Great daytrip - the views were stunning, and the atmosphere on the boat was brilliant (lots of locals, Albanian music and very lively!). The place you stop for lunch is beautiful - mountains, greenery, water to paddle (or swim if you're brave - it’s chilly!), restaurants and bars. Our tour guide Renato is great company, very informative and friendly - he gave us helpful tips for places to visit.

Great experience. The organization has worked out great and our tour guide Armando was absolutely world class.

Renato our tour guide was absolutely AMAZING! He is an amazing driver, made you feel like family! We had an amazing time! I give this tour 10 stars ⭐️

Location was fantastic. Staff was friendly. Not sure why 5am pick up is we stopped for 45 mins break and it was a private boat. May be bit too pricey but location was worth the visit

Wow! This tour ist the best we ever had. The nature is stunning and I recommend everyone to take the tour to Komani Lake and Shala River. The Organisation with choose balkan was excellent and our tour guide Elton (Toni) did a phenomenal job. Five Stars!

Our tour guide Toni (Elton) picked us up punctually at the meeting point. After a very short time we already had a very good connection to each other and drove towards Komani Lake in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Toni always stopped when we needed a break or wanted to take photos. The boat trip was, just before the high season, an absolute highlight of our time in Albania. We also had very good and reliable contact with the organiser in the background, Sirma. Next time I will stay longer and certainly book a tour with Choose Balkans again!

We very much enjoyed our day at beautiful Lake Komani and Ari was a wonderful guide and driver. The communication with Choose Balkans was excellent from beginning to end and I would definitely recommend them for tours around Albania. The only downside of our particular tour was that the water in the Shala river was too low to pass through with the boat, so we didn't get to see as much of the river. What we did see was still amazingly beautiful though and our lunch at a lake guesthouse was absolutely delicious! Tips: 1) bring a jacket! We went in September and the boat ride was very cold and wet! We weren’t adequately prepared for this. 2) Keep in mind that you'll be doing a lot of sitting on this tour. The drive is about 3-4 hours total each way (with some coffee stops) and the boat ride is another 2 hours there and back. If you are looking for a more active experience, this might not be the best tour for you. The views really are stunning though.

Fabulous day trip up the dammed river to a wonderful stone cottage where a lovely family fed us a farm to table lunch complete with wine and raki in their own home. The food was cooked on an open fire, was authentic Albanian fare which is difficult to find now and was absolutely delicious. The family was gracious and incredibly kind and they welcomed us enthusiastically even though the stop was not planned for, as a storm had caused a blockage further up the river and plans were changed short notice. What a fortuitous change for us! The scenery is absolutely beautiful, the drive through the mountains offered unparalleled views and our driver/guide was exceptional. He drove for the road conditions 100% of the way and it was a comfortable ride despite the stretch of bumpy and potholed road. Eri, our BalkanTour guide was amazing…informative, attentive, kind and humorous. He answered all of our many questions about his country, their way of life and was very knowledgable about Albanian history and geography. He also speaks 5 languages fluently. We travel frequently and this was without a doubt, the best guided day tour we have experienced. Definitely an 11/10!

We took a day trip from Tirana to the Shala River with Eri Veseli in late September and it was the definitely the highlight of our 10 days in Albania. In fact, the day was a highlight experience of 10 years of fairly extensive travel! The scenery on the way in and while on the lake is beautiful, and even though we had plenty of rain and were soaked to the skin, we would not have changed a single thing! The road into the dammed lake area and start of the boat ride was bumpy, twisting and, with a less skilled driver, might have felt more than a bit dangerous. However, Eri’s driving throughout the day was exemplary and he drove for the conditions 100 percent of the way. We felt safe and well cared for the entire day, from our 0500 pick up to the 1900 drop off. He was an informative, welcoming and attentive guide who answered all of our many questions honestly and with humour, which was greatly appreciated. Eri is fluent in 5 languages and his English was excellent. We had the most incredible meal experience of our lives and were welcomed into the home of a lovely family, fed an amazing meal, most of which was cooked over an indoor fire and they shared their home and generosity freely and with great enthusiasm and kindness. This was an absolutely incredible experience and one I would not hesitate to recommend Eri Veseli and Balkan Tours for one second!

Such a beautiful place! I was lucky to do it on a Friday, as it might be crowded at the weekend. Super Orga and guide ❤️ Hope this place will be free of litter as it would be a shame if human behavior and tourism would destroy this amazing place 💚

The true hidden paradise, we were accompanied by the best guide and adventurer! Thank you for such a beautiful experience. Everything you mention is true! We have been traveling for two and a half years, and it is important to take a beautiful memory of each place we visit! Everything was punctual and exact as promised, we recommend this adventure of clear waters and beautiful mountains!

Excellent adventure to this beautiful, tranquil and hidden location. Stunning views, bumpy off the grid roads and a sensational boat ride through the Albanian alps accompanied by our great guide Heldi. Plenty of time to swim/hike/paddle/zip line/relax in this remote area enjoying the lovely water’s colour. This is a superb option once you’ve explored all the city parts of Tirana; the mountains are not to be missed!! Bring some Lek for a treat or two, they don’t take card here!

Our tour to Shala River was magnificent! Whilst the destination is spectacular, our long journey was made so wonderful as result of our tour guide, Eri. He knew when to talk to us, providing interesting stories, and when to give us space to relax and be mesmerised by the scenery. He was also super fun along the entire journey, with a great sense of humour. We highly recommend this tour.

I get why they call this the Thailand of Albania. The water is mesmerisingly beautiful. Definitely a nice day trip and you get to sunbathe a bit in this hidden spot in the mountains. I combined this trip with the hike from Valbona to Theth. Definitely recommend to do both!

Eri Veseli went above and beyond to give us an outstanding tour of the Shala river and surrounding areas. His knowledge of the area and Albanian culture (ancient and modern) as well as his fantastic sense of humour made it an awesome experience. We would highly recommend choose bulkans and Eri Veseli to anyone considering a day trip from Tirana.

Shala River was well worth the journey to get there. It's incredible to be able to visit such remote locations only accessible by boat. The peaceful scenery surrounded by an abundance of nature was such a privilege. 100% worth it. What an incredible adventure, disconnected to connect with nature.

Amazing scenes.. very courteous service from Choose Balkans. Very helpful and friendly tour guide. Excellent value for the money. Be prepared to swim in Shala river and for a long day.

It was altogether a new experience, 5 hours drive from Tirana to Komani Lake and then 1 hour 15 minutes boat ride to Shala River, perfect combination of sight seen from road and then from boat ride crossing the excellent view of green mountains, reaching Shala River. Excellent arrangement, professional guys, highly recommended

My tour guide was awesome,picked me up on time and during the ride to the river he told me about Albania history and all interesting places I should visit in the next visit.Highly recommended!

It was one day trip with Brikena Shamitaz the tour leader. And it was great Everything was good. From pick up time until last minute. They are kind and helpful while the way to Shala river and the river itself is wonderful. Great family Accommodated us for lunch and had nice time with them like a second family Would love to do it again