How to hike from Valbona to Theth
May 8, 2024
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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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The Prestreljenik Window is a natural phenomenon where the harsh alpine weather has exposed a weakness in the rockface, carving away a hole with the appearance of a window. It looks out onto the Italian alps.
It is located on Mount Prestreljenik, the second highest peak in the Kanin mountains, which separates Slovenia’s upper Soča Valley from the Resia valley in Italy on the Italian-Slovenian border.
The Prestreljenik Window is at a height of 2,499m (8,195ft).
At 10 minutes tall and seven metres wide, the Prestreljenik Window is big enough to easily stand inside; perfect for your picture at the top of the world with the rugged mountains in the background!
Take the Kanin Cable Car to the very top of the mountain where it arrives at D-Station.
The cable car is only a five-minute drive from the centre of Bovec and is easily accessible. When we were buying our lift passes, the cashier kindly advised us that parking was free.
Upon arriving at D Station and exiting the building, you should see an information sign about the Prestreljenik Window. This was how we learned about the walk there and then; we had no idea it was there so it turned out to be a complete bonus for us when we did it – probably making the experience even better as a result!
Follow the ascent up past the small cafe on the hill (keeping it to your right) for a good 100m, before the window will become visible at the top of the steep slopes to your right.
Kanin Cable Car Station, Dvor 43, 5230 Bovec, Slovenia.
It is free to park.
Return Ticket – Gondola (2023 Prices)
Category | Price |
Adult | €25.00 |
Students & Seniors | €21.00 |
Children | €16.00 |
Dog | €5.00 |
Tired after a six hour walk combining the Kaninska Mulatjera and Slap Virje routes (which you can read about here), we decided to check out the views from the top of Mount Prestreljenik.
The Kanin Cable Car offers outstanding views of the Soča Valley, with the emerald Soča river glistening as it winds its way through the vivid green pastures.
The contrast in colour as you ascend Mount Prestreljenik is equally stark, with lush green forest reducing to bracken and finally, grey, stony slopes.
As our gondola reached Station D – the final stop – the glorious weather threatened to morph into a thunderstorm.
We were that high, we could hear thunder booming down in the valley below. It appeared to be heading away from the mountain. I won’t lie, it was unnerving and it did give me second thoughts about attempting the Prestreljenik window.
However, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity. We decided to continue, making our way uphill aware a storm could be chasing our tails.
Speaking to a hiker descending the route (who said we’d find it difficult without walking poles), it was immediately apparent that it wasn’t going to be easy.
Many people descending the steep slopes to the window were slipping and sliding their way down, sending clusters of loose rock downhill.
We had hiking gear but no poles, so following that conversation we weren’t sure if, with the terrain and the severity of the incline, we’d even get near the window!
Any doubts were quickly erased upon seeing a terrified little girl crying as she slowly made her way down the hillside with her mother; if that brave little soul could get up there, then we could!
The saying, “only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” springs to mind, as Ste and myself were the only ones going up with everyone else coming down. Brave or foolish in the face of an impending storm? I’d say the latter!
Both of us have a fear of heights, so when we had to edge along a ridge holding onto some guide ropes, it was quite a buzz. Okay, we weren’t hanging onto the cliff edge above a 300m drop, but for two inexperienced hikers it was something new and exciting.
I reached the Prestreljenik Window ahead of Ste who was struggling a bit, but immediately knew it was worth the effort when I shouted down amazed. I was awe-struck by what I saw.
It was a window into a new world, offering views of the stunning Italian-Slovenian Alps and their raw nature. Parallel with the clouds, it felt like the top of the world and a real sense of achievement that we’d managed to make it up here having had our doubts early on.
The added bonus that we’d been the only ones making the climb at this time of day was that we had the location all to ourselves, enabling us to really take in the quiet serenity of this unpredictably volatile environment at the top of the mountains.
We made sure we took plenty of pictures, watching our footing with care, before the rumble of thunder coming nearer continued to intensify. It was at this moment that Ste noticed the clouds beginning to roll in behind us, so we knew we’d outstayed our welcome,
With the thrill of conquering the Prestreljenik window and the elements coming in, we slid our way back down the stony slopes, adrenaline in full flow.
As we re-joined the path, a herd of mountain goats took little notice of the approaching weather conditions, lazily grazing at the bottom of a depression.
A baby was bleating as it made its way down the hillside with its mother to join the rest of the group. It’s amazing that these creatures survive in these barren wastelands so high up.
Thankfully we managed to reach Station D before the drizzling rain that threatened a downpour turned any heavier.
The Prestreljenik Window had been a complete bonus; a last-minute decision to take the Kanin Cable Car resulted in a discovery previously unknown to us.
Thank God we made that decision! I can’t recommend this enough, it’s well worth the toil and sweat to get there.
No pictures can do it justice.
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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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