How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake? Bus, Taxi, 4 Wheel Drive

If you are wondering how to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake, I will describe your options in this blog post. I will detail how to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by bus, by taxi or by rental car.

How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake? You can get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by bus, by taxi or by car. The bus from Shkoder to Komani Lake departs at 6:30 AM and a bus ticket costs 7 EUR. A private taxi from Shkoder to Komani Lake costs 70 EUR. Driving yourself is possible, however, the road is a sandpath with potholes and rocks.

In this blog post, I will detail how to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by shared minibus or by private 4 wheel drive taxi. I will explain where the bus departs, how to book it and what you will pay. I will also compare it with hiring a private 4 wheel drive taxi from Shkoder to Komani Lake. 

Furthermore, I will discuss driving to Komani Lake and the road conditions. And I will also discuss alternative routes, like Tirana to Komani Lake, Valbona to Komani Lake, Valbona to Shkoder and Theth to Komani Lake.

The best ways to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake

In this blog post, I will discuss and compare the best ways to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake. I will answer these questions in this blog post:

• How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by bus?
• How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by taxi?
• Can I drive from Shkoder to Komani Lake by rental car?
• Can I take a train from Shkoder to Komani Lake?
• How far is Komani Lake from Shkoder?
• Komani Lake Ferry
• Komani Lake Tour
• How to get from Tirana to Komani Lake?
• How to get from Valbona to Komani Lake?
• How to get from Valbona to Shkoder?
• How to get from Valbona to Shkoder by bus?
• How to get from Valbona to Shkoder by ferry?
• How to get from Theth to Komani Lake?
• How to get from Tirana to Valbona by bus?

How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by bus?

You can get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by bus everyday. The shared minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake departs from Shkoder at 6:30 AM every morning. 

The minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake costs 7 euros or 800 Leke per person for a bus ticket. You can book a bus ticket on the website of Komani Lake Ferry. So when you book your Komani Lake ferry boat ticket, you must also indicate on the booking form that you want to book the minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake as well.

The shared minibus can pick you up from your hotel in Shkoder. So when you book your ferry boat ticket including the minibus, you must write down the name of your hotel in Shkoder for pick-up. So that the bus driver knows where to find you.

If you prefer, you can also go to the bus station. The shared minibus departs at 6:30 AM from the bus station in Shkoder. The address of the bus station is: Bus Station to Koman, Rruga Revolucioni Antikomunist Hungarez, Shkodër, Albania. You can see the location on the bus station in Shkoder on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/51VoaaLwT7uM91LS7 

There is only 1 x bus departure from Shkoder to Komani Lake per day at 6:30 AM. This is due to the fact that there is only 1 x ferry boat departure per day from Koman at 9:00 AM. So if you plan on taking the Lake Komani Ferry from Shkoder, you must wake up early.

NOTE: The road from Shkoder to Komani Lake is a sandpath road with potholes and rocks on the surface of the road. So the mini-bus will shake along your journey, due to the condition of the road leading to Komani Lake.

How to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by taxi?

You can also choose to get from Shkoder to Komani Lake by private four wheel drive taxi. There are experienced 4 wheel drivers based in Shkoder, who drive to Komani Lake on a daily basis. 

A taxi from Shkoder to Komani Lake costs 70 euros per taxi. The advantage of booking a 4 wheel drive taxi is comfort. The road from Shkoder to Komani Lake is a sand path road with potholes and rocks on the surface of the road. So of course, taking a 4 wheel drive taxi is more comfortable than the shared mini-bus.

Can I drive from Shkoder to Komani Lake by rental car?

You can choose to drive from Shkoder to Komani Lake by rental car, however, there are some important points to consider.

