Bicycle trips
Albania
Crystal-clear water, lush valleys, high mountain passes, and small villages. On this tour, you cycle through an Albania full of contrasts – from the mountainous regions in the east of the country to the beaches of the Mediterranean.
Along the way, local guides who know the roads, history, and places you visit will accompany you. You cycle through agricultural areas and ancient stone towns, encounter long climbs and great descents – and have plenty of time for both local culinary experiences and life along the route.
The tour starts at the border with North Macedonia and takes you south towards the coast, through a landscape full of contrasts. Along the way, mountains, lakes, ancient stone towns, and small villages await, combined with good food and warm hospitality.
This is the journey for those who enjoy an active holiday and want something a little out of the ordinary. The cycling routes are varied, with both challenging climbs, long descents, and gentler stages through the countryside and along the sea.
We are always pleasantly surprised when we visit Albania. Here we are met by open and friendly people, a magnificent landscape, and culinary experiences that truly set the taste buds tingling.
Feedback from participants on previous Albania trips:
“Beautiful country and landscape, many waterfalls, good food, and nice people! Our guide did everything to ensure we had a great time. Albania is undescribably beautiful – highly recommended.”“Everything worked excellently, a fantastic trip in every way. Armand is a knowledgeable guide, and we learned a lot about Albania. Nice to be an international group and not just Norwegians. Beautiful nature, good hotels, and at times demanding cycling with a lot of climbing. The hybrid bikes were solid and rolled well.”
In the early 1990s, Albania opened to tourists after decades as a closed communist country. Today you meet a country undergoing major development, while much of the local character is well preserved.
You fly to Albania's capital, Tirana, and spend the first night there. Then, the journey continues by bus eastwards towards the border of North Macedonia, where the cycling stages begin.
The route takes you south through dramatic mountain passes, lush valleys, and small villages before you eventually descend to the coast. Along the way, the accommodations also vary – from comfortable hotels to simpler stays out in the countryside. One of the nights you will stay at a trout farm, far from city life and close to nature.
This is an active and eventful journey where you will experience very different sides of Albania along the way.
Average distance per day: approx. 59 km
Total distance of the trip: approx. 475 km
Average cycling time per day: approx. 5 hours
Longest distance in a day: approx. 72 km
Total elevation gain: approx. 6000 m
Total elevation loss: approx. 7200 m
Population: approx. 2.4 million
Capital: Tirana
Currency: Lek (ALL)
Language: Albanian
Area: approx. 28,700 km²
Albania is located in the Balkans, with Montenegro and Kosovo to the north, North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south. The country has a coastline along both the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas.
The climate varies between the coast and the mountainous areas. Along the coast, there is a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, while temperatures are lower at higher altitudes.
The price level is still lower than in Norway, and you generally get a lot of value for money on both food and drink.
Heading south through Albania, you cycle through agricultural areas, dramatic mountain passes, and along the coast. Along the way, you will also visit UNESCO World Heritage sites and gain insight into the country's history and culture.
The accommodations are as varied as the landscape – from comfortable hotels to a simple log cabin on a remote trout farm. The common denominator is the Albanian hospitality.
The daily stages range from approx. 40 to 70 kilometers and go through a varied landscape with mountains, lush valleys, small villages, and the coast. Along the way, it alternates between climbs, fine descents, and flatter sections, with plenty of time to take in both the landscape and the places you cycle through.
After the day's cycling stage, it is time to lower your shoulders and enjoy another important part of the journey – good local food, pleasant meals, and perhaps a glass of Albanian wine.
Rental of a standard MTB is included in the price; you can optionally rent an e-MTB for an additional charge. The choice of bike is made upon registration.
We are always pleasantly surprised when we visit Albania. Here we are met by open and friendly people, a magnificent landscape, and culinary experiences that truly set the taste buds tingling.
Feedback from participants on previous Albania trips:
“Beautiful country and landscape, many waterfalls, good food, and nice people! Our guide did everything to ensure we had a great time. Albania is undescribably beautiful – highly recommended.”“Everything worked excellently, a fantastic trip in every way. Armand is a knowledgeable guide, and we learned a lot about Albania. Nice to be an international group and not just Norwegians. Beautiful nature, good hotels, and at times demanding cycling with a lot of climbing. The hybrid bikes were solid and rolled well.”
