Part 1.
Long time ago, when Ramiz Alia ruled the country, I've seen a TV spot from Albania where a shepherd stood on a riverbank of a horrible river, surrounding an evergreen valley and fascinating peaks. It was a whitewater paradise, I bethought me to paddle there however what I heard about Albania, was everything but promising; armed bandits, thieves everywhere, insecure traveling, extreme poverty, so I forgot about this country.
Two years ago I've received an e-mail from Tibor Dienes (www.alban.hu), if we would like to rafting in Albania. He knows so much about whitewater like us about Albania :-) but we are in contact since then.
We went to Corsica this year - it's a reliable trip at springtime - but I red an article on kajak.at from Klaus Formann and friends who enjoyed the hospitality of Gent Mati, the only Albanian paddler in 2002. They were on the south, I saw the pictures of Osum and Devoll, and it looked very good.
I was convinced, we have to go there.
Next step, searching pictures on the net. I found a nice one, the Shala.
I sent it to Tibor, he became shocked immediately, hey, there is the NORTH, don't go there, that's dangerous, even Mati doesn't go there, that is the land of bloodfeud, no food, etc. but he shortly realized, we are not tourists:-) The expedition goes to places where tourists don't go, it's simple, if not, and that’s just a weekend trip.
We like to discover strange places like Ukraine and Romania, so Albania should be the next challenge.

Part2:
Why is good to travel to remote mountains, where the roads are like a deserted riverbed, the most reliable traveling equipment is the donkey, if you get in trouble, the medical help comes two days later from the far Italy? Missing McDonalds, Tesco, car repair service and pension is good enough for you? There are good rivers, so who cares the uncomfortable conditions. (Small facts: did you know, Albania have the highest number of Mercedes all over the world, comparing to the number of cars in the country? The old joke, go holiday to Albania, your car is already there, is true :-))
Europe is discovered already, the last first descents are exported to China and the states of former USSR, where the European paddlers are fancy strangers in small, colorful things.
But Albania is closer than Paris to Budapest. 18 hours on rocky roads (including the friendly, lost-war frustrated Serbian policemen), and you arrive to the Albanian North Alps and few hundred years back in the history. This is the place where the value of local friends and connections worth more than anything else, without friends you'll be seriously f***d, you are on your own in the mountains. BTW, the people are very friendly if you are open to assimilate their lifestyle.

Part3:
The expedition begins on 26 April from Budapest, arrival to Shkodra on 27. Thet, the center of the trip is 80 km away from Shkodra, 8 hours on the mountain roads by a jeep.

The first descent of Shala begins on the third day. Approx. 50 km without any description, river map or satellite picture just inaccessible riverbank and rugged terrain. There will be a real challenge for few days.

Then we'd like to paddle Valbona, we've seen on a 10 sec video which made from the road, it looks to a Class4 river on that section (the "from the road" expression means it should be class 6 on the water :-)

There are interesting rivers and waterfalls all around, if we have more time, we'll discover more but it's enough in the first plan. If we have time, maybe visit Gent Mati, the local hero on the South but basically this program is enough.

More information and reservation on my e-mail, if you want to join us, be a class4-5 paddler, have a good creeking equipment, have open minded explorer personality and respect the different cultures (it's important, don't forget, the bloodfeud is a living heritage in North Alps!)
The tavel cost is around 70.000 HUF (~300EUR)+accomodation, self support, payable until 1st of April.
Traveling only with jeeps!

Contact: Janos Pahi