Valbonë ( sq-definite, Valbona) is a village in the

Kukës County Kukës County (; ) is a landlocked county in northeastern Albania, with the capital in Kukës. The county spans and had a total population of 61,998 people as of 2021. The county borders on the counties of Dibër County, Dibër, Lezhë County, Le ...

, northern

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

. It is part of the former municipality

Margegaj Margegaj is a village and a former municipality in the Kukës County, northern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Tropojë. The population at the 2023 census was 1,907. The valley of the Valb ...

and situated in the valley of the river

Valbonë Valbonë ( sq-definite, Valbona) is a village in the Kukës County, northern Albania. It is part of the former municipality Margegaj and situated in the valley of the river Valbonë (river), Valbonë, south of the mountain, Maja e Thatë. Followin ...

, south of the mountain,

Maja e Thatë Maja e Thatë () is a mountain peak of the Albanian Alps (Accursed Mountains) in Albania.Military topographic map of Albania (1:25 000): K-34-52-D-a (M. JEZERCES) It is located within Valbonë Valley National Park, roughly northwest of Valbon ...

. Following the 2015 local government reform, it became part of the municipality of

Tropojë Tropojë (; sq-definite, Tropoja) is a municipality in Kukës County, northeastern Albania, within the historical ethnographic region of the Gjakova Highlands. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Bajram Curri, Bujan, By ...

. As one of the main settlements in Valbonë Valley National Park, the village offers suitable accommodation for visitors and tourists, primarily in traditional alpine houses or inns ().

Geography and Location

Valbonë is a mountain village located in northern

, approximately 1,000 meters above sea level. It lies within

and is part of

Valbonë Valley National Park The Valbona Valley () is in the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. It is part of Alps of Albania National Park, one of the most impressive and notable topographic features of Albania. Being the southernmost continuation of the Dinaric Alps, it f ...

, one of the country’s most significant protected areas. The village is situated about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of

Bajram Curri Bajram Curri (16 January 1862 – 29 March 1925) was an Albanian chieftain, politician and activist who struggled for the independence of Albania, later struggling for Kosovo's incorporation into it following the 1913 Treaty of London. He w ...

, with access passing through the historic village of

Dragobi } Bajram Curri (), formerly known as Kolgecaj until 1952, is a town and administrative unit in the municipality of Tropojë, northeastern Albania, within the historical ethnographic region of the Gjakova Highlands. The town is located in a remot ...

Settlement and Architecture

The village of Valbonë consists of around 30 houses, most of which are traditional Albanian alpine dwellings. These are typically two- to three-storey stone towers with thick walls and roofs made of wooden boards, characteristic of the northern mountainous regions.

Natural Features

covers an area of approximately 8,000 hectares and is considered one of the most remarkable natural landscapes in the

Albanian Alps The Accursed Mountains (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Prokletije, Проклетије, separator=" / ", ; both translated as "Cursed Mountains"), also known as the Albanian Alps (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Albanski Alpi, Албански Алпи, separator=" / ", li ...

. The Valbonë River, known for its crystal-clear waters, runs through the valley, originating from alpine springs and fed by tributaries such as the Rragam Waterfall. The waterfall is located near the village of Rragam, from which it takes its name. Dense forests line the route to Valbonë, including areas near the Bajram Curri Cave, which is located shortly after passing Dragobi.

Tourism

Valbonë Valley is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the

region, and ranks among the most popular in the

, second only to Theth Valley. It attracts both domestic and international visitors who are drawn to its dramatic alpine scenery, hiking trails, and opportunities to explore the traditions of the northern Albanian highlands. The journey from

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

, the capital city, to Valbonë typically takes around five hours. Many travelers choose to include a scenic ferry ride across

Lake Koman Lake Koman () is a reservoir on the Drin River in northern Albania. Lake Koman is surrounded by dense forested hills, vertical slopes, deep gorges, and a narrow valley, completely taken up by the river. Besides the Drin, it is fed by the Shala a ...

, considered one of the most picturesque lake journeys in Europe. Maja e Thate mountain Valbone Albania

Gallery

Valbonë 2016.jpg Liqeni i Xhemës - Valbonë 01.jpg Shtëpi karakteristike Zallishtorja - Valbonë.JPG Pejzhazh Valbone.JPG Lumi i valbones2.jpg Lumi i Valbones1.jpg Pejzazh Valbone 08.JPG Pejzhazh Valbone 07.JPG

References

External links

Journey to Valbona website
Populated places in Tropojë Villages in Kukës County {{Kukës-geo-stub