Cycle the Balkans - Croatia to Albania

Arrive at Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) and take a transfer to our hotel, located in the pleasant Lapad area. Dubrovnik is a magnificent fortified city, fronted by the Adriatic and overlooked by the slopes of Mt Srdj. Its limestone-paved main street, the Stradun, is bordered by Baroque palaces and churches, restored following the medieval city plan. The mighty stone ramparts are known the world over and, provide views of the terracotta rooftops, hidden courtyards, and the sea itself. For those arriving in Dubrovnik earlier in the day, consider exploring the historic Old Town. Luggage can be safely stored at the Dubrovnik main bus station, located a 10-minute walk from the airport transfer drop-off point. From there, you can take a short bus ride to the Old Town. Your tour leader or an Explore representative will provide further guidance. This evening, we'll meet our tour leader and fellow cyclists for a welcome briefing to prepare for the days ahead.

We begin with a short morning transfer (approximately 35 minutes) to avoid the city traffic and we'll start our cycle near Zvekovica. Our ride follows quiet, undulating country roads through the beautiful Konavle region, characterised by cypress trees, low Mediterranean forest, and rich farmland. We continue to the border crossing before descending to the coast and after a short while, we'll enter Montenegro and the town of Herceg Novi, known as the 'City of the Sun'. Here, the afternoon is free to explore - you might like to take a walk up to the Ottoman-built Kanli Kula (Bloody Tower) for spectacular panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor. In the late afternoon, we take a short transfer to our accommodation, including a ferry across the narrow Verige Strait, to the Kotor/Tivat area. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/25 miles with 650 metres/2,130 feet of ascent and 750 metres/2,460 feet of descent.

Our route today offers a beautiful loop of the rugged Lustica Peninsula - the coastal arm guarding the entrance to Kotor Bay. Our journey begins with a short transfer to the starting point. We'll cycle along scenic local roads through olive groves and coastal settlements like Radovici and Klinci. The route features rolling terrain with some notable climbs, including a 4.5 kilometre ascent. The gradient is however fairly consistent so we settle in to a comfortable pace as we climb. The effort is rewarded with spectacular views of the Adriatic and the opportunity to visit the charming village of Rose or the popular Plavi Horizonti beach. We'll end our ride back near Kotor. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 44 kilometres/27 miles with 850 metres/2,790 feet of ascent and descent.

This morning, we'll start with a short 20-minute transfer to the gondola station. We'll skip the massive climb out of Kotor Bay with a magnificent gondola ride up to Kuk on Mount Lovcen. From the high plateau, we begin a scenic and mostly downhill ride through the unique karst terrain of Lovcen National Park. We'll stop in Njegusi, the historical birthplace of the Montenegrin royal family, where there is an optional visit and tasting of traditional local prosciutto and cheese. Our 27 kilometre ride includes one 4 kilometre-long gradual climb before a long, rewarding descent into the former royal capital of Cetinje. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 27 kilometres/17 miles with 230 metres/755 feet of ascent and 940 metres/3,085 feet of descent.

Today we cycle straight from the hotel, heading out of Cetinje towards Lake Skadar National Park. The route starts with a short climb before a spectacular 13 kilometre descent into the riverside town of Rijeka Crnojevica, famous for its iconic horseshoe bend. We continue on an undulating road that winds through the rugged karst landscape, finishing our day in Virpazar, a small fishing village nestled on the shores of Lake Skadar, the largest lake in southern Europe. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/25 miles with 520 metres/1,705 feet of ascent and 1,150 metres/3,770 feet of descent.

Today is a slightly more challenging but an incredibly rewarding cycling day. We begin with a short transfer (10 minutes) to the Marstjepovici Pass, giving us a head start. From here, we cycle along a small road winding along the northern slopes of Rumija Mountain, offering dramatic views over the southern shore of Lake Skadar. The day features a quick 5 kilometre descent followed by two longer climbs (5 kilometres and 7 kilometres) before finishing with a glorious 7 kilometre descent to the town of Vladimir. A short transfer (45 minutes/ 23 kilometres) takes us to the border crossing and then into the historic Albanian city of Shkoder. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 39 kilometres/24 miles with 670 metres/ 2,200 feet of ascent and 1,080 metres/3,540 feet of descent.

Our final cycling day is a flatter, gentler ride as we cycle away from the mountains and through the Albanian lowlands. After a short transfer (15 minutes) to the start of the trail, we encounter mostly flat terrain, passing through small towns, villages, and farmland \emdash a contrast to the Montenegrin mountains. We cycle towards Lezhe, where there is an opportunity to visit the iconic mausoleum of Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero. After lunch, we transfer (a 90-minute journey) to Tirana, Albania's vibrant capital, where we celebrate our final night together. Our final ride is approximately 43 kilometres/27 miles with 170 metres/560 feet of ascent and 180 metres/590 feet of descent

Our tour ends this morning at our hotel in Tirana, there are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from Tirana Airport (TIA) which is a 30-minute drive from Tirana.