Essential Information - Albania - North to South

Before booking your holiday with us, please check the status of your chosen tour. We strongly advise against booking any flights or making other travel arrangements until the tour is marked as Guaranteed. 

To confirm your place, simply pay the deposit. This deposit can be refunded at any time until the tour status changes to "Guaranteed". Your final balance will be due 56 days before the tour start date. 

When you book, you are agreeing to our booking conditions – please take a moment to read them in full. 

Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. As bookings come in, the status will update from Available, to 2 More to Guarantee, and finally to Guaranteed once the minimum is met. You can always check the current status on the ‘Dates and Prices’ section of the tour page. 

Tour status definitions: 

✅ Guaranteed – The tour is confirmed and open for booking. 

✅ Guaranteed – Limited – Confirmed to run, but only a few spaces left. 

⏳ Available – 2 More to Guarantee – Tour is open but needs just 2 more bookings to confirm. 

🟢 Available – Open for booking but not yet confirmed to run. 

📩 Contact – Please get in touch if you're interested in this tour. 

❌ Fully Booked – This tour is no longer available. 

Once a tour is marked Guaranteed, you can confidently go ahead with booking your flights and making travel plans. We don’t cancel trips once they reach guaranteed status, except in very rare and exceptional circumstances. 

🚐 Support Vehicle Travel with ease knowing a support vehicle is always nearby for assistance or a rest.

🏨 Accommodation Enjoy comfortable and well-located stays throughout the tour.

🍽️ Meals Most meals are included—check the trip notes for full details.

🚰 Refreshments Stay energized with snacks and mineral water provided on cycling days.

✈️ Airport Transfers Convenient transfers included on the first and last day of the tour.

🧭 Expert Guides Led by knowledgeable, local, English-speaking professionals.

🛫 International Flights
Please arrange your own flights to and from the tour destination.

🍷 Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol is not included in the tour package.

🍽️ Unlisted Meals
Meals not outlined in the itinerary are at your own expense.

🎟️ Entrance Fees
Entry to touristic sites is not covered.

🛂 Visa Fees
Visa arrangements and fees are the responsibility of each traveller.

🛡️ Travel Insurance
Must be arranged independently before departure.

💰 Tips
Gratuities for guides and support staff are not included.

🚲 Bike Hire
Available on request for an additional fee.

The tour begins in Tirana. Please plan to arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary. Your departure flight should be scheduled for the final day of the tour.

We understand that redspokes travellers come from across the globe. Regardless of your arrival time on the start date, airport transfers are included, and you’ll be taken directly to the joining hotel.

Note: If you arrive before midday, your room may not be immediately available, and you may need to wait while it is prepared.

If you wish to arrive early or extend your stay, we’re happy to help arrange additional accommodation and airport transfers for an extra cost.

✈️ Please note: International flights are not included in the tour price.

For flight options and pricing, check out www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk.

The local currency in Albania is the Albanian Lek (ALL). It is a closed currency and only available when you arrive in the country.  You will need Lek for all purchases—foreign currencies are not accepted.

What to Bring

We recommend: 

- Around £200 / $270 in your local currency for exchange

- A Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for ATM withdrawals and backup

- USD, Euros, or GBP – these are easiest to exchange in Albania

Where to Exchange

 ATMs and currency exchange desks are available at Tirana Airport

✅ Exchange a small amount on arrival for taxis or snacks (airport rates are less competitive)

💸 Better rates are usually found in city exchange offices or local ATMs 

✔ Your redspokes guide will help you find the best exchange options and cash machines during the tour

💸 Spending Money

How much you spend depends on personal preferences, but £200 / $270 is usually more than enough for meals, drinks, and extras on this tour.

💡 Albania is very affordable, especially outside of the capital and coastal tourist areas.

🧭 Helpful Tips

- Carry cash, especially in remote or rural areas

- Notify your bank before you travel to avoid card blocks

- Bring small notes – handy for tips, snacks, and local markets

- Watch for foreign transaction fees on card payments

Your guide will help you manage money matters along the way

💁‍♂️ Staff Tipping

Tipping is not expected but is a welcome way to thank your guide and support crew for great service.

How to Tip

At the end of the tour, tips are typically pooled and handed to your guide, who will distribute this fairly among the team.

Suggested Amount

💷 £60–£80 per person

💵 $80–$100 equivalent

📝 redspokes ensures fair pay for local teams — tips are optional and appreciated as a personal thank-you.

