LAKE KOMANI, ALBANIA
Skhoder is the jumping off town for Lake Komani and the famous, spectacular Komani ferry ride. Skhoder is small town, with very few people in Spring, not sure what it gets like in summer.
There are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from especially on the pedestrian walkway Rruga Kole Idromeno.
It really won’t take you long to explore the town on foot, and once you have, there isn’t a lot else to do.
Skhoder also seemed to have plenty of accommodation available in most price brackets.
I decided to stay in Hotel Tradita which is in a museum (a first for me!) the hotel was just off the main streets but within easy walking distance to everything with lots of parking!
There is a popular Albania restaurant attached to the hotel; I didn’t eat there I decided to eat on the Rruga Kole Idromeno. The breakfast was very good, you won’t starve!
The drive to Lake Komani takes you along a really bad dirt road with deep pot holes and huge drops on one side. The scenery is spectacular alongside Vau I Dejes Lake and takes about 1.5 hours to the Komani Dam wall.
If you are only going for a day trip and not using the car ferry to get to Fierze, parking could be a problem at the Dam wall (not much available), it might be best to arrange a transfer. The hotel recommended that I take the Shala River trip – it was a great bit of advice!
Lake Komani is promoted as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in Europe I’m happy to say it did not disappoint!
The water starts off green, cutting through steep mountains, after a while the water turns the most incredible shade of blue I have ever seen, absolutely stunning and so clear it was a truly magical. The colours just got bluer and bluer as the day wore on, at times it was so bright you doubted what your eyes were seeing
We arrived at a bend in a river (I thought it was a dam the name Shala River should have given it away…) the boat had to do some tricky manoeuvres to get us to the beach as we battled the current. What a lovely place! In a gorge, blue blue crystal clear water, a beach, fish on the fire, and ice cold beer – I was in heaven!
I almost stayed the night (they had tree houses) but saw the clouds coming in threatening rain, I only had the clothes on my back and didn’t feel like being cold – I know, I know….
The boat trip back was just as spectacular!
