Albania Bikepacking
Length
Trip Style
Road/Tarmac
Tirana, Albania
Challenge
Price
£1350
Bikepacking Trip
9 nights, 8 days riding
Accomodation
Start Point
Tirana, Albania
Simple hotels & guesthouses: 2* - 4*
Terrain
End Point
Dates
Distance
16 - 25th May ‘25
485km
Confirmed departure - trip will go ahead!
What a place to choose for our first ever tarmac-based adventure!
Albania has been at the top of our bucket list for years now, and we’re thrilled to have added this 8 day cycling loop through its southern corner, with a little bit of Macedonia even thrown in to our route. Over close to 500km of riding, we’ll take in UNESCO world heritage sights, and Albania’s beautiful nature as we ride from the Macedonia border at Lake Ohrid, down to the Albanian Riviera coastline. Expect sunshine, sunsets and plenty of swims along the way.
With a local expert in our support vehicle, we’ll get to learn about the regions history and culture, and experience infamous Albanian hospitality.
We can’t wait to share our first adventure to Albania with you all.
Highlights
✔ Swim in Lake Ohrid and get a glimpse of neighbouring Macedonia
✔ Finish with a 1000m descent to the beach at Vlorë
✔ Experience local culture at a Sotirë farmstay
✔ Stay in the museum town of Gjirokastër, Albania’s “most beautiful” town.
✔ Bathe in the thermal pools of Langarica, and hike its incredible canyon
View Dates & Book
2025 dates
May 16th - 25th
Interested in future dates?
Pricing Info (beds)
£1350 for a spot. Book now with a £300 deposit. Full balance due 60 days before the trip.
Click on your preferred trip date to be directed to our secure booking partner WeTravel who will process and manage your booking. We recommend paying with bank details to avoid card processing fees.
Optional Add Ons
Bike hire - £180
Single supplement - £230
Bikepacking bags (£20) and Hammerhead Karoo navigation devices (£10) can be hired from us, and added at booking.
Luggage transfer - £100 if you don’t fancy carrying your stuff, we’ll have a limited number of luggage transfers upgrades available.
Airport transfer - £60 (up to 3 riders + bikes)
Minimum trip number
Trip minimum met - this trip will go ahead!
Cancellation policy
You can secure your spot by paying a £300 deposit which is refundable up to the point that we confirm the trip minimum numbers have been met. Once the trip is confirmed, the deposit is not refundable. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip by bank transfer. Cancellation between 60 days and 28 days, you’ll get 50% back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
Itinerary
Meeting Point: Tirana centre, Albania
End Point: Tirana Airport, Albania
Carrying the basics we need for the week on our bikes, we’ll be exploring Albania’s southern heartland, hopping between UNESCO heritage sights, iconic landscapes, and history filled towns and villages.
We’ll start each day with breakfast together, before loading up our bikes and rolling out around 9am, after a detailed route briefing from our guides. In advance of the trip, we'll share the route files and route descriptions via Komoot and you’ll find descriptions of the terrain, the sights, safety and resupply info so you can plan your days. Whether you choose to ride with our guides and the group, or independently, we’ll share some great regroup points and recommended lunch spots each day. Once at our destination for the evening, we’ll eat dinner together, or share our favourite local recommendations, and talk about the next days ride before settling down for a good nights sleep, ready to do it all again tomorrow!
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Sleep: 3* hotel
Breakfast/Dinner: Not included/Not included
Lively, colourful Tirana is the beating heart of Albania. We’ll meet at our hotel in the city from 3pm, with time to rebuild any bikes before a welcome briefing and dinner in the city. We’ll book a local place and everyone is free to order and pay for what they wish.
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We will start the morning with a two hour transfer to the northern side of Lake Ohrid, with bikes loaded on bike racks. From here, we will start cycling along the scenic shore of lake Ohrid towards Pogradec. After time for lunch and checking into the hotel we will do an afternoon loop, crossing over into Macedonia, and visiting the monastery of St Naum. Pack your passport!
Lake Ohrid,one of the oldest lakes in the world and known for being one of the most ecologically diverse in the world.
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Leaving Lake Ohrid, we climb to a high plateau bounded by mountains. We continue following the gorge for a while until the hills open up, leading to a vast plain and a colourful patchwork of individual farms. There will be time to explore the town of Korcë after our ride, and take a walk around the ‘Paris of Albania’.
