Hiking Guide and Map for the Blue Eye of Kaprre, Theth Albania
The Blue Eye of Kaprre in Albania is a breathtaking natural spring in the Albanian Alps, celebrated for its vivid blue waters and tranquil setting. Nestled near the village of Theth, this stunning spot offers a rewarding hike through verdant landscapes, providing visitors with an up-close experience of Albania’s rugged mountain beauty and makes for a perfect stop on an Albania Roadtrip.
Viewpoint - End of Hike Next to Schwarzsee
Hike Overview and Map
Short Hike from Carpark (Vehicle)
Trailhead: Follow pathway north from the carpark | Google Maps
Cost: free entry 50 LEK parking fee
Total Hiking Distance: 5 km
Total Hiking Duration: 2 hour hike | round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 600 meters above sea level
Highlights: Views of the Albanian Alps, river crossings, and lush forests leading to the Blue Eye of Kaprre, with its crystal-clear turquoise waters, perfect for a refreshing swim.
This hike is ideal if you have a vehicle available and are able to drive to the carpark or are limited on time.
Long Hike from Theth Church, Via Grunas Falls (No Vehicle)
Trailhead: Theth Church | Google Maps
Cost: Free
Total Hiking Distance: 19 km
Total Hiking Duration: 7 hour hike | return
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 600 meters above sea level
Highlights: Views of Theth Church, Grunas Falls, the Albanian Alps and the Blue Eye of Kaprre.
This is a great option if you arrived into Theth via bus and therefore do not have a vehicle available.
Allows for a short detour via Grunas Falls; a picturesque 30-meter waterfall known for its stunning natural beauty.
The hike eventually connects up to short trail at Nderlysaj.
Getting There
From Shkoder:
Hire Car
The hire car company Green Motion offer rentals from Shkoder
A day hire cost 21,476 LEK I 216,00 €
The company was quite flexible with pickup and drop off times providing ample time if you were to only do a day trip
The road has recently been resurfaced so a 2WD vehicle was fine for the journey
The drive takes around 2.5 hours one-way to the start of the short hike
The total distance is around 100 km from Shkoder to the start of the short hike
Alternatively you could hire a vehicle from central Tirana or Tirana airport as a part of a larger Albanian Road Trip Itinerary
This offers the greatest flexibility and timing options. It can also work out to be cheaper then an organised tour depending on the number of travellers.
Organised Day Tour
On Get Your Guide there are several day trip tours options into Theth from either Shkoder or Tirana
These are typically priced around 12,030 LEK I 121,00 €
The tours go for around 10 hours and include stops at the Church of Theth, Grunas Falls and the Blue Eye
This would be a good option for solo travellers short on time
Public Bus/ Shuttle
Shuttle buses typically depart from Shkoder
Cost is between 1,190 LEK I 12 € one way
These aren’t official public buses and typically involve getting into contact with a driver via Whatsapp
Several numbers are provided on the Thethi-Guide site
The journey takes around 3 hours and the drop off point is in central Theth where you would then need to complete the long hike
This is a good option if you plan to spend multiple days in Theth
Viewpoint - Glacial Lake
General Tips
Start the hike as early as possible to avoid the crowds and to improve the likelihood of favourable weather conditions.
The first section of the long hike is mostly flat or downhill and will take around 2.5 hours to complete including a stop at Grunas Falls.
You are able to swim in the water beneath the falls, but expect it to be freezing cold at around 6 degrees celcius.
Note that there are limited facilities available or options to fill up water bottles from Theth Church through to Nderlysaj (trail head of short hike). It is reccomended therefore to bring ample snacks and plenty of water for the journey.
Once you reach Nderlysaj there are several resturaunts available, however they have very limited options for food.
If you are staying in town, do not have a hire vehicle, and do not wish to complete the long hike there is the potential option to be dropped off directly at the Blue Eye Trail head, via a private vehicle organised through the local resturaunts, however the cost is around 60 Euro.
From the start of the short hike there is no mobile reception in the majority of this area so it is wise to download an offline map on Google Maps or use Maps.Me however the trail is fairly easy to follow from this point.
The short hike is fairly undulating and takes around 45 minutes to trek to the Blue Eye of Kaprre. It is mostly uphill until you reach a small bar selling soft drinks and alcoholic drinks before it descends down to a beautiful bridge. From this point the trail passes by a traditional house on the left and shortly after reaches the Blue Eye.
Ensure that you wear sturdy well-worn hiking boots as well as packing sunscreen, a towel and again plenty of water and snacks.
Viewpoint - Glacial Lake
Viewpoint - Glacier
Viewpoint - Last Descent Into Schwarzsee
Arrival Blue Eye of Kaprre
Once you have arrived at the Blue Eye you are able to swim beneath the waterfall in the crystal turquoise water.
Note however like Grunas its freezing cold (arround 6 degrees celcius) to the point where your skin feels like its burning.
Alternatively people were swimming in the stream section beneath the first bridge that you cross over after descending down to the Blue Eye.
After a swim there is the option to get some food or drinks at a small cafe that sits up above the Blue Eye.
Also on the walk towards the blue eye after passing the traditional house on the left, rather than going down to the water there is another trail that leads up to a small bridge. The bridge itself looks super unstable so I wouldn’t suggest walking over it but it is a great place for some photos and offers another viewpoint of the Blue Eye from above.
Viewpoint - Matterhorn from Schwarzsee
Where to Next
Grunas (Theth) Falls: if you drove directly to the Blue Eye and did not complete the long hike you will have missed a stop at Grunas Falls. The 30 meter waterfall is a great place to visit for a quick swim whilst visiting this remote part of the Albanian Alps.
Theth Church: if you opted to drive into Theth from Shkoder and as such completed the short hike, be sure to stop at the famous Theth Church before leaving the area. The chuch is a historic stone chapel, offering a picturesque setting amidst the dramatic backdrop of the Albanian Alps. The church serves as a symbol of the village's cultural and religious heritage.
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