Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader’s ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

Transport

Bus, Bicycle

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 7 Breakfasts 3 Dinners

Accommodation

1 nights standard guesthouse 6 nights standard hotel Standard - Our mid-range accommodation offers a good level of service often with other amenities such as a restaurant, bar, garden or swimming pool. Generally rooms will be comfortable with en-suite facilities

Not included:

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately.

Optional

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for direct with the supplier and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract. Onufri Iconographic Museum, Berat - 200 Lek (approx 1.20 GBP)

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Join Trip At Tirana Airport. Drive To Pogradec On Lake Ohrid
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Join Trip At Tirana Airport. Drive To Pogradec On Lake Ohrid

Our tour begins today at Tirana International Airport (TIA). We’ll meet at 1pm and travel as a group to our hotel in Pogradec, on the shores of Lake Ohrid (a three-and-a-half-hour journey, including a lunch break). Please note, the latest your flight can arrive is 12pm. If your flight arrives earlier in the morning, there is a restaurant outside the terminal, opposite arrivals, that you might like to wait in. You can also change money while at the airport.
Day 2 Day 2: Cycle From Lake Ohrid To Korça
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Cycle From Lake Ohrid To Korça

Once equipped and fitted with our bikes, we’ll start cycling from Lake Ohrid, climbing to an elevated plateau with great views over the blue waters of the lake and the sprawling mountains that surround it. The road then continues towards Korça, where we’ll be pedalling alongside vast fields and past small farms. On arrival in Korca, we’ll check in to our hotel. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 50 kilometres/31 miles and is graded as moderate. It has a 380 metres/1,250 feet total accumulated ascent and 220 metres/720 feet descent.
Day 3 Day 3: Climb Into The Heart Of The Gramos Mountains To Germenj
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Climb Into The Heart Of The Gramos Mountains To Germenj

This morning, we’ll hop back on our bikes and leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korça, climbing steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock interspersed with wildflowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead, climbing into the heart of the Gramos Mountains and over the Barmash Pass (1,159 metres/3,800 feet) to Germenj lying in its own tranquil valley. We’ll spend the night in wooden bungalows in Germenj and enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 72 kilometres/44.6 miles and is graded as challenging. It has a total of 1,160 metres/3,805 feet ascent and 1,040 metres/3,410 feet descent, the support vehicle will be with you should you wish to sit out the Barmash pass climb and descent. The Sotira Farm Guesthouse is a collection of two-bedroom cabins located in the woods around a central farmhouse and salmon hatchery. Each cabin has a bathroom shared between the two bedrooms, in addition, there is a communal washing block cabin. The main farmhouse building where you have dinner and breakfast is warm and welcoming with a log fire and serves delicious local fare.
Day 4 Day 4: Ride Through Vjosa Valley; Drive Onto Gjirokaster
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Ride Through Vjosa Valley; Drive Onto Gjirokaster

We’ll climb out from Germenj on our bikes 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. The route continues with a 15-kilometre/9.3-mile descent to Çarshove before following the cornice route high above the river to Permet situated on a bluff above the river. A short but dramatic drive of about 90 minutes will bring us to the historic town of Gjirokastër, another UNESCO Heritage site that is home to some truly stunning Ottoman architecture. Gjirokastër is magnificently set between the towering Gjerë Mountains and the Drino River, providing us with a beautifully scenic arrival from Permet as we pass through the Drino Valley and the Kelcyra Gorge. After checking in to our hotel, we’ll have a chance to explore the town’s historic heart, taking in its beautiful 18th and 19th-century buildings and the dominating presence of its Ottoman citadel, believed to be the second largest in the Balkans. If you’re travelling in October, we might visit a traditional house instead of the citadel as it operates shorter opening hours at the end of the season. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 58 kilometres/36 miles and is graded as moderate. It has a total of 690 metres/2,270 feet ascent and 1,430 metres/4,690 feet descent.
Day 5 Day 5: Cycle To Saranda Via Butrint Archaeological Treasure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Cycle To Saranda Via Butrint Archaeological Treasure

