Bike To The Best of Albania

Is this your first trip to Albania? Or are you a Albania repeater? In either case, if you are looking for something different, this is the one! Bike to the Best of Albania, a guided tour, open to all foreign visitors to ride through-on a bicycle, in the major tourists spots in Albania. Even if you have visited those places before, riding a bicycle will make the trip unforgettable. We promise you a wonderful journey.

Overview

Day 01: Aiport - Tirana

Day 02: Tirana - Ohrid Lake - Pogradec

Day 03: Cycling from Pogradec to Korca

Day 04: Cycling from Korca to Sotire

Day 05: Cycling from Sotire to Permet

Day 06: Cycling from Permet to Gjirokastra

Day 07: Cycling from Gjirokastra to Saranda

Day 08: Cycling from Saranda to Himara

Day 09: Cycling from Himara to Vlora

Day 10: Departure - Transfer from Berat to Tirana Airport

Day 01: Arrival in Tirana

Meet and greet at Tirana airport and transfer to hotel in Tirana center. After accommodation and a sightseeing of the city, the group then will be left at leisure exploring Tirana.

(Driving distance: 18 km/30 min)

Day 02: Tirana-Ohrid Lake

After 2 hours drive we will reach the northern side of Lake Ohrid, where we begin a lovely ride to Pogradec, one of the most charming tourist resorts. Due to its historic culture and its unique flora and fauna, Pogradec was declared by UNESCO as a place of worldwide natural and cultural heritage. Before that, we will be having lunch at a waterfront restaurant. Afternoon activity is optional between cross over Macedonia by motorbike and visit monastery of Saint Naum or at your leisure. Overnight Pogradec

(Distance: 40 km/elevation: 62 m)

Day 03: Cycling from Pogradec to Korce

Morning cycle leads from the lake to a high plateau bounded by mountains in Korce, continue following the canyon for a while until the hills open up leading to a vast plain, a patchwork of individual farms and colours.

(Distance: 51km/elevation: 412)

Day 04: Cycling from Korca to Sotire

As we leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korce, we climb steadily into the Border Mountains through a barren landscape with wild flowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead, climbing into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains and over the Barmash Pass (1159m) towards Sotire lying in its own tranquil valley.

(Distance: 71km/elevation: 1171m)

Day 05: Cycling from Sotire to Permet

A climb out from Sotire 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 and then follow the corniche route high above the river to Permet, situated on a bluff above the river, famous for its lovely cuisine and its strong Albanian famous drink raki.

(Distance: 52km/ elevation: 615)

Day 06: Cycling from Permet to Gjirokastra

Continue along the valley of Kelcyra, the distant shark’s tooth peak, and this guards a further gorge. Ride between them to the confluence of the Drinos, following yet another gorge. This opens out into a wide plain with the twon of Gjirokaster (Stone City) high above on the right. Gjirokaster is one of the most attractive towns in Albania. The characteristic houses clustered around the majestic fortress towering above them as a huge battle ship, are small fortresses in themselves. Sheltered by a castle, the ancient city of Gjirokaster, with its mysterious atmosphere, is set against the dramatic backdrop of the mountains.

(Distance: 70km/elevation: 412m)

Day 07: Cycling from Gjirokastra to Saranda

Saranda, the gateway to the southern Albania, a small town located between mountains and the Ionian Sea, one of the finest gems of Albania’s coastline 19 km north of Butrint, the ancient walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most important archeological sites of the county, tracing its origins back to Greeks and the Romans.

(Distance: 70km/elevation: 525m)

Day 08: Cycling from Saranda to Himara

A roller coaster of a ride leaving as the mist is burnt off by the sun, climbing steeply out of Saranda to a rocky plateau. Then it's over coals into bays and around headlands, always with the stunning mountain scenery to the right and sea to the left before descending to the long beach and the bay of Himara, a beautiful city located on the overlooking mountain passes, each with several excellent beach areas.

(Distance: 53km/elevation: 1064m)

Day 09: Cycling from Himara to Vlora

This is the most challenging bike ride and the most spectacular ride in Albania. We will steadily climb from the sea level to 1000 meters up through woodlands, with gorges, forests and hairpin turns. After lunch in the National Park of Llogara, ( situated about 40 km to the southwest of Vlora, at the entrance to the region of Himara, where Adriatic Sea becomes the Ionian Sea).After lunch in the national park of Llogara we will descend down toward Vlore for a afternoon relaxation along the Ionian sea.

(Distance: 63km/elevation: 1658m)

Day 10: Departure-Transfer to Tirana Airport

Depending on the flight we have time to visit the city of Vlore, the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. Then transfer to Mother Teresa Airport.

(Driving Distance: 160km/2.5hr)

Total: 648 Km