– Have a great trip!
– Wishing you a smooth and blessed journey!
These were the kind wishes with which we were kindly sent off from Shkodra, where we stopped for a short break and took with us not only the memory of warm hospitality, but also a taste of the traditional Shkodra cuisine to carry with us amidst the mountains.

To reach Theth, one must inevitably experience Boga, a prelude to the enchanting mountain magic of Albania. As we approach Boga, the gateway to the heart of the Albanian Alps, we catch sight of the towering mountains on the horizon. Their peaks, on one side, seem to scrape the blue sky, while on the other, they appear to rest gently in the embrace of the celestial blue.

We arrive in Boga, where the boom in tourism has made Albanian and English blend seamlessly in everyday conversation. In fact, at times, it can be difficult to tell a local from a visitor. This is because, in Albania, the home is always open to guests, and visitors feel as though they are in their own space. They enjoy our country and this region—both wild and steeped in Albanian tradition—as if it were their own home.

On our first night, we decide to stop in Boga. There, we meet a couple of tourists who had traveled from Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in their camper. “We heard about Albania through online media, but also from our friends who have been here before and enjoyed the beauty of this magical country,” said Tjerk Cloosterman.

“We arrived in Albania two days ago. This country has become a tourist destination. In the Netherlands, there is a lot of talk about Albania, both in the media and among us, as well as on blogs. Our friends have told us about this place, and others also write on their blogs that it is a place that must be visited.”

“We stayed a night in Shkodra,” Cloosterman continues, “and had a wonderful evening in the city center. It was stunning, the people were incredibly friendly, the food was delicious, and the drinks were equally delightful.”

The couple explained that they would stay one more night in Boga, to go on a hike along the trails of this picturesque village to take in the views from the heights of the Alps. Afterward, they would continue their journey toward Tirana and Berat.

“We want to see the capital first, and then Berat, which we’ve been told is very beautiful. It’s a historic city that takes you back in time. We’ll come to visit Theth another time,” emphasized Cloosterman.

We made our way back to the guesthouse, where the evening kicked off with a warm hearth and generous hospitality, paired with wine crafted by our host. The crackling wood stove provided a comforting warmth, while music in the background blended with the sounds of conversations in English, French, and several other languages from the surrounding tables.

David Toma, the son of the owner of the guesthouse where we stayed, shared with us that the area has been frequented by tourists since the early 2000s. He noted that it can now be considered the gateway to the Albanian Alps for both foreign visitors and locals.

“The first tourists started coming in 2000. They came for camping and stayed in the forest. This was an old house at the time. Tourists would come, and seeing the place, it resembled a guesthouse. They would ask if they could rent a room. That’s how the idea for investment started and the concept started to take shape,” said David.

/sm/