Cycle the Balkans

The group flights usually arrive in Tirana in the early afternoon and the

group will be met and transferred to the start hotel. Land Only clients

should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon. In the evening our guide

will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the

local area and answer any questions, before we all go out for our welcome

dinner.

This morning we start with a transfer to the northern side of Lake Ohrid.

Upon arrival, the bikes will be unloaded and adjusted to everyone’s

comfort. Our ride starts with cycling along the scenic shore of Lake Ohrid

towards Pogradec. After reaching Tushemisht, just 4 km east of Pogradec,

lunch will be served at a waterfront restaurant. We will continue cycling in

the afternoon, crossing over into Macedonia, and visiting the monastery of St

Naum. The road then takes us through Galicica National Park to Ohrid Town.



Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world, came into existence during

the Pliocene epoch as a result of tectonic shifts. It is home to unique flora

and fauna and the lake is one of the largest biological reserves in Europe;

with 212 known endemic species and a surface area of 358 km2 it is probably

one of the most diverse lakes in the world.

Leaving Lake Ohrid behind, we start today by climbing to a high plateau

bounded by mountains. We continue to follow the gorge for a while until the

hills open up, leading to a vast patchwork plain of individual farms in the

Debar region. Our ride finishes in the city of Debar where we rest for the

night.

Today we cycle toward Lake Mavrovo. Spreading over an area of about 780

square kilometres (300 sq mi), the Mavrovo National Park features deep

canyons, snowy peaks and blue lakes as well as dense forests providing a

habitat for an array of wildlife. We enjoy cycling through this diverse

National Park, we reach our hotel in the afternoon at the foot of the Bistra

mountains.

Transferring out of Mavrovo National Park, we reach the border crossing with

Kosovo. We will ride through Brezovica, an area frequented by skiers in the

winter. We continue into Sharri National Park, which was recently established

in 2013. It is still relatively undiscovered with huge areas of intact

ecosystems home to several threatened species in Europe, making it an

important ecological area to protect.

From the ski resort of Brezovica, we cycle up to Prevalle through the forest

of Kodra e Diellit before a long descent to the historic city of Prizren,

Kosovo's cultural capital. Kosovo's second biggest city is rich with history

and traditions and is surrounded by incredible nature. Throughout history,

Prizren has played a vital role in the region. The city is known in this

region of the Balkans for its gastronomy and wines, traditional handicrafts

and wonderful mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. This afternoon we go

on a city tour to explore the old town. 

Today we transfer from Prizren to Peje where we will overnight. Today we have

the opportunity to visit another beautiful city in Kosovo before heading to

Montenegro tomorrow. 

This morning we transfer to the border between Kosovo and Montenegro. We

start cycling from the border and enter Montenegro. We will cycle down to

Rozaje, the city is surrounded by magnificent mountains and we will see both

Hajla and Turjak mountain. The area is covered in large forests and

abundant with flowers. We then continue to Berana, located on the Lim river

where we spend the night. 

Leaving Berane behind, our ride this morning is along a flat road to the

small town of Andrijevica. From here we take a magnificent narrow road with

spectacular scenery all the way up to Kolasin. On our left hand side, we will

have impressive views of the Albanian Alps and we should be able to spot the

mountain of Jezerca, the second highest peak in Albania, on a good day. This

evening we spend the night in Kolasin, a ski resort during the winter months.

After a short transfer to Mojkovac, we start cycling through the Tara Canyon,

one of the deepest river canyons in Europe. We will also have the chance to

see the famous Tara bridge before reaching Zabljak our final destination for

the day. The town is in the centre of the Durmitor mountain region at an

altitude of 1,456 metres, it is the highest situated town on the Balkans.

Our day starts with a long climb out of Zabljak. As we ascend through the

Durmitor region we see the magnificent mountain ranges with its dramatic high

peaks. After our challenging ride this morning we are rewarded with a long

descent to Rudinice village where we spend the evening at a small quiet farm

stay.

Today we have an easier cycle toward Nikšić, the second largest city in

Montenegro, situated at the foot of Trebjesa Hill.  It is the largest

municipality by area and second most inhabited after the capital Podgorica.

After a short transfer to Vilsu we cycle to the picturesque Bay of Kotor.

Medieval towns encased by dramatic mountains surround the lake and have been

inhabited since antiquity. In the afternoon we will have time to visit the

old city walls. For dinner take the opportunity to enjoy a meal on the

waterfront and sample the fresh seafood on offer.

This morning we drive to Bar. From here we cycle close to Lake Shkodra and

cross the border back into Albania. This evening we enjoy a well-deserved

farewell dinner in Shkodra!

End Shkoder. Those on the group flight will be transferred to Tirana Airport

(approx. 1.5hrs drive).