ALBANIA by motorcycle with prologue and epilogue in Montenegro

A transit day, with quite a few kilometers to drive on highways. Depart as early in the morning as possible from the hotel/resort of your choice in the area (where participants from farther places in Poland will be able to get there earlier and spend the night before the trip).

Day two of the transit drive, much of it on expressways, the final one on winding roads in mountainous terrain. We set off from our accommodation in Serbia possible early in the morning, to reach our destination in Montenegro before sunset. This place where we are lodging today will probably be Pljevlja, located in the border strip with Serbia, the Tara Gorge itself, or - located on the border of Durmitor National Park - Žabijak....

By noon we will spend time in the Tara Gorge for relaxation and rest after a long transit route. The program includes a tyrolean descent along the bridge and over the canyon, and for those who are willing, we can organize an additional and optional 12 km rafting trip down the Tara River in pontoons, which will provide mega positive emotions. 

We will spend at least a good part of the day at Tara surrendering to active relaxation. In the afternoon, if the weather encourages us strongly we will drive to Durmitor National Park, although the ride along the entire spectacular P14 route is scheduled for another day, it is certainly worth a taste of a sample of what lies ahead.

After two consecutive transit days, we will slow down a bit to rest and gain strength, although still on the move and active. The day's itinerary includes the Tara Canyon, which is the deepest canyon in Europe and one of the deepest in the world (right after the Grand Canyon in the US). In places its walls rise 1,300 meters above the river's surface. Its major part lies within the Durmitor National Park, while the rest is a scenic route starting from Durdevica Bridge to Mojkovac.

By noon the area around the Durdevica Bridge and an attraction for the brave - a tyrolean descent along the bridge. The famous bridge over the Tara River - the Durdevica Bridge - is one of the symbols of the canyon. It is 365 meters long, 170 meters high and rests on five spans (each spanning up to 116 meters). It was designed by Mijat Trojanovic, and construction, which lasted two years, began in 1938. At the time it was the highest bridge in Europe, and even today descending in a harness on a rope of this span and height gives a unique impression.

In the early afternoon, we will reach Durmitor National Park by driving the scenic P14.

Both locations are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Overnight planned in the vicinity of Kolašin.

Only, or as much as 340 km to drive on extremely spectacular and charming roads. Starting with just a few km along the Tara gorge, along the river, then Albania and the extremely scenic SH20 with a section called Rrapsh Serpentine and a glass observation deck, and the iconic (for motorcyclists) SH21 with access to the village of THETH, located high in the mountains - once the most inaccessible in all of Albania. The last 14 km of the access is today a sleeper paved to asphalt, so even heavy touring motorcycles are able to ride the stretch, a few years ago - exclusively a dangerous gravel road for daredevils. Before sunset we should descend to Shkodra for the night (driving SH21 after dusk is very dangerous).

A little over 3 hours cruise north on the lake will provide many, unforgettable scenic experiences. The end of the cruise marks the beginning of the scenic route through the northern part of Albania and about 5 hours of travel on the wheels of our motorcycles. We have nearly 150 kilometers to drive to our accommodation, along very winding and extremely scenic roads.

We set off around hrs. 8:30 a.m. Opting for a better quality route to the center of Albania (the destination is ancient Berat) will take you briefly to Macedonia, to Lake Ohrid to the town of Ohrid. The lake, separated by a water border between Albania and Macedonia, is the oldest in Europe and the deepest in the entire Balkans and, along with the city of Ohrid, which lies on it, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has preserved numerous Orthodox churches, basilica and fortress ruins and an ancient theater, and among the most picturesque is the Church of St. John the Theologian in Kaneo, which we will visit.

We are in such beautiful surroundings that it is impossible to go on without spending some time here. One day of rest from motorcycle wanderings. A day to relax and take in the extraordinary atmosphere of this place.

