Cycling in Albania

If you're a fan of moderate to challenging cycling routes that take you from high altitude mountain passes and wild flower-filled meadows to remote rural hamlets and shaded chestnut woodlands, then cycling holidays in Albania could be the answer to all of your pedalling prayers. Not only will you be invited to navigate parts of northern Albania's Accursed Mountains by bike, but you'll also be able to sooth weary limbs in the Ionian Sea, along the Albanian Riviera, as well as having opportunities to take a dip in Lake Ohrid that straddles the border with Macedonia.

Cycling as part of a small guided group (max 16 cyclists) or on a self guided itinerary provides practically zero impact on the environment and maximum chances to meet local Albanians. Travelling without any physical barriers – other than ill-fitting Lycra – really opens up the world around you and also makes for a much more immersive experience. You can smell the wild herbs and garlic along the winding rural roads as well as feeling the sun on your back. You just can't recreate that feeling staring out of a coach or car window.

Albania is still, as yet, way off the European cycling map and although gradual ascents and daily distances can be lengthy, the genuinely warm welcome you'll receive on arrival at a local guesthouse more than alleviates any aches and pains just as readily as a glass of homemade plum rakia.

One thing to remember: Albania’s road surfaces, even in rural regions, are totally tarmac however, several sections aren’t properly surfaced, and others are pitted with pot holes. Keep eyes peeled!

Read on for cycling holiday styles and route recommendations.

Luggage transfers, 24hr support, tried and tested accommodation and detailed route maps, allow self guided cycling itineraries in Albania to bridge the gap between small group and going it alone. A tailor made itinerary also allows you to choose how long you want to spend cycling each day as well as where you want to visit on and off the bike. Tailor made tours can be taken all-year-round whereas small group tours generally take place at set dates during the summer.

One of the eight-day self guided routes that we recommend features average daily distances of 40km as you cycle through chestnut groves and winding rural roads in the Albanian Alps in between dreamy descents in Montenegro. Starting in Cetinje, Montenegro, the route takes you into Albania, through the Alps, to the city of Shkodër, from where you'll cross the border back into Montenegro via Lovćen National Park and an epic 25km descent towards the coast and the beautiful Bay of Kotor.