mountain bike tour in the albanian alps

Price From

1687€

Category

Mountain Bike

Destinations

Albanian Alps

Duration

6 Days

Group Size

4 – 6

Trip Code

MTB01

Why join this tour?

  • Enjoy an authentic journey between civilization and the wild life
  • Discover the capital city – Tirana and its main attractions
  • Undertake a journey into the communist history of Albania, visiting the BunkArt Museum
  • Ride in Valbona National Park surrounded by the rugged mountain peaks of the Albanian Alps
  • Enjoy a memorable boat tour along the Koman lake
  • Get in contact with locals and enjoy Albanian hospitality

The right tour for you?

  • Mountain biking is a potentially hazardous activity carrying a significant risk. It should only be undertaken with a full understanding of all inherent risks.
  • This tour requires good off-road skills and techniques to cope with technical trail features, as well as a good level of fitness.
  • We kindly ask you to read our daily trip descriptions which give detailed information about estimated riding times, distances and ascent/descent in meters.
  • This trip will be accompanied by a single guide that rides with the group, and a driver in the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the mountain bikers your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
  • Please read the packing list carefully and bring all the required essential items with you.
  • Being prepared to cope with the weather conditions is an important factor to consider before you travel. Be prepared for all elements – rain, wind, heat and cold.
  • You will spend one night in shepherd’s huts. It can get quite cool, even in Summer, so don’t forget to pack some warmer layers. Remember that no facilities are available during this day.
  • Most of the time there is no shade, so remember to bring a hat and sun protection
  • The accommodation in the Alps is provided on a multi-share basis and meals are served family style. Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary requirements.
  • Packed meals are provided where it is impossible to have a meal at a restaurant or guesthouse.
  • This trip involves some long travel days. The vehicles are modern and with air conditioned.
  • We take care of the luggage transportation between the accommodations.
  • Please bring a day pack/bag to carry clothing, water, packed meals, a camera etc. for the day trips.
  • We are strongly committed towards responsible and sustainable travel. We please you to follow our guidelines regarding sustainability.
Day 1: Arriving to Tirana

Welcome to Tirana. Your hotel is located in the downtown. There are plenty of attractions, cafes and bars to keep you busy. Founded in 1614, Tirana became the capital of Albania in 1920 and is the main cultural and industrial center of Albania. The city boulevards are marked with fascinating relics of the Ottoman, Italian and communist past.
In the evening, you can have a drink at one of the numerous cafes or trendy bars of the “Blloku” district. The most animated quarter of the city lies at the place where before the democratic changes it was not allowed for the public to enter as it was inhabited only by the higher leadership.
The price includes:
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 2: Tirana – The vibrant capital

We will start the day with a visit of Tirana, and its main attractions.
After lunch in Tirana, starts the transfer to Valbona. The road goes through the city of Gjakova in Kosovo, and re-enters Albania near Bajram Curri. Then, it runs through the valley, along the Valbona River, surrounded by wild and beautiful natural panorama and the rugged mountain peaks of the Albanian Alps, up to the village of Valbona. Dinner and accommodation are provided in a guesthouse in Valbona.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a guesthouse in Valbona
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 3: Riding to the village of Dobërdol: 7h, 40km, ↑1900m, ↓1150m

Early in the morning, we will get on the bikes and ride, at first on tarmac, in the direction of the village of Dragobia. Then, the ride continues on a gravel road towards Çerem.
From there, we will follow a dirt road, built by the locals. It winds through forests and high alpine meadows. In autumn, the blueberry bushes turn deep red, creating some of the most spectacular mountain sceneries in the Albanian Alps. Dobërdol is a high alpine plateau, lying above the tree line.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a shepherd’s hut in Dobërdol
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 4: Riding to Bajram Curri: 6h, 41km, ↑650m, ↓2000m

Today’s ride will start with a steep ascent of about 450m. After reaching the pass, we will continue towards the tiny village of Sylbicë. Passing the village, the ride continues mostly downhill on a dirt and gravel road, up to the village of Tropojë. From here, we will ride on tarmac again for some kilometers, until we reach Bajram Curri, where dinner and accommodation will be provided.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a hotel in Bajram Curri
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 5: Riding in the mountains of southern Tropoja: 5h, 35km, ↑1050m, ↓1200m

After breakfast, we will begin with today’s ride. At first, the ride follows an ascending gravel road, passing through forests. Then, after reaching 1100m altitude, the trail starts descending in the direction of the village of Lekbibaj. After reaching the village, we will follow an asphalted road for a short distance, until reaching the ferry terminal in Fierza.
There, the journey continues on the ferry along the Koman lake, one of the three large reservoirs along the Drin River, supplying Albania with clean hydroelectric power. The ferry ride allows you to see some spectacular scenery, not unlike a Norwegian fjord winding its way between high cliffs and towering peaks.
In the ferry terminal in Koman, the vehicle will be waiting for us to continue our trip in the direction of Tirana. There you will have a little time to explore the city on your own, or just to relax in one of the plentiful lounge bars, taking in the Tirana lifestyle. Dinner and accommodation in Tirana.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
• Packed Lunch
• Dinner
• Accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in Tirana
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

 

Day 6: Departure

After breakfast at your hotel, it is time to say goodbye to Albania.
The price includes:
• Breakfast
*Please see “Inclusions” section!

