Albania  Bike Tour Reviews (page 2)

  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (4/5) Kathy Dudley 10 months ago

    Eye opening tour

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    Biking through Albania was certainly an eye opening experience. Observing the development of the country following so many years of communism was eye opening for us. Riding through villages with donkeys and wheelbarrows onto major highways with tourist buses was quite a juxtaposition. The country is beautiful yet full of trash. The people were warm amd welcoming and made the trip a wonderful experience. Our guide amd driver were fun and efficient. We would recommend better bike repair equipment or back up bikes and a first aid kit. It would be nice to have tours with e-bikes separate from those with manual bikes to decrease the waiting and the pressure of those riding manual bikes to keep up.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    •  (photo by Kathy Dudley)
    •  (photo by Kathy Dudley)
    • Farm Sotira. Our favorite (photo by Kathy Dudley)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (4/5) David19 September 29, 2018

    A vigorous adventure

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    This is an excellent tour for anyone who wants to do a lot of climbing far from the beaten tourist path with the leadership of an excellent, superbly organized cyclist.
    On the other hand, it is not a great way to get to know a lot about Albanian culture or history. Even though we went to some sites of great historical and cultural significance, we didn't have much time there, and promises that we would have a guided tour were not always kept. I'd have liked to have had a rest day in Gjirokaster; it has a lot of history to explore.
    This tour has lots of climbs, some of them quite steep. The bikes provided by the operator didn't have low enough gears, so most tour members walked some of the climbs. The tour operator has told me he has recognized this problem and has already ordered more suitable bikes for 2019.
    The food was excellent in both quality and quantity, with very few exceptions. Most eating was family style. There were vegetarian options.
    Our group was large--22 participants, six more than advertised--but so well organized that meals moved briskly.
    All 22 of us regrouped several times each day on the road. This, plus the attentiveness of the guide and the sag driver, made it almost impossible to get lost, but it also meant the faster riders often waited for the laggards to arrive.
    I liked the other riders. I think few whiners choose tours in the mountains of Albania.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept. 13, 2018
    How many tours have you completed?
    More than ten.
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 2/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (4/5) David Loukras 10 months ago

    Great trip highly recommended

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    What a great way to see Albania. Each day brought new sights, history and great roads. Perfect weather in mid-October. Accommodations were clean and well equipped. Food was nutritious, traditional, plentiful and delicious. Bikes were good for most with a couple of small breakdowns for some. Most were on e-bikes and there was always enough batteries for everyone everyday. Great guiding to ensure everyone knew where to go, but not so much to burden the flow of the ride. Most of the roads were exceptional twisty winding roads with minimal amount of “highway” with truck traffic. Views of the mountains and Ionian Sea were breathtaking. We downloaded the map files provided and uploaded them to Komoot so we always knew where we were and where we were going.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Oct 7 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was my first guided bike tour. I will do more.
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • Vjosa River valley (photo by David Loukras)
    • Himarë to Vlorë (photo by David Loukras)
    •  (photo by David Loukras)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Balkan Treasures
    (4/5) Andres Volosin July 16, 2023

    Is all about Montenegro!

    · Balkan Treasures

    Overall was a good trip.
    Organizer lack on some details and punctuality.
    Hotels are OK. Request upgrades for locations and quality since is a small $ difference but big jump y confort. Albania part should be removed. Not the best routes.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia, Albania, Montenegro
    • 4/5 Value
    • 1/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 3/5 Route selection
  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (4/5) BabyBoomer June 27, 2019

    Albania-Review by a Baby Boomer

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    I feel that the trip was right on he money as described. Cycling is a great way to experience a country. The food was terrific and the accommodations ranged from adequate (but best available) to reasonably decent. The bikes were well maintained, and I appreciate that the disks were replaced on the major downhills for the last few days. The route is challenging, and, if you have any doubts on your capability, go for the ebike option. Made all the difference for me. The support for water and sag, if required, was superb.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 13
    How many tours have you completed?
    10
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • A thrilling descent from Mount Dajti
    (5/5) Jermey Hoffman April 21, 2024

    What a way to see Tirana!

    Tirana to Mount Dajti Downhill MTB Tour

    Thank you so much to Ermal for showing me around on two wheels - the views on this ride are spectacular, the riding is fast and flowy, and you never know what you’re going to see in the mountains! The whole day was easy thanks to Ermal and his team. Highly recommend this tour for people wanting a special way to see and experience Tirana.