Korcë became an important trading and handicraft centre in the 18th century due to the development of trade with neighboring regions. It has been an important religious center for Orthodox Christians and Muslims for centuries, and a centre of the growth of Albanian identity.
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We leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korcë, ascending steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock interspersed with wild flowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead, climbing into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains and over the Barmash Pass at 1159m. We will stop for lunch in the town of Ersekë, the highest city in Albania at about 1000m above sea level.
We’ll overnight at a farmstay guesthouse in Sotirë, nestled in its own tranquil valley. Dinner (and wine!) will be grown in the valley and produced by local families. A special way to end a big day.
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We’ll 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 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 and having time for lunch in the village of Bënjë, there’s an option to continue cycling for another 4km to the thermal pools of Langarica and its canyon. You can hike upriver through one of the most magnificent canyons in Europe (and maybe find your own secluded pool for a skinny dip!)
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A day of gorges! We continue along the valley towards Këlcyrë, the distant shark’s tooth peaks, through gorges to the confluence of the Drinos river. Finally we emerge into a wide plain with the town of Gjirokastër (city of 1,000 steps) high above on the right. Gjirokastër, a ‘museum’ town, is considered to be the most beautiful in Albania, and is high on most visitors list. After checking in to our hotel, there’ll be time to explore the town before dinner.
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We will start the day with a brief 30km transfer, skipping some road and starting our cycling at the top of Muzina pass towards Sarandë. Hardy riders who want extra miles are welcome to get a dawn start and ride the extra 31km!
This is the gateway to southern Albania on the Ionian coast, sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea. A short ride on a rustic ferry brings us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, one of the country’s most important archaeological treasures, where the influences of various ancient people are clearly visible. From here, we will make our way along the coast heading north with the island of Corfu always at your site.
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We have a rollercoaster ride today, we leave as the early morning mist is burnt off by the sun, climbing steeply out of Sarandë to a rocky plateau. Then it’s over cols into bays and around headlands, always with the stunning mountain scenery to the right and coastal views to the left before descending to the long beach and the bay of Himarë, where there’s plenty of time for a swim in the clear blue waters of the Albanian riviera.
Along the way we will pay a visit to Porto Palermo Castle,.
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Our biggest day!
Today’s ride is not only the most challenging but also the most spectacular. For those riders who need a little boost, there’s always the option to hop in the support van for part of the climb.
Making use of an early start, we will gradually climb from sea level up to 1000m through forests, gorges and hairpin bends. After lunch in the beautiful national park of Llogara we will descend towards Vlorë for some well earnt relaxation by the Ionian coast.
In 48 BC during Roman Civil War, Julius Caesar landed with his legions at the nearby beach of Palase. He soon crossed the mountains over at Llogara Pass in a place later named as Caesar’s Pass to chase his adversary Pompey. For centuries, this spectacular mountain range has almost completely isolated this part of the coast from the rest of the country. That’s why the local inhabitants had easier connections by sea with Corfu and Greece than by land with inland Albania.
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After breakfast, we will transfer approximately two hours to a location close to Tirana Airport, where we’ll meet our bike bags and boxes for those that flew with their bikes. There’ll be a couple of hours to rebuild the bikes, before continuing to drop off at the airport.
There is also the option to stay longer at the beach in Vlore. In this case, bike bags will be kept at the office in Tirana and you can collect on return to the city.
What’s included?
Included
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Our trip will be guided by our British Cycling and First Aid qualified Sisters in the Wild cycling guides, who will be riding with the group. There will be a minimum of 1 cycling guide per 10 riders, alongside a support vehicle.
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Our trip will be supported by a local guide and driver in a support vehicle. This van has 7 seats available, offering the opportunity for riders to take boosts on hills if needed!
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9 nights accommodation included in simple guesthouses and hotels, on a twin room basis.
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Bikepacking bags and navigation devices can be added to your booking, and we’ll have them ready for you on day one.
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Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, and a free map bundle to access/navigate them.
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Breakfast: Breakfast included everyday
Dinners: Dinners are included in the trip, with the exception of our start and end nights in Tirana. We will book a table at a recommended place on this night, and riders are free to order and pay for whatever they like.