In the early 1990s, Albania opened to tourists after decades as a closed communist country. Today you meet a country undergoing major development, while much of the local character is well preserved.
You fly to Albania's capital, Tirana, and spend the first night there. Then, the journey continues by bus eastwards towards the border of North Macedonia, where the cycling stages begin.
The route takes you south through dramatic mountain passes, lush valleys, and small villages before you eventually descend to the coast. Along the way, the accommodations also vary – from comfortable hotels to simpler stays out in the countryside. One of the nights you will stay at a trout farm, far from city life and close to nature.
This is an active and eventful journey where you will experience very different sides of Albania along the way.
Average distance per day: approx. 59 km
Total distance of the trip: approx. 475 km
Average cycling time per day: approx. 5 hours
Longest distance in a day: approx. 72 km
Total elevation gain: approx. 6000 m
Total elevation loss: approx. 7200 m
Population: approx. 2.4 million
Capital: Tirana
Currency: Lek (ALL)
Language: Albanian
Area: approx. 28,700 km²
Albania is located in the Balkans, with Montenegro and Kosovo to the north, North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south. The country has a coastline along both the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas.
The climate varies between the coast and the mountainous areas. Along the coast, there is a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, while temperatures are lower at higher altitudes.
The price level is still lower than in Norway, and you generally get a lot of value for money on both food and drink.
Heading south through Albania, you cycle through agricultural areas, dramatic mountain passes, and along the coast. Along the way, you will also visit UNESCO World Heritage sites and gain insight into the country's history and culture.
The accommodations are as varied as the landscape – from comfortable hotels to a simple log cabin on a remote trout farm. The common denominator is the Albanian hospitality.
The daily stages range from approx. 40 to 70 kilometers and go through a varied landscape with mountains, lush valleys, small villages, and the coast. Along the way, it alternates between climbs, fine descents, and flatter sections, with plenty of time to take in both the landscape and the places you cycle through.
After the day's cycling stage, it is time to lower your shoulders and enjoy another important part of the journey – good local food, pleasant meals, and perhaps a glass of Albanian wine.
Rental of a standard MTB is included in the price; you can optionally rent an e-MTB for an additional charge. The choice of bike is made upon registration.
Varied cycling from the mountain areas to the coast
Small villages and life in the Albanian countryside
Historic towns and UNESCO sites along the way
The Llogara Pass and the view of the Ionian Sea
Local food and Albanian wine
A pleasant price level – you get great value for money in Albania
An evening at the trout farm – local food and genuine hospitality
The program is preliminary, and changes may occur. Expa Travel AS reserves the right to make adjustments for any typographical errors, currency fluctuations, and price changes.
The program is preliminary, and changes may occur. Expa Travel AS reserves the right to make adjustments for any typographical errors, currency fluctuations, and price changes.
After arrival and checking in at the hotel, you have some time to get to know Albania's capital. Feel free to take a walk through the streets of Tirana and get a first impression of the city before gathering for dinner (included).
Lunch on your own on this day.
After breakfast (included), the journey goes by bus to the border between Albania and North Macedonia, where the cycling tour begins in earnest. From here, you cycle into North Macedonia and onward towards Ohrid, where the group will have lunch (included). The town and the area around Lake Ohrid are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
With the mountains surrounding the beautiful lake, the route continues along the water towards Tushemisht, at the border back to Albania. From here, you continue to Pogradec for the overnight stay. Joint dinner after arriving at the hotel (included).
Breakfast (included). Today's cycling stage starts with a climb from Lake Ohrid up to a high plateau surrounded by mountains. From here, you get a great view of the landscape before the ride continues on quiet roads through a patchwork of fields and agricultural areas.
Gradually, the landscape opens up, and you cycle onward towards Korçë, which is today's overnight stop.
After a nice day on the bike, a visit to the bustling market in Korçë in the afternoon is a perfect activity.
