Spanning a swathe of southeastern Europe, the Balkansoffer the best of the continent in one intriguing package: history-drenched towns,cloud-brushing mountains and exceptional cuisine. We take to the saddle for this trip, allowing us to easilyintegrate into the lesser visited (but no less intoxicating) destinations of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Along the way, we visit the Unesco-listed lakeside town of Ohrid, tackle the ups and downs of the imposing Durmitor mountains and enjoy a sun-and-sea flop at the Bay of Kotor, a perfect end to the ride.
Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here
Day 1: Start TiranaWelcome to Tirana, the capital of Albania and the cultural and political hub of the country. In the evening, our guide will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions before we all go out for our welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Sky 2 Hotel (or similar)
Day 2: Transfer to Lake Ohrid; cross the border into North Macedonia; visit the Monastery of St Naum before ending in Ohrid townWe start this morning with a transfer to beautiful Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world and one of the largest biological reserves in Europe. Upon arrival, the bikes will be unloaded and adjusted to everyone’s comfort. Our ride starts along the scenic shore towards Pogradec. After reaching Tushemisht, just 2.5mi (4km) east of Pogradec, we enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant. We continue cycling in the afternoon, crossing into North Macedonia and visiting the Monastery of St Naum. The road then takes us through Galicica National Park to Ohrid town.
Accommodation: Villa Royal View (or similar)
Day 3: Climb to a mountain-bound high plateau; follow the gorge to DebarLeaving Lake Ohrid, we climb to a high plateau bounded by mountains. We continue to follow the gorge for a while until the hills open up, leading to a vast patchwork of individual farms in the Debar region. Our ride finishes in the city of Debar where we rest for the night.
Accommodation: Hotel Leon (or similar)
Day 4: Cycle towards Lake MavrovoToday we cycle toward Lake Mavrovo, the largest artificial lake in the country. It lies in Mavrovo National Park, where deep canyons, snowy peaks, blue lakes and dense forests provide a habitat for all sorts of incredible creatures, including wolves, bears and lynx. We cycle through this diverse national park and reach our hotel at the foot of the Bistra mountains in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Mia's Favorite Hotel (or similar)
Day 5: Transfer from Mavrovo to the Kosovo border; continue through Brezovica National Park and the Sharri mountain rangeTransferring out of Mavrovo National Park, we reach the border with Kosovo. We ride through Brezovica, an area frequented by skiers in the winter, and continue into Sharri National Park, a still relatively undiscovered area home to wild boar, wolves, bear, lynx and roe deer.
Accommodation: Hotel Pine (or similar)
Day 6: Climb to Prevalle through the forest of Kodra e Diellit; descend to the historic city of PrizrenFrom Brezovica, we cycle up to Prevalle, another ski resort, through the forest of Kodra e Diellit before a long descent to historic Prizren, the cultural capital of Kosovo. This city is known in this region of the Balkans for its gastronomy and wines, traditional handicrafts and wonderful mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. This afternoon, we go on a city tour to explore the old town.
Accommodation: Hotel Centrum (or similar)
Day 7: Free day in PejeToday we transfer from Prizren to Peje where we stay overnight. Today we can visit another beautiful city in Kosovo before heading to Montenegro tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hotel Dukagjini (or similar)
Day 8: Transfer to Montenegro border; cycle to Berane via RozajeThis morning, we transfer to the Kosovo-Montenegro border. We start cycling from the border and enter Montenegro. We cycle down to Rozaje, a city surrounded by magnificent mountains including the peaks of Hajla and Turjak. The area is covered in large forests and abundant with flowers. We then regroup and jump in the support vehicle to cross a long tunnel, before jumping back on our bikes and continue cycling to Berana.
Accommodation: Hotel Berane (or similar)
Day 9: Pedal to Andrijevica and onto Kolasin; magnificent views of the rugged Albanian AlpsLeaving Berane behind, we cycle a flat road to the small town of Andrijevica. From here, we take a magnificent narrow road with spectacular scenery all the way up to Kolasin. On our left-hand side, we have impressive views of the Albanian Alps and we should be able to spot the mountain of Jezerca, the second-highest peak in Albania. Just before arriving at Kolasin, we regroup for a short transfer through a tunnel. After, we have a short easy ride to our hotel for tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Cile (or similar)
Day 10: Short transfer to Mojkovac; cycle through the Tara Canyon before reaching ZabljakAfter a short transfer to Mojkovac, we start cycling through the Tara Canyon, one of the deepest river canyons in Europe. We also have the chance to see the Tara Bridge, a spectacular arch bridge made of concrete, before reaching Zabljak. The town is in the centre of the Durmitor mountains at an altitude of 4,777ft (1,456m), making it the highest town in the Balkans.
Accommodation: Etno Selo Sljeme Guesthouse (or similar)
Day 11: Morning climb out of Zabljak through the Durmitor region; descend to PluzineOur day starts with a long climb out of Zabljak. As we ascend through the Durmitor region we see the dramatic high peaks of the magnificent mountain ranges. After our challenging ride this morning, we are rewarded with a long descent to Rudinice village, where we spend the evening at a small, quiet farmstay.
Accommodation: Zvono Guesthouse (or similar)
Day 12: Cycle towards Nikšić Today we have an easier cycle toward Nikšić, the second-largest city in Montenegro, situated at the foot of Trebjesa Hill. It is the largest municipality by area and second-most inhabited after the capital Podgorica.
Accommodation: Hotel Trim (or similar)
Day 13: Short transfer to Vilsu; cycle to the Bay of KotorAfter a short transfer to Vilsu, we cycle to the picturesque Bay of Kotor. Medieval towns encased by dramatic mountains surround the lake and have been inhabited since antiquity. In the afternoon, we have time to visit the old city walls. For dinner, take the opportunity to enjoy a meal on the waterfront and sample the fresh seafood on offer.
Accommodation: Hotel Marija 2 (or similar)
Day 14: Transfer to Bar; cycle close to Lake Shkodra; finish ShkodraThis morning, we drive to the coastal town of Bar. From here, we cycle close to Lake Shkodra and cross the border back into Albania. This evening, we enjoy a well-deserved farewell dinner in Shkodra.
Accommodation: Hotel Tradita (or similar)
Day 15: End ShkoderThe trip ends today. Either began your return journey home or, if you’d like to explore some more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
