Albania Cycle (From Mountain Plateaux To The Albanian Riviera) 8D7N, Fully Guided

From A$2,780.00 Per Person, Twin Share

At a Glance

Revel in an unforgettable and enriching cycling adventure featuring the best of Albania from mountains to the Albanian Riviera. Immerse, taste and wonder its pristine culture, exquisite cuisine and charming towns as you pedal the very best of Europe’s unknown on this 8 day cycle exploit.

Begin in Pogradec for an overnight stay before venturing deep in the Albanina countryside to Korçë. A thrilling climb through a terrain of barren rocks and a ride pass Grammoz Mountain brings Germenj with reach. Cycle through high greeny plateau encircled by soaring peaks before descending to Çarshove and on to Benje. Travelling in the direction of Kelcyra, move through captivating terrains, marvel at the magnificent merging of the city's two rivers, gaze at the roaring waterfall up-close and travel through the whispering plains of ...

Trip Highlights

  • Explore numerous cultures and historical buildings in different regions
  • Discover the alluring beauty of a previously isolated country
  • Relish a pleasant time in an engulfing hot spring
  • Taste local specialties and wines from different regions 
  • Take a look at the famous country Italy from the Llogara Pass
  • Unearth the wonders of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint

What's Included

  • Meals as specified
  • 7 nights accommodation from guesthouses to 3-4 star hotels on a twin share basis
  • Travel by private minibus
  • Cycle with full vehicle support, local cycling leader and driver
  • Local bike hire (e-bike available at additional cost)

Itinerary

DAY 1 WELCOME TO ALBANIA!
Hotel Millenium, Pogradec or Similar
None
DAY 2 TRANSFER TO KORÇË & TRAVERSE MOUNTAINS AND THE BARMASH PASS
Farma Sotira Hotel, Germenj or Similar
Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3 EXPLORE SOARING PEAKS, GRASSY PLATEAUX & SWIM IN THERMAL SPRINGS
Guesthouse Coli , Benje or similar
Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4 CYCLE ALONG THE VALLEYS & TRANSFER TO GJIROKASTRA
Hotel Cajupi, Gjirokastër or Similar
Breakfast
DAY 5 TRANSFER UP THE MUZINA PASS & EXPLORE THE UNESCO SITE OF BUTRINT
Hotel Nertili, Butrint or Similar
Breakfast
DAY 6 SPECTACULAR COASTAL RIDE TO THE LONG BEACH OF HIMARË BAY
Hotel Rondos, Himarë or Similar
Breakfast
DAY 7 UNCOVER LLOGARA NATIONAL PARK
Hotel Coral, Vlorë or Similar
Breakfast
DAY 8 FAREWELL ALBANIA
None
Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.

April 2025

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
  • AVAILABLE
  • NOT AVAILABLE
  • SELECTED

INSTALLMENTS
InstallmentDue DateAmount
12024-12-19A$834.00
22025-02-17A$1,946.00
TOTALA$2,780.00
DepositA$834.00
BalanceA$1,946.00
Book Now

More Info

How To Get There

- The departure point is Pogradec

- The finish point is Vlore

- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Pogradec. The nearest major internatopnal airport is Tirana International Airport Mother Teresa and is 156 km from Pogradec, Albania.

- Airport transfers are not included. Joining location starts in your accommodation in Tirana  making your own arrangements there. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost, please contact us.

Weather & Climate

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). Summer days are long with sunrise before 6am and sunset after 8.30pm.

Biking Levels

The biking level on this trip is rated Level 4 Moderate/Challenging

Level 1: Leisurely
If you can ride a bike and enjoy gentle exercise, these trips are an ideal introduction to a cycling adventure. No routes are entirely flat, so expect some short climbs and descents. Maximum daily height gain is approximately 985ft (300m). The average daily distance is 12mi to 25mi (40km to 70km); on rare occasions, you may cycle up to 32mi (50km). Longer days are often optional.

