UNESCO Sites of Albania
9 nights from âŹ990
4.73Discover Albania's Mountains, Valleys and Gorges
The highlights of this magical bike tour include three UNESCO sites, snow-capped mountains, inviting beaches on the Albanian Riviera, a genuine, untouched subsistence culture, and exceptionally friendly local people.
Some say that visiting Albania is as close as you'll get to traveling back in time. Until the dissolution of the People's Republic of Albania, it was rare that foreigners had a chance to visit this country shrouded in mystery. Since the borders opened in 1991, the full beauty of Albania has been available for all to behold, and curious tourists have quickly realized that this is an incredibly special country. Yet, Albania still remains undiscovered by mass tourism, unlike Croatia just a few hundred kilometers up the coast.
We feel that this sense of discovering secret treasures is what sets Albania apart among our touring destinations. Locals in the more isolated areas are still filled with excitement and curiosity to see visitors in their villages, especially those traveling by bicycle. You will be welcomed with open arms and warm, sincere hospitality.
The history of the country is long and complex. This area has been populated for over 4000 years, and has been conquered by the Romans, Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Normans, and Serbs. In 1468, Albania came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, which remained the case until 1912, when independence was declared.
The country's economy has seen an upturn since 2002, resulting in significant upgrades in infrastructure, which you will appreciate as you ride. The roads are mostly paved, and, at times quite steep, but youâll be distracted from the climb by stunning views and rewarded by adrenaline-pumping descents.
Mountains of magic
âWe opted for self guided which suited the group perfectly.
The scenery was amazing and the locals very friendly đâ
—Nigel Crosby
Beautiful Albania
âWhat an amazing holiday. The scenery, the food, our fellow cyclists and an especial mention to Tani our guide and Teri our back up driver. Nothing was too much trouble for themâ
—Marion M.
Informative, varied, engaging, active tour
âThe tour, although a group of 22, was well-organized, orderly and congenial. The Guide and Driver/Bike Mechanic were experienced, knowledgeable and patient. The route gave a goodâŠâ Full Review
âThe tour, although a group of 22, was well-organized, orderly and congenial. The Guide and Driver/Bike Mechanic were experienced, knowledgeable and patient. The route gave a good overview of the South’s historical sites and the guide’s pride in his homeland was charming. Riding a regular bike, one of 4 (the other 18 were on e-bikes), I never felt left behind and always had enough time to rest at our regular stops. The restaurants served delicious, nutritious meals to fuel us and the route was largely on quiet roads with challenging, but not too daunting ascents and exhilarating descents.â Less
—Elspeth Miller
Daily Program
Day 1: Arrival in Tirana
Individual arrival to Tirana. If you choose to book the guided tour, the welcome meeting will take place at 18:00, followed by a group dinner.
Overnight in Tirana.
Day 2: Ohrid Lake â Pogradec
25 miles/40 km; elevation gain: 230 ft/70 m
After a transfer (2 hours), you will reach the northern side of Lake Ohrid from where you will begin pedaling to Pogradec. You'll enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant before arriving in Pogradec. In the afternoon, you can choose between relaxing at the beach in front of the hotel or crossing over to Macedonia by bike to visit the monastery of St. Naum.
Overnight in Pogradec.
Day 3: Pogradec â Korçë
32 miles/51 km; elevation gain: 1680 ft/512 m
You'll start the day with a climb up from the lake into another high plateau surrounded by mountains. Continue along the gorge for a while until the hills open up, leading to a vast plain - a picturesque patchwork of individual farms and colors.
Overnight in Korçë.
Day 4: Korçë â Sotire
44 miles/71 km; elevation gain: 3842 ft/1171 m
Leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korçë, climbing steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock interspersed with wild flowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead as you climb into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains and over the Barmash Pass (1159m) to a Sotire farm lying in its own tranquil valley.
Overnight in Sotire.
Day 5: Sotire â PĂ«rmet
32 miles/52 km; elevation gain: 2165 ft/660 m
Climb out from Germenje 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. Continue descending to Cashare, then follow the Corniche route high above the river to PĂ«rmet, situated on a bluff and famous for its cuisine and strong raki.
Overnight in PĂ«rmet.
