Hotel & Bike

Roundtrip Albania · Albania

From 1390 €

Islandhopping
Cycling Tours
Hotel & Bike Tour Albania | Guided bike tours in Albania

Route
from Tirana / to Tirana

Duration
10 days /
9 nights

Distance
approx.
485 km

Level 2 (E-Bike)

Level 1 (E-Bike)
Exclusive e-bike tours suitable for islandhoppers with a good basic level of fitness. The tours and the elevation meters are very manageable with an e-bike (30-60km and 400-700 elevation meters per day).

Level 2 (E-Bike)
Exclusive e-bike tours suitable for islandhoppers with endurance. The tours are long, but both the length and elevation can be easily mastered with an e-bike (60-130km and 400-1,000 elevation meters per day).

Discover Albanias stunning nature by bike!

Albania (Shqipëria) has recently become one of Europe’s hottest and least expensive holiday destinations. Its untouched beaches, snow-capped mountains, traditional cuisine, Cold War era artefacts, unique traditions, unrivalled hospitality and wild countryside are just waiting to be discovered.

Some say that discovering Albania by bike is as close as you’ll get to traveling back in time. On our Albania tour we explore the 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Butrint, Korçë and Gjirokastёr.

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Highlights

Culture: The beautiful city of Korçë & a visit to Butrint

Nature: The breath-taking Ohrid Lake

Activity: Enjoy a soak in the thermal springs in the Langarica Canyon

Culinary: Grilled lamb is an Albanian specialty

Souvenir: Culinary specialities such as honey or a pomegranate in autumn

Itinerary

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Individual journey at Tirana. If you arrive early, take the time to enjoy a walk around Tirana. The trip officially begins at 6pm at the hotel where the guests and guide are introduced, and an initial tour briefing is held. After the briefing, we enjoy a welcome dinner all together.

In the morning we take a 2-hour transfer to the northern side of Lake Ohrid at the Albanian-Macedonian border. We cycle along the scenic shore of Lake Ohrid towards Pogradec. After reaching our hotel in the town of Tushemisht, just 4 km east of Pogreadec, lunch will be served at a waterfront restaurant at Drilon national park. After checking in the hotel we will continue cycling in the afternoon, crossing over into Macedonia, and visiting the monastery of St Naum. Note on crossing the border: Passport must only be carried by non-EU citizens. For EU countries an identity card is sufficient.

Leaving Lake Ohrid we climb up to a high plateau surrounded by mountains. We then continue following the gorge for a while until the hills open up into a vast plain, a patchwork of individual farms and colourful fields. Depending on our arrival at the city, we will have the time to visit the old market and its quaint cobblestown streets run between and behind the main streets. Day ends with a short walking tour of Korcë, the Paris of Albania.

Today we leave behind the agricultural plateau of Korçë as we climb steadily into the border mountains through a landscape of barren rock scattered with wildflowers. Numerous cols and valleys lie ahead, as we cycle into the heart of the Gramoz Mountains and over the Barmash Pass (1,159m). We will stop for lunch in the town of Ersekë, the highest city in Albania at about 1000m above sea level. Overnight at Sotirë farm, nestled in its own tranquil valley with all kinds of animals a family farm can have. After checking in one of the wooded bungalows, relax by the fish ponds with a glass of family’s special red wine made from grapes growing at 1000m of elevation.

Our morning begins with a climb from Sotire to a high Pine forest plateau surrounded by soaring peaks, before reaching the source of the River Vjosa and descending through its spectacular gorge to Leskovik. The 17km long descend to Çarshovë is both a pleasure and a thrill to cycle in one of the most scenic rides of the tour. After arriving at our guesthouse for lunch, in the village of Bënjë, we will there after continue cycling for another 4km to the thermal pools of Langarica and its canyon. A 16th cantury ancient ottoman bridge marks the spot and the end of the road. If you feel adventurous and want to swim alone in one of the more secluded pools, build every spring by the locals, hike upriver through one of the most magnificent canyons in Europe.

Today we continue along the valley towards Këlcyrë, the distant “Shark’s Tooth Peaks” which guard another gorge. We cycle between the gorges to the tributary of the Drino River until we reach the next valley. Here the view opens onto a wide plain, over which the UNESCO-protected city of Gjirokastёr ("City of Stones") towers majestically. After checking in our hotel we will go on exploring on a guided tour, visiting the charming cobbled alleyways between the white-walled buildings and the fascinating traditional houses.

We begin our morning with a transfer (approx. 16 mi./25 km), after which we start cycling at the top of Muzina pass towards Sarandё, located on the Ionian coast. A short ride on a rustic ferry brings us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, one of the Albania’s most important archaeological treasures, with its Lion's Gate, theatre, forum and aqueduct, as well as the temples of Asklepios and Athena. Butrint's urban history can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans. After a guided tour in Butrint, we will make our way along the coast heading north with the island of Corfu always at your site.

