Cycle the Balkans
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on an unforgettable 15-day journey through the heart of the Balkans, exploring the rich history, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes of Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. This multi-day tour offers a unique blend of cycling adventures, city tours, and nature exploration, taking you from the bustling capital of Tirana to the serene Lake Ohrid, the historic city of Prizren, the majestic Mavrovo National Park, and the picturesque Bay of Kotor. Along the way, you'll enjoy comfortable accommodations, delicious local cuisine, and the company of an experienced guide. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or an adventure seeker, this tour promises a wealth of experiences that will leave you with lasting memories.
Included
All breakfasts and two dinners are included.
Food in the Balkans is quite varied thanks to the many influences on the country, particularly from the Mediterranean, combining Turkish, Greek and Italian tastes. Dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt, are present in almost every meal, usually locally sourced. Due to the fertile valleys, fresh mountain springs and Mediterranean climate, the Balkans still have a subsistence culture and show very little signs of changing. In the countryside, expect your food to have been reared/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 with fish dishes such as trout and whitebait. Courses often come in mezze form with a variety of vegetables, salad, freshly baked bread, homemade cheeses, local wines and, of course, raki. Your guide will recommend the best restaurant options in the towns.
We use private minibuses for the airport transfers and transfers to and from the activities.
Throughout this tour, we stay in a variety of accommodation in both cities and rural areas. We use hotels of a comfortable three-star standard. For two nights, we stay in more remote areas where we stay in locally run guesthouses and experience a warm welcome. Rooms here tend to be more basic. They will be a mixture of double and triple rooms with shared bathrooms.
Single accommodation is available on request.
Please note, single rooms are not available in the guesthouses due to a limited number of rooms.
Group normally four to 16, plus local cycling leader and driver.
Transfer for group flights
Local bike hire
Destinations
Tetovo
Berane
Mavrovo
Shkoder
Ohrid
Tirana
Mojkovac
Plužine
Nikšić
Žabljak
Kotor
KolašinMap
Attractions
Arabati Baba Teḱe
Resort Mavrovo
Monastery of Saint Naum
Old City Park
Tara Canyon
Mavrovo LakeDaily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Welcome to Tirana
- Tirana - Arrival day
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Your adventure begins in the vibrant city of Tirana, the capital and cultural heart of Albania. In the evening, meet your guide and fellow travelers at a welcome meeting, where you'll learn about the exciting week ahead. Afterward, enjoy a delightful welcome dinner. Overnight at Sky 2 Hotel (or similar).
Day 2 – Day 2: Tirana to Ohrid
- Ohrid
- Tirana
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- Monastery of Saint Naum
- Old City Park
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Start your day with a transfer to the stunning Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest and largest biological reserves in Europe. Enjoy a scenic bike ride along the lake's shore, stopping for lunch in Tushemisht. Continue your journey into North Macedonia, visiting the Monastery of St Naum and cycling through Galicica National Park to reach the town of Ohrid. Overnight at Villa Royal View (or similar).
Day 3 – Day 3: Ohrid to Debar
Day 3: Ohrid to Debar
Leave Lake Ohrid behind and cycle through a high plateau surrounded by mountains, following a gorge that opens up to the vast farmlands of the Debar region. End your day in the city of Debar, where you'll rest for the night. Overnight at Hotel Leon (or similar).
Day 4 – Day 4: Debar to Mavrovo
- Mavrovo
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- Resort Mavrovo
- Mavrovo Lake
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Today's journey takes you to Lake Mavrovo, the largest artificial lake in the country, nestled in Mavrovo National Park. Cycle through the park's diverse landscapes, home to a variety of wildlife, and reach your hotel at the foot of the Bistra mountains in the afternoon. Overnight at Mia's Favorite Hotel (or similar).
Day 5 – Day 5: Mavrovo to Brezovica
- Tetovo
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- Arabati Baba Teḱe
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Transfer from Mavrovo National Park to the border with Kosovo. Cycle through Brezovica, a popular winter ski area, and continue into Sharri National Park, a relatively undiscovered area teeming with wildlife. Overnight at Hotel Pine (or similar).
Day 6 – Day 6: Brezovica to Prizren
- District of Prizren
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Cycle from Brezovica to Prevalle, another ski resort, through the forest of Kodra e Diellit, and descend to historic Prizren, the cultural capital of Kosovo. Known for its gastronomy, wines, traditional handicrafts, and a mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, Prizren offers a rich cultural experience. In the afternoon, explore the old town on a city tour. Overnight at Hotel Centrum (or similar).
Day 7 – Day 7: Prizren to Peje
- Mavrovo
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Transfer from Prizren to Peje for an overnight stay. Spend the day exploring another beautiful city in Kosovo before heading to Montenegro the next day. Overnight at Hotel Dukagjini (or similar).
Day 8 – Day 8: Peje to Berana
- Berane
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Transfer to the Kosovo-Montenegro border and start cycling into Montenegro. Cycle down to Rozaje, a city surrounded by magnificent mountains, and continue to Berana. Enjoy the scenic ride through large forests and flower-filled landscapes. Overnight at Hotel Berane (or similar).
Day 9 – Day 9: Berana to Kolasin
- Kolašin
- Berane
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Leave Berane behind and cycle to the small town of Andrijevica. From here, take a spectacular narrow road with breathtaking scenery all the way up to Kolasin. Enjoy impressive views of the Albanian Alps and the mountain of Jezerca, the second-highest peak in Albania. Overnight at Hotel Cile (or similar).
Day 10 – Day 10: Kolasin to Zabljak
- Mojkovac
- Žabljak
- Kolašin
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- Tara Canyon
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After a short transfer to Mojkovac, start cycling through the Tara Canyon, one of the deepest river canyons in Europe. Don't miss the chance to see the spectacular Tara Bridge before reaching Zabljak, the highest town in the Balkans. Overnight at Etno Selo Sljeme Guesthouse (or similar).
Day 11 – Day 11: Zabljak to Rudinice
- Plužine
- Žabljak
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Start your day with a long climb out of Zabljak, taking in the dramatic high peaks of the Durmitor region. After a challenging morning ride, enjoy a long descent to the quiet village of Rudinice, where you'll spend the evening at a peaceful farmstay. Overnight at Zvono Guesthouse (or similar).
Day 12 – Day 12: Rudinice to Niksic
- Nikšić
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Today's ride is a bit easier as you cycle toward Niksic, the second-largest city in Montenegro, located at the foot of Trebjesa Hill. Enjoy the day exploring this large municipality. Overnight at Hotel Trim (or similar).
Day 13 – Day 13: Niksic to Kotor
- Kotor
- Nikšić
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After a short transfer to Vilsu, cycle to the picturesque Bay of Kotor. Surrounded by medieval towns and dramatic mountains, the lake has been inhabited since antiquity. In the afternoon, visit the old city walls and enjoy a meal on the waterfront, sampling the fresh seafood on offer. Overnight at Hotel Marija 2 (or similar).
Day 14 – Day 14: Kotor to Shkodra
- Kotor
- Shkoder
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Drive to the coastal town of Bar and from there, cycle close to Lake Shkodra, crossing the border back into Albania. In the evening, celebrate the end of your journey with a well-deserved farewell dinner in Shkodra. Overnight at Hotel Tradita (or similar).
Day 15 – Day 15: Departure Day
- Shkoder - Departure day
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Your unforgettable 15-day journey through the Balkans comes to an end today. You may choose to start your journey home or extend your stay to explore more of this fascinating region.
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