Food in Albania is quite varied thanks to the many influences on the country and particularly Mediterranean combining Turkish, Greek and Italian tastes. Dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt, are present in almost every meal, usually locally sourced.

Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha (the communist leader of Albania from 1944 to 1985), Albania became a self-sustaining country due to its isolation to the world. However, owing to the fertile valleys, fresh mountain springs and Mediterranean climate, they are still very much a subsistence culture and show very few 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, while fish dishes might include trout or whitebait. Courses often come in meze form, complemented by a variety of vegetables, salad, freshly baked bread, homemade cheeses, local wines and, of course, raki. Your guide will recommend the best options when in the towns.

Freewheel from the source uplands and descend the Vjosa Gorge, following a balcony road above turquoise currents to the ridge-top village of Benjë. After lunch, pedal a short lane to soak in the Benjë thermal springs, a warm mineral bath ringed by rocky folds.

The Vjosa is one of Europe’s last wild rivers, now a protected riverine park. Steam rises beside an Ottoman stone bridge, while the scent of wild herbs and the murmur of water set a serene rhythm to this restorative stop.

Ride from the Korcë plateau into the border mountains and climb over the Barmash Pass, weaving through limestone outcrops and wildflower meadows. The road opens to high, airy views before descending to a tranquil valley hamlet.

Traverse the protected landscapes of Germenj–Shelegur National Park, where summer pastures, shepherd bells and distant Gramoz peaks create a pastoral soundscape. Pause to admire broad mountain views and the rugged character of Albania’s highlands before rolling down to your rustic lodge.

Spin along the valley floor, riding between the shark-tooth peaks of the Këlcyrë gorges as cliffs part and re-form around the river. Quiet roads and ever-shifting views make this one of the most effortless scenic stages.

Pause at the Tepelenë waterfalls for lunch where cool spray drifts over travertine ledges. It’s a chance to watch the waters gather pace toward the plains, near the point where rivers meet, and appreciate the landscape that nourishes Albanian village life.

Join a guided walk through Gjirokastra Old Town, the storied “City of a Thousand Steps”. Wander cobbled lanes past slate-roofed mansions and artisan workshops, then explore the 13th-century castle crowning the ridge.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Gjirokastra showcases striking Ottoman-era tower houses and a bazaar atmosphere shaped by centuries of trade. Learn how mountain stone, fortress walls and poetic folklore forged the identity of this dramatic Drino Valley city.

Visit Butrint Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site layered with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian history beside the Vivari Channel. Stroll between laurel and eucalyptus to temples, gates and defensive towers.

Highlights include the Roman theatre and the famed Byzantine baptistery with its intricate mosaics (often protected by sand). Your guide weaves together myths of Aeneas, imperial ambitions and medieval outposts, revealing how this lagoon-ringed promontory commanded the seaways for millennia.

Transfer to the crest and sweep down from Muzina Pass on a sinuous ribbon of tarmac, leaving upland scrub for citrus-scented air and olive groves. The line of the road traces ridges toward the sea as light intensifies.

Views open to the Ionian, with glints of Corfu on clear days. Mediterranean maquis, roadside chapels and coastal villages announce your arrival on Albania’s Riviera, a satisfying transition from mountain cool to Ionian Sea horizons.

Follow the shore to ride the Albanian Riviera, curving over headlands into bays where cypress and fig scent the air. A final glide lands at a small promenade where cafes face a luminous arc of sand.

Take time to swim in the Ionian Sea and laze by Potam Beach’s pebbly shallows. Fishing boats, evening gelato stands and low-key rhythms capture the coastal ease that contrasts so vividly with the granite backbone of the interior.

Tackle the optional ascent to the Llogara Pass or ride in the support vehicle to the summit, where wind-shaped pines frame immense coastal views. From the crest, trace a hairpin descent through forests and high saddles toward the sea.

Within Llogara National Park, black pine and fir shelter raptors and roe deer, while viewpoints reveal the Karaburun Peninsula and cobalt coves far below. The long glide to the coast brings a rewarding sense of scale to this mountain-to-sea journey.

Sit down to a rustic farm-to-table dinner at a working trout farm in a tranquil mountain valley. Expect garden salads, wood-fired dishes and cheeses produced on site, paired with homemade wine or local Korcë beer by a crackling hearth.

With stars bright above the dark ridges, the evening captures Albania’s subsistence traditions—seasonal produce, family recipes and a warm welcome—served where ingredients travel only meters from field to plate.

Meet your group and meet your Tour Leader on the shore of Lake Ohrid, gathering for a relaxed lakeside welcome dinner. Get an overview of the cycling routes, support arrangements and local customs while tasting regional dishes and toasting the journey ahead.

Soak up the limpid, mountain-fed waters of one of Europe’s oldest lakes as twilight settles over Pogradec. The evening sets the tone for Albania’s celebrated hospitality, with conversation flowing as easily as the raki and the chance to soak in the lakeside atmosphere.