I had almost written off visiting Lake Komani — simply because it was an artificial lake, and I didn’t want to follow the usual route that people go when doing the Valbone-Theth hike.

Instead, I decided to visit the Lake Komani on a day trip and also explore the Shala river.

This was a perfect day trip with this tour as you get to soak in the river banks and go on a 45-minute hike up the mountain at the Shala River to reach a beautiful viewpoint.

There are so many ways to enjoy Lake Komani and I’ll share more about why people should also explore all options before rushing for the iconic Valbone to Theth hike.

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What makes Lake Komani so special?

mirror lake views of lake komani on the ferry

As ethereal and stunning the lake, the entire body of water is artificial. It was formed by two dams, Fierze and in Koman. In between this, you get a stunning winding path of turquoise waters flanked by the greenest slopes I have ever seen.

The lake is often compared to the fjords of Norway and rightly so!

While it was jaw-droppingly beautiful, there was still huge amounts of trash on the lake. I was quite surprised and shell-shocked by Albania’s rampant waste disposal problem and how careless they seemed.

Also, this ferry route was not supposed to be touristy but ever since the pandemic it has blown up in popularity making it quite crowded during peak season.

How to Book The Lake Komani Ferry

another stunning view of the komani lake ferry to fierza

To get to the ferry point, you’ll need to be at Shkoder. From Tirana, it is about 1 hour 40 minutes.

There are two ferry companies: Berisha and Alpin ferry — the mini-bus operated by Berisha leaves from Shkoder 6.30am in the morning. This can be arranged at any of your hotel easily.

You can then book your ferry tickets at €6-€10 per person on the Lake Komani website, depending on the ferry and season.

Timetable: Ferries typically operate daily from May to October. Departures from Komani Dam are usually around 9:00 AM, with a return trip from Fierza around 1:00 PM. The ferry journey takes around 2.5 hours.

Also Read: Of Strolls & Cycling: What To Do In Shkoder, Albania

What To Do in Fierza?

From Fierza, you can choose to stop at a coffee shop there and wait for your return journey at 1.00pm. Make sure you buy your return ticket journey.

Alternatively, you could easily get on another minibus to Valbona. It is only 30 minutes from Fierza to Valbona. You can then begin your trek the next day to Theth.

What If You Just Want A Day Trip/Tour?

If you don’t want to mess with logistics and want a tour with some breaks, a lot of people were doing the Shala river tour.

You get to choose your starting point: from Tirana or Shkoder. It can be pretty boring if you’re just doing the day trip option and honestly, a bit tiring, hence why this tour is perfect for those who don’t want long journeys.

With this tour, you get to go on a little dip in the cool waters and even opt for a 45-minute hike up the mountain at the Shala River.

This is a nice thing to shake up those legs and body after sitting for hours on the ferry.

The Three Itineraries

Here are the best itineraries you could plan your Lake Komani ferry trip:

(Ferry + Trek from Valbone to Theth):
Shkoder-Koman-Fierze-Valbone
(Day Trip on a Ferry):
Shkoder-Koman-Fierze-Shkoder
(Ferry + Shala River Day Trip — The Least Tiring Option!):
Shkoder-Shala River-Shkoder

Staying in Koman Village

If you have time and you’re on a long journey from Albania, I would recommend getting to Koman village earlier and taking it slow there.

There are nice bed and breakfast where the owner treats you to homemade food and cold pomegranate juice including fresh figs from the garden plus amazing dinner at the balcony.

You could spend a day or two here and easily enjoy the river, take the ferry and plan your route in a slow pace instead of rushing everywhere.

The best B&B’s which are worth staying with local Albanian hosts are these spots:

Also read my other posts on Albania:

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