  • Balkan Treasures
    (5/5) Joan Sawaya-Orgeldinger 10 months ago

    Great last minute trip

    · Balkan Treasures

    We booked a somewhat last minute trip and did the Balkan Treasure self-guided trip.
    It was our first time doing a self-guided bike trip and we didn’t know what to expect. Our dedicated tour operator was incredible, quick to reply and assist when we needed him. He also gave us great ride recommendations in addition to the scheduled routes.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    0
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia, Albania, Montenegro
    •  (photo by Joan Sawaya-Orgeldinger)
    •  (photo by Joan Sawaya-Orgeldinger)
    •  (photo by Joan Sawaya-Orgeldinger)
    •  (photo by Joan Sawaya-Orgeldinger)
    •  (photo by Joan Sawaya-Orgeldinger)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Steven Fern July 20, 2023

    Wonderful and adventurous trip

    · Balkan Treasures

    This was such an adventurous trip. Wonderful scenery and places. Great people in all the countries we visited.
    Only criticism was that one of booked hotels was way below standard and appeared out of business. The tour company quickly remedied the problem with a change to another hotel that was excellent

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2023
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia, Albania, Montenegro
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
  • (5/5) susan25 October 28, 2019

    Way better than we even anticipated!!!!!

    · Balkan Treasures

    This tour is truly a collection of "gems"! Here's why we rated the tour a 5 star.
    1. the level of support from the tour guide was amazing! The tour includes being transported to several different locations so that all of your time is spent on truly beautiful rides. Our guide was very patient, informative and friendly!!
    2. We were on the extended version so we got to be in four countries in 8 days! we learned so much about the politics and history of the region.
    3. All of the accommodations were great but a couple were outstanding! Again we learned so much about the culture and cuisine of the different countries through these experiences.
    4. The routes deserve special mention. We were amazed to discover beautiful scenic rides day after day.
    5. The rides were quite easy, especially for seasoned riders. This did not bother us because the overall experience was so rich.
    6. We relied primarily on an app for directions. this was supported by written materials. we thought this was a great way to tour.
    7. Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina have yet to be discovered by most tourist. They are gorgeous, safe (for the most part) and inexpensive by the standards most Westerners are used to. This is a great time to see those incredible countries!
    We absolutely loved this trip. If you are considering, my advise is sign up! You will thank yourself!

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 6-14.
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia, Albania, Montenegro
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) Soloist October 7, 2019

    The most amazing cycle route

    · Balkan Treasures

    What an amazing experience. This was my first self guided solo tour on a bicycle and I admit I was very nervous before the trip that I would get lost! The guides Drazen and Zoran ensures that did not happen talking me through each day and providing maps and detailed instructions. The scenery is phenomenal and I was blessed with perfect weather
    Prior to the trip the office team were quick to respond to any questions I had , in particular Brittany was a real gem.
    The only thing I would say if I had to list a negative would be the hotels. When I reviewed them online they seemed great but the room I actually got was often the worst one in the building. The first night in Cavtat I do believe the bathroom had been a former closet judging by the door and size. Not that i spent much time in a hotel room so it wasn’t a major concern.
    I wiould definitely recommend this company and now I’ve gained confidence in touring solo I’ll most likely use them again.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia, Albania, Montenegro
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 2/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (5/5) James Black 2 months ago

    Bike Tour that Exceeded Expectations

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    The scenery, roads, countryside was stunning. Our guide, Julian, was friendly and knowledgeable and catered for our every need.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2025
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) Robert Guilmette 2 months ago

    I really enjoyed the UNESCO sites of Albania Tour.

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    The route was scenic. The food was delicious and plentiful. The accommodations were very nice comfortable. And the guides were great. I really enjoyed the trip! Awesome job bike tours!

