Cycle through the Balkans and explore Croatia's Dubrovnik with Bosnia's hinterland, Montenegro's seaside with the capital Podgorica, and Albania's Shkodër.
Cycle the Albanian part of the famous Trans Dinarica Cycle Route and discover all from the country’s northwest, to Lake Shkodër, to the capital of Tirana.
Discover Albania’s UNESCO treasures by bike as you journey through hilly landscapes, dramatic river gorges, and stunning coastlines in breathtaking harmony.
Despite being an undiscovered gem of the Balkans, Albania's breathtaking natural beauty ranks among the most stunning in the world. From the rugged Dinaric mountains and pristine lakes to sun-drenched Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, it offers some of the most diverse and thrilling cycling terrains.
Beyond its natural wonders, Albania is also home to numerous UNESCO-listed historic and cultural sites, offering a journey through centuries of rich heritage and tradition.
Whether you seek challenging climbs, scenic coastal rides, or off-the-beaten-path adventures, Albania promises an unforgettable experience for every cyclist.
With round-the-clock support, we ensure a seamless and unforgettable journey from start to finish. All our bike tours in Albania include detailedmaps with precise GPS routes, personalizeditineraries, convenient luggagetransport, and handpicked accommodations, ridding you of every logistical headache.
Why Choose Albania Bike Tours?
Iconic Destinations: We cover Albania’s best cycling destinations and famous iconic routes.
Freedom & Flexibility: Self-guided tours let you set your own pace without rigid group schedules.
Hassle-free Experience: We take care of all the accommodations, logistics, and detailed GPS tracking so you can travel with peace of mind.
Cultural Discovery: We offer a gateway to exploring the authentic Albanian culture and traditions, getting in touch with locals, and feeling their immense hospitality.
Albania remains one of Europe’s mostunderappreciated and unexplored gems. But for those with an adventurous spirit, it offers the perfect blend of rugged landscapes, rich history, and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.
Albania’s Highlights
1. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Albania boasts several UNESCO Sites that showcase its rich cultural and natural heritage. These include the ancient city of Butrint, the historic centers of Berat and Gjirokastër, the natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid Region, and parts of the Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians.
Moreover, Albanian Folk Iso-polyphony was proclaimed a “masterpiece of the oral heritage of humanity,” and also protected by UNESCO.
The famous historical landmark - Butrint National Park
2. Traditional Ottoman Architecture
Albania’s traditional architecture reflects its rich history, with well-preserved Ottoman-era houses and stone-built cities like Berat and Gjirokastër, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
These towns showcase distinctive white-washed homes with large windows, stone roofs, and cobbled streets. The tower houses, "kullas," can be found in the north and highlight Albania’s unique blend of defensive and residential architecture.
Traditional balkan houses in historic town of Berat
3. Albanian Cuisine
Albanian cuisine offers a unique blend of Mediterranean flavors, reflecting its rich history and diverse influences. The mild climate supports cultivating a wide variety of vegetables, often combined with meats in stews, casseroles, and stuffed dishes.
Olives are a staple. Besides, Albania has a deep-rooted tradition of winemaking and raki production, dating back over 3000 years to the Illyrians. The country is also well known for producing Skanderbeg Cognac, an award-winning brand.
Traditional Albanian food with rakia
4. Cycling Paradise
Albania offers a diverse cycling experience, from scenic coastal roads and mountain passes to peaceful rural routes with minimal traffic. The country is especially known for its low-traffic rural roads, making it an ideal destination for cyclists.
Beyond its stunning landscapes, Albania provides a unique and authentic local experience, with warm hospitality. Additionally, budget-friendly accommodations make it an affordable alternative to other European destinations.
Albanian low-traffic roads
5. Adriatic and Ionian Coastline
Albania's coastline spans almost 500 kilometers along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The Adriatic coast, stretching from the Buna River in the north to the Karaburun Peninsula in the south, features sandy beaches, lagoons, and wetlands, with popular destinations like Velipojë, Shëngjin, and Durrës.
In contrast, the Ionian coast, extending from the Karaburun Peninsula to the Greek border, is characterized by rugged terrain, cliffs, and secluded coves, encompassing the renowned Albanian Riviera with spots such as Dhërmi, Himarë, and Ksamil.
Stunning Albanian coastline near Vlorë
6. Albanian Alps
The Albanian Alps are the southernmost extension of the Dinaric Alps, a mountain range stretching from Slovenia through the other Balkan countries of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia to Albania.
Key areas like Valbona Valley, Theth National Park, and Kelmend boast dramatic landscapes with towering peaks such as Jezerca (2694m), deep river valleys, and dense forests, making them a prime destination for nature and adventure enthusiasts.
Albanian Alps on the north of Valbona
7. Albanian Lakes
Albania is home to around 500 lakes, making it one of Europe’s richest water resource regions. Lake Shkodër, stretching into Montenegro, is a vital habitat for birdlife, while the ancient Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shared with Montenegro, holds some of Europe's rarest endemic species.
In the country's southeast, the Lake Prespa supports a rich biodiversity across the borders of Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. Lake Koman, an artificial reservoir, is also renowned, especially for its fjord-like landscapes and scenic boat trips that can be done through dramatic mountain gorges.