Performance level:

Our daily trip descriptions give detailed information about: distance, estimated biking times, ascent/descent in meters. We kindly ask you to read these very carefully and consider them while choosing your trip.

 

Abbreviations:

↑ = Ascent in meters

↓ = Descent in meters

 

Biking time:

Estimated cycling times are given for each tour. These times do vary, however, according to the day’s weather conditions, and the fitness levels of the tour participants. These times do not include times taken for meals and breaks.

 

Accommodation:

During this tour you will be accommodated in carefully selected:

• Hotels on days 1, 4 and 5 on a twin-share basis
• A guesthouse on day 2 on a multi-share basis*
• A shepherd’s hut on day 3 on a multi-share basis
*An accommodation upgrade option is available for day 2

The accommodation in hotels will be provided on a twin-share basis. The hotel rooms all have a private bathroom with a shower/bath and toilet. In rare occasions, the accommodation in hotels will be provided in triple rooms.

The accommodation in guesthouses will be provided on a multi-share basis. Bathrooms with a shower and toilet may be shared between multiple rooms. Please note that there may be occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different trips than your own.

The accommodation in shepherds’ huts will be provided on a multi-share basis. Bathrooms are shared between multiple rooms. The shepherds’ huts are rudimentary, and might not have shower facilities. Please note that there may be occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different trips than your own.

In all cases, we pair up solo travelers with other travelers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports.

 

Solo travelers:

The tour is suitable for solo travelers.

 

Luggage transportation:

We take care of the luggage transportation between the accommodations.

 

Transfers:

All transfers described in the itinerary are included in the price and will be organized by us.

 

Extensions:

If you wish to extend your journey by a few days, we are at your disposal to further organize your tour according to your wishes. All related services and costs are not included in the tour price and as such will be additionally calculated.

The tour begins and ends in Tirana. If you wish to start or end your tour from/to another location, we can pick you up or drop you off against additional charge, enabling your participation in the travel.

 

Sustainability:

We are strongly committed towards responsible and sustainable travel.

We please our guests to follow our guidelines regarding sustainability:

• Respect the local people, their culture and environment.
• Support locally owned businesses, restaurants and other services: Eat local food and drink local brands and brews.
• Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products. Favor local products over imported items. This helps in keeping traditional crafts alive. Even a small amount could be extremely important to local producers.
• Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
• We strongly recommend bringing reusable water bottles. In places where tap water is potable, this eliminates the usage of single-use plastic bottles entirely.
• Bring a water filter. This way you can drink tap water even in places where it is otherwise unsafe to do so.
• We also recommend bringing a reusable straw, reusable camping flatware and a reusable container for packed lunch.
• For the packed meals, you will be provided with the ingredients and will pack the meals by yourself. Please do not pack more food than is necessary, in order to reduce food waste.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Our staff and guides are trained and able to advise you in detail about our approach towards sustainability.

Included in the price:
• All trips according to the program schedule
• Transport in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
• 2 nights’ accommodation in 4 Star hotels
• 1 night’s accommodation in a 3 Star hotel
• 1 night’s accommodation in guesthouses
• 1 night’s accommodation in a shepherd’s hut
• Meals according to the program schedule
• Water during the meals and for the rides
• Luggage transport between the accommodations
• Accompaniment by an English-speaking guide during the entire journey
• Mountain Bike rental
• Accompaniment by a support vehicle during the bike trip
• Assistance to resolve problems concerning the bicycles

 

Not included in the price:
• Transfer from and to the airport
• Any type of insurance
• Any beverages
• Other services not mentioned in the included section above or in the itinerary

Essential Equipment:
• Cycling helmet
• Cycling gloves
• Cycling shoes
• Cycling trousers
• Sweater/Jacket
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• T-shirts/shirts
• Spare socks
• Reusable water bottles (at least 2 liters in total)
• Comfortable shoes for traveling and sightseeing
• Head lamp
• Warm hat
• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Blister bandages
• Any prescription medication you might need
• Duffle bag for personal luggage
• Passport or ID

 

Recommended Equipment:
• Water filter or alternative water purification system
• Reusable container for packed lunch
• Reusable straw
• Hydration system
• Slippers
• Personal first aid kit
• Insect repellent

Departure Dates:

Please click the date you are interested in from the list below:

07 September 2024 – 12 September 2024


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