• The condition of the sandpath road to Komani Lake
• Consider hiring a 4 wheel drive car
• Leave Shkoder on time 
• Consider your itinerary after the Lake Koman Ferry

Condition of the sandpath road to Komani Lake

I will mention that the road from Shkoder to Komani Lake is a sandpath road. So most sections are not asphalted, apart from the initial section where you drive through Shkoder city on your way out of the city. The road from Shkoder to Komani Lake is a sand path with rocks on the surface and potholes. As a result, your car will shake along the journey. 

Consider hiring a 4 wheel drive car

It is worth considering hiring a 4 wheel drive taxi or a 4 wheel drive rental car for this road. Because it is not the most comfortable journey. If you are worried about damage or dirt on the car you are renting, you may consider taking the shared minibus or hiring a 4 wheel drive taxi instead.

Leave Shkoder on time

Also leave your hotel in Shkoder on time if you are driving to Komani Lake. Preferably by 6 AM or 6:30 AM. Because the road to Komani Lake turns and twists alongside the river and it is a sandpath. So driving quickly or fast is not advisable and in many sections not possible. As the Komani Lake Ferry only departs once a day at 9AM, you cannot miss the boat.

Consider your itinerary after the Lake Koman Ferry

Driving your rental car to Komani Lake only makes sense if you are planning to return to Shkoder at the end of the day. So you would drive from Shkoder to Koman, then take the ferry from Koman to Fierze and then back with the ferry from Fierze to Koman. And back in your rental car from Koman to Shkoder. 

However, many travelers take the Komani Lake Ferry and travel onwards to Valbona for a hiking trip. In this case, driving a rental car to Komani Lake does not make much sense. Because you would drive from Shkoder to Koman, then pay for your car to board the Lake Koman Ferry, then drive another bad condition road to Valbona. And then you would have to take this rental car back after your hiking trip again. 

Especially, if you plan on hiking across the Valbona Pass to Theth, it would not make sense to take your rental car. Because you would then hike to Theth and need to hike all the way back to your rental car which you left behind on the other side of the mountain. Instead of simply being able to travel back by bus from Theth to Shkoder.

Can I take a train from Shkoder to Komani Lake?

There are no railways or trains in operation from Shkoder in the direction of Komani Lake. Train travel within Albania’s borders is very limited. With as little as 2-3 operational trains per week in the whole country. So if you plan on traveling by public transportation in Albania, then you will essentially be traveling everywhere by minibus.

How far is Komani Lake from Shkoder?

Komani Lake is roughly 55 kilometers from Shkoder. However, the drive from Shkoder to Komani Lake will take you 2 hours. This is due to the fact that the road to Komani Lake is a sand road with potholes and rocks on the road surface. Moreover, the road turns and twists through the landscape, so driving fast is not possible and not safe.

The minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake departs at 6:30 AM in order to catch the 9 AM ferry boat departure from Koman. So if you will be driving yourself, I suggest you depart from Shkoder at 6:30 AM as well. 

When it comes to planning your journey through Albania, please bear in mind that Google Maps underestimates the time required to travel through Albania. Some roads in Albania are not asphalted (like the road to Komani Lake) and many roads are through the mountains, which will always slow your journey down significantly.

Komani Lake Ferry

The Komani Lake Ferry departs once per day. Every morning at 9AM from Koman. The ferry journey takes roughly 2.5-3 hours, so the ferry boat will drop you off in Fierze around 12PM. 

A ferry boat ticket from Koman to Fierze costs 8 euros if you pay in cash or 7 euros if you pay online in advance.

Planning a ferry journey on the Komani Lake Ferry is highly recommended. Bradt Travel Guides called the Komani Lake Ferry “one of the world’s greatest boat trips”. And Lonely Planet always adds the Komani Lake Ferry in their top 5 recommendations for Albania. The boat trip on Komani Lake ferry offers stunning mountain panorama views in all directions, it is calming, relaxing and breath-taking.

In Fierze, you then have a choice. You can either take the Komani Lake Ferry back to Koman and travel back to Shkoder. And basically, experience the Komani Lake Ferry as a day trip. 

