Cycling in Albania

International flights are not included in this tour, so you will need to arrange your own travel to and from Albania. Upon arrival at Tirana's airport, you will be greeted by our local Albanian partners. From there, we'll take a minibus eastward to Lake Ohrid and check into a hotel on the lake's shores. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel, where you can savor the native Lake Ohrid trout!

If you're an early riser, start your day with a refreshing dip in one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes! After breakfast at the hotel, we'll take a bus to Korce (approximately 45 minutes). From there, we'll begin our cycling adventure in earnest. Leaving behind Korce's flat fields, we'll gradually ascend into the mountains through a rugged landscape of cliffs and scattered vegetation. We’ll navigate gorges and valleys, heading into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains and crossing the Barmash Pass at 1,159 meters before arriving in the serene valley of Germenj. Our accommodations will be on a small farm, staying in log cabins with two bedrooms and one bathroom each. Enjoy a freshly caught fish dinner by the fireplace in the main living room.

We ride up from the Germenj valley to a flat high plateau surrounded by towering mountain peaks, reaching the source of the Vjosa River. From there, we descend through the spectacular gorge to Leskovik, continuing down to Carshove, and then follow the river route to Benje, perched on a steep hill by the river. This spot is locally renowned for its cuisine and raki. After lunch, we'll take a short cycling trip to the hot springs, located near an ancient, picturesque stone bridge. Here, you can bathe in the river or the springs, with the mud from the riverbed known for its cleansing properties and skin benefits. We return to the guest house at sunset for a delightful dinner at the long table on the terrace.

After breakfast, we continue cycling through the valley toward Kelcyra, with pointed mountain peaks visible in the distance. We ride between the mountains to Drinos and along another river gorge. Following lunch at the Telepene waterfall, we board the bus for a half-hour journey across the wide plains to Gjirokaster, the City of a Thousand Steps, perched high on the mountainside. In the afternoon, we'll stroll through the city, visit the fortress, and explore the narrow cobbled streets and old Ottoman houses from the 18th century. Dinner will be at a local restaurant.

We take the bus out of Gjirokaster and up to the Muzina Pass, the gateway to southern Albania. Our destination today is Saranda, nestled between the blue Ionian Sea and high mountains. Along our cycling route, we'll stop for lunch and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of Butrint, one of Europe's most significant archaeological sites with origins in Roman and Greek antiquity. The final leg of our ride is short and easy. Once we reach Saranda, you might be tempted by a refreshing dip in the sea before we enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Today, we embark on an exhilarating bike ride with steep ascents and descents, leaving Saranda behind as we climb to a cliff-filled mountain plateau. We then speed down towards idyllic sea bays and pass through charming villages, with the dazzling blue sea on our left and majestic mountains towering on our right. In the distance, we can glimpse the Greek holiday island of Corfu. Finally, the route levels out at the long beach of Himare Bay. The afternoon is ours to enjoy with the Ionian Sea!

Today's cycling stage is as spectacular as it is challenging. We ascend from sea level to the Llogara Pass, 1,000 meters above the bright blue Ionian Sea, navigating tight turns as we climb higher and higher. The national park here is home to black pine, Eurasian otters, and golden eagles. On clear days, you can even glimpse the southern Italian mainland in the distance. After a lunch stop at the top, we cruise down towards the town of Vlora, heading to our hotel just before town, where we'll park our bikes for good. The best reward for today's effort is relaxing with a cold refreshment on the hotel's private beach, followed by our final dinner together at the hotel.

After breakfast, it's time to bid farewell to Albania and the wonderful friends we've made on this journey. Participants are free to arrange their onward travels, whether it's heading to the airport for their journey home or continuing on to another exciting destination. Rest assured, we have plenty of suggestions to keep your adventure spirit alive and inspire your next trip!