Are you planning to visit Thethi but you are not sure about what you can do around Thethi village?
Here we (some local people who leave and work in Thethi) are to bring at your attention the main attractions and best destinations not to miss in Theth valley and Thethi National Park.
Depending on your time availability to spent in Thethi you can do all of this in one or two days, on an intense or easy program on your choice.
We have to notice that all the trails are signed and you can do it with a local guide or on your own.
Thethi is a very safe place, and local people will help you in any case you get lost, providing you directions or a drive back at your guesthouse.
St. John Church of Theth
Starting from your guesthouse door, you will proceed down the valley in a comfortable walking for 10 minutes to the Saint John Church, an unusual and beautiful church built in 1892, which constitute the main representative immagine of Thethi online. In the first years served as a school for the kids of the village and then during the communist regime, after 1945, it was transformed into a health center. During the democracy, after the 1990s the church was reconstructed from local people immigrants in the USA, but it constitutes only one-third of the original construction.
Lock-In Tower
This tower was built four centuries ago and was used to reconcile the two conflicting parties for more than 300 conflicts. This place was kept alive form three main reasons:
- The canon of Leke Dukagjini that influenced the whole area.
- Then the word of honor that parties would give to each – other must be respected at any condition.
- Catholic belief of the whole inhabitants of Dukagjin area has also influenced in the unity of the inhabitants because all of them were only catholic.
During the last century, this tower was not used for this purpose anymore. Now it constitutes just a cultural heritage.
Theth Ethnographic Museum
One of the unique towers in the valley is the tower of Lulash Keq Boshi. This tower has been built at the top of the jagged rock, 9 meters tall, which is connected to it in an organic and functional way. An unusual element of the guest room (the main living space in all the house) is the fact that it has a fireplace, wooden ceiling and is treated with a lot of care. Usually, this room is more curated than in other areas of the building. This shows the Albanian tradition of preparing the best for guests.
This traditional ‘Kulla,’ with all it’s living spaces, was refurnished with all conventional pieces of equipment and used as an ethnographic museum to show the way how locals use to leave for centuries.
This house, like the Lock-In tower, nowadays is managed by the suns of the family, who try to explain to all tourists how this equipment’s and spaces were used and tell stories about our local traditions. One of the best ones is “the house is of God and of the guest.”
Grunas Waterfall
This waterfall is one of the best water attractions not only in Theth but in all Albanian alps. Placed only 40 minutes hiking from the Church square, at an easy-medium level of difficulty, reachable from most of the target groups. This is a mountain water spring which thin body it’s over 30 meters high. The waterfall of Thethi has a particular feature, the fact that all its water derives entirely from a rock and snow water. For mountain climbers who can visit the source is a special miracle that is not found in any waterfall in Europe.
Grunas Canyon
The Grunas Canyon, a natural monument, can be found on the south side of the Thethi park. The Grunas Canyon has vast carbon formations. The canyon is around 2 km long and 60 meters deep and varies from 2-3 meters to 30-40 meters wide. There is an incomparable beauty, and all the time there is enough water to canoe sailing fans. The water of the Thethi River is crystal clear at any time and very cold. The visits to the site are not advised without local guides, or the visit should be in groups. The Grunas Canyon was and remained a challenge for all foreign and Albanian tourists that are passionate about canyons.
Stone groves of Nderlysa
In just 20 minutes by car or 1.5hours of walking along Thethi’s river, you will meet some natural pools close to the stone groves of Nderlysa village. Stone groves are of a particular beautify as there are many different and unique forms rose-colored. Most of them are plated and rounded and look like bathtubs made by an artist with a perfect taste.
During the summer season, they are also used as a refreshing point from the visitors. These rocky masses of peculiar beauty are also accompanied by natural crystal water where you can swim under the wood bridge that joins two rock cliffs where adventurers can jump to.
This is a perfect place even for the passionate of fly-fishing, swimming, or just relaxing under the sun.
Blue Eye in Theth
In additional if you want to hike 50 minutes more from the Stone Groves of Nderlysa, you can reach the Blue Eye hole in Kaprre. The Blue Eye is one of the rare beauties of entire Albania. It is formed from the Black River, which flows out from the Black Top. The Blue Eye is formed by the erosion of rock by the water that descends from the mountains. The Black Well is about 100 m2 and about 3 to 5 meters of depth. The Black River is entirely formed from the melting snow in the Alps. Any tourist (of any age) can go to the Blue Eye because the road lay in a plain valley. Along the way, you have to bear in mind to follow the signs that are made by residents.