Once the sun has cleared the morning haze, the view of the Greek island of Corfu lying opposite becomes visible. Today we climb the rocky plateau outside Sarandёs by bike. Then it's over cols into bays and around headlands, always with the stunning mountain scenery to the right and coastal views to the left before descending to the long beach and the bay of Himarë, where there’s plenty of time for a swim in the clear blue waters of the Albanian riviera. Along the way we will pay a visit to Porto Palermo Castle, a Venetian castle, wrongly asserted as being build by Ali Pasha of Tepelena in the 19th century is shrouded in many mysteries.

Today’s tour is as challenging as it is spectacular. We cycle up to the Llogara pass 1,000 m above the blue water of the Ionian Sea and on through the National Park, home to black pine, Eurasian otter, and golden eagles. The park is a scenic expanse of protected woodland that encompasses the forests on the northern side of the Llogara Pass. After lunch we cycle downhill all the way to Vlorё.

It’s time to say farewell! After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we take a transfer from Vlorё to Tirana Airport. As the transfer to the airport takes about three hours, please book a return flight that departs from Tirana Airport after 1 pm.

Accommodation

Our Hotels (3 - 4 stars)

During the tour, we stay at the best possible hotels currently reachable to us in Albania. The current infrastructure in Albanian currently allows our tours to reach 4-star hotels in big cities and 3-star hotels in smaller cities and towns with en suite facilities (according to Albanian Tourist Board grading system). We overnight in family-owned guesthouses in remote locations.

These accommodations are comfortable and well-located for our adventure, though tourism in Albania is still developing, so the facilities are relatively simple. The tour price is based on double occupancy.…

Single supplement

The booking of a single room is available on request, subject to hotel capacity, and for an additional charge.

Please note that single rooms may not be available in the guesthouses in Germenj and Benje due to the limited number of rooms. Depending on the group size, single travelers may be asked to share a room with two single beds.…

Our hotels
Single room

Rental Bikes

30 gear GIANT™ hybrid bicycle

All our rental bikes used on this tour are from the bicycle brand GIANT™. The bikes come in 5 different sizes: XSmall, Small, Medium, Large and XLarge. Components: lightweight hybrid with hydraulic disk brakes, 30 speed gears, rack and waterproof Ortlieb panniers, bottle holder, handlebar side grips, and gel seat on the women’s bikes (our women’s bikes also have a step-through frame).

Bike hire: GIANT™ bike rental is included in the tour price.

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Electric bike GIANT™ Explore

The GIANT Explore E+3 STA (2022) is designed for ease and fun, especially on medium to long bike rides outside cities. The battery is powerful and placed centrally for perfect balance. Components: AluxX aluminium frame; SyncDriveC motor powered by Yamaha; Shimano Deore XT shifters; GIANT™ EnergyPakF LithiumIonen battery

Bike Hire: GIANT™ Explore E-Bikes are rented for 200 euro per tour (limited).

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Picture of the Ebike Giant Explore E+3 STA

30 gear GIANT™ hybrid bicycle
Electric bike GIANT™ Explore

Preise, Leistungen und Termine

Time Period	Tour	Country	Accommodation	Route	Availability	Price from The final price is dependent on the type of cabin, the number of guests staying in the cabin and any additional services booked.
April 2025
06.04. Comfirmed departure 06.04. – 15.04.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
14.04. Comfirmed departure 14.04. – 23.04.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
26.04. Comfirmed departure 26.04. – 05.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
22.04. Comfirmed departure 22.04. – 01.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
May 2025
19.05. Comfirmed departure 19.05. – 28.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
11.05. Comfirmed departure 11.05. – 20.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
05.05. Comfirmed departure 05.05. – 14.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
01.05. Comfirmed departure 01.05. – 10.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
22.05. Comfirmed departure 22.05. – 31.05.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
29.05. Comfirmed departure 29.05. – 07.06.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
June 2025
07.06. Comfirmed departure 07.06. – 16.06.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
25.06. Comfirmed departure 25.06. – 04.07.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
30.06. Comfirmed departure 30.06. – 09.07.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
16.06. Comfirmed departure 16.06. – 25.06.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
August 2025
24.08. Comfirmed departure 24.08. – 02.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
28.08. Comfirmed departure 28.08. – 06.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
September 2025
21.09. Comfirmed departure 21.09. – 30.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
04.09. Comfirmed departure 04.09. – 13.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
15.09. Comfirmed departure 15.09. – 24.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
06.09. Comfirmed departure 06.09. – 15.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
02.09. Comfirmed departure 02.09. – 11.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
11.09. Comfirmed departure 11.09. – 20.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
26.09. Comfirmed departure 26.09. – 05.10.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
09.09. Comfirmed departure 09.09. – 18.09.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
30.09. Comfirmed departure 30.09. – 09.10.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
October 2025
18.10. Comfirmed departure 18.10. – 27.10.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
14.10. Comfirmed departure 14.10. – 23.10.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
09.10. Comfirmed departure 09.10. – 18.10.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking
05.10. Comfirmed departure 05.10. – 14.10.	Hotel & Bike Roundtrip Albania	Albania	Hotel Albania	Tirana bis Tirana	available	1390,00 €	To Booking

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Included services guided tour:

