Valbona to Kukaj and Xhena Lake

The trail is very beautiful and easy to be done by all categories of tourists. This trail will take you to one of the most beautiful valleys in the central Albanian Alps. This trail is easy to be done, and takes about 3 hours. Setting out from Rragam village, 3km walk will take you to Kukaj village. In this village, you will find the info-board “KUKAJ” on the main road. At this info-board, turn left. After you crossed the dried riverbed, you will find the marked trail, which ascend to a view spot. Tall beech trees give shade on this trail, which makes your hike more pleasant. As soon as you arrive at Kukaj Hill: “Koder Kukaj”, you will find a typical glacial alpine valley right in front of you. This valley descends between the Jezerca and the Kollates block of mountain. The famous Valbona River “Prroni i Kukajve“ runs across this valley. The source of this river is right under the “Ujvara e Valbones” waterfall. This water runs under ground until it appears to the surface of the ground at the entrance of Rrogam village. The stream of water disappears again under the limestone gravel for about 7 km to emerge again at Valbona village. On your right, you can find the Hysaj Farm, where you can experience the atmosphere of a traditional farm with 100 years old tower and the old mill. Here, you can also find the beginning of the trail, which leads to “Majen e Jezerces”. After you have visited the Kukaj village, you may go back to Valbona village to enjoy other beautiful attractions of the area such as: “Mullirin e vjeter“ and “Liqenin e Xhemes“. After you reached the main road, turn left. After 2 km walk, you’ll find “Mulliri i Vjeter” on the other side of the Valbona river. This is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Valbones. Stay on the trail for about 100 meters. Then you will arrive at the info board “Lake James“, which is located almost at the end of the Valbona Valley. Turn right to continue along the beautiful forest of tall beech trees. About some hundred meters walk, you will arrive at “ Liqeni i Xhemes” James Lake, which is a real beauty of the Albanian Alps. Some meters above the lake, you will also find the monument of the hero Bajram Currit. When you keep on going along the trail, you will find Dragobia Cave on the right of the monument!