    Rob

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 30th - July 9th
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Balkan Treasures
    (5/5) Paul Lant September 1, 2023

    Excellent Balkan cycling experience

    · Balkan Treasures

    We did a self-guided tour using e-bikes. The rides were quite different each day. The destinations are varied and interesting, and the hotels were all good (3*). The local operator managed the logistics very well. Note there are three car transfers during this trip. Each of them is about 1.5 hrs. Whilst this extends the days, it does mean you get to experience some very different parts of the region. You do genuinely experience many Balkan treasures. Our highlights included cycling around the Bay of Kotor, cycling down the amazing switchbacks into Kotor on the last day, cycling through the hills alongside Lake Skadar, staying in Stari Bar and the food at Hotel Tradita in Albania.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia, Albania, Montenegro
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (5/5) Raystrach 8 months ago

    Superb Bike Touring

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    This bike tour was a great introduction to Albania and it highlighted the rugged beauty of the country and the warmth and friendliness of the people. The tour had a great balance of challenging terrain and beautiful rolling countryside. If you are not so keen on the challenge, e-bikes are available, so there is no excuse not to take this tour.

    Some people questioned why we would go to Albania, fearing we might not be safe, but that was never an issue during the entire tour. We never felt anything but warmth and hospitality from the locals who would often wave and offer support as they drove by in their cars. That was a first.

    We selected the guided tour(we normally go self guided) as it included all meals and we are glad we did. The food was great almost without exception and our guide Arjan ensured we got plenty of variety over the duration of the tour. He also managed the group brilliantly, allowing a little freedom in the individual pace of different sub groups, so that everyone could go at their own pace depending on how they felt on the day. We were lucky to have him.

    The quality of the accommodation was a little uneven, but that was to be expected when a tour like this takes you to all parts of the country, from major towns to relatively remote provincial areas. All accommodation providers were doing their very best to give us an authentic Albanian experience. We got a good sense of the real Albania.

    If you take the decision to take this tour, you will not regret it. It was up there with the best tours we ever done.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    12
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) Lori Doering 10 months ago

    Incredible experience!

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    Loved exploring Albania on bike! Our guide, Matao, was amazing! He went above and beyond day after day. The Albanian countryside, cities, people and food far exceeded any and all expe.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
  • (5/5) Terry Aittama 10 months ago

    Trip of a lifetime!

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    The UNESCO bike trip is definitely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for organization, bike route, accommodations, food, guide, and van driver/support. Albania is a beautiful country, still relatively untouched by tourism. Our guide Mateo and van driver Roxjens are the best. Mateo is very organized, communicates clearly about the day’s agenda, and has a good sense of humor. We had a luggage delay and Mateo went above and beyond to get our suitcases to us in the most timely manner possible. Roxjens is helpful, ambitious and always had a smile on his face. He changed my flat tire and had me back on the road in record time! The food is delicious and plentiful. There is a fun variety of accommodations, all very comfortable. Highly recommend this bike tour!

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    My first!
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    •  (photo by Terry Aittama)
    •  (photo by Terry Aittama)
    •  (photo by Terry Aittama)
    •  (photo by Terry Aittama)
    •  (photo by Terry Aittama)
    •  (photo by Terry Aittama)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) Siobhan Knox 10 months ago

    Best Guided Tour Ever!

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    UNESCO Sites of Albania was the best guided tour I have ever done. Not only did the food and scenery exceed their reputations, the accommodations and bikes were excellent. More importantly, our guide and driver/mechanic were extremely efficient, knowledgeable, helpful, and cheerful—they left us wanting for nothing! I highly recommend it.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    13
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) john turco 10 months ago

    beyond expectations

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    our guide Mateo and his assistant Rojxan were amazing. Tour was like a fine tuned watch.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
  • (5/5) Vicki Jones 10 months ago

    Awesome trip!

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    Perfect way to experience Albania! The itinerary was a good mix of city and countryside. The scenery was beautiful and the people were super nice. The length of time on the bikes each day was perfect- starting out slow and ending with a bang. We were glad that we got e-bikes. We got a little exercise but able to enjoy every minute. The food was great- always fresh and local. Our guide Mateo was very attentive, informative and helpful. His fluent English made things easy. Roxhens, the van driver
    was always attentive, making sure we had plenty of water and charged batteries. This was our first guided bike trip and we highly recommend to anyone wanting to experience Albania!

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    •  (photo by Vicki Jones)
    •  (photo by Vicki Jones)
    •  (photo by Vicki Jones)
    •  (photo by Vicki Jones)
    •  (photo by Vicki Jones)
    •  (photo by Vicki Jones)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)