What a week in Northern Albania actually costs

The headline

Northern Albania is still one of the cheapest mountain destinations in Europe, but it is no longer as cheap as the guidebooks say. Budget €55–75 a day if you are travelling independently and staying in guesthouses, €110–150 a day if you want private transfers and boats.

Accommodation

Guesthouse half board in Valbona or Theth: €35–60 per person. Hotel in Shkodër: €30–70 a room. Guesthouse in Koman or Fierza: €25–40 per person.

Transport

Shkodër to Koman by minibus: €8–10. Komani ferry as a foot passenger: €8–12, with a car €25–35. Fierza to Valbona minibus: €8. Private transfer Shkodër to Koman: €60–80 for the vehicle.

Boats and activities

Group day tour to Shala: €45–60. Private boat for up to seven: €300–400. Kayak hire: €10 an hour. Guided pass crossing: €80–120 for a small group. Multi-day guided routes: €200–250 per person per day all-in.

Food

Restaurant main in Shkodër: €5–9. Riverside trout at Shala: €10–14. Guesthouse dinner is usually in your half-board rate. Coffee: €1. A beer: €1.50–2.50.

Three sample budgets

Backpacker, 7 days, buses and dorms, one boat day: around €420. Mid-range, 7 days, guesthouses, one private boat and one guided crossing: around €880. Comfortable, 7 days, private transfers throughout and a guided multi-day route: €1,600–2,100.

Where the money actually goes

Transport, not accommodation. The distances are short but the roads are slow, and paying for a private vehicle instead of waiting for a minibus is the single biggest line item that separates the budgets above.

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