Cycle the Backroads of Albania

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country, however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we’ve found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. We also send a van that transports your overnight luggage and provide high-quality bikes and delicious snacks to keep you going. Faff eliminated!

All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the amazing landscape with your fellow tourers. You will cycle at your own pace, with regular stops to regroup so that no-one gets left behind. These trips are not just open to lycra-clad roadies, although those are welcome too!

Have a read of our article on cycling difficulty levels for further information on selecting the right level of bike adventure for you.

You'll be riding a Specialized Source Elite Disc bike (or similar), with light aluminium frame, and hydraulic disc brakes. You'll need to let your host know your height (especially if you are under 160cm tall) as soon as possible after booking to ensure that we are able to source the correct frame size for you.

The bikes are equipped with a water bottle cage, a pannier rack and one small bag (using a pannier is optional). They all come with standard flat pedals and male/standard saddles. If you would rather pack your own saddle and pedals (including SPDs), please do – and these will be fitted for you. Please note, pedal size should be 9/16 20 threads per inch and bike saddle rails should be 7mm in diameter with a standard of 44mm width.

Can I bring my own bike? Bringing your own bike is discouraged. This is due to a lack of storage for bike boxes/bags, and also, the support trailers are tailored to fit the bikes the host provides, which means safe carriage of your personal bike cannot be guaranteed. In addition, your own bike may require special parts for maintenance which may not be locally available, nor possible for the support vehicle mechanics to repair, so the use of the bikes provided by your host is recommended.

This trip is operated with riders on hybrid bikes as listed in the trip inclusions; keeping everyone on the same bike type helps maintain a comfortable group pace, simplifies logistics and ensures a more inclusive experience. We do, however, have an e-bike specific version of this trip for anyone wanting to cycle the backroads of Albania with some pedal assist.

On most days, yes. However, on two days there will be a transfer (driving durations are stated in the itinerary above) to get you between the cycling routes – this is to keep you away from unpleasantly busy roads, and on the best cycle routes.

The guide-to-cyclist ratio on this trip is 1:8, meaning that for groups of nine or more people, there will be two cycle guides. Throughout, you will also be accompanied by a support vehicle, driven by a bike mechanic.

In the event of poor weather such as heavy rain, strong winds and/or storms, it is possible that conditions may become unsafe to complete the planned rides on this trip. Your guide will assess the conditions and weather forecasts and make a decision with your safety in mind. If it becomes necessary to make a change to the planned itinerary, an alternative route or activity will be offered.

The support vehicle will have large containers of water that you are able to top your water bottles up with. Most hotels will also provide safe drinking water, so ensure you bring your refillable bottle – it should not be necessary to buy single-use water bottles.

Yes, you need to bring your own cycle helmet on this adventure. It should meet recognised safety standards, display a relevant certification mark, and be in good condition. It is mandatory for all riders to wear a helmet whenever cycling.

Please make sure your helmet is:

• A purpose-built cycling helmet that meets a recognised safety standard and displays a relevant certification mark, including (but not limited to):

  • CE/EN 1078 (UK & Europe)
  • CPSC or Snell B90/B95 (USA)
  • AS/NZS 2063 (Australia & New Zealand)

• In good condition:

  • ideally no more than five years old
  • not involved in a crash
  • no visible cracks/dents, compressed foam, or damaged straps

• A good fit:

  • sits level (not tipped back)
  • snug, secure and stable when fastened (doesn't rock or slide)
  • retention system and straps work properly

If your helmet isn’t suitable on arrival:

• you may need to rent or buy a suitable helmet locally (availability varies by destination)
• if a suitable helmet can't be sourced, you may be unable to join some or all cycling activities on safety grounds, in line with your booking conditions

Need help choosing or fitting a helmet?
For advice see British Cycling’s guidance.

Cycle Safety Please see our cycling safety guidance for further information.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Albanian cuisine is shaped by a long tradition of simple, resourceful cooking in a rugged landscape where communities historically grew only what the mountains allowed. As a result, meals remain hearty, rustic and limited in variety, relying on local, seasonal ingredients and the roots of ‘cucina povera’. Rural guesthouses, restaurants and hospitality providers that mainly serve a domestic audience are often unfamiliar with dietary restrictions and preferences, and special diets are not always well understood. While the food is wholesome and filling, travellers with specific dietary requirements should not expect a wide culinary range.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However you should be aware that traditional Albanian dishes can be meat-centered, and vegetarian diets are not common in certain areas that this trip visits. Having said this, there are several traditional dishes that are vegetarian by default with meat usually served as a separate side dish. Vegetarian dishes are considered shared dishes and are generally served to the entire group. Vegetarians are often served the same meals as everyone else, minus the meat or fish.

Vegan Vegan diets are very difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that the required produce and ingredients are not abundant in this destination, and you may find the food provided repetitive. Traditional Albanian dishes are meat-centered, and vegan diets are not common in certain areas that this trip visits. Whilst it is possible to follow a Vegan diet on this trip, you need to be aware that options are very limited, lack protein and can be quite repetitive. Without dairy and eggs, breakfast and picnic lunches are limited to bread and raw vegetables. Dinners are satisfactory in the majority of places, but the accommodation hosts may require your input/guidance. Please bring calorie-dense and protein-rich supplements from home - snacks and items such as peanut butter etc - to supplement the meals and ensure you have enough fuel for the adventure.

Kosher Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal Certified Halal supply varies by destination and can not be guaranteed on this trip. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below) Gluten-free diets are difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that the required produce and ingredients are not abundant in this destination, and you may find the food provided repetitive. At breakfast and for picnic lunches, fried doughs (such as petulla, pancakes) and bread are the staple foods. Gluten-free alternatives beyond the occasional dense and dry corn/maize bread are virtually unknown/unavailable so please do bring plenty of your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Lactose Free Lactose-free diets are difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that alternative products are not available in this destination, and you may find the picnics provided somewhat limited. As cheese is a staple at breakfast and lunch, we recommend bringing your favourite snacks or supplements from home. Please also see the notes text on the vegan diet above.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that provision for certain mild and severe or life threatening food allergies on this trip may be unreliable. Please get in touch with our CX team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Albania has a temperate, Mediterranean climate. The best time to cycle is in spring (from April to the end of May), or in autumn (between September and November) when temperatures are milder, reaching daytime highs of 22-26°C. The mountainous regions of Gramoz and Llogara National Park tend to feel cooler due to the higher altitude, with temperatures between 15-19 °C in spring and autumn and the possibility of stronger winds. While Albania enjoys a great amount of sunshine, rain can be expected at any time of the year so you should be prepared for all eventualities.