Riverside Komani Review & How we visited the Shala River

Overview

We booked our 2-night stay at Riverside Komani after checking all other options, and we chose well!

It’s a fantastic guesthouse right on the water of the Shala River, just a 5-minute boat ride south of the famous Shala area. We were super close, but in a quiet environment.

We stayed for one night in a standard, budget-friendly room and the second night in a premium room with a river view.

Neither of the rooms we stayed in had a private bathroom, as only a few rooms with a view have one. But even though we didn’t have a private bathroom, it was fine because there were enough bathrooms for the number of guests.

What to do at Riverside Komani

1. Kayaking to the Shala River

We rented a kayak and kayaked all the way to the Shala River, as this hotel is the perfect spot to base yourself, so you’re close to the popular area, but not right at it.

Otherwise, a great benefit of staying at Riverside is that you have a return boat transfer to the Shala River included in your stay, which is super convenient if you don’t want to or can’t go by kayak.

It was a fun way to explore the river, and if you’re comfortable kayaking, we highly recommend doing this as well. The water was low during our visit, so we had to get out of the kayak a few times, but it was fine, as it added to the adventure.

During summer, the main area at the Shala River is perfect for lounging at the beach, swimming and jumping in the water, and doing a light hike nearby.

2. Trying the food

The menu is limited, the food is simple but tasty, and it gets the job done. We loved the breakfast at Riverside Komani the most, as it was a great combo of something salty, with eggs, cheese, tomato, and sweet with fried dough balls with jam and honey, plus fresh fruit.

There aren’t that many vegetarian options (but enough to get by), so we had lots of French fries (with tzatziki), and also the traditional bean soup for dinner, which was super nice (comes with warm bread).

3. Swimming and sunbathing

While we didn’t go for a swim at Riverside, it’s usually the perfect place for a swim, as they have a floating platform/dock where you can easily descend or jump into the water, especially during warmer days. Plus, they have sunloungers for chilling and sunbathing.

On our October visit, we got our fair share of cold water during our kayaking adventure to Shala, and we were sick the day before, so we skipped swimming. But there were a few brave souls who jumped in during our stay.

4. Chilling at the hotel

Beyond kayaking, we didn’t do any other activities while staying here, so we spent the rest of our time chilling, playing cards, and watching a movie.

We loved the quiet at Riverside Komani, since it’s not located in the busy part of the Shala River. Transfer boats and tours do frequently pass by the hotel on the way to Shala, but it’s not as disruptive as we thought it would be.

5. Enjoying the peace at night and watching the stars

At night, this is the perfect spot for watching the stars, as there’s barely any light in the area, so you can see the sky clearly without any light disturbance.

Plus, since boats practically stop passing after sundown, it becomes SUPER quiet, and the only thing you hear is other guests if they’re hanging out at the tables outside.

Most people were super chill and respectful during our visit, and we believe that’s usually the case. It’s the perfect place for a calm, relaxed stay.

Best time to stay at Riverside Komani

In 2026, Riverside Komani will be open from 15th April, as it’s generally only open during the tourist season and warm months of the year, typically from April to the end of October, which we believe makes absolute sense.

The best time to stay at Riverside Komani is definitely in the warmest months (summer), so you can enjoy a comfortable stay and also go swimming or kayaking.

How to get to Riverside Komani

Most people get here as part of a longer North Albania exploration, but you can definitely visit it on a separate trip.

No matter how you plan to get there, the boat ride from the ferry point in Koman to Riverside Komani takes about 1 hour.

The return boat ride from Koman to Riverside costs 25 EUR per person and includes a return boat ride to the Shala River. We believe this is somewhat expensive, but it is the only way, and the same applies to all hotels in the area.

On the way to or from Valbona

Most travelers visit Riverside Komani on the way to Valbona Valley as part of a North Albania trip, just before doing the Valbona to Theth hike.

Coming by bus from Tirana or Shkoder, you’ll arrive at the Koman Lake Ferry Terminal at 8:30 AM. Then you have to wait for the hotel boat, which will pick you up and bring you to Riverside in 1 hour. On our visit, the boat picked us up at 10 AM, so we grabbed some coffee and tea at one of the cafes.

You can find all the details and a day-by-day itinerary in our 1 Week North Albania Trip Planning Guide.

Independent visit from Shkoder or Tirana

By car, you can get to Riverside Komani by driving 2 hours from Shkoder or 3 hours from Tirana to Lake Koman, and then taking the 1-hour boat to the hotel.

That’s why renting a car for the north of Albania works well if you don’t plan to hike from Valbona to Theth, since you can drive to Koman Lake yourself, without having to use a bus/van. It’s actually faster, more comfortable, and cheaper.

From Shkoder, you can get a bus at 6:40, which arrives at Lake Koman around 9:00, a good time to arrive for the hotel boat pick-up.

From Tirana, the only buses going to Lake Koman are from the ferry companies, and you need to buy a ferry ticket as well, which, if you don’t end up using it, means you will lose money.

What to do after your stay at Riverside Komani

After staying at Riverside Komani, the most common next destination is Valbona. To get there, you first need to get back to the Koman Ferry Terminal, where you board the boat/ferry to Fierza.

From Fierza, you board a minibus to take you the rest of the way to Valbona Valley (1 hour).

We recommend the earliest departure so you arrive in Valbona at 1 PM and have the whole afternoon to enjoy the valley. Find more details in our North Albania Itinerary.

Other hotels nearby

We loved staying at Riverside Komani, especially because it wasn’t at the main Shala River part. But if you’d really like to stay there, we recommend Guri i Lekes Guesthouse (comfy rooms), which we planned to book before we heard of Riverside.

Another option from Riverside Komani is to stay one night, take the boat transfer to Shala River, stay a night there, and then return to Riverside Komani for the end. It’s what many people do.

There is also the option to stay on Lake Koman itself, and not at the Shala River part. From there, you can also easily organize a boat trip to visit the Shala River. Stay at 5 Stinet for the best experience – it’s a new hotel right on the lake’s shore.

Continue your Albania trip planning