How to visit the Shala River? Boat, Bus, Taxi, Rental Car

If you are wondering how to visit the Shala River, this blog post will give you all the information you need. I will describe how to visit the Shala River by boat, and how to get to the boat terminal by bus, by taxi or by rental car.

How to visit the Shala River? You can visit the Shala River with a little boat that departs from the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. Shala River boats only operate in the summer months. You can get a minibus (6:30 AM) from Shkoder, a minibus (5 AM) from Tirana, hire a private 4 wheel drive taxi or drive from Shkoder (app. 2 hours).

In this blog post, I will describe how to get to the Shala River by bus, private 4 wheel drive taxi and how to board the boat. I will describe how to get to the Shala River from Tirana or Shkoder. And I will give you more details about when the Shala River boats operate, where Shala River is located exactly, how to book a trip and swimming in Shala river.

How to get to the Shala River?

You can get to the Shala River by bus, by taxi or by rental car from Shkoder city or Tirana city. These are the ways you can get to the Shala River:

• Option 1: Minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River
• Option 2: Minibus from Tirana to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River
• Option 3: Private 4 wheel drive from Shkoder/Tirana to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River
• Option 4: Rent a car and drive independently to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River

Option 1: Minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River

If you are starting from Shkoder, you will board the minibus from Shkoder to the Lake Komani Ferry Terminal at 6:30 AM.

If you book a shared minibus, the bus can pick you up from your hotel in Shkoder. You simply need to write down the name of your hotel in Shkoder whilst booking the bus, so that the bus driver knows from which hotel to pick you up in Shkoder at 6:30 AM. 

If you did NOT indicate the name of your hotel in Shkoder whilst booking, you can get on the minibus at the bus station in Shkoder. 

The bus station is called: Bus Station to Koman, Valbonë, Gur i Zi and the address is: Rruga Revolucioni Antikomunist Hungarez, Shkodër, Albania. You can see the location of the bus station in Shkoder on a Google map here: https://goo.gl/maps/emYdEJqSvhDrGc6u9 You will need to be at the bus station at 6:30 AM. 

The bus will pick you up in Shkoder and drive you to the Komani Lake Ferry terminal. This journey by bus takes approximately 2 hours. At the end of the bus journey, you will be dropped off at the Komani Lake Ferry terminal, where you will board one of the small boats to the Shala River. 

The Shala River boat trip starts between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM. Several small boats will pick up passengers from the Komani Lake Ferry terminal. 

You will spend a 1.5 hour journey onboard the small boats sailing through the Shala River. The landscape is beautiful and untouched. The Shala river is a combination of turquoise blue water, rocky cliffs and lush nature. It is also known as the “Thailand of Albania”, because of its gorgeous nature. 

Around 11:00 AM or 11:30 AM, you arrive at Shala Beach. Where you can go for a swim, sunbathe and have a lovely lunch at one of the restaurants. You relax and enjoy Shala beach until approximately 14:00 PM or 15:00 PM, when small boats will bring you back to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. From where you return to either Shkoder or Tirana. 

Pricing Summary

• Minibus from Shkoder to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal = 7 Euros or 800 Leke per person one way
• Shala River boat trip = 25 euros per person (if you pay with cash) or 18 euros per person (if pay via Paypal online)

You will need to book your journey from Shkoder to the Shala River on the website of Komani Lake Ferry. 

IMPORTANT: Shala River boats only operate in the summer months! More information below!

Option 2: Minibus from Tirana to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River

If you are starting your journey from Tirana, you will need to get on the minibus at 5:00 AM in the morning. 

In Tirana, the minibus does not pick passengers up from their hotels. So you will need to get to the bus terminal before 5AM independently. 

The minibus departs from the Gazheli Petrol Station in Tirana. This is the address of the bus station: Rruga Asim Vokshi, Tiranë, Albania. You can see the location of the bus station in Tirana on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/1JnLDjNJLYQARrX76 

The bus will pick you up from the bus station in Tirana at 5:00 AM. The bus will first drive 2 hours in the direction of Shkoder city. Then another 2 hours from Shkoder in the direction of the Koman village. Around 9:00 AM, the bus driver will drop you off at the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal, where you will board the small boat to the Shala River. 

You may need to wait until 9:30 AM or 10:00 AM, when the small boats will start to depart to the Shala River. Board one of the small boats and you will sail approximately 1.5 hours through the river. 

The Shala River is also known as the “Thailand of Albania”, because of the lush and untouched nature. The river has clear turquoise blue water and it is surrounded by cliffs, mountains and wild nature. 

Around 11:00 AM or 11:30 AM, you will be dropped off at Shala Beach. This is a spot to relax, where you can go for a swim in the river or go sunbathing. And you can have a fresh Albanian lunch in one of the restaurants at the beach. 

