Lake Komani within the north of Albania is dwelling to one of the stunning ferry rides on this planet. On my highway journey by means of the South Balkans visiting the gorgeous nations of Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, the one factor that caught out to me probably the most was visiting the north of Albania and visiting its beautiful mountain vary. Particularly, this 2.5 hour ferry trip by means of the Albanian fjords that can undoubtedly captivate anybody.
I’ve been on many ferry rides in my life, and a few of them surprisingly stunning. Nevertheless, this unassuming ferry trip on an much more unassuming boat will blow your thoughts in some ways. This submit will clarify every part that you must learn about this ferry and hopefully by the tip after numerous images, you’ll ensure it goes in your “can’t miss listing”.
What’s the Komani Lake Ferry?
The Lake Komani ferry is a day by day ferry between the cities of Koman and Fierze within the north of Albania. It’s positioned within the Albanian Alps and is among the most stunning ferry rides you’ll ever witness. It’s a 2.5 hour journey and the ferry runs as soon as a day (Koman to Fierze, and again to Koman). It’s operated by the corporate referred to as Berisha.
The ferry itself is nothing to put in writing dwelling about. The boats are largely unassuming carrying each passengers and vehicles. It’s undoubtedly not any kind of luxurious expertise. This ferry route opened a long time in the past earlier than tourism was a factor. Whereas this ferry trip was by no means created for tourism, it has turn out to be one of the fashionable vacationer points of interest in Albania. I can simply image the primary vacationers on that trip a long time again pondering to themselves how is that this no more well-known?
What’s the Lake Komani Ferry Schedule?
The ferry runs on Lake Komani twice a day. As soon as within the morning from Koman to Fierza and once more within the afternoon from Fierza again to Koman. The schedules as of 2021 are the next:
- 9:00 – Koman to Fierza
- 13:00 – Fierza to Koman
Generally in the summertime months, there can be extra ferries with different instances obtainable.
Why take the Lake Komani Ferry?
You is perhaps asking why ought to I am going all this manner simply to take a ferry on a random boat? Effectively, if the images above haven’t already satisfied you in any other case, that is additionally the ferry that’s a part of the Valbona to Theth hike which is probably much more well-known.
Valbona and Theth Nationwide Parks are completely beautiful mountain ranges that rival that of the Italian Dolomites. The jagged peaks of those mountain ranges are among the many most dramatic and delightful that I’ve seen. They’re extra stunning than any mountain ranges I’ve come throughout within the US. A really well-known hike is to make the trek from Valbona Nationwide Park to Theth Nationwide Park. This hike walks by means of valleys surrounded by stunning peaks, surroundings, and trails. It’s a principally leisurely 6-7 hour hike and provides you a glimpse of the perfect that Albania has to supply. Additionally, you will keep the evening at cute guesthouses in Valbona and Theth.
Valbona to Theth – 3 days
To make this hike, most individuals take a minibus and ferry mixture. It’s because you can’t drive to Valbona for instance, make the hike to Theth after which take a taxi again to Valbona. It’s because there are no roads connecting these nationwide parks. The one strategy to get again to Valbona is making the hike again. Subsequently, many individuals choose to park their automotive in Shkoder and do the next:
- Spend the evening in Shkoder
- The next morning, take a minibus to Koman the place you’ll take the ferry to Fierza. From Fierza, take one other minibus to Valbona
- The next morning, hike from Valbona to Theth. Keep the evening in Theth
- The next day, take a minibus again to Shkoder or Tirana
All in all, it is a three to 4 day itinerary that has turn out to be extremely fashionable in recent times (and for good purpose).
What about taking the ferry only for the views?
What in case you are not up for a protracted three day journey by means of the alps? You’re most likely not the one individual! You don’t must do any climbing or go to any a part of the Albanian alps to do that ferry trip.
