Valbona Valley National Park

We entered Valbona Valley National Park in the Albanian Alps at about 11:00 am on the scenic road called Rruga Azem Hajdari.  The road crosses the Valbona River in several places.  The rushing water looked greenish aqua I think in part due to the large amount of limestone in the mountains.

At the first stone bridge, we saw a number of swimmers enjoying the rushing water downstream from the bridge.  Upstream is a series of rapids.  Click on my photos below to see them in high resolution on Flickr.  You can also view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

Rapids upstream from the first stone bridge on Rruga Azem Hajdari

Downstream from the bridge we found some people enjoying a dip in the river.

As Rruga Azem Hajdari snakes through the valley, there are incredible views of rugged mountains on both sides of the valley.

The Albanian Alps (Prokletije in Albanian) is a mountain range on the Balkan Peninsula that runs from northern Albania to Kosovo and Montenegro.  Its highest peak, Maja Jezercë,  is in Albania, not far from Valbona.  At 8,839 ft (2,694 m), Maja Jezercë is the 7th highest mountain in Albania.

Rruga Azem Hajdari winding through Valbona Valley in the Albanian Alps

The road passes several hotels and finally ends at the Hotel Burimi i Valbonës.  This is the view that greeted us!

The view from the entrance to Hotel Burimi i Valbonës

The hotel and lodge includes a casual and welcoming restaurant.  The food was good and fresh.

Hotel Burimi i Valbonës Restaurant

After settling in our rooms in the lodge, we enjoyed a lunch featuring a large fresh salad and pan-fried Trout from the Valbona River.  Awesome!

Fresh salad at Hotel Burimi i Valbonës

Trout fresh from the Valbona River

Our room was on the fourth floor of this lodge at Hotel Burimi i Valbonës.

There was quite a bit of snow at higher elevations, but not much higher!  We were surrounded by mountain peaks like these.  Apparently, it takes a while for the snow to melt in the Spring.

Snow in May!

There is a waterfall within hiking distance, but we arrived in the valley too late to hike to the falls and back to the hotel 8^(

Looks like a big tooth, doesn't it?

Further up the valley, we found some people camping with the SUVs.  Very pretty location near an abandoned old school building.

You can see the old abandoned school building below.

A large section of the valley floor along the river is composed of this rocky area, devoid of plant life.  I assume it is limestone, but I am not a geologist.

The Valbona River flows through the valley and is very clean at this point.

Pam and I on the banks of the Valbona River.

As the day ended, sheep started coming down the mountainside with their sheep dog.

A boy leading his work horse down the valley.

You can also view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

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The Road to Valbona

After lunch in Gjakova, Kosovo, we drove to Valbona Valley in Albania.  What a gorgeous drive!  After crossing the border between Kosovo and Albania, we drove on the scenic Rruga Azem Hajdari until the road ended.  Along the way, we were treated to many gorgeous views of the incredible Albanian Alps!  We would love to come back!

I shot these photos through the windshield and window so they are not as sharp as I would prefer.  Click on my photos below to see them in high resolution on Flickr.  You can also view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

Albanian Alps & Valley from Rruga Azem Hajdari

Horses along Rruga Azem Hajdari

Two Ridges in the Albanian Alps

Mountain Overlook

Mountains & Valley

Mountain Summit from Rruga Azem Hajdari

Work Horse & Cart

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You can also view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

Morning in Gjakova

We arrived in Gjakova, Kosovo about 8:30 am, parked and walked through the bazaar.  A bazaar is usually in the old center of a town in Kosovo.  The shops were just opening up.  Some people were enjoying their morning coffee at the cafes.  The hanging red lanterns are lit each night.  It was a quiet morning, but a pretty one!

Click on my photos below to see them in high resolution on Flickr.  You can view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

Gjakova's Bazaar

While modern clothing popular is popular in Kosovo today as it is in the West, the traditional clothing of Kosovo can be still be seen and is available in the bazaars.  I did see a few elderly men dressed in traditional clothing during our visit.

A traditional & modern clothing shop.

A woman's clothing shop.

A traditional children's clothing store.

Walking through the bazaar.

Gjakova was hit hard during the Kosovo War.  While most of the people have returned and the damage repaired, there is still evidence of the war if one looks close enough.

A building destroyed during the Kosovo War.

We saw several traditional "Kulla" tower houses as we explored Kosovo.  They were built during and after the Ottoman Empire era up until the early 1900's.  They served as fortifications to protect against attacks.

A kulla now used as a hotel.  Kulla's were built to protect the local citizens from attack.

We were hungry considering we left at 6:00 am and it was 9:30 am.  Time for breakfast!  Lirac took us to a great restaurant called Saranda Grill.

Time for breakfast!  A Qebaptore specializes in Qebapa (Qebpa/Qofte/Cevap/Cevapi), skinless sausages made from seasoned beef & lamb.

Fellow patrons of Saranda Grill

I enjoyed a refreshing traditional Kosovo beverage called Ayran.  Frothy, fresh, light, awesome!  Not at all like a milkshake.  The taste is entirely different and definitely worth trying.

Kosovo cuisine features very fresh produce!  We loved the salads.  Below is a photo of Pam's Sallatë Shope (Shopska Salad).

Salat Shope (Shopska Salad)

I just had to try the Qebapa!  Definitely enjoyed it.  Not too spicy, and not to bland.  Great with fresh baked bread!

Qebapa/Qofte/Cevap/Cevapi (Seasoned Beef & Lamb)

Pam, Lirak & Chris @ Saranda Grill

You can view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

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The Road To Gjakova

Our new friends Lirac & Suela invited us over for a traditional Albanian meal of lamb and vegetables.  Even enjoyed some Raki!  The meal was wonderful.  And so was their hospitality!  We really appreciated a home cooked meal!

The next day, we met Lirac & Suela at 6:00 am and left for the Albanian Alps where we planned to spend a night in Valbona National Park.  We planned to stop for lunch in Gjakova, Lirac's home town.  Chris graciously offered to drive us in his Jeep rental.

Islam is the predominate religion in Kosovo where 96% of the population is Muslim, most of whom are Kosovo Albanians.  As a result, we saw many Mosques.

Click on my photos below to see them in high resolution on Flickr.  You can view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

Village, Minaret & Mosque along Highway R110.

More Snow-capped Mountains

Hillside Homes along R110

A man and his beast.

Valley homes near Gjakova

Horses along R110

You can view the photos in high resolution by clicking here!

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