Cycling in Albania

Name: Cycling in Albania
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (100 reviews)

100 reviews

Activity

Cycling

Overview

Discover the beauty of this previously isolated country by bike

Some say that visiting Albania is as close as you’ll get to travelling back in time. It wasn’t until the collapse of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania in 1991 that the world got its first glimpse of the country within. Huge snow-capped mountains, inviting beaches, rural villages, a genuine subsistence culture and an exceptionally friendly welcome is what you will find here. We cycle through the very best of Europe’s beautiful unknown, beginning our tour on the Macedonia border, biking towards the ancient town of Gjirokastra passing soaring peaks and lush green valleys. From here, we begin our descent to the Albanian Riviera, passing Unesco-listed Butrint and Llogara National Park, before relaxing by the sea at our hotel in Vlorë.

Key Information

Trip Code: MVA
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Albania
Carbon Footprint: 21kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 6 Classic nights (hotels), 1 Simple night (guesthouse)
All breakfasts and three dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Local bike hire of a fully serviced Giant Roam 0/Rove 1 (touring/hybrid) bike

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. If you want to upgrade to an e-bike, these are available for an additional cost.

6 days of Cycling

Pace:

Moderate to challenging: 13-16km/8-10miles an hour

Terrain:

100% tarmac, where some sections are in poor condition.

Day 2: 72 km / 44.7 miles
Day 3: 60 km / 37.3 miles
Day 4: 46 km / 28.6 miles
Day 5: 70 km / 43.5 miles
Day 6: 54 km / 33.6 miles
Day 7: 60 km / 37.3 miles

Highlights

Immerse yourself in a previously isolated country
Cycle from mountain plateaux to the Albanian Riviera
Visit the World Heritage site of Butrint
Fishing villages, national parks and thermal springs

Itinerary

First Destination: Pogradec
Next Destination: Vlore

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Pogradec
Next Destination: Vlore

We start in Pogradec, at our hotel on the shore of Lake Ohrid. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy this lakeside location.

Around 6pm say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers at our hotel, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Pogradec? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Hotel Millennium (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

We begin with one of the most demanding days of the tour. After a quick transfer to Korçë, we begin cycling and leave behind the agricultural plateau, climbing steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock interspersed with wildflowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead, climbing towards Grammoz Mountain and over the Barmash Pass (3,802ft/1,159m) to Gërmenj, lying in a tranquil valley. Here we relax at our accommodation, Farma Sotira, which is also a working trout farm. Meals here consist of organic produce reared or sourced from the farm itself. Once you’ve finished your hearty dinner, sit and relax by the open roaring fire in the dining area with a glass of homemade wine or a bottle of Korçë beer (the most popular in Albania).

Accommodation: Farma Sotira Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, there is a climb out from Germenj to a high grassy plateau close to the Greek border, surrounded by soaring peaks before reaching the source of the River Vjosa and descending through its spectacular gorge to Leskovik. We continue descending to Çarshove and then follow the corniche route high above the river to Benje situated on a ridge above the river. After lunch at the guesthouse, we take a short ride to the thermal springs to relax and soothe aching muscles. Both lunch and dinner will be served on the peaceful terrace.

Accommodation: Guesthouse Coli (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today is one of the easiest days. We continue along the valley towards Kelcyra with its distant shark-tooth peaks, which guard a further gorge. We ride between these gorges until the two rivers meet. After lunch at the waterfalls of Tepelene, we drive (approximately 30 minutes) through the wide plain toward the town of Gjirokastra (City of 1,000 Steps). The well-preserved town is perched on the steep side of the Drino Valley, overlooking snow-capped mountains. In the afternoon, we take a cultural tour through the city and explore narrow cobbled alleys and 18^th-century Ottoman houses. We also visit a 13th-century castle and learn about the fascinating history of this town, which has seen many rulers and has inspired poets, authors and artists.

Accommodation: Hotel Cajupi (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

After breakfast, we load the bikes on to the support vehicle and transfer up to Muzina Pass (approximately 45 minutes), the gateway to southern Albania, for a spectacular downhill ride to Sarandë. On the Ionian Coast, Sarandë is sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea and is close to the ancient remains of Butrint, which we visit on the way. A Unesco World Heritage site, Butrint is very close to the Greek border and is one of the most important archeological sites in the country, with origins back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. We have lunch at the site and continue along the coast to Sarandë.

Accommodation: Hotel Nertili (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Climbing steeply out of Sarandë to a rocky plateau, we enjoy a spectacular coastal ride over cols into bays and around headlands. Always with the mountains to the right and sea to the left, we continue along before descending to Himarë, a small Communist-era fishing village with a small promenade filled with cafes, restaurants and ice cream stands. There is plenty of time for a swim in the Ionian Sea, and our hotel is a short walk to Potam Beach.

Accommodation: Rondo’s Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today’s route is as challenging as it is spectacular as we cycle the most demanding ride of the tour; it will show you how strong you have become. In the morning, there is a climb out of Himarë, which naturally is rewarded with an enjoyable downhill. We then have another climb before our coffee break. That’s followed by a nice downhill, but we must climb again before we regroup.

We then face a long, steady ascent to the Llogara pass. At 3,422ft (1,043m) above sea level, this climb is optional, so if you think it is too much then you can jump in the support vehicle. However, if you are looking for an extra challenge, this climb comes with a real sense of achievement, and the views are fantastic.

