Welcome to Albania. Have you perhaps done the adventurous (all-road) tour through the Theth National Park in recent days? Hopefully you have also visited Shkodër and marveled at all the cultural beauty? Then this route is a great way to relax and enjoy the nature around you. With this route you travel from Shkodër further north, to the Nikaj Mertur Natural Park. A little twist: you spend a large part of the day on the ferry from Koman to Fierze.

The morning starts early. Since the ferry from Koman departs at 9.00 am, it is useful to get up early. This gives you time to drive slowly in the morning to the departure point of the ferry, and to do some shopping as well. On the ferry there is a small shop with some snacks. For an extensive (breakfast and lunch) picnic on the deck of the ferry, it is more convenient to do your shopping at a local supermarket.

Via Shkodër (where you can still refuel) you drive towards the Drin river. This river feeds Lake Koman where you spend a large part of the day. Lake Koman is a reservoir, built in the 1970s and 1980s. It is surrounded by wooded hills, deep gorges and narrow valleys and covers an area of approximately 34km2. It will not surprise you that the crossing can also take 3 hours.

When crossing the Drin river in the morning you can already see the sheet piles in the distance. Near these sheet piles you can stop at a local Spar for groceries. From this moment also begins a wonderful winding route along the first part of the reservoir.
After the power station is the boarding point for the ferry. Tip: after driving up, it is best to go to the upper deck and get a spot there. The view during the trip is impressive. From the top deck you can enjoy maximum and take beautiful pictures.

The ferry service was established for the local population at the time. Gradually it has become more and more popular and tourists also know how to find the service. Therefore, keep in mind to book your tickets online a few days in advance. This way you are guaranteed space on board.
After about 2.5 to 3 hours sailing you arrive at the end point of the ferry: Fierze. If you have not yet refueled in the morning, you can deviate briefly from the route and drive to the main road. In the village of Dushaj you have a gas station. With a full tank you can be sure that you can drive through the Nikaj-Mertur Natural Park. You won't find anything along the way!

The nature park is located next to Theth National Park and has an Alpine landscape. Here and there you see snow-capped peaks, above the thickly forested hills. The route creeps along one of the few roads through the park to an elevation of approximately 1,100 meters. This part of the route, with a total of 30 kilometers, is not to be underestimated. It takes an average of one hour to reach the end point. The roads are narrow, sometimes along deep chasms and offer challenging (hairpin) turns. Take your time to enjoy the route and arrive at your final destination in one piece.
That too is worth it. On top of the mountain, with a beautiful view of the surrounding nature, you can enjoy the local cooking of your hosts in the evening in the mountain hut.