Not included
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We’ll share some local recommendations or book a table for the group on these nights in Tirana.
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Lunch and snacks are not included. We’ll make sure you know where you can pick up food on the ride.
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Riders can bring their own bike, or hire from our partners in Albania. Bike rental is £180 for the trip, for a hybrid (flat bar) bike.
Riders should be equipped with basic spares and tools for their bike. See packing list for info.
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Flight and transfers to our meeting point hotel in Tirana are not included.
Our trip will end with a group drop off at Tirana airport around lunch time.
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Travel Insurance that allows multi day cycling as an activty, and covers medical emergenc, repatriation, cancellation and public liability is mandatory for all SITW trips and is not included.
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Most travellers are allowed to travel to Albania for up to 90 days without a visa.
Check for your country:
Accomodation & Food
Accommodation
We'll be moving between accommodation throughout the trip, on this point to point adventure. Nine nights accommodation is included in a mix of 2-4* hotels and simple guesthouses, on a twin room basis. These are comfortable and well located for our adventure, but are usually fairly simple. Most have private bathrooms, though there may be a night or two where bathrooms are shared. A single supplement is available for £250.
This is a bikepacking trip, with riders carrying their own stuff between hotels. If you prefer, luggage transfer can be added to your booking for £100.
Food
Food in Albania is quite varied thanks to the many influences on the country and particularly Mediterranean combining Turkish, Greek and Italian tastes.
Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha (the communist leader of Albania from 1944 to 1985), Albania became a self-sustaining country due to its isolation to the world. However, owing to the fertile valleys, fresh mountain springs and Mediterranean climate, they are still very much a subsistence culture and show very few signs of changing. In the countryside, expect your food to have been grown not too far from your plate.
Breakfasts are typically eggs, fresh bread, jam, honey, and coffee or tea. For lunch and dinner, meat dishes are often goat or lamb, while fish dishes might include trout or whitebait. Vegetarian options are available on our trip too, as are vegan options, though dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt, are present in almost every meal. As such, vegan options may be limited in some of our smaller destinations. Courses often come in meze form, complemented by a variety of vegetables, salad, freshly baked bread, homemade cheeses, local wines and rakija.
About the riding
Challenge Level
We’ve rated this trip as a 2 to 3/5 on challenge level. This trip is our first purely tarmac/road based trip, which we hope will open up the opportunity for more riders to join us! Daily distances are moderate, and there are some decent climbs, but the additional of a support vehicle with shuttle option means these can be skipped by riders if needed. If you are riding every mile we’d put this as a 3/5, or 2/5 with the shuttle.
Terrain
The riding on this trip is 100% tarmac/on road. The tarmac can vary in quality, with pot holes and some stretches of poorer quality to be expected. We aim to use quiet roads where possible, although on occasion we need to pass busy sections to reach quiet roads beyond.
Climbing
The terrain is undulating with some long, gradual climbs. The climb on Day 9 (3,422ft/1,043m) is the most challenging, although there is always the option of the support vehicle to get you up to the pass.
Daily Distances
Average daily distance is 50km (30 miles) with a couple of bigger days around 70km. We will ride for 8 consecutive days, so we can expect to have tired (but strong!) legs by the end!
Remoteness & Weather
This trip is on tarmac roads and all accessible by a support vehicle, with regular opportunities for breaks and shelter. Heat can be a challenge in the summer, but we try to coordinate our trips with cooler shoulder season temperatures.
Support style
Our SITW Bikepacking trips aim to strike the perfect balance of freedom and support. Riders are free to ride the routes at their own pace or with the guide and group. Regardless, our team will be out on the routes to support and cheerlead.
Guiding
Depending on our group size, we’ll have one or two SITW guides out on the bike, moving back and forth amongst the group and sweeping more remote sections. Our guides are qualified first aiders and experienced mechanics and can help troubleshoot issues on the trail. Riders should be equipped with their own navigation and not rely on following a guide for directions. Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, to enable self supported navigation. Hammerhead Karoo navigation devices are available to hire for a small fee for the trip.
Support
In addition to the bike based guides, this trip has a local guide in a support vehicle to assist the group in case of issues (mechanicals, injury etc). On this trip, the vehicle has space to fit up to 7 riders at one time, opening the opportunity for riders to shuttle harder sections of the route.
