Cycle Albania

Our trip begins at Tirana International Airport (TIA) at 1pm. The latest your flight can arrive is therefore 12pm. We will travel together as a group in a private bus to our hotel in Pogradec, on the shores of Lake Ohrid. The journey will take approximately three and a half hours including a lunch break.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may wish to change some money at the airport and wait in the restaurant outside the terminal opposite Arrivals. Stay: Enkelana Hotel (Comfortable)

Once equipped and fitted with our bikes we start cycling from Lake Ohrid, climbing to an elevated plateau with some great views over the blue waters of this splendid lake surrounded by mountains. The road then continues towards Korça pedaling alongside vast fields and past small farms. We check into our hotel upon arrival into Korça.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 50 kilometres/31 miles (380 metres/1250 feet total accumulated ascent and 220 metres/720 feet descent). Stay: Hotel Grand Palace, Korca (Comfortable) (B)

This morning when we retake to our bikes we leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korça, climbing 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 Gramos Mountains and over the Barmash Pass (1159 metre/3800 feet) to Germenj lying in its own tranquil valley. We spend the night in wooden bungalows with shared bathrooms in Germenj and enjoy a traditional home cooked dinner.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 72 kilometres/44.6 miles (total 1160 metres/3805 feet ascent and 1040 metres/3410 feet descent).

The Sotira Farm Guesthouse is a collection of two bedroom cabins located in the woods around a central farmhouse and salmon hatchery. Each cabin has a bathroom shared between the two bedrooms, in addition there is a communal washing block cabin. The main farmhouse house building where you have your dinner and breakfast is warm and welcoming with a log fire, and serves delicious local fare. Stay: Sotira Farm Guesthouse (Simple) (B/D)

We climb out from Germenj on our bikes to a high grassy plateau surrounded by soaring peaks before reaching the source of the River Vjosa and descending through its spectacular gorge to Leskovik. The route continues with a 15km/9.3 miles descent to Çarshove before following the cornice route high above the river to Permet situated on a bluff above the river. A short but dramatic drive of about one an a half hours will bring us to the historic town of Gjirokastër, another UNESCO Heritage site that is home to some truly stunning Ottoman architecture. Gjirokastër is magnificently set between the towering Gjerë Mountains and the Drino River, providing us with a beautifully scenic arrival by vehicle from Permet as we pass through the Drino Valley and the Kelcyra Gorge. After checking in to our hotel, we have a chance to explore its historic heart, taking in its beautiful 18th and 19th century buildings and the dominating presence of its Ottoman citadel, believed to be the second largest in the Balkans. If you are travelling in October, we may visit a traditional house instead of inside the citadel as it operates shorter opening hours at the end of the season.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 58 kilometres/36 miles (total 690 metres/2270 feet ascent and 1430 metres/4690 feet descent). Stay: Hotel Cajupi (Comfortable) (B/D)

A short drive after breakfast will bring us to the beginning of the cycling section that starts with a downhill ride from Muzina Pass to the Blue Eye, source of the river Bistrica. The ride then encircles the lagoon of Butrint National Park where we will visit the archaeological site. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Butrint is one of the county's most important archaeological treasures, tracing its origins back to the Greeks and the Romans. In the afternoon we continue our ride onto Saranda and spend the evening at the waterfront. The gateway to southern Albania, Saranda lies along the Ionian coast, sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea and close to the ancient remains of Butrint.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 67 kilometres/41.5 miles (total 560 metres/1840 feet ascent and 1090 metres/3580 feet descent). Stay: Hotel Iliria (Comfortable) (B)

A roller coaster of a ride awaits us this morning as we make our way along the Albanian Riviera passing through the small villages of Piqeras and Lukova en route to Qeparo. Leaving as the mist is burnt off by the sun, climbing steeply out of Saranda to a rocky plateau. From here we pedal over cols into bays and around headlands, always with the stunning mountain scenery to the right and sea to the left before descending to the long beach and bay of Qeparo where we spend the night in the seaside village of Qeparo on the Albanian Riviera. The afternoon is left free to enjoy the beach and relax.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/24.8 miles (total 965 metres/3170 feet ascent and 920 metres/3020 feet descent). Stay: Rondos Hotel - Himarë (Comfortable) (B)

We continue our route into the valley heading north before climbing two short but steep cols, through woodlands, little gorges, forests and around hairpin bends. Along the way we pass the old fortress of Ali Pasha of Tepelena, Palermo Bay and the picturesque village of Dhermi, nestling amongst the rocky slopes of the Ceraunian Mountains. After a coffee break we have the challenge of ascending to the Llogara Pass (1,043 metre/3420 feet), there will be a support vehicle for this climb which you can choose to use if you think the ascent will be too much. However the achievement and views upon reaching the top are worth the effort. From the pass we descend into Llogara National Park, a scenic expanse of protected woodland that encompasses the forests on the northern side of the Llogora Pass. Our cycling adventure ends with a descent to Radhime on the coast. From here we drive (about two hours) to Berat. Berat is perhaps the most beautiful town in Albania. Arriving in Berat around 6pm, we have the option to join a farewell dinner in one of the local restaurants. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 71 kilometres/44 miles (total 1960 metres/6430 feet ascent and 1960 metres/6430 feet descent). The pass climb will be vehicle supported. (B/D)

There are no planned activities today. The airport transfer is timed to coincide with the BA morning flights to London.

Departing Berat this morning, we drive (approx. 2.5 hours) to Tirana International Airport (TIA) where our trip ends. The earliest your flight can depart is 12.45pm.

Time in Berat will be limited therefore we strongly advise you to book an extra night in Berat if you wish to explore more of this enchanting city. The Ethnographic Museum and Castle are well worth a visit. And, don't forget to try some local wine, one of the best in the country. (B)