Joint lunch and dinner during the day (included).
Breakfast (included). Then you leave the agricultural plateau around Korçë and cycle along the mountains that stretch towards the borders of North Macedonia and Greece. The landscape consists mostly of barren stone and rock formations, with touches of wild flowers along the road.
In front of you, you now have multiple peaks and valleys along the climb into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains. The group continues over the Barmash Pass (1159 m above sea level) and all the way to the small town of Sotirë, idyllically located in the Gjirokastër Valley.
Lunch is eaten in Erseka (included), approx. 45 km from Korçë.
Joint dinner after arriving in Sotirë (included).
Breakfast (included). From Sotirë, the route goes up to a grassy plateau surrounded by high, wild mountain peaks. At the source of the Vjosa River, a great descent begins through a gorge towards Leskovik. From here, you continue along the mountainside, high above the Bënjë River.
After a joint lunch (included), there will be a short trip to the hot springs at the end of the Langarica Canyon, where there will be an opportunity for a lovely bath.
Joint dinner after arriving in Benje (included).
Breakfast (included). Today you continue through the valley towards Këlcyrë, where the characteristic, "shark-tooth-like" mountains mark the entrance to the next gorge. You cycle between the mountains and onward through the dramatic landscape along the river.
Eventually, the gorge opens up to a wide plain, and Gjirokastër comes into view up on the hillside. The town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is known for its steep, cobblestone streets – which has earned it the nickname "the city of 1000 steps".
Once there, we recommend a trip up to the castle at the top of the town, with a great view of Gjirokastër and the surrounding area.
Dinner on your own on this day (not included).
After breakfast (included), the trip continues towards the coast and Saranda, a pleasant holiday town by the Ionian Sea, surrounded by high mountains and the sea.
Along the way, you will visit Butrint, one of Albania's most important archaeological sites. Here you will find traces of several different civilizations, including ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Butrint is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Then you continue to Saranda, where you spend the night by the coast.
Lunch is taken at a suitable place along the stage (included). Dinner on your own (not included).
Today's stage is a bit of a roller coaster on a bike. You start from Saranda and cycle up to a stone plateau above the town.
Then the route goes over hilltops, down into small coves and bays and around headlands, all the time with great views of the mountains on the right and the sea on the left. Joint lunch is taken at a suitable place during the day (included).
Towards the end of the stage, you roll down towards the long beach and the bay where Himarë is located. A great finish to today's cycling trip!
Today's stage is both spectacular and challenging. From Himarë, you cycle up towards the Llogara Pass, around 1000 meters in altitude above the crystal-blue sea. Here you enter Llogara National Park, with protected forest featuring black pine, Eurasian otter, and golden eagle, among others.
After lunch, the reward for the altitude climb awaits – from here, it goes more or less downhill all the way towards Vlorë, which is the final stop of the cycling tour.
This is one of the tour's most demanding stages, but also a day with great nature experiences and a really nice conclusion to the cycling days.
After breakfast (included), it is time to say goodbye to Albania. You travel to Tirana and onward to the airport for your journey home.
Lunch and dinner on your own on this day (not included).
Expa Travel reserves the right to correct any typos, as well as any exchange rate and/or price changes.
The program is preliminary; changes may occur.
After arrival and checking in at the hotel, you have some time to get to know Albania's capital. Feel free to take a walk through the streets of Tirana and get a first impression of the city before gathering for dinner (included).
Lunch on your own on this day.
After breakfast (included), the journey goes by bus to the border between Albania and North Macedonia, where the cycling tour begins in earnest. From here, you cycle into North Macedonia and onward towards Ohrid, where the group will have lunch (included). The town and the area around Lake Ohrid are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
With the mountains surrounding the beautiful lake, the route continues along the water towards Tushemisht, at the border back to Albania. From here, you continue to Pogradec for the overnight stay. Joint dinner after arriving at the hotel (included).
Breakfast (included). Today's cycling stage starts with a climb from Lake Ohrid up to a high plateau surrounded by mountains. From here, you get a great view of the landscape before the ride continues on quiet roads through a patchwork of fields and agricultural areas.
