick you up from there. 

If you want to book your tour directly (possibly avoiding hotel commission costs) you can book it by messaging Lumi I Shares Tour on Instagram. 

On a day tour from Tirana

To get to Shala River from Tirana you will have to either book a bus or drive to Koman ferry port first. Buses from Tirana leave from Gazheli Petrol Station at around 5 in the morning. I strongly recommend you book your bus in advance. 

It takes between 4 and 5 hours to get to Koman ferry post. You will then board the Shala River boat (see above).

If you want to visit the Shala River from Tirana, an organized tour like this one would also be a great option. 

Getting to Shala River independently (Car + Ferry)

If you want to travel to Shala independently, you have to head to Koman first before getting on a boat to Shala.

If you decide to rent a car you can drive to Koman before hopping on a boat. I don’t really recommend it as at the moment the road is pretty atrocious.  I wouldn’t even call it a road, to be frank. But if you have an SUV, then go for it.

I have however seen many regular cars going this way so it’s of course, it is an option but be prepared for a bumpy one. The journey from Shkoder to Koman is around 3 hours. Mostly due to the condition of the road. 

Please be aware that if you want to visit Shala River independently you will have to book a boat to Shala online. Here is the Komani Lake Ferry website. 

The best way of getting to Koman however is by local transportation and given the bus ticket is 10€, I wholeheartedly don’t recommend driving. 

You can book a minivan but a ticket at any hotel or hostel you will be staying in Shkoder.

Once you arrive at the Koman ferry port you can proceed to the pier. You will have to walk through a tunnel first before arriving at the pier. 

Finally, there is always hitchhiking. It is safe to hitchhike in Albania and I personally met people who did so. I also know someone who hitchhiked to Koman. So if you prefer that then go for it!

Staying overnight at Shala River

Accommodation at Shala River is not cheap, but there are very obvious advantages to spending a night there. When all the day-trippers are gone, the place returns to its glorious, tranquil self. And waking up by this beautiful river, surrounded by the lush mountains, could be quite a spectacular experience!

The best-rated accommodations at Shala River include Riverside Komani Lake, Bee Eco Guesthouse, Zgiboza Restaurant & Rooms, and Eagles Land.

What to do at Shala River?

Visiting Shala River is a chilled day. You can easily spend a day lounging by the river and not doing much at all. But if you are more of an active traveler you will find few things to do as well.

Apart from spending a day by the river and swimming in crystalline waters (cold!), you can also rent a kayak. This is a great way to experience the river and enjoy the surroundings.

There are few restaurants, bars and guest houses where you can eat, have a drink or even spend the night. There is even a small zipline.

But mostly the best thing to do in Shala River is just chilling and enjoying nature. You can take a walk along the bank of the river further away from the crowds or even hike around 45 minutes up to the viewpoint.

Is Shala River Worth Visiting?

The Reasons why Shala River is Worth Visiting

Shala River is incredibly beautiful and all the boats will drop you at a stunning river beach where the water is of insanely turquoise color and the surroundings magnificent.

In recent years Shala River has become more popular and, yes you guessed it, it’s more touristy than ever.

The sight is stunning nevertheless so If you are looking to see some of the most beautiful parts of Albania, touch on Komani Lake, and spend a day by the most beautiful river in the country, then Shala River is definitely worth visiting.

But…

The Reason Why You Might Not Want to Visit Shala River

As I mentioned above, the Shala River has become quite popular lately, and that brought some issues. While we were on Komani Lake, I saw a lot of trash floating on the surface of the water, which broke my heart. Unfortunately, Albania has a trash problem and Lake Komani is no different.

I have read opinions that we should not visit the Shala River at all to boycott the growing amount of trash, but I am not sure that’s the solution. I have a suspicion that the local businesses are a big contributor to this problem, and of course the “uneducated” tourists.

However, I believe that the problem needs to be highlighted and mentioned as often as possible in hopes that action will be taken to prevent what could become a disaster.

I arrived quite early and was mesmerized by the place at first. It was peaceful, tranquil, truly resembling paradise.

Two hours later, paradise turned into a tourist hotspot with music blasting into the surrounding nature.

Why?!??

I totally don’t get it. Surely a visit to a place like this should be about spending a day in the mountains, surrounded by peaceful nature. But I think it would not happen if some visitors didn’t enjoy it.

I am hopeful, though. Albania’s travel industry is still quite immature and, to say the least, slightly overwhelmed by its recent popularity. And while prices are rising, it’s all still a bit everyone for themselves.

At the end of the day, it’s all about making money. I have seen it on the coast, especially around Ksamil, where the public beach areas are slowly disappearing, replaced by overpriced sun loungers and umbrellas, where you are not allowed to put your own towel on the floor. But that’s a different story altogether.

And yes, you can call me out on this because I am writing about the Shala River and promoting this Albanian attraction on this page.

I am often torn when I do this because a part of me wants to stop promoting places that are getting ruined by tourism, and the other part wants to share my experience with you.

So If you asked me if you should visit Shala River I would say, it depends. If you can get there as early as possible to experience it before the rest of the tourists arrive, and you don’t mind a party-like atmosphere later in the day, go for it. I dont regret going. I still had an awesome time, swimming in the river, kayaking, chilling, and taking walks.

But if you asked me if I would go a second time? I wouldn’t. I would much prefer to stay at the secluded lakeside guest house instead. 

Tips for visiting Shala River, Albania

Definitely water shoes! I bought mine in Himare but I wish I had them from day one. Many, if not all beaches in Albania are pebbly! This includes the Shala River.

Sunscreen and mosquito spray will come in handy, although the first one is a must.

If you are coming from outside of Europe, this universal adapter will come in very handy too!

Finally, if you are travelling with hand luggage only, I swear by those 100ml silicone bottles for all your liquids. Or even better! Pack up solid toiletries like solid shampoo, conditioner and a bar of soap,

So, my friends, I hope you found this Shala River travel guide useful. I always say that it’s a good idea to visit places yourself and make up your own mind. Don’t believe what you’re told, go see!

Even though I went on a bit of a rant in this post, I don’t want to discourage you from going there. I just thought it was important to highlight the problems and not just ignore them.

Northern Albania is spectacular, and in fact, the whole country blew me away. Go and visit Albania, you’ll love it! Guaranteed!

Where to next?

For more of my Northern Albania guides check out this complete travel guide to Shkoder, and this guide to visiting Theth and hiking to Valbona.

If you are following my Albania itinerary You are probably heading towards Gjirocaster – one of the most magical towns in Albania and then to the wonderful town of Berat! If you only have time to visit one of the UNESCO towns, you might find this Gjirocaster and Berat comparison article useful!

In this post, you will find your complete guide to the best things to do in Tirana.

Happy travels and enjoy Albania!

Pati