At the pass (which you will also see if you take the van), it is possible to see across to Italy on a clear day. We recommend taking a warmer layer for reaching the top of the pass. From here you enter Llogara National Park, home to black pine, Eurasian otter and golden eagles. The park is a scenic expanse of protected woodland that encompasses the forests on the northern side of the Llogora Pass. We begin to descend and have lunch in the national park. In the afternoon, we continue descending towards our hotel, which is by the sea just outside the city. Here we can relax and take a dip in the sea, the perfect reward for a hard day’s cycle.

Accommodation: Hotel Naos (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

This cycling tour of Albania comes to an end after breakfast. But if you’d like a muscle-soothing post-trip break, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in our hotel by the sea in Vlorë.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Hotels and guesthouses

On this door-to-door cycling adventure, we mostly stay in three- or four-star hotels and guesthouses. These are well located for our adventure but, with tourism still developing in Albania, relatively modest. Below are a couple of hotels our guests typically enjoy.

Gërmenj: Farma Sotira (night 2)

Cycling in Albania

In a tranquil valley within Germenj-Shelegur National Park and with fresh water running down from the mountains, Farma Sotira is a tranquil place to stay. It is also a working farm, so dinner is mainly created from homegrown produce and prepared using traditional methods. We sleep in two-room wooden cabins (each room has twin beds). Each cabin has a communal bathroom.

Sarandë: Hotel Nertili (night 5)

Cycling in Albania

The waters of the Ionian take centre stage at the beachfront Hotel Nertili. There’s also a private beach area with sundecks and parasols, plus a bar and restaurant with a sea-view terrace.

Worth knowing

Single accommodation is available on request. Please note, single rooms may not be available in the guesthouses in Germenj and Benje due to a limited number of rooms.
The hotels we use in Himarë (Rondo’s Hotel) and Guesthouse Coli are more basic than the other hotels used on this trip. While basic, all are ideally located for our adventures (the Himarë options are by the beach and Guesthouse Coli by thermal springs).

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Arjan Mucalla

Expert Leader: Albania

Introducing Arjan History, culture, tradition, religion...

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Average daily distance: 37mi (60km)
Number of cycling days: six
Vehicle support (with limited seats)

Terrain and route: 100 percent paved, where some sections are in a poor condition with potholes and some unsurfaced areas. The terrain is undulating with some long, gradual climbs. The optional climb on Day 7 (3,422ft/1,043m) is the most challenging, although there is always the option of the support vehicle to get you up to the pass. We aim to use quiet roads where possible, although on one occasion we need to pass busy sections to reach quiet roads beyond.

E-bikes: This trip is designed for experienced cyclists with very good fitness. If you don’t fall into this category, speak to your sales representative to upgrade to an e-bike.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Millennium, Rruga e Drilonit 1, Tushemisht 7304
Phone: +355 68 228 3911
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm in the evening.
Airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately three hours’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer  

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way

It’s possible to reach the start hotel by public transport, but the journey is complicated. We therefore recommend joining the group transfer where possible. If not, a cab from the airport to the start hotel costs €120 and should take three hours.  If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Albania

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Albania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

The following establishments provide visa advice for citizens of the named country,

Australia: Smartraveller
Canada: Travel Advice and Advisories, Government of Canada
United Kingdom:  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
USA:  Bureau of Consular Affairs

Food in Albania is quite varied thanks to the many influences on the country and particularly Mediterranean combining Turkish, Greek and Italian tastes. Dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt, are present in almost every meal, usually locally sourced.

Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha (the communist leader of Albania from 1944 to 1985), Albania became a self-sustaining country due to its isolation to the world. However, owing to the fertile valleys, fresh mountain springs and Mediterranean climate, they are still very much a subsistence culture and show very few signs of changing. In the countryside, expect your food to have been reared/grown not too far from your plate.

Breakfasts are typically eggs, fresh bread, jam, honey, and coffee or tea. For lunch and dinner, meat dishes are often goat or lamb, while fish dishes might include trout or whitebait. Courses often come in meze form, complemented by a variety of vegetables, salad, freshly baked bread, homemade cheeses, local wines and, of course, raki. Your guide will recommend the best options when in the towns.

Albania has a temperate, Mediterranean climate. The first day of spring is 15 March and things really start to hot up toward the end of the month when clear skies and balmy temperatures provide a nice way to ease into the heat of summer. Summer brings sunshine and maximum temperatures between 20C and 35C (68F and 95F). Summer days are long with sunrise before 6am and sunset after 8.30pm.

Professional and proud Albanian. This translated into clear route briefings / handling of the coffee kitty / food advice etc - but having previously completed the Balkans' trip I was expecting more insights into Albania itself

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be interested! And don't be intimidated by the distances or gradients. The traffic in and around Sarandë is awful, but fortunately only represents a few hours out of the whole trip

Suggestions

The mix of conventional and e-bikes (roughly 1 to 4) made for some odd pacing and meant that some completed each day's ride fresh while others didn't, which didn't help with group dynamics or cohesion. There was also some appalling road sense on display - potentially overcome by a thorough Day 1 briefing on riding etiquette (which we didn't get). Exodus is missing a trick or two with these trips: I've commented in prior reviews about the focus on cycling rather than cultural visits, when there's plenty enough time in the schedules for both. If I didn't know better I'd have come away from this trip thinking that Albanian wine was terrible, wondering what the many cheeses were made from (and how), and wishing we'd had an opportunity to experience iso-polyphonic singing. It would have been great to visit Berat too. Using the evening of Day 1 to set up the bikes, have an induction to Albania and a refresher on group cycling etiquette could be time well spent - some optional cultural extras on the side would be fantastic, too.

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Cycling in Albania

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the beauty of this previously isolated country by bike

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

6 days of Cycling

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, deposit-only payments, and full ATOL protection available.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Hotels and guesthouses

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Albania