Bovilla Lake near Tirana
8. Tirana
Tirana is Albania’s political, economic, and cultural hub, far more dynamic and cosmopolitan than the rural countryside. Home to over 500,000 people, it stands out for its rapid development, vibrant nightlife, and diverse architecture, blending Ottoman, Italian, and communist-era influences.
Unlike the quieter rural areas, Tirana is always bustling, offering modern amenities, international cuisine, and a fast-paced urban lifestyle that reflects its growing global influence.
Tirana – the political, economic and cultural hub of Albania
Albania – Europe’s Best Kept Secret
Albania has a remarkable geographic diversity. The landscape features rugged mountains, rolling hills, and fertile coastal plains. Approximately 70% of the country is covered by mountainous terrain, with the imposing Albanian Alps.
In contrast, the western lowlands are more temperate and fertile, making them ideal for agriculture and urban development. Major rivers such as the Drin, Vjosa, and Shkumbin flow through the country, carving out valleys and sustaining diverse ecosystems.
Albania also boasts several large lakes, like Lake Shkodër, Prespa, and Ohrid, sharing them with other Balkan neighboring countries. Culturally, the region has been influenced by ancient civilizations, resulting in a rich tapestry of architecturalstyles, culinary traditions, and historical sites.
HANDPICKED ADVENTURES
Only the best adventures across the world, cherry-picked by our team with an in-depth knowledge of the regions.
SELF-GUIDED TRAVEL
Explore independently and with confidence while we keep everything running from behind the scenes.
VALUE YOUR TIME
With everything on your plate, let us handle the vacation planning, so your valuable time stays exactly where you need it.
TRUSTED BY MANY
We are a financially protected company operating since 2014, and with thousands of satisfied customers in the past, we still put you first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Albania is a safe destination for travelers. Whether you're traveling with children, a loved one, or on your own, including as a solo female traveler, you can explore without major safety concerns, much like in other secure countries. Health risks, crime, and terrorist threats are low, even in larger cities. Albanians are especially known for their exceptional hospitality, making visitors feel welcome and at home.
Angie Osborne
Verifed customer
This tour met and exceeded our expectations. It was certainly challenging cycling for seniors but most of us did it all seven days. Scenery and culture of the islands was glorious. Guide and crew was superb!
Jenny Wright
Verifed customer
Our one week tour of Slovenia with these 3 young local guides surpassed all expectations! We travelled from Bled through the Sovenian Alps all the way to to coastal seaside Piran, through villages , on backroads ….it felt like riding through a story book….a delightful surprise around every turn . Our guides took care of our every need: charming accommodations, snacks every day at fantastic off beat locations, mid-ride. We covered 250 km over 5 riding days. The one day we were rained out, they quickly pivoted, and we were able to visit a wonderful historical national museum, which informed us so much in terms of the history in the Soča valley…So the day became not a write off but an educational experience! It was quite special to know the history of the Soča valley as we journeyed through the region, seeing the incredible geographical diversity of this beautiful country on excellent quality e-bikes. Highly recommend! Trip of a lifetime ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
+14
Chris Pyne
Verifed customer
First class company with a well planned route, great accommodation and simply outstanding support in time of trouble.
We did a two week ride from Bled to Pula in September 2023. Fair to say we hit a lot of problems courtesy of BA with rescheduled and diverted flights, lost bags, problems with our own bikes, returning rental bikes and more. Daja was simply amazing in helping us sort all of them out and was so accessible at all hours. She even managed to source and buy a forgotten Thru-axle and deliver it personally to our hotel, which is far and above any service i would reasonably expect. Thank you !!
Our accommodation was fantastic and far better than expected in all but one location.
The route planning in Slovenia was great but due to our decision to bring road bikes from the UK and the nature of the roads in Croatia, our second week was a bit tricky route wise and it would have been good to have had a discussion about this section beforehand. A Gravel bike is far better suited to Croatia although this was our decision to bring road bikes.
Transport arrangement and logistics were flawless.
Overall, i would change very little and we will definitely be returning to Slovenia. Daja was fantastic and I absolutely recommend Slovenia Cycling Holidays and will be using their services again.
+7
ACP2527
Verifed customer
G’day Klem,
Back in Australia and just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our holiday. You guys did a wonderful job. The whole experience was first class. The bikes were excellent. The route was fun and well mapped using the app. The hotels were excellent. The hotel staff, outstanding. The food and wine truly memorable.
I cannot recommend you guy’s highly enough.
Our impressions of Slovenia as an outstanding destination, of beautiful scenery and friendly people will be passed onto all our friends.
Thank you so much for a great holiday!
+11
Diane Flynn
Verifed customer
We had a wonderful cycling trip, starting in Trieste, then onto Slovenia and Croatia. Before the trip, Klemen was extremely patient with our many questions and addressed our concerns very satisfactorily- even changing the original bike route to meet our needs. The bikes we used ( e-bikes) were in great condition, and easy to use. The hotels were very satisfactory- and included big breakfasts to start our days. The towns we visited were charming. All in all- a first class experience!!
drewbob
Verifed customer
We had a wonderful tour of Greece on bikes. All of the hotels and towns were unique and wonderful, the rides were a reasonable length for my wife and we had a great time on our own without guides. Thank you very much and I would do the exact trip again.
Explore Albania’s undiscovered beauty by bike, from the rugged Dinaric Alps to the Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, and experience authentic Balkan hospitality.