Balkan Express (Cycling in Macedonia – Albania – Montenegro)

Arrival at Skopje airport and transfer to our accommodation place, lunchtime and soon after we will test our bikes on a short sightseeing tour in the old part of Skopje – the capital of our country and get some introduction for the history of Macedonia.

We will start riding directly from our hotel in direction of Matka canyon. On the way, we will pass the city center and then we will follow the river Vardar till we get to one of the main Boulevards from where we start riding towards the foot of Vodno mountain and the artificial lake Treska. Before that, we will pass through several villages before we arrive in Matka Canyon. When we arrive there we will be walking to some point from where we will take some boats and discover this naturally protected region and visit one of the deepest underwater caves in Europe, Cave Vrelo. When we come back we transfer to N.P. Mavrovo, where we will be accommodated for one night.

From our hotel, we will start riding around the artificial lake Mavrovo and had towards the town of Debar. On our way, we will be surrounded by the nice scenic road, with big rocks, small rivers, monasteries from 12 century A.D. until we arrive in Debar and have a short coffee break and taste Boza (fermented corn juice). After our refreshment, we will start riding towards Struga. When we come 40km before Ohrid we will put our bikes back in their place and from there in 30 min transfer, we will arrive in Ohrid and our accommodation place.

Today we will have a short transfer to the border between Macedonia and Albania – Kjafasan. From there we will start riding in Albania on a nice wide road to Pogradec. On the way to Pogradec, we will enjoy nice scenery over Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in Europe, some bunkers from the time of the communist system and the daily lives of local people. Later we will see the springs of river Drin, a place where most popular people in the time of communism had their residential houses. We live this part of Pogradec and we are going in the rural areas of Albania and this will be the scenery until we arrive to Korca.

We leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korcë, ascending steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock interspersed with wildflowers. Today we will climb the heart of the Grammoz Mountains over the Barmash Pass at 1,159m. We will stop for lunch in the town of Ersekë, the highest town in Albania at about 1000m above sea level. A climb out from Sotirë to a high Pine forest plateau surrounded by soaring peaks, before reaching the source of the River Vjosa and descending through its spectacular gorge to Leskovik. The 17km long descend to Çarshovë is both a pleasure and a thrill to cycle in one of the most scenic rides of the tour. We follow the corniche route high above the river to Përmet, famed for its cuisine and strong raki. After arriving at our guesthouse for lunch, in the village of Bënjë, we will continue cycling for another 4km to the thermal pools of Langarica and its canyon.

We continue along the valley towards Këlcyrë, the distant shark’s tooth peaks, which guard 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 town of Gjirokastër (the town of 1,000 steps) high above on the right. Gjirokastër, a ‘museum’ town, is perhaps the most beautiful in Albania. After checking in our hotel we will go on exploring in a guided tour, the charming cobbled alleyways between the white-walled buildings and the fascinating traditional houses of Skenduli and Zekateve. Last but not least we will visit the citadel of Gjirokaster nestled on the cliff, with an abound history and an amazing view of the city from above. With a little bit of luck and good timing, we might witness one of many cultural festivals, organized by the town. The most famous of these events is Gjirokastër National Folklore Festival, held since 1968, and regarded as the most important event in Albanian culture.

Today is a day for rest where a transfer will be provided to the capital of Albania, Tirana. On the way we will stop to Berat – a UNESCO protected cultural site, with short sightseeing. In Tirana, we will have some time for a short sightseeing in which tour we will find out more about the history of this country and the hard times during the Communism regime. The last part of this journey will be 1h transfer to the city of Shkodra, which is located near the largest lake in the Balkan peninsula and stay for one night.

Shkodra is one of the oldest cities in Albania, located on the bank of Skadar lake within 20 km from the Adriatic coast and 120 km from the countries capital. The city is an important cultural and economic centre and is also known as the centre of the Albanian Catholicism. From this point, we will enter another country, Montenegro. We start riding from place called Dodaj (before border with Montenegro). From this border crossing, we will head in direction of Ulcin and in v.Vladimir we continue right in direction to Skadar lake and we will ride till v.Krnjice.  From there we have transfer to Budva, one of the cities founded by ancient Greeks and we stay there for one night.

This is one of the most popular rides from the time of former Yugoslavia and the road known as Adriatic highway passing from north to south of entire Yugoslavia. Today we will ride near the Adriatic Sea, passing small beaches. On this ride, we will see how people spend their free time and summer holidays in this part of the world. When we arrive in Kotor we will go straight to our accommodation place, have some rest, shower and later we will go for group sightseeing and dinner in the old town of Kotor. Later we have some free time.

Today we will transfer you to the Airport of Podgorica, in time for your flight home.