Or you can travel from Fierze onwards to the Valbona mountain village. Valbona is a remote mountain village and a hiking destination. You can stay in a guest house in Valbona and hike around Valbona itself or hike across the 1800 meter high Valbona Pass to the Theth mountain village. 

Komani Lake Tour

If you are planning a 1-day trip to Komani Lake, then you might actually consider taking the Shala River boat. Instead of taking the Komani Lake Ferry from Koman to Fierze and then back from Fierze to Koman. You can take a smaller boat from Komani Lake to the Shala River. 

The Shala River is also known as the “Thailand of Albania”, because it is so remote, wild and it has beautiful nature. The advantage of taking a smaller boat to the Shala River, is that you will be dropped off at Shala beach in the middle of the day for some lunch, swimming and relaxing.

How to get from Tirana to Komani Lake?

You can get from Tirana to Komani Lake by shared minibus (10 euros) or a private taxi (120 euros).

The shared minibus from Tirana to Komani Lake costs 10 euros per person or 1400 Leke. The minibus departs from the Gazheli Petrol station in Tirana at 5AM in the morning. There is no later bus. Because the Lake Koman Ferry only departs once a day at 9AM from Koman. Therefore, you must start at 5AM from Tirana or 6:30AM from Shkoder to catch the 9AM Lake Koman Ferry. 

The minibus departs daily from the Gazheli Petrol station in Tirana at 5AM. This is the address of the Gazheli Petrol Station: Rruga Asim Vokshi, Tiranë, Albania. You can see the location of the Gazheli Petrol station in Tirana on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/NJfes6jvpwBZzKvq5 

A private taxi from Tirana to Komani Lake costs 120 euros. 

You can book the shared minibus or a private taxi from Tirana to Komani Lake via the Komani Lake Ferry website. 

How to get from Valbona to Komani Lake?

You can get from Valbona to Komani Lake by shared minibus or by private taxi. 

The shared minibus will pick you up from Valbona and bring you to Fierze, where the Komani Lake Ferry departs. A bus ticket from Valbona to Fierze costs 7 euros or 800 Leke per person.

However, you will probably end up paying for the entire journey from Valbona to Shkoder. So a bus ticket from Valbona to Fierze, a ferry boat ticket from Fierze to Koman, and a bus ticket from Koman to Shkoder. The entire journey from Valbona via Lake Koman to Shkoder costs 21 euros or 2600 Leke per person. 

The bus departs from Valbona at 10:30 AM. The bus departs from Hotel Rilindja in Valbona. However, you can also be picked up from your hotel or guest house in Valbona. When you book your ferry boat ticket, indicate you would like to book a minibus ticket and write the name of your hotel in Valbona on the booking form.

A private taxi from Valbona to Fierze, where the Komani Lake Ferry departs, costs 60 euros. Then you will spend 2.5-3 hours onboard the Komani Lake Ferry. And you will need another private taxi to pick you up from Koman and bring you to Shkoder, which costs 70 euros.

How to get from Valbona to Shkoder?

You can get from Valbona to Shkoder by a combination of a shared minibus and the Komani Lake Ferry. 

The shared minibus departs from Valbona at 10:30 AM. The shared minibus departs from Hotel Rilindja in Valbona. However, you can also request hotel pick-up from your guest house or hotel in Valbona. 

The shared minibus will drive you from Valbona to Fierze, where the Komani Lake Ferry departs. You board the Komani Lake Ferry and after a beautiful journey of 2.5 hours, you will arrive in Koman. 

When the Komani Lake Ferry drops you off in Koman, you board another shared minibus to Shkoder. You will arrive in Shkoder around 17:00 PM. 

The journey from Valbona to Shkoder costs 21 euros or 2600 Leke per person. This includes the minibus from Valbona to Fierze, the Komani Lake Ferry and the minibus from Koman to Shkoder. 

 You can book this journey on the website of the Komani Lake Ferry.

How to get from Valbona to Shkoder by bus?