After breakfast this morning, we’ll take a short drive to the starting point of our cycle ride. We’ll begin with a downhill ride from Muzina Pass to the Blue Eye, the source of the river Bistrica. The ride then encircles the lagoon of Butrint National Park where we will visit the archaeological site. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Butrint is one of the country’s most important archaeological treasures, tracing its origins back to the Greeks and the Romans. In the afternoon we continue our ride onto Saranda and spend the evening at the waterfront. The gateway to southern Albania, Saranda lies along the Ionian coast, sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea and close to the ancient remains of Butrint. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 67 kilometres/41.5 miles and is graded as challenging. It has a total of 560 metres/1,840 feet ascent and 1,090 metres/3,580 feet descent, the support vehicle will be with you should you wish to sit out the Muzina pass descent.
Day 6 Day 6: Ride The Albanian Riviera To Himara
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Ride The Albanian Riviera To Himara

A roller coaster of a ride awaits us this morning as we make our way along the Albanian Riviera passing through the small villages of Piqeras and Lukova en route to Himara. Leaving as the mist is burnt off by the sun, we’ll climb steeply out of Saranda to a rocky plateau. From here, we’ll pedal over cols into bays and around headlands along the Albanian Riviera, always with the stunning mountain scenery to the right and sea to the left, before descending to the long beach and bay of Himara where we’ll spend the night in this seaside town. The afternoon is free to enjoy the beach and relax. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 55 kilometres/34 miles and is graded as moderate. It has a total of 965 metres/3,170 feet ascent and 920 metres/3,020 feet descent.
Day 7 Day 7: Cycle To Radhima Beach Then Drive To Berat, Optional Climb To The Llogara Pass
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Cycle To Radhima Beach Then Drive To Berat, Optional Climb To The Llogara Pass

On our last day of cycling we’ll continue our route into the valley heading north before climbing two short but steep cols, through woodlands, little gorges, forests and around hairpin bends. Along the way, we’ll pass the old fortress of Ali Pasha of Tepelena, Palermo Bay and the picturesque village of Dhermi, nestling amongst the rocky slopes of the Ceraunian Mountains. After a coffee break, we’ll have the challenge of ascending to the Llogara Pass (1,043 metres/3,420 feet), there will be a support vehicle for this climb which you can choose to use if you think the ascent will be too much. The views upon reaching the top are worth the effort. From the pass, we’ll descend into Llogara National Park, a scenic expanse of protected woodland that encompasses the forests on the northern side of the Llogora Pass. Our cycling adventure ends with a descent to Radhime on the coast. From here, we’ll drive (a two-hour journey) to Berat. Berat is perhaps the most beautiful town in Albania. Arriving in Berat around 6pm, we’ll have the option to join a farewell dinner in one of the local restaurants. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 65 kilometres/40 miles and is graded as challenging. It has a total of 1,575 metres/5,167 feet ascent and 1,499 metres/4,917 feet descent, the support vehicle will be with you should you wish to sit out the Llogara pass climb and descent.
Day 8 Day 8: Drive To Tirana Airport Where Our Trip Ends
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Drive To Tirana Airport Where Our Trip Ends

There are no planned activities today. Departing Berat this morning, we’ll drive (approx. 2.5 hours) to Tirana International Airport (TIA) where our trip ends. The earliest your flight can depart is 12.45pm. Our time in Berat is limited and we strongly advise booking an extra night if you d like to explore more of this enchanting city. The Ethnographic Museum and Castle are well worth a visit - and don’t forget to try the local wine, some of the best in the country. Please note, the airport transfer is timed to coincide with the BA morning flights to London.

8 days tour

Cycle Albania

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cycle Albania

Day 1: Join Trip At Tirana Airport. Drive To Pogradec On Lake Ohrid

Day 2: Cycle From Lake Ohrid To Korça

Day 3: Climb Into The Heart Of The Gramos Mountains To Germenj

Day 4: Ride Through Vjosa Valley; Drive Onto Gjirokaster

Day 5: Cycle To Saranda Via Butrint Archaeological Treasure

Day 6: Ride The Albanian Riviera To Himara

Day 7: Cycle To Radhima Beach Then Drive To Berat, Optional Climb To The Llogara Pass

Day 8: Drive To Tirana Airport Where Our Trip Ends

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