In the morning, after breakfast, we will take you on one of the biggest attractions of the area - exploration of the bottom of Osumi Canyon and walking, or rafting (depending on the water level in the canyon) its bottom. An organized transport will pick up our group from the designated location and transport us to the canyon - the base of Osumi Canyons Corovode, where we will change into protective gear (wetsuits and helmets) and embark on an approximately 3-hour walk (or rafting) down the bottom under the watchful eye of a guide certified by the Albanian Rafting Federation. The impressions collected will certainly be unforgettable.

We return in the late afternoon to Berat, where we will spend the rest of the day and evening atmospheric and surrounded by historical sites.

We leave Berat customarily around 8:30 am, heading further south.

At a distance of about 100 km on the planned route is Gjirokastra - one of the two Albanian cities (next to Berat) whose old towns in their entirety are listed as UNESCO heritage sites. The hometown of Albania's communist leader Enver Hoxha. It's certainly an option for a stopover and the proverbial coffee, during which those willing will be able to climb the steep, narrow, picturesque and stone-lined streets to the top, where the most important attraction is the fortress. We're past Berat, so Gjirokastra will remain only an option on the program, assuming good weather, time on today's agenda and willing participants.

The highlight of the day is Syri and Kalter (translated as Blue Eye) - located in the Mali and Gjere mountain ranges, a vents, or a place where water naturally flows out from under the ground, forming a river. Icy-about 10 degrees Celsius-and crystal clear water erupts here under pressure from a deep crater. The place is one of the main natural attractions in Albania, accessible to the so-called general public only recently - during Hoxha's reign (until 1985), the place was his property and only the communist elite, at the invitation of the leader, could admire the beauty of the Blue Eye and indulge themselves surrounded by this amazing scenery. We will spend about an hour at this place, and from here we will move towards the archaeological pearl of the Balkans and the southernmost place on our route - Butrint National Park with its contents, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the vicinity of Butrint, there is a truly European-level resort that is Saranda. It is in this area that we will stay for tonight.

A day of freedom and disorganization. The area around Sarande, Ksamil is an ideal place for beach relaxation and rest. We need to recharge our batteries a bit and take advantage of the midday sun. There is something for everyone.

We take off at 8:30 a.m. The destination for the day is Kruja, one of the most famous tourist destinations in central Albania. The town's amazing history and extraordinary charm have made it colloquially known as the "Albanian Krakow".

Kruja was the country's first historical capital. Its history dates back to the 3rd century BC, when the Illyrian city of Zgërdhesh, also called Albanopolis, was located on one of the surrounding hills. In subsequent years, the inhabitants moved their settlement higher up, creating today's Kruja.

On the way, drive on the SH8 road through the Llogara National Park located in the Çika Mountains, Wlora County with a stop at a viewpoint with an amazing view of the mountains and the sea.

Although a little more than 300 kilometers in the plan, crossing the border, driving through Lovcen hill, touring the Boka Kotorska will not allow us to achieve to fit in less than 10 hours. Therefore, we set off as early as possible....

After crossing the border, the direction of Lovcen National Park, an ascent to the summit and, for those willing, a visit to the Mausoleum of Peter II Petrović-Niegoš - the tomb of the penultimate ruler of Montenegro, located on the Jezerski peak in the Lovcen mountain range. Continue the exciting descent along the P1 route - an extremely winding and scenic road winding from the summit over the Kotor Bay itself. Weather permitting - on the way there will be several stops for amazing photo and video shots. Boka Kotorska, known as the pearl of Montenegro, is perhaps the most beautiful bay in Europe, creating a landscape reminiscent of the fjords of Norway in a southern climate.

Not the end of the beauty of the day we will reach the area of Dubrovnik in Croatia....

We are starting a transit trip to the country on highways, mainly on highways, so the scheduled daily distances are long and do not include extended stops en route.

We are continuing the transit trip to the country on highways, mainly on highways, so the scheduled daily distances are long and do not include extended stops en route.