Albania Self Guided Biking

Tour Dates: 9 days, Apr, May, Sept & Oct

Our Albania Self Guided Bike Tour is wild, beautiful, and definitely off the beaten track! The tour route highlights the fascinating culture and natural beauty of southern Albania. Be one of the first to visit Albania, one of Europe’s newest cycling destinations.

This unforgettable bike tour will introduce you to the people, history, and majesty of southern Albania. From the seat of a bike, you will explore southern Albania, a region known for its pristine mountain valleys, snow capped peaks, picturesque lakes and rich agricultural land dotted with small family farms.

Our cycle route passes through numerous small towns, historical cities, and the archaeological wonder of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your ride ends in the lovely seaside city of Sarande on the Ionian Sea, and the tour finishes on the Greek island of Corfu where there is a convenient international airport.

Our accommodations are in 3 star hotels with private bathrooms, with one night in a guest house with shared bathrooms. Please note that this is a hilly trip with 30-45 miles per day, the asphalt is rough at times and the daily climbs range from 1300-3500 feet.

We recommend this bike tour for flexible, fun loving cyclists who value the excitement and uniqueness of being one of Albania’s early cycle-tourists over the polish and comforts of our other central European bike tours.

2024 Price: €1300 euros per person, double occupancy

Single Supplement: €200 Euros

Price Includes:

  • 8 nights lodging
  • 8 breakfasts
  • Luggage transfers
  • Maps, route notes and suggestions of things to see and places to eat
  • Cell phone support from our local partner

Price Does Not Include:

International flights, lunches, dinners, entrance fees to sites, hydrofoil to Corfu, hotel in Corfu

Tour Difficulty

This is a challenging tour. The route is quite hilly with one day of 1,155 meters of climbing.

  • Difficulty: Very Hilly
  • Road Conditions: Paved with rough patches
  • Recommended Bike: Hybrid – only hybrid bike rentals are available, but you can bring your own road bike.

Tour Highlights

  • Europe’s newest cycling destinations!
  • Pristine mountain valleys
  • Snow capped peaks
  • Historical cities
  • Ride in the lovely seaside city of Sarande on the Ionian Sea
  • See the archaeological wonder of Butrint

Itinerary

While we strive to create the most accurate itinerary possible, the nature of international travel demands that participants remain flexible to any changes. We will do our best to substitute activities and services of equal quality for those listed.

Day 1- Arrival in Tirana

Transfer from Tirana airport to your hotel in Tirana. Today is a rest day to get over jet lag, but does include your tour orientation and bike fitting.

Day 2 – Cycle to Pogradec

2 hour transfer out of the city of Tirana to Ohrid National Park where you begin a lovely ride to Pogradec. Due to its historic culture and unique flora and fauna, in 1980, Pogradec was declared by UNESCO as a place of worldwide natural and cultural heritage. Tonight’s hotel overlooks the lake. (cycling distance: 28 km)

Day 3 – Cycle from Pogradec to Korçë

A climb from the lake into a high plateau bounded by mountains. Continue following the gorge for awhile until the hills open up and lead to a vast plain: a patchwork of farms and colors. (cycling distance: 52 km)

Day 4 – Cycle from Korçë to Gërmenjë

Leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korce, climbing steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock interspersed with wildflowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead, as the route climbs into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains and over the Barmash Pass to the tranquil valley of Germenj. (cycling distance: 72 km)

Day 5 – Cycle from Gërmenjë to Përmet

A climb out from Germenj to a high grassy plateau surrounded by soaring peaks before reaching the source of the River Vjosa and descending through its spectacular gorge to Leskovik. Today’s route continues descending to Cashare and then follows the Corniche route high above the river to Permet situated on a bluff above the river. (cycling distance: 65 km)

Day 6 – Cycle from Përmet to Gjitrokastër

Continue along the valley towards Kelcyra, the distant shark’s tooth peaks, which guard another gorge. Ride between them to the confluence of the Drinos following yet another gorge which will open out into a wide plain containing the town of Gjirokastra (city of 1000 steps) high above on the right. Here you have a chance to explore its narrow cobbled alleys and Ottoman houses. (cycling distance: 70 km)

Day 7 – Cycle from Përmet to Gjitrokastër

Today you will cycle down into the valley heading south before climbing over several cols, through woodlands, gorges, forests, and hairpin bends on the beautiful descent to the sea. You will spend 2 nights in Sarandë. (cycling distance: 65 km)

Day 8 – Cycle from Sarandë to Butrint

Your final ride is a lovely loop ride to the archaeological wonder of Butrint, after which you’ll return to Sarandë for your last night in Albania.

Day 9 – Transfer on your own to the port for a hydrofoil (25 minute) ride to Corfu, Greece. You can purchase the hydrofoil tickets an hour before you board.

We have chosen to depart from Corfu to avoid the 8 hours of driving back to Tirana. The airport in Corfu, Greece is a short distance from the port. You may choose to spend a night or two enjoying Corfu, or there are inexpensive flights to Athens and you can book your return flight home from Athens that evening.