Puka – The Alpine City Along the Lakes

The city of Puka is located in the heart of Northern Albania, stretching along the Drin River, from Vezir Bridge in the eastern Dukagjin Plain to near the mouth of the Gomsiqe River in the west. It is bordered to the south by Mirdita through the mountain ridges of Runa Peak, Roshi Peak, and the Tërthore Mountains.

The intertwining of mountains with valleys, grasslands, and meadows full of streams and clear water springs creates an environment with clean air, ideal for ecotourism, nature and adventure tourism, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, sport hunting, or relaxing activities.

Puka is one of Albania’s new tourist destinations; its unique caves, mountain peaks, trails, inns, good food, water, and clean air are reasons to head joyfully towards the northeast of the country, where you can also witness the breathtaking views of fairy-tale lakes like those of Fierza, Koman, etc.

Puka’s most visited destinations include the pine massif, the peaks of Krraba, Tërthor, and Munella, the natural ski slope to the south of the city, turning it into a winter attraction similar to those in the Balkans.

The artificial lake of Puka, a pleasant destination in the city, offers a completely alpine landscape, along with Lake Fierza, created near the village of the same name on the Drin River cascade, as well as those of Vau i Dejës and Koman.

Puka is the birthplace of the poet of the poem “Mjerimi,” Migjeni, whose statue stands in the city center.

A beautiful itinerary in Puka is the exploratory journey from Puka to the Qelëz commune on Lake Koman, culminating in the unique and extraordinary panorama of the Monks’ Cave or otherwise known as the Cave of Kaurri, near the village of Lëvrushk, on Mount Kollata. This fairy-tale journey “Shtojzavallesh” through Lake Koman is perfect for adventure tourism enthusiasts.

Another beautiful attraction is the Rock of Fairies (Mrizi i Zanave), located in the opposite direction from the village of Qerret in Puka, where the first stop is a water spring that ends at the Rock of Fairies, 680 meters above sea level.