How to hike from Valbona to Theth
Albania | Our guide to hiking from Valbona to Theth; two beautiful traditional villages lying deep in the Albanian Alps
It’s not immediately apparent where to find the gorge considering it’s such a popular attraction in the area; we found that there was no specific postcode or location to type into the Satnav in order to find the right place.
However, we found a helpful website in the form of Slotrips who provided the best directions to reach this beautiful stretch of river. We misinterpreted “behind the village named Soca” as if travelling from the other direction, but I think that they meant “before”. They still got us there, which was the main thing, so thanks guys!
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, an alternative way of visiting the Great Soca Gorge would be via the Soca River Trail. At 25km long, this is one adventure that I’d love to do and was something we did actually look at. However, we only looked at it on the actual day we had time to do it; it’s something that would require some planning in order to complete.
The Soca trail begins at the source, winding its way past various points of interest before finishing in Bovec. In the summer, there is a public bus service running between the town and Kranjska Gora.
The gorge itself is simply stunning; under the summer sunshine it was awash with colour. Emerald-green water flows through the ravine, shimmering as contrasting white-grey walls of rock guard it closely.
Dark green woodland provides a border either side, whilst mountain peaks loom in the background as you gaze upstream. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t tempted to jump in (it honestly looked so refreshing), but thankfully I’m scared of heights and have more sense! Once you reach the bridge, the gorge starts to close off as it narrows, making it difficult, if not nigh on impossible, to continue along the bank following its path.
However, we were able to find another vantage point on the opposite side (on the same bank) that not many people were seemingly aware of. A great spot, it offered a fantastic view of the water winding its way through the canyon like a race car, before disappearing under the bridge and around the corner.
You can also hike further up the gorge for more fantastic views, though you’d need to follow the lane left from the bridge as it loops back uphill. Upon where it joins the main road, you’ll see a tourist information board on the right. Behind this, a path descends downhill into a clearing that offers more excellent viewpoints.
Although only a relatively short walk, such is the beauty of the Great Soca Gorge, you’ll constantly be stopping to admire the river and take pictures. We took approximately an hour to follow the trail as far as we could go along the gorge, regularly stopping to snap away the majestic scenery surrounding us.
Although the magical Vintgar Gorge holds the special place as my personal favourite, it has a close rival in this natural phenomenon that resonates beauty. Combined with driving over the Vršič Pass, it played an integral part in what was an amazing day trip around this area of the national park. If you’re planning a trip to this region of North-West Slovenia, I’d suggest adding this visit to your itinerary.
After the city buzz of Ljubljana and the heavy tourist vibe of Predjama Castle and Lake Bled, it was nice to escape into the clean, fresh air and stunning mountain scenery. I’d be interested to see how the gorge differs during the colder seasons; I imagine it’d be spectacular under wintery conditions. It’s a time of year within which I will endeavour to return in future. In the meantime, I can vouch that it’s very good in the summer too!
Read more… The Emerald River: White Water Rafting
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Albania | Our guide to hiking from Valbona to Theth; two beautiful traditional villages lying deep in the Albanian Alps
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