- Start with the ferry, because it is the fixed oneThe Koman ferry runs daily 15 April to 5 November and states plainly that it does not operate 6 November to 14 April. Those are published dates rather than weather-dependent ones, which makes them the spine of any plan.
- Then the Theth road, which is weather-dependentThere is no published season. The road authority clears snow and closes the road by event, as when avalanches blocked it on 5 February 2026, so a late-March arrival is a phone call to a guesthouse rather than a booking.
- Then the pass, which is the narrowest window of allThe 1,795 m crossing between Valbonë and Theth clears around mid-June and holds until late September. That is four months, and it is why the Alps route on this site is four months long and cannot be talked into May.
- Read the three together before you bookMid-June to late September is when all three are open at once and the traverse works end to end. Mid-April to mid-June gives you the ferry and the valleys without the crossing. Outside that, the north is a road trip to Shkodër.
The figures
| What | Value | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Koman ferry season | Daily 15 April to 5 November; no service 6 November to 14 April | 2026-10-01 · Koman Lake Ferry (Berisha), operator timetable and prices |
| The Theth road in winter | No published closure dates. The road authority (ARRSH) clears snow and closes the road when it is unsafe; avalanches blocked it completely on 5 February 2026 | 2026-10-01 · Top Channel, ARRSH: Qafë Thorë to Theth road fully blocked by avalanches (5 February 2026) |
| The pass | 1,795 m; 17 km with 812 m of ascent; 7 to 8 hours; no guide needed | 2026-10-01 · Hungarian Dreamers, Valbona Pass, measured track |
Asked about this
Can I walk Valbonë to Theth in May?
Usually not. The pass clears around mid-June, and in May it is snow rather than a walk. The valleys themselves are reachable once the ferry starts on 15 April.
What is open in the Alps in winter?
Very little. The ferry stops on 5 November, snow closures start on the Theth road, and a winter trip to Albania is a southern trip. The off-season itinerary on this site says the same thing.
Do I need a guide for the crossing?
No. The route is 15 to 17 km village to village, or 9.5 km from the Rragam trailhead, and it needs no guide. It needs the pass to be open, which is a different question.