If you would like to hire a standard bike or e-bike, or prefer the comfort of a single room, we can usually arrange this for you at an additional cost and subject to availability. You will have the option to request these extras during the booking process.

Need extra nights of accommodation or additional airport transfers before or after the tour? We’re happy to help organise these extras for you—just let us know in advance.

Throughout the tour, you’ll have the full backing of a support vehicle—typically a jeep or minibus. This vehicle will transport your main luggage between overnight stops and is also available should you need a break from cycling.

The support vehicle travels with the group each day, typically stopping every 12 miles (20 km) to provide assistance, refreshments, or a lift if needed.

Our tour leaders carry a comprehensive tool kit and can handle most minor bike repairs. All you’ll need during the ride is a small daypack for essentials like your camera, sunscreen or light clothing.

If you’re bringing your own bike, please ensure it’s in excellent working condition. We recommend having it fully serviced by a professional bike shop before the trip, as we cannot guarantee we will have parts or tools for your particular bike.

🚵For this tour we have Hybrid Giant Roam standard and e-bikes in a range of sizes and  sizes. 

🔧 Our support vehicle carries a complete toolkit, spare parts, and a track pump to handle any issues along the way.

⚙️ Customise Your Ride
All bikes come with standard flat pedals. If you prefer using SPD or clip-in pedals, feel free to bring your own.Similarly, if you have a personal saddle you’d like to use, you're welcome to bring it along.
🧰 Our guide will be on hand to fit your pedals and saddle to your hire bike.

🪖 Helmet Policy
Please note that cycle helmets are not included in the bike hire.
🛑 You must bring your own helmet — helmet hire or purchase cannot be guaranteed on location.
✅ Wearing a helmet is mandatory while cycling. Failure to do so is at your own risk and may impact the validity of your travel insurance.

Hybrid Giant Roam

EXPLORE E+ 2

🚴‍♀️ Bike Requirements – The Albania tour is suitable for most types of bikes – road, hybrid, gravel, or mountain – as long as they are robust and well-maintained.
❗ Carbon wheels are not recommended due to rough terrain.

🔧 Pre-Tour Bike Check
If you're bringing your own bike, please ensure it has had a full service before the trip. We recommend checking:

🛞 Wheel spokes – tensioned and true

⚙️ Bearings – cleaned and greased

🛠️ Gear and brake cables – inspected and adjusted

🔩 Nuts and bolts – tightened

⛓️ Chain, tyres & quick-release clamps – checked for wear

🧽 Inner tubes & wheel rims – replace if worn

🧰 Recommended Spares & Tools
To keep you riding smoothly, please pack the following:

🧷 Multi-tool

🪛 Tyre levers

💨 Compact pump

🔁 Spare inner tubes

🧵 Spare spokes

🛑 Disc/brake pads (check compatibility with your bike shop)

🔗 A few chain links

🧪 Spares for any bike-specific parts (e.g. hydraulic fluid, bleed kit)

🧳 Bike Transport
✈️ Your bike must be carried as part of your checked baggage.
📦 A bike in a cardboard box usually weighs 15–20 kg, so consider this when packing to avoid excess luggage fees.

🍽️ Food & Drink on Tour – Albania
✅ Meals Included
Most meals are included in your tour price, except on rest days and a few other occasions.
📅 Please check the itinerary for all meals provided.

🥗 Dietary Requirements
If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know at the time of booking.
✅ We can cater for most diets, but advance notice is essential to ensure the best experience.

Taste of Albania
Albanian cuisine offers a delicious mix of Mediterranean flavours using fresh, local ingredients.
Expect hearty, traditional meals, often featuring lamb or goat.

🍴 Local Specialities:
🥟 Byrek – Flaky pastry filled with minced meat, vegetables, eggs & cheese

🍖 Tavë Kosi – Baked mutton with yogurt and eggs

🐟 Tavë Korani – Lake Ohrid trout with nuts, onions & sauce

🍲 Pasha Qofte – Soup with meatballs, rice & eggs

🍷 Local Drinks
🥃 Skënderbeg Cognac – Albania’s famous local brandy

🍇 Raki – A traditional fruit brandy made from grapes, plums, mulberries or walnuts

Travel insurance is mandatory for all participants and must cover you for the entire duration of the tour.