Around 14:00 PM or 15:00 PM, you will board the little boat again, which brings you back to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. And from there you return to Shkoder or Tirana, where you will arrive in late afternoon or early evening.

Pricing Summary

• Minibus from Tirana to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal = 10 Euros or 1400 Leke per person one way
• Shala River boat trip = 25 euros per person (if you pay with cash) or 18 euros per person (if pay via Paypal online)

You will need to book your journey from Tirana to the Shala River on the website of Komani Lake Ferry. 

IMPORTANT: Shala River boats only operate in the summer months! More information below!

Option 3: Private 4 wheel drive from Shkoder/Tirana to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River

If you prefer to travel privately, you can book a private 4 wheel drive taxi from either Shkoder or Tirana to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. And then, once you are dropped off at the Lake Koman Ferry Terminal, you can board a small boat to the Shala River. 

A private 4 wheel drive taxi from Shkoder to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal costs 70 euros per taxi. And a private 4 wheel drive taxi from Tirana to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal costs 120 euros per taxi. 

Pricing Summary

• Private taxi from Shkoder to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal = 70 euros
• Private taxi from Tirana to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal = 120 euros
• Shala River boat trip = 25 euros per person (if you pay with cash) or 18 euros per person (if pay via Paypal online)

You will need to book a private taxi from Shkoder or Tirana to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal on the website of Komani Lake Ferry. 

IMPORTANT: Shala River boats only operate in the summer months! More information below!

Option 4: Rent a car and drive independently to Komani Lake Ferry Terminal + small boat to Shala River

Of course, if you are renting a car for your holidays in Albania, you could drive to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal independently. 

I will mention that the road from Shkoder to Komani Lake is a sandy dirt track. The sand road has potholes and rocks on the surface of the road. So it is very important that you depart from Shkoder at 6:30 AM or earlier, to allow yourself time to drive slowly. 

Furthermore, you must consider the condition of your rental car and if it can handle a dirt track. Perhaps your car rental company needs to be asked or informed beforehand as Komani Lake, Valbona, Shala River and Theth are remote destinations within Albania.

A rental car in Albania will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day for the most affordable car rental. That being said, car rental prices tend to be higher in July and August as this is the high-season. I highly recommend you reach out to several car rental companies by email or via WhatsApp before you travel. So that you can compare prices and get a good deal agreed before you travel.

There is a small and quite informal parking area at the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. 

Pricing Summary

• Rental car costs at least 20-25 euros per day (more in high-season)
• Petrol to drive to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal and back
• Shala River boat trip = 25 euros per person (if you pay with cash) or 18 euros per person (if pay via Paypal online)

You will need to book the Shala River boat tickets online on the website of Komani Lake Ferry.

IMPORTANT: Shala River boats only operate in the summer months! More information below!

How to get to the Shala River from Tirana?

You can get to the Shala River from Tirana by bus, by taxi or by rental car. 

The minibus departs from Tirana at 5:00 AM. The bus departs from the Gazheli Petrol Station in Tirana. So you will need to independently travel to the Gazheli Petrol Station, before 5AM. This is the address of the bus station: Rruga Asim Vokshi, Tiranë, Albania. You can see the location of the bus station in Tirana on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/1JnLDjNJLYQARrX76 

The minibus will pick you up from the Gazheli Petrol Station in Tirana and drive you in approximately 4 hours to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. A bus ticket costs 10 euros or 1400 Leke. At the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal, you will board a small boat to the Shala River, which costs 25 euros per person (if you pay with cash) or 18 euros per person (if pay via Paypal online). 

If you book a private taxi from Tirana to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal this will cost you 120 euros. At the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal, you will board a small boat to the Shala River, which costs 25 euros per person (if you pay with cash) or 18 euros per person (if pay via Paypal online). 

And a car rental in Albania will cost you at least 20-25 euros per day for a basic car. In the high-season months, like July and August, car rentals are often more expensive. You will need to depart from Tirana at 5 AM and drive for approximately 2 hours in the direction of Shkoder. Then from Shkoder, you need to drive to the Lake Komani Ferry Terminal. This section of road is a sand road with rocks and potholes, so drive slowly and consider the condition of your rental car beforehand.

How to get from Shkoder to Lumi i Shales?

You can get from Shkoder to Lumi i Shales (or the Shala River in the English language) by bus, by taxi or by rental car. 

The minibus departs from Shkoder at 6:30 AM. You can request for the minibus to pick you up from your hotel in Shkoder. But of course, you would need to write down the name of your hotel whilst you book the bus. 

