Travel Guide Theth

Theth/Thethi (pronounced with the English "th") has a permanent population of around 80. The hamlet belongs to the village of Nicaj-Shala (1,800 inhabitants) and to the municipality of Shkodra. It lies 76 km north of Shkodra (accessible by minibus). Stretching between 750 and 950 m above sea level along the river Theth that gives it its name, this mountain hamlet enjoys a magnificent setting and is part of the Albanian Alps National Park. It is completely surrounded by the Albanian Alps, also known as the "Cursed Mountains" (Bjeshkët e Nemuna). These culminate just above the valley, to the northeast, with Mount Jezerca ("the lake ridge"), reaching an altitude of 2,692 m. Created in the 17th century by Catholic Albanians wishing to preserve their customs, the hamlet remained isolated for four centuries, with no real access road. Only since 2022 has it been linked to Shkodra by SH 21, a fine, winding asphalt ribbon that took ten years to build. However, Theth didn't wait for this to happen before starting to develop, attracting numerous outdoor tourists every summer since the communist era with the creation of the small Theth National Park in 1966. There are now around twenty guest houses and even a campsite. Winter is a different story. Living conditions are harsh, with only a handful of inhabitants living in large rectangular stone houses covered with flat tiles, wood or sheet metal.