Cycle the Balkans
Cycle the Balkans
Cycle the Balkans
15 Days Starting in Tirana and ending in Shkoder
Visiting: Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MVU
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishActivities:
Tour Overview
Spanning a swathe of southeastern Europe, the Balkans offer the best of the continent in one intriguing package: history-drenched towns,cloud-brushing mountains and exceptional cuisine. We take to the saddle for this trip, allowing us to easily integrate into the lesser visited (but no less intoxicating) destinations of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Along the way, we visit the Unesco-listed lakeside town of Ohrid, tackle the ups and downs of the imposing Durmitor mountains and enjoy a sun-and-sea flop at the Bay of Kotor, a perfect end to the ride.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Tirana
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Tirana, the capital of Albania and the cultural and political hub of the country. 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.
Accommodation: Sky 2 Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 : Transfer To Lake Ohrid; Cross The Border Into North Macedonia; Visit The Monastery Of St Naum Before Ending In Ohrid Town
Meals Included: Breakfast
We start this morning with a transfer to beautiful Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world and one of the largest biological reserves in Europe. Upon arrival, the bikes will be unloaded and adjusted to everyone’s comfort. Our ride starts along the scenic shore towards Pogradec. After reaching Tushemisht, just 2.5mi (4km) east of Pogradec, we enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant. We continue cycling in the afternoon, crossing into North Macedonia and visiting the Monastery of St Naum. The road then takes us through Galicica National Park to Ohrid town.
Accommodation: Villa Royal View (or similar)
Day 3 : Climb To A Mountain-Bound High Plateau; Follow The Gorge To Debar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving Lake Ohrid, we climb 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 of individual farms in the Debar region. Our ride finishes in the city of Debar where we rest for the night.
Accommodation: Hotel Leon (or similar)
Day 4 : Cycle Towards Lake Mavrovo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we cycle toward Lake Mavrovo, the largest artificial lake in the country. It lies in Mavrovo National Park, where deep canyons, snowy peaks, blue lakes and dense forests provide a habitat for all sorts of incredible creatures, including wolves, bears and lynx. We cycle through this diverse national park and reach our hotel at the foot of the Bistra mountains in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Mia's Favorite Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 : Transfer From Mavrovo To The Kosovo Border; Continue Through Brezovica National Park And The Sharri Mountain Range
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transferring out of Mavrovo National Park, we reach the border with Kosovo. We ride through Brezovica, an area frequented by skiers in the winter, and continue into Sharri National Park, a still relatively undiscovered area home to wild boar, wolves, bear, lynx and roe deer.
Accommodation: Hotel Pine (or similar)
Day 6 : Climb To Prevalle Through The Forest Of Kodra E Diellit; Descend To The Historic City Of Prizren
Meals Included: Breakfast
From Brezovica, we cycle up to Prevalle, another ski resort, through the forest of Kodra e Diellit before a long descent to historic Prizren, the cultural capital of Kosovo. This 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.
Accommodation: Hotel Centrum (or similar)
Day 7 : Free Day In Peje
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we transfer from Prizren to Peje where we stay overnight. Today we can visit another beautiful city in Kosovo before heading to Montenegro tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hotel Dukagjini (or similar)
Day 8 : Transfer To Montenegro Border; Cycle To Berane Via Rozaje
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we transfer to the Kosovo-Montenegro border. We start cycling from the border and enter Montenegro. We cycle down to Rozaje, a city surrounded by magnificent mountains including the peaks of Hajla and Turjak. The area is covered in large forests and abundant with flowers. We then regroup and jump in the support vehicle to cross a long tunnel, before jumping back on our bikes and continue cycling to Berana.
Accommodation: Hotel Berane (or similar)
Day 9 : Pedal To Andrijevica And Onto Kolasin; Magnificent Views Of The Rugged Albanian Alps
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving Berane behind, we cycle 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 have impressive views of the Albanian Alps and we should be able to spot the mountain of Jezerca, the second-highest peak in Albania. Just before arriving at Kolasin, we regroup for a short transfer through a tunnel. After, we have a short easy ride to our hotel for tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Cile (or similar)
Day 10 : Short Transfer To Mojkovac; Cycle Through The Tara Canyon Before Reaching Zabljak
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a short transfer to Mojkovac, we start cycling through the Tara Canyon, one of the deepest river canyons in Europe. We also have the chance to see the Tara Bridge, a spectacular arch bridge made of concrete, before reaching Zabljak. The town is in the centre of the Durmitor mountains at an altitude of 4,777ft (1,456m), making it the highest town in the Balkans.
Accommodation: Etno Selo Sljeme Guesthouse (or similar)
Day 11 : Morning Climb Out Of Zabljak Through The Durmitor Region; Descend To Pluzine
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our day starts with a long climb out of Zabljak. As we ascend through the Durmitor region we see the dramatic high peaks of the magnificent mountain ranges. 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 farmstay.
Accommodation: Zvono Guesthouse (or similar)
Day 12 : Cycle Towards Nikšić
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Hotel Trim (or similar)
Day 13 : Short Transfer To Vilsu; Cycle To The Bay Of Kotor
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 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.
Accommodation: Hotel Marija 2 (or similar)
Day 14 : Transfer To Bar; Cycle Close To Lake Shkodra; Finish Shkodra
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we drive to the coastal town of 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.
Accommodation: Hotel Tradita (or similar)
Day 15 : End Shkoder
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends today. Either began your return journey home or, if you’d like to explore some more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
What's Included
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All breakfasts and two dinners included
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All accommodation
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Local bike hire
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Visas and vaccinations
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Single supplement
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E-bike hire
Food
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.
Accommodation
Throughout this tour, we stay in a variety of accommodation in both cities and rural areas. We use hotels of a 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.
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Transfer for group flights
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
3 and 4-star standard
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
16+ age people can go on this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.