16 March 2025.
Looking for a short and easy walk in the Valbona Valley? The Valbona Waterfall is an ideal choice.
Tucked away in the lush belt of forest that wraps around the base of the Valbona Valley, the walk to Valbona Waterfall is a short and easy option that offers up lovely views towards the magnificent peaks of the Albanian Alps.
With many spectacular hikes in the area, this one is perhaps not among the most beautiful, but for those keen to avoid tackling the steep and demanding walls of the Valbona Valley, it’s a solid option.
The trail is also particularly popular for families with young kids who get a kick out of scrambling and hopping their way through the short boulder field and splashing about in the small pool and waterfall that awaits at the end.
Officially, the trail to Valbona Waterfall, also referred to as Rrogami Waterfall or Ujëvara e Rrogamit, begins from the tiny hamlet of Rragam located at the southern end of the valley which can be reached either on foot from Fusha e Gjesë or by 4WD taxi.
This short guide covers everything you need to know for visiting Valbona Waterfall.
Distance | 2 km // 10 km (from Rragam // Fusha e Gjesë)
Duration | 1 hour // 3 hours
Elevation Gain | 190 m // 381 m
Difficulty | Easy
Trailhead | Rragam // Fusha e Gjesë
Most travellers will start their visit to the Valbona in the lovely lakeside town of Shkodra, however it’s also possible to arrive directly from Tirana.
From the city, it’s a 5 to 7 hour drive depending on which route you take, either through Kukës or via Pukë and Fierzë. Both have windy sections through the mountains and intersect at Bajram Curri for the final stretch to Valbona.
There are also direct daily buses from Tirana to Bajram Curri from where you can either take a taxi or try to flag down one of the furgons travelling back from the Fierze ferry terminal. See the bus timetable here.
Most popular though is to take the road and ferry route from Shkodra to Valbona via the beautiful Komani Lake.
For this option, you’ll need to drive or take a minibus from Shkodra to Koman, transfer onto the ferry from Koman to Fierze and then drive or take the bus for the final section to Valbona.
For those travelling by car, check the timetable and reserve tickets on the car ferry here. Keep in mind though that the boarding process in Koman is extremely chaotic during peak periods and can be somewhat stressful for those behind the wheel.
For the bus, most guesthouses in Shkodra can arrange a combination minibus/ferry ticket for you with pick up and drop off directly at your guesthouse.
Alternatively, minivans depart Shkodra daily at 6:45 a.m from in front of Hotel Rozafa and will shepherd you onto the correct ferry on arrival at Koman. The combination ticket can be purchased on board and costs €26.
The entire journey takes 7 to 8 hours and, particularly in summer, be sure to bring plenty of water and expect to wait – sometimes up to an hour – in the heat at the changeover points.
For the return journey, minibuses depart Valbona at 10 a.m. and arrive back in Shkodra between 5 and 6 p.m
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Valbona offers a range of accommodation, from homely and social hostels to modern guesthouses, though it does sprawl on for nearly 10 km so, along with your budget, it’s worth keeping in mind the proximity to the hikes you intend to do. That is, unless you’re willing to tack on several additional kilometres to each trail or arrange a taxi to and from the trailheads each day.
Overall, my preference for a multi-day visit is to stay around 3 to 4 km from Fusha e Gjesë which adds about an hour to the Theth to Valbona hike, but puts you close to the trails for Rosni Peak and Prosllopit Pass and within walking distance of a few restaurants and key swimming areas.
If you’re only planning to visit to Valbona Waterfall and don’t have your own vehicle, you may prefer to be closer to Fusha e Gjesë instead. These top-rated options are listed from south to north within the valley.
Hotel Margjeka | One of the closest options to Fusha e Gjesë where guests love the views, friendly staff and excellent location. It’s a popular choice for those sticking to the Theth-Valbona route and books up in well in advance over summer. Check rates and availability here.
