Qafa Buni i Thorës is a mountain pass in the Albanian Alps in northwestern Albania, carried by the road connecting Koplik and Theth. It's a place where the landscape shifts dramatically, offering travelers a memorable stretch on the way to one of Albania's most scenic valleys.

The terrain here is rugged and striking - steep slopes, rocky ridgelines and sweeping views toward the Shala valley. The road winds for several kilometers along a steep flank, barely losing elevation, before turning north and descending in a series of switchbacks down toward Theth. Just east of the pass summit lies a small pond, and a bit further on, where the view opens up toward the Shala valley, stands a monument dedicated to Edith Durham, known as the Queen of the Highlanders. In spring and summer the surroundings are lush and green, while autumn and winter bring a more dramatic, wind-swept character to the landscape.

How to get there

• Boga to Theth via the pass - approximately 25 km, drivable by car or as part of a longer hike
• Paved road from Koplik to Theth - fully asphalted since autumn 2021

Practical information

• The road is drivable by car, though caution is advised in winter or bad weather
• Worth stopping at the Edith Durham monument for the view over the Shala valley

Interestingly, the pass doesn't actually lead directly into the upper Shala valley toward Theth - instead it drops steeply southward into a side valley, making the onward route especially scenic and varied.