Plan · logistics
The Koman ferry
One boat a day through a karst gorge, and the only sensible way into Valbonë. It runs 15 April to 5 November, leaves Koman at 09:00, and costs EUR 9 booked online.
- Check the date before anything elseBerisha, the tourist ferry, runs daily from 15 April to 5 November and states plainly that it does not operate between 6 November and 14 April. If your dates fall outside that, the Alps crossing is not on and Valbonë has to be reached by road through Bajram Curri.
- Book, especially in July and AugustThere is one useful departure a day and it sells out days ahead in high summer. Online is EUR 9 a foot passenger; at the port it is EUR 10, or 1,000 lek in cash. Cars are carried and charged by area, so they cost several times a passenger fare.
- Get to the Koman pier for 09:00The pier is at the end of a narrow road and a tunnel above Shkodër. Transfers leave Shkodër early enough to make the sailing; if you are driving, allow more than the map says for the last section.
- Ride it northbound if you can chooseThe 09:00 puts you in the gorge with the sun still low and the walls still holding shadow. The 13:00 return from Fierza crosses the same water in flatter light.
- Arrange the onward transfer from FierzëThe ferry lands at Fierzë, not in Valbonë. Guesthouses in the valley arrange the road transfer up, and booking direct with them is usually better than booking the boat and the bed separately.
- Do not plan a winter crossing on the Dragobia boatA separate private boat, Dragobia, runs year-round with passengers and bicycles for residents and supplies. It is a local workhorse rather than a tourist service, and it is not a reliable basis for an itinerary.
The figures
| What | Value | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Daily 15 April to 5 November; no service 6 November to 14 April | 2026-08-25 · Koman Lake Ferry (Berisha), operator timetable and prices |
| Departures | Koman 09:00, Fierza 13:00 | 2026-08-25 · Koman Lake Ferry (Berisha), operator timetable and prices |
| Foot passenger fare | EUR 9 booked online, EUR 10 or 1,000 lek cash at the port | 2026-08-25 · Koman Lake Ferry (Berisha), operator timetable and prices |
| Shkodër to Theth, for the return leg | 1,200 lek (about EUR 12), 07:00 from the Rozafa Hotel, about 2.5 hours | 2026-08-25 · Koman Lake Ferry, Shkodër to Theth shuttle |
Asked about this
Does the Koman ferry run in winter?
The tourist ferry does not. Berisha runs 15 April to 5 November. The Dragobia boat runs year-round for residents, and it is not a service to build a trip on.
How much is the Koman ferry?
EUR 9 for a foot passenger booked online, EUR 10 or 1,000 lek in cash at the port. Cars are priced by area and cost considerably more. The EUR 20 to 30 figure that circulates is the Corfu to Sarandë crossing, not this one.
What time does the Koman ferry leave?
Koman at 09:00 and Fierza at 13:00, daily inside the season.
Can I take a car on the Koman ferry?
Yes. Vehicles are carried and charged by the area they take up, which makes a car a much larger cost than a passenger ticket. Most people going to Valbonë walk on and take a transfer at the other end.
Is the ferry the only way to Valbonë?
No, but it is the only easy one. The alternative is the road through Bajram Curri, most naturally approached from Kosovo, and it is what people use when the ferry season is shut.