I have had the privilege to travel to so many beautiful places in this world and Komani Lake has now moved to the top of my favorites list! I knew from photos that my week at 5 Stinët Villas would be incredible, but it was 10X better than anything I could have ever imagined or prepared for. Read along to learn about my magical week at Komani Lake in Albania.
How to Get to Komani Lake
I made my way to Komani Lake from Tirana and it was about a 5 hour journey. Four hours by van and then a short ferry ride that was just under an hour. There are many ways to get to Komani Lake (the 5 Stinet Villas are only reachable by ferry) so I recommend booking everything through Komani Lake Explore so they can help you plan the most efficient arrival.
I had never been to Albania before so I asked a ton of questions. Whenever I travel somewhere new I am extra aware of my surroundings and try to educate myself on the area as much as I can. The entire experience with the Komani Lake Explore team was awesome. They were so helpful and answered all of my questions. They made me feel prepared for a week in the mountains and for my first time in Albania! Here is a photo of the van that will pick you up if your journey starts in Tirana. I recommend staying at the Albanopolis Hotel as there is a pickup just a block away.
No matter where your adventure begins, you will make your way to the Koman Ferry Terminal and travel to the villas by either Ferry Berisha or Dragobia Boat. Each boat takes about 40 minutes. The ferries leave at 9 am and they will stop at the villas for you. FYI, The ferry price is included in your stay. If you can’t make that time and the employees are available, they can provide a small boat transfer for you at an extra cost. You can see the Ferry Berisha and small boat pictured below.
Here is what my arrival on Dragobia Boat looked like as we pulled up to 5 Stinet Villas!
5 Stinet Villas
When I knew I was going to be in Greece for a couple of weeks I wanted to add on to my trip and go to lesser known area to relax before I made my way back to the United States. I did a lot of research and came across these beautiful guesthouses called 5 Stinët Villas. I learned that this family has been hosting people from all over the world for decades and I just knew I had to visit and learn more about this beautiful area. Here are some photos from my villa. I stayed in Villa 5, but they all have awesome views!
The accommodation is quite basic but extremely clean and comfortable. There is a full sized bed, a twin bed, a TV, and a private bathroom.
The views on the other hand are the least basics thing I’ve ever seen. Waking up to this each morning was the best feeling in the world.
Writing in my journal here each morning and looking at this view blew me away. It was so peaceful.
And the views just keep getting better as you get out and walk around the property…
What to do at Komani Lake
I chose this accommodation because I wanted to do a self-led silent retreat and just be myself and enjoy nature. The first day I arrived I got a lot of that because there was an earthquake and a giant storm. It was just me, myself, and I that first 24 hours and although the weather was scary the experience was incredible. The staff came down to give me an update on the storm (I couldn’t believe it because it was DOWN POURING!) and let me know we were safe and that it was clear up tomorrow, and it did! The next six days I had in the mountains were so beautiful and there was so much to do.
Kayak Through Komani Lake
As I said, I did a lot of relaxing, hiking and reading here but also joined in on some fun activities! One of the most popular things to do at Komani Lake is kayak. The great thing about this is the villas have them for rent right on site and will give you directions on where to go. If you prefer, you can also hire a guide to take you through the lake. I recommend going in the morning when the water is calm and you can see the mountains reflect on the lake. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Take Ferry Berisha to Fierze
I almost didn’t do this and I’m so glad I did! The ferry ride from the 5 Stinet villas to Fierze was so gorgeous. The ferry leaves a little before 10 am and arrives in Fierze around 11:30. When you arrive in Fierze you’ll come to another guesthouse with a restaurant. You can either have lunch here or enjoy a nice walk around before they head back around 1.
I recommend getting a few pictures of course, but then putting your phone down and taking in all the awesome views.
As I mentioned earlier, my first night here there was a giant storm, of course it’s a bummer to have bad weather during a vacation but I’ve learned that so many positives come from large rains. Two of those positives are gorgeous lush trees and countless waterfalls.
Once again, the views will simply blow you away. I had no idea Albania was this beautiful and I’m so glad I got to explore this region of it.
Hike around Komani Lake
There are so many hiking options at Komani Lake. You could go north of Fierze if you stayed the night or had a car. There are also a few trails you can get to right from your villa and simply walk around and take in the views.
I loved hiking around the property during sunrise and sunset.
The views were absolutely gorgeous and different everyday.
You can also set up guided tours if you want a little more adventure! Click this link for more information on tickets and tours through Komani Lake Explore.
Relax, Relax, Relax
The point of my trip to Komani Lake was to relax. I couldn’t wait to explore as well, but it was great to read an entire book, catch up on journaling and meditate multiple times a day. I couldn’t recommend this option more, even if it’s just for a day or 1/2 day on your trip! Also, this book is amazing if you’re looking for a great read.
Where to Eat at Komani Lake
There were a few options if I wanted to take the ferry, but I seriously recommend not wasting your time at other restaurants and just enjoying the authentic and out of this world delicious food at 5 Stinet Villas. Two months later and I’m still thinking about this food every. damn. day.
The portions are giant (I finally had to tell them to bring less because I didn’t want to waste), the ingredients are so damn fresh because they all come from their farm, and each day and meal you get something new. Some of my favorites were the eggs (some of the best I’ve ever tasted), lake trout, goat noodle soup and the breakfast sausage. Those were my favorites, but honestly everything I ate was incredible. Breakfast is included in your stay and the other meals are $12 each. Can you imagine what you’d pay for all of this in the States…
They also made great wine. I loved the vines scattered all around the dining area.
Oh and I almost forgot about their homemade jam and honey from their bee farm…This every morning was a dream come true.
This was the path that you walk up and down to meals which makes it even better.
And here was my little dining buddy, Laurie.
Convinced to visit Komani Lake and stay at 5 Stinet Villas yet? I seriously couldn’t recommend this place more and miss it everyday. A special thanks to Mirella, Niku, Dritan, Eva, and the entire family and staff at Ferry Berisha and 5 Stinet Villas. This week in Albania will forever be one of my favorite solo trips and I feel so lucky to have met this wonderful family and stay in their magical villas.
This place is perfect for anyone looking to get away and have some time with nature, whether that be to relax or hike all day! Have you ever considered traveling to Albania? Thanks so much for reading along and if you want to learn more about my other adventures click here to read my other recent blog posts!