Level 3: Moderate
You need to be in good health and reasonably fit. Moderate trips are ideal for occasional/weekend cyclists or fitter riders looking for a more relaxed adventure. Off-road trips do not require experience. Expect average daily distances between 25mi and 43mi (40km and 70km); on rare occasions, you may cycle up to 62mi (100km).

Level 5: Challenging
Fitness is vital. Challenging trips require confidence in your ability and physical condition. They are equivalent to an extended period of cycling at home. Mountain biking experience is essential for Challenging off-road trips, as they will involve some technical riding. Expect average daily distances between 31mi and 56mi (50km and 90km); on rare occasions, you may cycle up to 75mi (120km).

Level 7: Tough
Experience of the trip’s cycling style is essential, with long days on the saddle and tougher terrain both on- and off-road. You need complete confidence in your fitness and technical ability to cope with difficult or steep terrains, rough surfaces and longer distances. Tough trips are ideal if you’re looking to test yourself. Expect average daily distances between 50mi and 62mi (80km and 100km); on rare occasions, you may cycle up to 100mi (160km).

Split grades
Where a trip falls between two grades, we use an intermediate or ‘split’ grade, for example, Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

Activity Information

Terrain and route: 100 percent paved, where some sections are in a poor condition with potholes and some unsurfaced areas. The terrain is undulating with some long, gradual climbs. The optional climb on Day 7 (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. We aim to use quiet roads where possible, although on one occasion we need to pass busy sections to reach quiet roads beyond.

Accommodation

On days 2 and 3, you are deep in the Albanian countryside and stay in comfortable guesthouses. In Germenj, you’ll stay in Sotira Farm, which is nestled in a tranquil valley, with fresh water running down from the mountains. It is also a trout farm, so dinner might be freshly caught from the stream. Here you'll stay in wooden cabins that contain two rooms with twin beds in each room. Each cabin of two rooms has a communal bathroom. In Benje, stay in a family-run guesthouse only a few kilometres from thermal springs and the Ottoman bridge. Dinner will often be taken out on the veranda, where you will be served homegrown produce. Rooms here are a little more basic than hotels, each with an en suite. For the remaining nights, stay in hotels that are of a comfortable three- and four-star standard, all with en suite rooms.

Equipment

Included standard bike
The standard bikes for this trip are Giant Roam (men) and Giant Rove (women) hybrid bikes with front suspension.

E-bike upgrade
Electric bikes are available on this trip at an additonal cost. Please contact us to book.

Bringing your own bike
If you’d prefer to bring your own bike, please advise us at the time of booking and you will receive a discount on the price of the trip. However, you will be responsible­­ f­or any extra baggage charges; assembling and disassembling your bike; and bringing along spare parts and any tools specific to it. You should also ensure you have adequate insurance to cover loss, damage or theft.

Bringing equipment from home
You’re welcome to bring your own equipment, such as SPD pedals or clipless pedals, your own saddle (excluding the seat post), or gel saddle cover for the hire bikes. Your leader will help you fit these when bikes are distributed.

Helmets
Helmets are mandatory for everyone on a guided Exodus cycling trip. You must bring your own as, following best safety practice, they are not available for hire.

Cycling clothing
For all cycling trips we recommend:

  • Padded cycling shorts: For destinations with more modest cultures, we also recommend loose ‘over-shorts’ for riding or rest stops
  • Eyewear: Either sunglasses or eye protection with clear lenses to protect the eyes while riding
  • Cycling gloves: Especially for riding off-road or on rugged surfaces
  • Cycling shoes: Cycling is more efficient with stiff-soled shoes. We don’t recommend open-toed shoes or sandals
  • Small close-fitting rucksack or bum bag (fanny pack): To keep spare clothing or essential items to hand during the ride
Other Information

Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.

Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.

A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.

Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.

General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance

Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.

We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. The tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.

Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.

Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.

Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.

Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.

Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.

Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.

Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.

Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.

For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.

Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.

Product Code : EALTIAACM08