A dangerous cliff road to Qafe e Malit Shoshi

A dangerous cliff road to Qafe e Malit Shoshi

Albania, europe

Length

65.8 km

Elevation

1,213 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! If you're heading to northern Albania, specifically Shkodër County, you NEED to experience Qafe e Malit Shoshit. This high mountain pass tops out at 1,213m (almost 4,000ft) and sits nestled within the beautiful Maranai Park.

Now, fair warning: this isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking mostly unpaved roads, so a 4x4 is a MUST. The 65.8km (40+ mile) route from Shkodër to Theth throws a lot at you: think narrow stretches, seriously steep climbs, and, oh yeah, some pretty wild drop-offs!

But the views? Totally worth it! Plus, you get to ford not one, but TWO rivers (Kiri and Lumi i Shales) via bridges that have definitely seen better days! And if you need a pit stop, there's a bar/restaurant called Mali i Shoshit near the top. Trust me, this drive is an unforgettable Albanian experience!

Where is it?

A dangerous cliff road to Qafe e Malit Shoshi is located in Albania (europe). Coordinates: 41.1796, 19.9827

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Road Details

Country
Albania
Continent
europe
Length
65.8 km
Max Elevation
1,213 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
41.1796, 19.9827

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