9 nights in selected hotels and family-owned guesthouses
9 x breakfast, 8 x lunch & 7 x dinner
Professional English-speaking tour guide
30-speed rental bicycle (GIANT™) and waterproof panniers
Transfers as described in the itinerary
Support vehicle with bilingual driver
Luggage service from hotel to hotel

Not incluced guided tour:

Journey to/from Albania
Taxi from Tirana Airport to Tirana town: 20 euro (1 – 3 people)
Drinks with meals
Entrance fees for sights
Lunch/Dinner on day of departure
Tips for driver and tour guide
SGR Insolvency protection (5€ per person)

⇒ SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person - will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)

Additional optional services (guided tour)

Single room surcharge	230 euro per tour
Rental E-bike with Ortlieb pannier	200 euro per tour
Transfer Tirana Airport – Tirana Town (per person)	1 – 3 people: 30 euro 4 – 7 people: 50 euro
Additional night in Tirana	Prices see additional nights

If this is your third or more Islandhopping tour booked directly with us, you will receive our SEA-YOU-AGAIN discount for your next tour in 2025.

As this tour is operated by a third party partner, not all regular Islandhopping discount offers apply.

Arrival - How to get there

Arrival by plane

The Airport of Tirana – Rinas (TIA) can be reached by direct or stop-over flights from around the world.

When booking your flight, please keep in mind that the transfer from Vlorё to Tirana Airport on the day of departure takes about 3 hours. We recommend booking a return flight that leaves after 1 pm.

Airport transfers

We organize fee-based collective transfers between Tirana Airport and your accommodation in Tirana at the beginning of the tour (Transfer from Vlorё to Tirana Airport on the day of departure is included into the tour price).

Transfer Tirana Airport – Tirana Town: 1 – 3 people 30 € / 4 – 7 people 50 € (at specific times only)

Reservation required.

For the organization of all airport transfers please indicate your exact flight details included:

– arrival & departure date

– flight route

– airline

– flight number

– estimated arrival/departure time

Tel. +49-(0)7531-36186-0

e-mail: info@inselhuepfen.de

Should there be any belated changes to your flight times you are kindly requested to inform us at our office immediately.

by plane
Airport transfers

If you would like to extend your trip

Additional nights in Tirana

We are happy to arrange additional nights with breakfast in Tirana, the starting point of your Islandhopping tour. The Albanian capital, Tirana is the cultural, political and economic centre of the country. The nearby Daijti Mountain, accessible by cable car, offers a fantastic view over the whole city. The Skanderbeg Square in the city centre is a great point from where to head out and explore Tirana’s most intriguing sites and museums on foot.

Important information

The guided bike tour in Albania is only conducted in English.

Albania has temperate, Mediterranean climate. In the beginning of spring temperatures begin to rise. Clear skies and pleasant temperatures provide a nice way to ease into the heat of summer. Cycling season: April to June; September to October.

Level 3:

This trip consists of mid to high difficulty tours through mountainous terrain with lengths of 15 - 40 mi./29 - 72 km. Our routes usually follow quiet asphalt or gravel roads with an average daily elevation of 2,427 ft./740 m. On the self-guided tours, you have the full day to cycle the tour and can complete it at your own speed, following a route description. Albanian drivers are generally very considerate of bikers.

A support vehicle (8-seater minibus with trailer for up to 20 bikes) accompanies us on every cycle tour, which can take your luggage and - if necessary - up to seven people. Your tour guide knows the routes inside out. As we prefer everyone to cycle at their own pace, it can happen that the group splits up on the climbs. In this case, meeting points are agreed - usually at the top of the mountain - where you can come together again.

On our regular cycling tours, the cyclists on regular bicycles determine the pace. We ask guests who have reserved an e-bike to be mindful of this and to acknowledge that the regular cyclists need time to rest and take longer to climb the hills. We thank you for your understanding.

Helmet use is mandatory on all bike rides. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own well-fitted helmet.

The basic tour price covers a continental breakfast at the hotels, which is usually served at 7:30 am. Full board is only included in the tour price for the guided tour. If you choose the self-guided tour, lunch and dinner are not included in the tour price. However, with the information and tips we provide you will easily be able to find great places for lunch en route.

The booking of a single room is available on request, subject to hotel capacity, and for an additional charge.

Please note that single rooms may not be available in the guesthouses in Germenj and Benje due to the limited number of rooms. Depending on the group size, single travelers may be asked to share a room with two single beds.

The tour which you have booked requires a bike with a fully functional set of gears. Islandhopping can offer you high quality, fully serviced rental bikes perfect for the terrain of this tour.

Should you however wish to bring your own hybrid bicycle or e-bike with you, please make sure to check the condition of your brakes, gears, and tires and don’t forget to bring along a puncture repair kit and the essential spare parts for your bike (e.g. brake pads and spare tubes). Your bike should be in prefect mechanical working order.

We do not recommend bringing along private road bikes, as the thin tires are not suitable for some of the road surfaces encountered on the tours.

Liability disclaimer: Radurlaub Zeitreisen GmbH. Will not be held liable for any damages caused to private bikes during loading, unloading or other logistical handling thereof.

On the guided tour your luggage will be transported in the supporting vehicle.