#1: The Farmhouse Hostel The Hostel was Alfred Selimaj’s family home up until a few years ago. Now it is a functioning hostel with 4 rooms upstairs which have a total of 16 bunk beds (well, 8 sets of bunks; 16 beds). There’s also a full and enormous lounge/common room upstairs with sofas and fireplace, […]
The most popular guesthouse at that end of the valley. Kol and his family are especially good at demonstrating local culture, dressing up and dancing on the lawn – fun things like that! The restaurant is small and basic but super cute. Also only 4km from the Qafa e Valbonës (Thethi) Trailhead. Open all year. […]
Our pick for nicest guesthouse in Valbona Center. Big, old and authentic, but with new bathrooms and beds. The restaurant is small and basic, but set back next to a little stream. Very pretty. Host Kelmend is also very active in the community, working to give locals a voice with government.
Guesthouse Adenis is run by a very friendly and charming family. The younger members of the family all speak English. Rooms are comfortable & clean . Your host Adenis, who is all of 18 years old, has been working with tourists since he was oooh, maybe 7 years old and is now an experienced mountain […]
Guesthouse Lindi is a dream of another life, set on a beautiful shaded property in the middle of Gjelaj, with nice green lawns, outdoor seating and dozens of beehives. Intelligent and charming young summer hostess Aurela speaks good English (and some Spanish and Italian), and lives with the family during high season. She can guide […]
Another on our short list of “Best Places.” A BEAUTIFUL old 150-year old house, 20 minutes’ hike above the valley bottom on the Maja e Rosit Path (although 4×4 transport is also available to get there), with tasteful modern renovations inside and good bathrooms. In a place where most people don’t really like animals, this family […]
Several years ago I was sitting in Arif Kadri’s new ‘stan’ (shepherd’s summer house), which at the time was just a one-room stone hut they built mostly “for fun” (since back then they only used the farm in May and September). I looked around and asked the obvious question: “Would you let tourists come and […]