Gradually, the landscape opens up, and you cycle onward towards Korçë, which is today's overnight stop.
After a nice day on the bike, a visit to the bustling market in Korçë in the afternoon is a perfect activity.
Joint lunch and dinner during the day (included).
Breakfast (included). Then you leave the agricultural plateau around Korçë and cycle along the mountains that stretch towards the borders of North Macedonia and Greece. The landscape consists mostly of barren stone and rock formations, with touches of wild flowers along the road.
In front of you, you now have multiple peaks and valleys along the climb into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains. The group continues over the Barmash Pass (1159 m above sea level) and all the way to the small town of Sotirë, idyllically located in the Gjirokastër Valley.
Lunch is eaten in Erseka (included), approx. 45 km from Korçë.
Joint dinner after arriving in Sotirë (included).
Breakfast (included). From Sotirë, the route goes up to a grassy plateau surrounded by high, wild mountain peaks. At the source of the Vjosa River, a great descent begins through a gorge towards Leskovik. From here, you continue along the mountainside, high above the Bënjë River.
After a joint lunch (included), there will be a short trip to the hot springs at the end of the Langarica Canyon, where there will be an opportunity for a lovely bath.
Joint dinner after arriving in Benje (included).
Breakfast (included). Today you continue through the valley towards Këlcyrë, where the characteristic, "shark-tooth-like" mountains mark the entrance to the next gorge. You cycle between the mountains and onward through the dramatic landscape along the river.
Eventually, the gorge opens up to a wide plain, and Gjirokastër comes into view up on the hillside. The town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is known for its steep, cobblestone streets – which has earned it the nickname "the city of 1000 steps".
Once there, we recommend a trip up to the castle at the top of the town, with a great view of Gjirokastër and the surrounding area.
Dinner on your own on this day (not included).
After breakfast (included), the trip continues towards the coast and Saranda, a pleasant holiday town by the Ionian Sea, surrounded by high mountains and the sea.
Along the way, you will visit Butrint, one of Albania's most important archaeological sites. Here you will find traces of several different civilizations, including ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Butrint is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Then you continue to Saranda, where you spend the night by the coast.
Lunch is taken at a suitable place along the stage (included). Dinner on your own (not included).
Today's stage is a bit of a roller coaster on a bike. You start from Saranda and cycle up to a stone plateau above the town.
Then the route goes over hilltops, down into small coves and bays and around headlands, all the time with great views of the mountains on the right and the sea on the left. Joint lunch is taken at a suitable place during the day (included).
Towards the end of the stage, you roll down towards the long beach and the bay where Himarë is located. A great finish to today's cycling trip!
Today's stage is both spectacular and challenging. From Himarë, you cycle up towards the Llogara Pass, around 1000 meters in altitude above the crystal-blue sea. Here you enter Llogara National Park, with protected forest featuring black pine, Eurasian otter, and golden eagle, among others.
After lunch, the reward for the altitude climb awaits – from here, it goes more or less downhill all the way towards Vlorë, which is the final stop of the cycling tour.
This is one of the tour's most demanding stages, but also a day with great nature experiences and a really nice conclusion to the cycling days.
After breakfast (included), it is time to say goodbye to Albania. You travel to Tirana and onward to the airport for your journey home.
Lunch and dinner on your own on this day (not included).
Expa Travel reserves the right to correct any typos, as well as any exchange rate and/or price changes.
The program is preliminary; changes may occur.
After arrival and checking in at the hotel, you have some time to get to know Albania's capital. Feel free to take a walk through the streets of Tirana and get a first impression of the city before gathering for dinner (included).
Lunch on your own on this day.
After breakfast (included), the journey goes by bus to the border between Albania and North Macedonia, where the cycling tour begins in earnest. From here, you cycle into North Macedonia and onward towards Ohrid, where the group will have lunch (included). The town and the area around Lake Ohrid are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
With the mountains surrounding the beautiful lake, the route continues along the water towards Tushemisht, at the border back to Albania. From here, you continue to Pogradec for the overnight stay. Joint dinner after arriving at the hotel (included).