Day 6: PĂ«rmet â GjorokastĂ«r
45 miles/70 km; elevation gain: 1401 ft/427 m
Continue along the valley towards Kelcyra under the distant shark's tooth peaks standing guard over a further gorge. Ride between them to the confluence of the Drinos, following yet another stunning gorge which opens out into a wide plain with the town of Gjirokastër (city of 1000 steps) high above. In the afternoon, you'll have a chance to explore its narrow cobbled alleys and Ottoman houses.
Overnight in Gjorokastër.
Day 7: GjirokastĂ«r â Saranda or SarandĂ«
45 miles/70 km; elevation gain: 1722 ft/525 m
The gateway to southern Albania, Sarandë, lies along the Ionian coast sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea, close to the ancient remains of Butrint. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Butrint is one of the country's most important archaeological sites, tracing its origins back to the Greeks and Romans.
Overnight in Sarandë.
Day 8: SarandĂ« â HimarĂ«
32 miles/52 km; elevation gain: 3491 ft/1064 m
Today's route is a rollercoaster-like ride as you climb steeply out of Sarandë to a rocky plateau. Then it's over cols into bays and around headlands, always with the stunning mountain scenery to the right and sea to the left before you descend to the long beach and the bay of Himarë.
Overnight in Himarë.
Day 9: HimarĂ« â VlorĂ«
39 miles/63 km; elevation gain: 5217 ft/1590 m
Todayâs ride is not only the most challenging but also the most spectacular in Albania. You'll gradually climb from sea level up to 1,000 m through forests, gorges and hairpin bends. After lunch in the beautiful national park of Llogara, you'll descend towards VlorĂ« for an afternoonâs relaxation by the Ionian sea.
Overnight in Vlorë.
Day 10: Depart Vlorë Transfer to Tirana Airport and departure
The group transfer to the Tirana Airport is for all travelers (guided and self-guided) and departs the hotel at 9 am. You will arrive to the Tirana airport by 12:00(noon). Depending on flight times, you may have the opportunity to visit the city of Vlorë before your transfer back to Tirana and Mother Teresa Airport.
Please note: it is not possible to request a different time or drop-off location for the transfer unless you take a private transfer (pricing on request).
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
Accomodations are a mix of guesthouses and 3- and 4-star hotels.
Tirane: Hotel Sky
Pogradec: Hotel Millenium
Korçë: Hotel Bocca
Sotirë: Guesthouse Farma Sotira
PĂ«rmet: Guesthouse Coli
Gjirokastër: Hotel Cajupi
Sarandë: Hotel Nertili
Himarë: Hotel Rondos
Vlorë: Hotel NAOS
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Men's standard bike - Giant Roam
- Aluminum frame (men's frame)
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Shimano Deore 30 speed
- Front lockout suspension
- Rear rack
- Bottle cage
- 700 C wheels
- Schwalbe Marathon tires
Women's standard bike - Giant Rove
- Aluminum frame (women's)
- Shimano Deore 30 speed
- Front lockout suspension
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 700 C wheels
- Schwalbe Marathon Tires
- Rear rack
- Bottle cage
Electric Bike - Giant Explore E
- Aluminum step-through frame
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Shimano 10 speed
- Front lockout suspension
- Giant Sync Drive Sport motor (Pedal assist up to 20 mph)
- Giant Energy Pak 400 battery, 36 V (+ spare battery)
- Rear Rack
- Bottle cage
- 700 C wheels
- Schwalbe Marathon Tires
Accessories
Equipment:
All rental bikes are equipped with the following:
- Pannier rack
- Pannier (15 L)
- Handlebar bag
- Lock
- Repair kit
Helmets:
Helmets are available for rent free of charge, but must be reserved in advance. Please indicate in your booking request if you would like to book the helmet. However, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. You may bring your own SPD pedals, but be sure to bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Surface and terrain
The roads are all sealed and have a very good surface, some being totally new. Heading into the more remote villages, there are some that are not sealed but have a good base. There is only one day on a lower-quality road, from PĂ«rmet to Corovoda, and this road is necessary for visiting one of the most beautiful places in Albania.
Approximately 70% of this tour is on quiet roads, 20% on roads shared with traffic and 10% on dirt or gravel roads.
This tour has considerable climbing on nearly every day, and electrically-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) are also available. The average grade is 4-5% . Maximum grade is 7-9 % on the turns.
The guided tour also offers a support van, available at most times.
How to get there
Nearest airport and train station: Tirana (TIA), Albania
Transfer from the airport to the start of tour is available for âŹ25 (booked in advance). Transfer at the end of the tour back to the airport is included in the tour price (at specific times only).
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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