Where is Qafë Thanë?

Where is Qafë Thanë?

Albania, europe

Length

15.9 km

Elevation

1,000 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Albania/North Macedonia border at Qafë Thanë, a mountain pass chilling at 1,000m (3,280ft). This is the main drag connecting the two countries, specifically linking Korçë County in Albania and the Southwestern Region of North Macedonia.

The whole route's paved, so no worries there. It's part of the E852 international motorway, known as SH9 in Albania and A2 in Macedonia. Just be ready for some steep climbs, hitting gradients up to 7% in places.

The pass sits right on Lake Ohrid's shores and stretches for about 15.9 km (9.87 miles), going south to north from the SH3 Road in Albania all the way to Struga, a super popular tourist spot on the North Macedonian side of the lake. So, you're looking at some pretty stunning lake views along the way.

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Road Details

Country
Albania
Continent
europe
Length
15.9 km
Max Elevation
1,000 m
Difficulty
moderate

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