Your policy must include protection for:

• Personal injury and medical expenses

• Death and repatriation

• Emergency rescue (including helicopter or aircraft evacuation)

• Loss or theft of luggage and equipment

• Trip cancellation or curtailment

• Damage to or breakage of hired equipment (any such costs must be paid directly to our local agents at the time of the incident and reclaimed from your insurer)

Please make sure your insurance policy does not include exclusions for any activities involved in your tour, such as cycling or adventure travel.

We strongly recommend taking out your travel insurance at the time of booking to ensure you are covered in case of cancellation before the trip begins. 

All insurance claims must be made directly through your provider.

We choose accommodation based on comfort rather than luxury. Our prices are based on sharing a twin room. Should you wish to have a room to yourself there is a single supplement option on most of our tours. For more information on additional costs please see dates and prices.

Most of the accommodation for this trip is in hotels although there is one night spent in a cabin on an organic farm where we will sample the produce at dinner that evening. Due to the layout of the cabins some of these have shared bathroom facilities. Most hotels will have en-suite facilities and air conditioning.

🚴‍♀️ Who Travels with Us?
We welcome a wide mix of cyclists on our tours — from couples and friends to solo travellers.

🛏️ Room Sharing & Single Supplement
Our tour prices are based on twin-share accommodation.

Solo travellers are paired with another solo participant of the same gender.

Prefer your own space? You can usually upgrade to a single room for an additional charge (subject to availability).

Let us know your preferences at the time of booking — we’re here to help make your trip as comfortable as possible.

You must hold a valid passport in order to travel.  Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your return from any overseas destination. 

Visa and entry requirements for most countries can and do change from time to time and so we strongly recommend that you consult the government travel website for where your passport was issued.

For UK nationals, please visit the gov.uk website for up to date information about entry requirements for Albania.  The website also provides vaccination advice as well as the option to sign up for Alerts so that you are aware if requirements have changed. 

We strongly recommend that you consult your GP or a local Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks before departure for advice on general health precautions for travel to Albania.

You should also review guidance from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or equivalent authority in your country, such as the CDC (USA), Travelvax (Australia), or Public Health Agency of Canada.

Albania has a perfect Mediterranian climate with long hot summers and mild wet winters.  Temperatures do vary between the coastal lowlands and the highlands but are preodominately pleasant all year round.  

Your packing list may vary depending on personal preference and seasonal weather. This guide is a general outline to help you prepare—please tailor it to your needs. A reminder that June, July and August can be very warm in Albania.

Essential Cycling Gear

🚴‍♂️ Cycling Helmet – Mandatory and to be worn at all times when cycling

🕶️ Sunglasses – For sun and wind protection

🚰 Water bottles or CamelBak – Stay well-hydrated

🧤 Fingerless Cycling Gloves – Comfort and grip

🌧️ Waterproof Jacket – Lightweight and breathable

🚴‍♀️ Padded Cycling Shorts – For long-distance comfort

👟 Cycling Shoes or Trekking Footwear

Clothing

🩳 Trekking Shorts – Lightweight and breathable

👚 T-shirts and 👔 Long-Sleeved Shirts

👖 Long Trousers – For cooler evenings or sun protection

🩱 Swimwear – For beach or pool days

🧥 Fleece or Light Pullover – Evenings can be cool

🧢 Sun Hat or Cap – Protection from the sun

🧣 Buff or Scarf – Versatile and protective

🥾 Lightweight Hiking Shoes or Trainers

Accessories

🔦 Torch or Headlamp – With spare batteries

🌞 Sunscreen & Lip Balm – High SPF recommended

🦟 Insect Repellent – Essential for evenings

📷 Camera – To capture the journey

🍫 Energy Bars / Gels – Quick fuel for the ride

🥤 Recovery Drinks – Optional but useful for active days

Personal First Aid Kit

(Our guides carry a group kit, but we recommend bringing your preferences)

💊 Paracetamol / Ibuprofen (or whatever you prefer)

💩 Anti-diarrhoeal (eg. Imodium)

💧 Rehydration Salts (eg. Dioralyte)

🧴 Antiseptic Cream / Wipes

🍬 Throat Lozenges

🩹 Plasters (Band-Aids)

👃 Nasal Spray &

👁️ Eye Drops

💤 Earplugs

✋ Hand Sanitiser / Anti-bacterial Gel

Electricity in Albania runs at 230 volts with a frequency of 50hz. Plug  and socket types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz

• Population 3.2 million

• Major language Albanian

• Major religions Islam, Christianity

• Life expectancy 74 years (men), 80 years (women)

• Currency: Lek