Cycling in Albania

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.

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).

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.

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 18th-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.

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.

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.

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.