Bikes & bike hire
Bike hire is not included as standard in this trip, and riders are welcome to bring their own bike or hire through our local partners. There’ll be space to rebuild the bikes at our starting hostel, and we arrange storage of bike boxes whilst on the trip, and delivery to the end of our trip.
Recommended bike
This is a 100% tarmac trip, which means that it is suitable for many types of bikes including road bikes, hybrid bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes. We’d recommend a good gearing range to help get you an your luggage up the climbs, and it is important that your bike is in safe working order.
Due to the condition of the tarmac in some places, we’d advise against extrmely skinny road tyres for comfort and safety.
Bike hire
Bike hire is available through our partners in Albania for £180 for the week. You can add this to your booking, and we will pas on. The bikes are Giant Roam 0/Rove 1 hybrid touring bikes with front suspension.
Travelling with your bike
Check your airlines bike carriage policy for weight and size restrictions. Some airlines will allow them as part of their checked in baggage allowance (e.g. British Airways), but most require a bike to be added as a specific piece of Sports Luggage (easyjet, ryanair, wizzair, Jet2 etc) , but often you get a higher weight allowance. Usually costs in the region of £40 -£60.
Your bike box/bag can be stored whilst on the trip and will meet us at the end of your trip. We’ll have space and tools available for rebuilding and packing bikes at the start/end of the trip.
What spares and tools to bring
Access to bike shops will me limited on the route, so bringing spares for your bike is a good idea and can help us fix issues and get you back on the road quickly!
2 x spare tubes and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys
Spare set of brake pads (specific for your bike)
We also recommend bringing a few spares that are specific to your bike. We don’t expect you to know how to fit these! But having them to hand can mean our team or local bike shop is better able to get you back on the road.
Chain quick link
Spare derailleur hanger
Extra brake pads just in case!
FAQs
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Our cycling trip starts and ends in Tirana, whose airport is a 30 min taxi ride from the centre.
Tirana is well served by budget airlines across Europe. In the UK, currently Ryanair fly from Bristol, Manchester, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh (2025 flight timetable pending). Multiple airlines fly from London.
Please do not book your travel until we have confirmed the minimum trip number has been met.
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Albania doesn’t have any international railway lines, but is served by long distance buses. Zagreb in Croatia is the closest train station, from which a series of international buses via Bosnia/Croatia and Montengro is possible (but certainly not quick).
Alternatively, a ferry runs from Bari in Italy to the Albanian coast, where buses/ride can be picked up.
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You can secure your spot by paying a £300 deposit, which is refundable up to the point that we confirm the trip minimum numbers have been met. Once the trip is confirmed, the deposit is not refundable. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip by bank transfer. Cancellation between 60 days and 28 days, you’ll get 50% back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
We highly recommend taking out travel insurance at the point of booking to cover in case of cancellation or curtailment.
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We’ll have a max group size of 20, minimum group size of 8 to run.
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We will help to pass any dietary requirements to places that we eat, and common ones such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free are generally fine (though may mean a more limited menu).
Unfortunately it may not always be possible for our vendors to accommodate serious allergies or very restrictive needs, due to their limited ingredients, menus and space. We’ll try to work with you to find solutions. You can let us know any dietary requirements at time of booking. If you have serious allergies, please email us before booking on hello@sistersinthewild.com.
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INSURANCE Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our trips Your insurance must include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation or repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities (for example, multi day off-road cycling) involved on your SITW trip. We highly recommend that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. We also highly recommend taking out a policy which also includes personal liability, cancellation and cover in the event you are unable to join your trip due to illness or injury, curtailment, loss of luggage or personal effects, or for any other reason.
E.g. with Yellow Jersey, Bikmo, Laka
E.g. with Yellow Jersey, Bikmo, Laka
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In order to make the most of the riding on offer, we’d suggest that you are comfortable riding 30+ miles in a day in hilly terrain, for a few days on the run. Riding a loaded bike for multiple days on the run takes a little more effort, so we’d recommend trying a couple of bigger practice rides of 45 miles + with some weight/luggage on your bike.
Feel free to drop us an email hello@sistersinthewild.com if you have any questions on this.
