Travel guide
Bovilla Lake from Durrës
Staying by the sea in Durrës and want to see the turquoise lake in the mountains? Bovilla Lake is an easy day away from the beach. We pick you up at your hotel in Durrës, drive you up the rough mountain road in our 4x4 and bring you back to your hotel. No long hike: from the car park it is a 15-minute walk to the viewpoint.
Hotel pickup in Durrës
We collect you at your hotel and bring you back to it after the trip.
About 1.5–2 hours
Drive each way, past Tirana. The last part is a rough gravel road.
15-minute walk
From the car park to the viewpoint, half of it on steep stairs.
From 13,000 lek per car
For 1–2 people. With 4 people it is about 3,750 lek each.
Can you get there on your own?
Not easily. There is no bus from Durrës to the lake. You would first need to get to Tirana, and then find a car that can handle the last part of the road: narrow gravel full of potholes, shared with lorries from a nearby quarry. Low rental cars often scrape the ground, and rental car insurance usually does not cover this kind of road.
With a 4x4 and a local driver you skip all of that. You sit back, and we stop at the best places on the way. Read more about the lake, the road and the viewpoint in our Bovilla Lake guide.
How the day goes
Pickup in Durrës
We meet you at your hotel at the time you choose when you book.
Bovilla Canyon
A short stop at the small bridge over the bright green river, one of the most photographed spots on the way.
The viewpoint
We drive up to the car park below Mount Gamti. From there a 15-minute walk takes you to the view over the lake. Take your time for photos.
Restaurant stop
Time for a coffee, a drink or a meal at the restaurant at the lake (food and drinks are not included).
Back to the beach
We drive you back to your hotel in Durrës.
Bovilla trips with pickup in Durrës
All tours are private, in our own 4x4, with an English-speaking driver who is also your guide. Fuel, tolls and parking are included. On the tour page, choose Durrës as the pickup place to see the price.
Bovilla Lake from Durrës: common questions
How far is Bovilla Lake from Durrës?
The drive usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, depending on traffic and where your hotel is. The road goes past Tirana, and the last part to the lake is rough gravel.
Do you pick up at hotels in Durrës?
Yes. Choose Durrës as the pickup place on the tour page and write your hotel name when you book.
I am staying in Golem or another beach town. Can you pick me up?
Choose Other location on the tour page or send us a message with your hotel, and we will tell you if we can pick you up and what it costs.
Can I combine Bovilla with Krujë?
Yes. Our Bovilla, Qafështama & Krujë tour also picks you up in Durrës. Or plan your own day on our Build your own trip page.
Can you swim in Bovilla Lake?
No. The lake supplies most of Tirana's drinking water, so swimming is not allowed.
Ready to see Bovilla Lake?
Pick a date on the tour page, choose Durrës as your pickup, and send a booking request. We confirm by email, usually within a few hours.
Book the Bovilla Lake tour