Guesthouse Kol Gjoni | One of the longest running operations in Valbona, I stayed at this charming guesthouse at the southern end of the valley on my very first visit back in 2018 and it appears to still be going strong. The property has expanded considerably and boasts excellent food alongside clean and comfortable rooms with a hostel vibe. All meals included, reservations are essential. Contact via Facebook.
Bujtina Izet Selimaj | This newly built family-run guesthouse and popular restaurant is a decent budget choice, surrounded by a lovely garden. The spartan wooden rooms are simple but have large, bright windows that allow guests to enjoy the beautiful mountain views from bed. Check rates and availability here.
Bujtina Valbonë | After days of hiking and a massive storm on the Peaks of the Balkans trek, we treated ourselves to a beautiful stay at this chalet which offers modern and cosy private rooms that feel a little more luxurious than your average guesthouse, with mountain views and breakfast included. The only small downside is that it sits right next to the enormous resort which is currently under construction. Check rates and availability here.
Villas Jezerca | A top-rated option offering a range of cosy wooden cabins that face directly onto the mountains with plenty of outdoor space to kick back and enjoy the views. While I didn’t stay here, I did enjoy an excellent traditional dinner at their restaurant. Check rates and availability here.
The Valbona Waterfall trail officially begins alongside Cafe Emanueli in Rragam (not to be confused with Guesthouse Emanueli) which sits further up the hill.
Those arriving from Fusha e Gjesë should follow the yellow hiking signs for Rragam and head left at the end of the paved road to join the pebble track that cuts across the riverbed beneath the towering peaks that encircle the Valbona Valley.
Climbing gently, you’ll approach the outskirts of the settlement in 3 km where there is a well signposted intersection that splits between the upper and lower areas of Rragam.
Take the left fork past a couple of cafes and guesthouses and you’ll emerge at the liveliest of the bunch – Cafe Emanueli.
Now, it’s worth noting that some cafes and guesthouses here have started taking liberties with their signage to redirect hikers through their properties in order to encourage them to stop for a drink.
While they’re always friendly and courteous rather than pushy, it does mean a slightly annoying and unnecessary detour up the hill to reach the upper road and then having to swing back around to reach Emanueli from the other direction.
Basically, if you just stick straight ahead on the road and ignore the signs here, you should be fine.
At Cafe Emanueli, you should see a large wood sign on the left for ‘Ujvara‘ pointing into the trees which is where you want to go.
If you’re arriving by taxi, there’s usually at least one furgon waiting at Fusha e Gjesë that can bring you directly to this point or your guesthouse should be able to arrange one for you.
I’ve seen prices range from €10 to €30 depending on the group size and starting point so be sure to check before climbing in.
Entering the forest, the wide trail remains flat for the first 400 m before climbing gently to the Rragami River or Lumi Rragami i Shales where a small wooden bridge carries you across the water.
From here, you’ll catch glimpses of the wonderful views across the valley before beginning the final 100 metre burst of uphill through a spray of rocky terrain and gun-metal grey boulders.
The route is clearly indicated by trail markers and cuts back and forth amongst the rocks, bringing you over the top of the rise to the base of the falls.
Fed by the delightfully icy Valbona Springs which originate higher up the valley, the Valbona Waterfall tumbles over three distinct levels across a curved cliff face of slate-grey sedimented rock.
It’s worth noting however that they’re somewhat inconsistent, being fullest in early spring when snowmelt is tricking down from the mountains or after heavy rainfall, while for much of the year they’re reduced to a somewhat feeble spray which many visitors will likely find underwhelming.
Still, you’ll be rewarded with impressive views towards the austere peaks of Maja Grykat e Hapëta, Maja Çet-Harushës and Maja Peçmarës standing proudly along the eastern flank of the Valbona Valley.
The crystalline natural pool which forms around the base of the falls is also a delightful place to cool your feet on a hot summer day before heading back.
As mentioned, this is a popular choice for families with young kids, but is also a suitable option for those seeking an easy, low altitude trail or if poor weather is preventing you from hiking into the upper reaches of the valley.
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