Breakfast (included). Today's cycling stage starts with a climb from Lake Ohrid up to a high plateau surrounded by mountains. From here, you get a great view of the landscape before the ride continues on quiet roads through a patchwork of fields and agricultural areas.
Gradually, the landscape opens up, and you cycle onward towards Korçë, which is today's overnight stop.
After a nice day on the bike, a visit to the bustling market in Korçë in the afternoon is a perfect activity.
Joint lunch and dinner during the day (included).
Breakfast (included). Then you leave the agricultural plateau around Korçë and cycle along the mountains that stretch towards the borders of North Macedonia and Greece. The landscape consists mostly of barren stone and rock formations, with touches of wild flowers along the road.
In front of you, you now have multiple peaks and valleys along the climb into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains. The group continues over the Barmash Pass (1159 m above sea level) and all the way to the small town of Sotirë, idyllically located in the Gjirokastër Valley.
Lunch is eaten in Erseka (included), approx. 45 km from Korçë.
Joint dinner after arriving in Sotirë (included).
Breakfast (included). From Sotirë, the route goes up to a grassy plateau surrounded by high, wild mountain peaks. At the source of the Vjosa River, a great descent begins through a gorge towards Leskovik. From here, you continue along the mountainside, high above the Bënjë River.
After a joint lunch (included), there will be a short trip to the hot springs at the end of the Langarica Canyon, where there will be an opportunity for a lovely bath.
Joint dinner after arriving in Benje (included).
Breakfast (included). Today you continue through the valley towards Këlcyrë, where the characteristic, "shark-tooth-like" mountains mark the entrance to the next gorge. You cycle between the mountains and onward through the dramatic landscape along the river.
Eventually, the gorge opens up to a wide plain, and Gjirokastër comes into view up on the hillside. The town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is known for its steep, cobblestone streets – which has earned it the nickname "the city of 1000 steps".
Once there, we recommend a trip up to the castle at the top of the town, with a great view of Gjirokastër and the surrounding area.
Dinner on your own on this day (not included).
After breakfast (included), the trip continues towards the coast and Saranda, a pleasant holiday town by the Ionian Sea, surrounded by high mountains and the sea.
Along the way, you will visit Butrint, one of Albania's most important archaeological sites. Here you will find traces of several different civilizations, including ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Butrint is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Then you continue to Saranda, where you spend the night by the coast.
Lunch is taken at a suitable place along the stage (included). Dinner on your own (not included).
Today's stage is a bit of a roller coaster on a bike. You start from Saranda and cycle up to a stone plateau above the town.
Then the route goes over hilltops, down into small coves and bays and around headlands, all the time with great views of the mountains on the right and the sea on the left. Joint lunch is taken at a suitable place during the day (included).
Towards the end of the stage, you roll down towards the long beach and the bay where Himarë is located. A great finish to today's cycling trip!
Today's stage is both spectacular and challenging. From Himarë, you cycle up towards the Llogara Pass, around 1000 meters in altitude above the crystal-blue sea. Here you enter Llogara National Park, with protected forest featuring black pine, Eurasian otter, and golden eagle, among others.
After lunch, the reward for the altitude climb awaits – from here, it goes more or less downhill all the way towards Vlorë, which is the final stop of the cycling tour.
This is one of the tour's most demanding stages, but also a day with great nature experiences and a really nice conclusion to the cycling days.
After breakfast (included), it is time to say goodbye to Albania. You travel to Tirana and onward to the airport for your journey home.
Lunch and dinner on your own on this day (not included).
Expa Travel reserves the right to correct any typos, as well as any exchange rate and/or price changes.
The program is preliminary; changes may occur.
Our local guides know the trails, shortcuts, and favorite spots – and will take you to places you would hardly find on your own. English-speaking, passionate, and ready to show you the real destination.
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This is only a recommendation – feel free to borrow gear from friends or use what you already have. Look at the list as a starting point, and adapt it to your needs and what you feel you will need on the trip.
This is only a recommendation – feel free to borrow gear from friends or use what you already have. Look at the list as a starting point, and adapt it to your needs and what you feel you will need on the trip.
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