You can get from Valbona to Shkoder by bus via the Lake Komani Ferry. The bus from Valbona departs at 10:30 AM from Hotel Rilindja in Valbona. However, you can also request hotel pick-up from your guest house or hotel. 

The shared minibus will drive you from Valbona to Fierze. In Fierze, you will be dropped off at the ferry terminal. Where you board the Komani Lake Ferry from Fierze in the direction of Koman. 

You will arrive in Koman around 3PM, and you will take another minibus from Koman to Shkoder. You will arrive in Shkoder around 5PM. 

A bus ticket from Valbona to Shkoder via Lake Koman costs 21 euros or 2600 Leke per person. This ticket includes the minibus from Valbona to Fierze, the Komani Lake Ferry and the minibus from Koman to Shkoder.

How to get from Valbona to Shkoder by ferry?

You can get from Valbona to Shkoder by ferry, or actually a combination of minibus, ferry boat and another minibus. 

The Komani Lake Ferry departs from Fierze and arrives in Koman. So if you are starting your journey from Valbona, you will first take a minibus from Valbona to Fierze. The minibus departs from Valbona at 10:30 AM at Hotel Rilindja in Valbona. 

Around noon, you will arrive in Fierze, where you board the ferry boat in the direction of Koman. After a ferry boat journey of approximately 2.5-3 hours, you will be dropped off in Koman around 3PM.

From Koman, you get on the minibus to Shkoder. The drive to Shkoder is approximately 2 hours, so you will arrive in Shkoder around 5PM. 

A ferry boat ticket and minibus journey from Valbona to Shkoder costs 21 euros or 2600 Leke. This includes the minibus from Valbona to Fierze, the ferry boat from Fierze to Koman and the minibus from Koman to Shkoder. 

How to get from Theth to Komani Lake?

There is no direct way to get from Theth to Komani Lake. So really, you have two options. 

• Option 1: Take a minibus or private taxi from Theth to Shkoder. Sleep in Shkoder for 1 night. Then take a minibus or private taxi from Shkoder to Komani Lake the next morning.
• Option 2: Hike from Theth across the Valbona Pass to Valbone for 1 day. Stay overnight in Valbona for 1 night. Then take a minibus or private taxi from Valbona to Komani Lake the next morning.

It is not possible to travel from Theth to the Komani Lake Ferry in 1 day, you need at least 2 days. Because it takes roughly 2.5-3 hours to drive from Theth to Shkoder. This drive is across a mountain road, which can only take place in daylight for safety reasons. You must then stay overnight in Shkoder for 1 night. 

The next morning, a shared minibus or a private taxi from Shkoder to Komani Lake will pick you up from your hotel in Shkoder at 6:30 AM. You will be dropped off in Koman, where you will then board the 9AM Komani Lake Ferry. 

The other option is hiking from Theth across the 1800 meter high Valbona Pass to Valbona. A beautiful hike, which requires you to be fit and it is only possible in the summer and autumn season when snow has melted. After your day hike, you stay at least 1 night in Valbona in a guest house. 

The next morning at 10:30 AM, a shared minibus or private taxi will pick you up from your guest house in Valbona to bring you to Fierze, where the Komani Lake Ferry departs.

How to get from Tirana to Valbona by bus?

You can get from Tirana to Valbona by bus in 1 day. Your day will start early, because you will need to get on the bus at 5AM. 

The bus from Tirana to Komani Lake departs at 5AM from the Gazheli Petrol Station in Tirana. The bus will drop you off in Koman before 9AM. Then at 9AM, you board the Komani Lake Ferry from Koman to Fierze. The ferry will drop you off in Fierze around noon. In Fierze, you board another shared minibus to Valbona. 

The bus journey from Tirana to Valbona will cost you 24 euros or 3200 Leke per person. This includes the minibus from Tirana to Koman, the Komani Lake Ferry and the minibus from Fierze to Valbona. You can book this bus and ferry boat journey on the website of Komani Lake Ferry. 

 

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