Are you planning your cycling holiday next year towards the south-east? Nowadays, you can choose from more and more destinations. Croatia, Slovenia of Greece His well-known options. After watching the Netflix documentary ‘Biking Borders’, we were completely fascinated by cycling in Albania. This Balkan country is well known to many for the Eurovision Song Contest and UEFA qualifying matches. This part of Europe often has to work a little harder to become a cycling destination. In our opinion, this is unfair. Albania offers many opportunities for a wonderful cycling holiday. The organization Cycle Albania gave us some beautiful inspiration! Enjoy!
Twelve points!
We couldn’t help but make this joke. The connection to Albania and the Eurovision Song Contest is well known. But as Max and Nono already showed in Biking Borders: Albania offers so much more. For us Dutch people, a cycling holiday won’t necessarily offer all the luxury we’re used to. But is that a bad thing? That’s often called ‘managing expectations’. Because the luxury of a stay is usually not what you spend days talking about. It’s about the experience, the surroundings, and that’s more than just a luxury hotel.
Gravel AND race
Okay, let’s get right into it. This destination is perhaps more suited to the gravel bike, but definitely don’t underestimate the race bike possibilities. That’s the beauty of the unknown Albania. When you head to this Balkan country, keep in mind that it’s definitely going to be climbing! For a cool and almost unreal gravel adventure, check out this blog by Lola Bikes and Coffee. We want to go now.
UNESCO ROUTE
As mentioned, we want to focus here on the UNESCO route, such as the one offered by Cycle Albania. In 10 days, you can make a tour from the capital Tirana in a southern direction and do a ‘tour of Albania’. The route officially starts at the northern tip of the beautiful Orhid Lake. You can explore the area there in stunning style. Admittedly, there are worse places to stay.
Southwards into the mountains
From the south side of the lake, you head towards Körçe via Pogradec. The climbing here is breathtaking. First, you head to a slightly higher mountain plateau, where you can gain several hundred meters of elevation in a short time. Once in Körçe, which is known as the Paris of Albania, things pick up speed. The city of Körçe is definitely worth a stop. It is an important place for several religious denominations.
Once out of the city, it heads towards the mountains of Grammoz and the Bramash Pass, to finally reach Ersekë, the highest city in Albania. This section goes up and down between Körçe and Sotirë, and in 72 kilometers you’ve covered over 1,100 meters of elevation gain. That’s no small feat. You also drive through the wine region of Albania, so for the connoisseur there awaits a delicious glass of local red wine at the end.
Vjosa – Permet
It then continues in a wavy way southwards along the Vjosa, passing through Permet, which is known for its good cuisine and strong Raki (for the connoisseurs: that’s just like Ouzo, so not much to do with it). It’s really beautiful here, with so much beautiful nature, high mountains, and also a good local cuisine. In Langarica you also have the thermal baths, where you can relax after the ride. What more does a person need?
The southernmost point
Albania is south of Greece. The typical Greek landscape can also be seen here. Due to the proximity of ‘the old’ Greece, you also have beautiful old cities here, such as Gjirokastër, whose center has UNESCO status. This is perhaps the most beautiful ‘museum’ city in the country. Next we come to the second UNESCO site on this route, in the Butrint National Park. Here you find Greek and Roman history together. It was even part of the Venetian empire. An interesting stop on this tour if you are going cycling in Albania.
Corfu is not far away
Greece is not far from the sea, as the island of Corfu is quite prominent off the coast. For the last part of this UNESCO trip, we quickly head inland again, towards Vlöre and the Llogara National Park. There lies a climb that is quite a challenge. Pictures often say more than words can describe. We are already ready to go on a trip to this amazing part of the country. We already said it before: Albania offers many opportunities for a wonderful cycling holiday!
Back home
It is truly incredible what you can see in this unknown cycling country. Albania has much more to offer besides this route through the south. It is a place you absolutely have to come back to because honestly, if we had the choice, our ‘douze points’ would definitely go to Albania. Cycling in Albania is going to be the trend for the coming years.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.