You are able to do the ferry as a day journey plain and easy. From Shkoder or Tirana, you possibly can basically do that journey in sooner or later by making a roundtrip itinerary on the ferry. It will look one thing like this:
- 6:30 – Pickup from Shkoder to drive to Koman
- 9:00 – Take the ferry from Koman to Fierza
- 11:30 – Arrive in Fierza
- There’s nothing to see in Fierza however could be a great time to go to one of many retailers close by for meals
- 13:00 – Take the ferry from Fierza to Koman
- 15:30 – Arrive in Koman
- 18:00 – Arrive in Shkoder
For this journey, you’ll must pay for spherical journey pickups by minivan and pay for a spherical journey ferry. In whole, this can be roughly €20 or 2,500 LEK.
Alternatively, in case you have a automotive, you could possibly drive right here from Tirana or Shkoder. When you get to Koman, depart your automotive there and take the spherical journey ferry. Alternatively, you could possibly go onto the ferry along with your automotive a technique after which drive again from Fierza when you’re accomplished.
How a lot are the Komani Lake ferry tickets?
So when you’ve determined in your itinerary, it’s time to e-book the tickets. That is the perfect half. For such a shocking ferry trip, the costs are extremely inexpensive. Once more, it is a routine ferry that simply morphed into this large vacationer attraction. You’ll no pay vacationer costs right here.
The costs of the ferry:
- Passenger – €6 or 800 Leke
- Bicycle – €10 or 1400 Leke
- Motorcycle – €20 or 2800 Leke
- Automotive – €6 or 800 Leke per m2
Shopping for Your tickets for the ferry
You should buy your tickets on the official Lake Koman ferry web site. These days, to purchase tickets you have to to fill out their on-line type the place you possibly can pay with a bank card (small price after all). If you’re bringing a automotive, you have to to calculate your floor space of the automotive which might be someplace between 7-9 sq. meters. The value can be €6 a sq. meter. So a small Skoda like mine was round 7 sq. meters which meant it was €42 for the automotive.
Throughout excessive season months, I’d extremely suggest reserving the tickets upfront particularly in case you have a automotive. If the ferry sells out, you might be out of luck and must wait till the subsequent day!
The best way to get to the ferry
So now you already know every part in regards to the Lake Komani ferry. Nevertheless, you is perhaps questioning how do you really get there from a extra well-known metropolis like Shkoder or Tirana?
Easy, you simply want to arrange transportation to Koman from Shkoder or Tirana. There are a number of methods to do that together with driving your individual automotive, asking your guesthouse/resort to rearrange a taxi for you, or arranging the minivan taxis with the Koman ferry firm themselves. Since I drove, I didn’t have to arrange transport however met many different those that did.
While you purchase your tickets, you possibly can ask for transportation and they’ll e-book this in your behalf. These are their costs
The costs for the pickup companies:
- Minibus from Shkoder to Koman – 700 Lek
- Minibus from Fierze to Valbona – 700 Lek
- Minibus from Tirana to Koman – 1400 Lek
The Ferry trip itself
Now that you just’re in your manner, what are you able to really anticipate whereas on this epic journey? For starters, don’t anticipate a lot when it comes to companies provided on the boat. There’s a small rest room on the primary deck the place all of the vehicles are and that’s about it. There aren’t any refreshments offered on board.
The upstairs deck is nice for viewing the Fjord like mountains which is the place I spent most of my time. Nevertheless, since I traveled throughout COVID, this ferry was practically empty and I used to be capable of get some completely epic pictures in entrance of the ferry boat looking on the mountains. Usually, vehicles would pack this boat to the max so there’s no manner I may get this kind of shot.
Breathtaking views in every single place
Having simply visited Valbona, I used to be already in awe of the wonder within the Albanian Alps. Nevertheless, this ferry trip was much more spectacular than that! There are specific components of the journey which are extra stunning than others for my part. From Koman to Fierza, this begins about 1 hour into the journey when grassy hills make up for jagged rock mountain peaks. From Fierza to Koman, this can begin round 40 minutes into the journey.
As quickly because the mountains got here into view, I used to be simply in shock at what I used to be seeing. This river snakes by means of these monumental mountains and you’re feeling such as you’re in a film of types! The water can be a stupendous mild inexperienced colour that lit up with the solar shone down on it.
I think it is a little bit of how the Norwegian Fjords really feel however relaxation assured you could put on shorts on this journey.
In the long run, I used to be very joyful I took this journey and hopefully this can make it easier to plan your journey as nicely!
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