What to do on the Lumi i Shales with kids? The Shala River also known as Lumi i Shales is a river deep in the heart of northern Albania and this river is only accessible by boat. Because of the clear blue water and high cliffs surrounding the river, some tourists also call it the “Thailand of Albania. The river has become a tourist destination for both foreigners and locals and is described as the pearl of Koman and Albania. We spent 2 nights on the river with our family, so in this blog we will name all the activities there are to do on the Shala River with kids.
Best travel time Lumi i Shales with kids
The best travel time to visit Lumi i Shales with kids is during the summer months of July and August. The water is still very cold even in these months (around 10 degrees), but is a lot colder in the other months. Therefore, if you want to swim in this river, it is recommended to visit Lumi i Shales during the summer months with the family.
During this summer period, temperatures can soar above 30 degrees, so it’s nice and refreshing to take a dip in the Shala River with kids. Also, plenty of boats leave for the Shala River during this period because of the high season which is a lot less during the other months of the year. So this also makes the place more accessible during this period!
Transportation to and in Lumi i Shales
The exact source of the river is at Theth and from here the river descends to the valley of Shala and flows into Lake Komani. Lumi I shales can only be reached by boat with the Lake Koman ferry. Often the guesthouse where you are staying can arrange transportation to Lumi I Shales.
Also, the guesthouse can arrange transportation from Shkodër to where the Lake Koman ferry departs. So there are several ways to reach the Shala River. You can reach the spot by car from Shkodër in 2.5 hours to get on the Lake Koman ferry. Note that the road is in very bad condition, so you really have to drive slowly here.
It is also advisable if you arrive at the Lake Koman ferry departure point by car to park before the tunnel, as there are not many spots after the tunnel. If you do go by car through the tunnel you can get stuck in tunnel traffic and then you also have the chance of missing the boat to Lumi i Shales which leaves at 10 o’clock.
By minibus, you can also reach the Lake Koman ferry departure point. You can arrange this from several places through the guesthouse. Most mini buses leave in Shkodër from the Rozafa Hotel to the Lake Koman ferry departure point. Do ask about this because our bus left from a different place in Shkodër.
From the starting point of the Lake Koman Ferry, all longtail boats depart for the Shala River. You will probably get a number you can call when you arrive so you get on the right boat. We had arranged the trip including mini bus through our stay from Shköder. So we did not drive all the way by car to the boat departure point.
If you want to explore Albania by car, most tourists arrive at Tirana airport. You can easily rent a car here to explore the rest of the country. It is good then that you make sure the car is properly insured. Therefore, you can perfectly rent a car through the organization Sunny Cars. To rent a car at Tirana airport, take a look here.
If you are curious about the Shala River but don’t feel like staying overnight there are several day tours to the Shala River that you can book online or at your stay in Shköder. You can book an organized day tour from Shkodër and Koman just fine. For more information on this organized day tour from Shkodër take a look here and an organized day tour from Koman take a look here.
Children’s activities in Lumi i Shales
Once you arrive in Lumi i Shales with the family, there are a number of things to do with the kids here. We briefly list these family-friendly activities on the Shala River below.
#1 Swimming
You can take a refreshing dip in the water at Lumi i Shales with kids. Water shoes are recommended for kids and parents as there are some sharp stones in and around the river. In addition, note that there is a current in the river.
We enjoyed swimming in the river with the kids. Despite the current, we were in an inlet, so our oldest just let herself drift along with the current for a bit and then got back up to climb out.
There are several riverfront beds you can lie on that are free if you stay in one of the guesthouses on the river. The water is very cold, but with the heat in the summer months it is fine. Kids can, of course, play along the river with the pebbles lying around and in the river and build entire works of art.
#2 Hiking
There are several hiking trails you can walk along the Shala River. You can look on one of the hike apps such as maps.me or ask for an itinerary from your guesthouse to explore the Shala River area. Keep in mind that it can get quite hot in this area during the summer months, so go hiking early in the morning or just later in the afternoon. Then you will be least affected by this heat.
#3 Zipline
There is a small zipline by the river and it is very fun for kids ages 6 and up. But younger kids may also get off this with an adult. The zipline does not go very fast and is therefore very suitable for kids. Our 9-year-old daughter loved this zipline. There are signs indicating how to get to the zipline from the river. You pay about 15 euros for this zipline.
#4 Canoe rental
There is an opportunity to rent a canoe to explore the Shala River with kids. Do pay attention to the current of the river as it is quite difficult to control the canoe or paddle against the current. We saw quite a few people who had trouble with that when we were there. But this is definitely fun for the older kids to go on a canoe adventure with a parent.
#5 Campfire
Once around 3 a.m. the day tourists leave, a calm comes to the Shala River. You can then enjoy some time by the river or take a dip before dining in the evening at one of the guesthouses. Maybe you will see a wild horse yourself just like us. On all two days after the day tourists were gone and it was quiet, a white horse came to visit.
Once dusk falls, most guesthouses and restaurants will light a campfire where you can enjoy sitting on the benches around the fire. That really makes for a cozy atmosphere by the river. Therefore, staying overnight in this region with kids is also highly recommended.
Family-friendly restaurant Lumi I Shales
You can eat at Lumi i Shales with kids just fine. You have several family-friendly restaurants where you can sit with the family. We list some of these family-friendly restaurants we’ve eaten at.
Bee Eco Guesthouse; this is a guesthouse where you can stay but also have lunch and dinner. They don’t have a very large menu, but there is plenty of choice for everyone. Tasty salads, some French fries for the kids or a piece of meat or fish. The staff is very friendly and you are helped quickly.
Food and drink prices are a lot higher in Lumi i Shales than in the rest of Albania because it is so remote and all food and drink is also brought by boat.
Eagles land: this is another guesthouse where you can also have lunch and dinner with a somewhat more extensive menu. You can choose from traditional Albanian dishes and freshly caught fish from the river. The waiters walk in local outfits which gives a nice atmosphere when you eat here.
Pizza: If you walk from where the longtail boats arrive all the way to the back you will find a sign for pizza with an arrow. This is a restaurant which does not belong to a guesthouse. You’ll find delicious pizzas on the menu, as well as a variety of pastas. You also have a nice view here since the restaurant is located on a small plateau above the Shala River.
The staff is also very friendly. At this family-friendly restaurant and bar, they also light a lovely campfire at night so we had a wonderful time at this restaurant two evenings by the river and even got free chips and a drink from the staff present.
Electricity in Lumi i Shales
What is useful to know is that on the Shala River, the power can regularly go out. It is remote and so, as in the rest of Albania, the power can sometimes go out. There are emergency generators but even these do not always work. One time when we stayed there the power went out all evening and night.
My partner tried with the staff of the restaurants and guesthouse to get a generator to work only this did not work. We did not mind this and did contribute to the atmosphere of this remote place and had a wonderful evening by the campfire. The kids really enjoyed this as well. Also note that there is no ATM available, so you should bring plenty of cash from one of the larger cities.
Family-friendly hotel Lumi i Shales
You can stay in Lumi i Shales with kids just fine. You have plenty of family-friendly accommodations in Lumi i Shales that are suitable for families with kids. We have listed below the accommodations in Lumi i Shales that are rated tremendously well by families with kids. Click on the blue link for more information about the respective accommodation.
Budget accommodation: Riverside Komani Lake
Middle Class Accommodation: Livadhi Guesthouse Komani Lake
Luxury accommodation: Bee Eco Guest House
For the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Lumi i Shales, take a look here.