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Yes, you can book directly with our starting/ending hotel if you wish to stay earlier/late. We’ll share our hotel info once the trip is confirmed.
If you need to arrive late on day 1, that’s also fine, and our first nights dinner can be skipped. We can fill you in on our rider briefing.
If you wish to stay longer at the beach to relax at the end of the trip, that’s a great shout. You will need to arrange your own transfer back to Tirana, which is simple with public buses.
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Check your airlines or train/busbike carriage policy.
Most airlines require a bike to be added as a specific piece of Sports Luggage, but often you get a higher weight allowance. Usually costs in the region of £40 - 50.
Train/bus rules are dependent on carrier with some requiring bikes to be packed or pre-booked. Please check the specific rules for the service.
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Albania has a temperate, Mediterranean climate. The first day of spring is 15 March and things really start to hot up toward the end of the month when clear skies and balmy temperatures provide a nice way to ease into the heat of summer. Summer brings sunshine and maximum temperatures between 20C and 35C (68F and 95F), but increasingly hotter with days sometimes above 40C. September and October see a return to cooler temperatures, but tend to still see lots of sunny blue skies.
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We’’ll share a detailed packing list as part of the Trip Joining Info.
This is a bikepacking trip, which means you'll need to carry all your stuff or the week - so packing light is a good shout! Though you'll need to balance this with making sure you're equipped for changeable weather and supporting yourself out on the rides.
No camping gear is required for this trip, and we can lend you bikepacking bags and navigation device if you need them. These can be booked as Add Ons to your trip.
Bike Stuff
The basics
Bike
Navigation device (available to loan from us)
Bike lights (just in case!) and headtorch (optional)
A secure bike lock for overnight (can be stored in support van)
Lightweight lock for the rides
Capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water.
Bikepacking bags (available to loan from us)
If you plan to borrow bags, please bring a small rucksack (10-1 litres) to supplement if needed.
A small collapsable rucksack/bumbag or tote bag can be useful for carrying stuff off the bike
Basic first aid kit for your rides
Cup/spork/bowl
Bike tools/spares to carry
Spare tube and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys, chain breaker
Chain quick link (these are specific for your bike)
Spare derailleur hanger (specific to your bike.) This website can help you
find the one you need for your bike
Brake pads (specific for your bike)
Small amount of chain oil
A few zip ties/bits of duct tape & electrical tape wrapped around your
pump are always useful!
Personal Stuff
Travel insurance that covers off-road cycle touring/theft
Passport
Any personal medication needed
Mini toiletries (travel toothpaste, toothbrush etc)
Battery pack/cables to keep phone and nav device charged
Cash/card
Earplugs....just in case!
Lightweight towel for swims
Sun cream/SPF lipbalm
Electrolytes (optional but recommended)
Clothing
Clothing is a great place to slim down your packing list and get ruthless! However, this should be balanced with keeping safe and warm and dry if we have poor weather. Generally we could expect some very hot and sunny days, with the possibility of rain/thunderstorms.
Consider how you can double up uses of clothes for day/evening/sleeping, and embrace a bit of dirtbag spirit!
There's a chance to do laundry on day 5, and sinks available on every other night. Showers are available everyday.
Cycling clothes
We recommend 2 sets that you can wash/swap through the
week, plus a warm layer set.
Comfy shorts and quick dry t-shirts or cycling top
Shoes. We recommend only using clip in shoes/pedals if
you’re already confident in off-road riding.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers (optional)
Extra layers in case of poor weather, especially on
downhills e.g. leggings, long gloves, mid layer,
windbreaker
Cycling gloves (optional)
Glasses (optional but recommended - downhill bugs and
gravel dust)
Socks
Cycling cap/hat to keep the sun off your face
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We have a library of navigation devices we can loan you for the weekend. These can be added to your booking through the normal ticket process.
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Bikepacking bags can be loaned from us, and added to your booking for a small fee. Book through the normal ticket process, and we’ll match them to your order. Alternatively, Luggage Transfer can be added to your trip for £100.
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We recommend checking out the country-specific information
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Most travellers to Albania from Europe, US and Canada do not require a visa for entry. Please check the specific requirements for your country.
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Bike boxes/bags can be left at the start of the trip, and we will meet them again at the end.