Alternatively, you can go to the bus station in Shkoder at 6:30 AM. The bus station is called: Bus Station to Koman, Valbonë, Gur i Zi and the address is: Rruga Revolucioni Antikomunist Hungarez, Shkodër, Albania. You can see the location of the bus station in Shkoder on a Google map here: https://goo.gl/maps/emYdEJqSvhDrGc6u9 

The minibus from Shkoder to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal costs 7 euros or 800 Leke per person for a one-way trip. Then at the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal, you will board one of the small boats to Lumi i Shales (or the Shala River). The Shala River boat trip costs 25 euros per person (if you pay cash) or 18 euros per person (if you pay online via Paypal). 

The alternative to the shared minibus is booking a private taxi from Shkoder. A taxi from Shkoder to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal costs 70 euros. Then at the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal, you will board one of the small boats to Lumi i Shales (or the Shala River). The Shala River boat trip costs 25 euros per person (if you pay cash) or 18 euros per person (if you pay online via Paypal). 

And finally, you can rent a car in Albania and drive to the Komani Lake Ferry terminal independently. A rental car will cost at least 20-25 euros per day for the basic car. And in high-season months, like July and August, prices for rental cars are often higher. The road from Shkoder to the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal is a sand road with potholes and rocks on the surface of the road. So leave Shkoder on time, drive slowly and consider the condition of the rental car before undertaking this journey.

When does the Shala River boat operate?

Officially, the Shala River boat does operate between 15 May and 1 October, so in the summer months. However, the Shala River boat does not operate every day, as weather conditions, like heavy rain can make it unsafe for the boat to operate. And also a small number of reservations, can cause the boat operator to decide to not run the Shala River boats. And sometimes the Shala River bed gets blocked by mud, which makes it impossible for the boats to operate the full journey.

Should the Shala River boat not operate on the date that you booked, the boat operator will offer you to board the Komani Lake Ferry instead of the Shala River boats. You will then board the larger ferry boat from Koman to Fierze and back from Fierze to Koman. 

Where is Lumi Shales?

Lumi Shales (or the Shala River) is a remote river in the North of Albania near the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal. In the summer months, small boats will bring you from the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal to the Shala River. The boats stop at Shala Beach between 11:00 AM and 15:00 PM for some relaxation. 

You can see the location of Lumi i Shales on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/t4ciEvC64NDpN2on6

Where is Shala River?

The Shala River (or Lumi i Shales) is a river in the North of Albania. The river is so remote that this destination is reached via little boats only. In the summer months, you can book a little boat from the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal to the Shala River. The boat will drop you off at the Shala Beach for swimming, relaxing and lunch between 11AM and 15PM. 

You can see the location of the Shala River on a Google Map here: https://goo.gl/maps/t4ciEvC64NDpN2on6

Shala River map

You can see the location of the Shala River on a Google Map here:  https://goo.gl/maps/t4ciEvC64NDpN2on6 You can also search for the name Blini Park Albania on Google Maps, as this is one of the guest houses on Shala Beach. 

Can you swim in the Shala River?

You can swim in the Shala River. If you book a boat trip from the Komani Lake Ferry Terminal to the Shala River. The boat will drop you off at Shala beach between 11:00 AM and 15:00 PM. At Shala beach, you can swim, sunbathe and have some lunch in one of the restaurants.

Related Questions

Shala River boat vs. Komani Lake ferry – If you are going for a 1-day boat trip and you plan to return to Shkoder or Tirana at the end of the day, then the Shala River boat trip is a great option. As the boats will drop you off at Shala Beach for 3-4 hours of relaxing, swimming, sunbathing and having lunch. However, if you plan to travel onwards to Valbone for hiking, then you must take the Komani Lake Ferry, which will help you get to Valbona.

Can I go on a day trip to Theth? You can go on a day trip to Theth from either Shkoder or Tirana if you book a private 4 wheel drive taxi. You can leave Tirana at 5AM or Shkoder at 7AM, be driven to Theth, hike to the Blue Eye spring and back, have lunch and be driven back to Shkoder or Tirana. That being said, it is better to book a 1-night stay at a guest house in Theth if you have the time, since it is less rushed and you will enjoy it more. 

How to get to Theth? You can get to Theth with a shared minibus which departs from Shkoder at 7AM or you can book a private 4 wheel drive taxi. You can also make a 3 or 4 day round trip through the Albanian Alps from Shkoder via Lake Koman to Valbona, hiking across the Valbona pass to Theth and then from Theth back to Shkoder.

Is Shkoder worth visiting? Shkoder is definitely worth visiting. The city center has a beautiful Venetian style boulevard with lovely terraces and restaurants. You can make a trip to Rozafa Castle for stunning panoramic views and visit the historic Mesi Bridge. You can also visit the small Shiroke village on the shore of Shkoder Lake for beautiful Lake views. 

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