Shpella e Pëllumbasit Travel Guide

Shpella e Pëllumbasit, or Pëllumbas Cave, also known as the Black Cave (Shpella e Zezë), is a captivating natural and archaeological site near Pëllumbas village in Tirana County. Situated in the Skorana Gorge within Dajti National Park, the cave lies approximately 500 meters above the Adriatic Sea, on the slopes of the Dajti mountain chain.This karst cave stretches 360 meters in length, with chambers varying between 10 to 15 meters in width and descending 45 meters vertically. As one of Albania's most beautiful caves, it attracts numerous visitors. Inside, you can marvel at the undulating rock formations and diverse stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over thousands of years.Shpella e Pëllumbasit is also a significant archaeological site, containing evidence of prehistoric human habitation dating back thousands of years. Excavations have revealed remains of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) and traces of early human activity, including fire-making techniques and primitive tools. The cave is considered among the six known karst caves in Europe.To reach the cave, visitors can take a bus from Tirana to Pëllumbas or Iba, followed by a scenic hike through the Skorana Gorge. The trail from Pëllumbas village to the cave is about 2 kilometers and takes around 45 minutes, offering views of the Erzen River gorge.