Essential Information:
Albania - North to South Cycling Holiday

Before booking please check the status of the trip you are joining. We do not advise you to book flights until a trip is confirmed to run.

• To confirm your place on a tour please make the deposit payment. Your deposit payment is fully refundable at any stage before the tour shows as "Guaranteed". Your final balance is payable no later than 56 days before the trip start date.
  
  On booking your trip you are agreeing to our booking conditions. Please read them fully via the link here. For each holiday a minimum number of participants is required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed'. You can check the trip status for each departure on our  ‘Dates and Prices’  page. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has reached guaranteed status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. 

  Guaranteed Limited - trips are open for booking and confirmed to run but have a limited number of spaces available.
  
  Guaranteed - trips are open for booking and confirmed to run.
  
  Available 2 More To Guarantee - trips are open for booking but not yet confirmed. 2 more bookings will guarantee the running of this tour.
  
  Available - trips are open for booking but not yet confirmed.
  
  Contact - If you would like to book this tour, please contact us.
  Fully Booked - trips now closed for booking.

• Support vehicle
• Accommodation
• Most meals (see trip notes for details)
• Snacks and mineral water during cycling days
• Airport transfers on the start and end day of the tour
• Local professional English speaking guide(s)

• International flights
• Alcoholic drinks
• Meals not stated on the itinerary
• Entrance fees to any touristic sites
• Visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Tips for guide (s) and support staff
• Bike hire (available if required)

The tour starts in Tirana. You will need to arrive on Day 1 of your itinerary. Your flight departure at the end of the trip should be booked for the final day of the itinerary. We appreciate that people join redspokes tours from all over the world. Whatever time you arrive at the airport on the trip start date you and your luggage will be transferred to the joining hotel. Please bear in mind that if you arrive before midday you may have to wait for your room to be made available. If you decide to arrive early or stay on after the tour, redspokes can assist you in booking your extra accommodation and airport transfers at additional cost.

Our tour price does not include your international flight.

Check out www.kayak.com or www.opodo.co.uk for an idea of times and prices.

For this tour we have Hybrid Giant Roam standard and e-bikes in a range of sizes. They are mostly new for this season and all are well maintained bikes. Spare parts (tubes, tyre, chains etc.) are included in the price of the bike rental and will be carried in the support vehicle with a tool kit and track pump.

The bikes are equipped with flat pedals. Those who prefer to use spd or clip-in pedals, are welcome to bring these with you, along with your own cycling shoes and cleats. You are also welcome to bring your own saddle.

If you are able to do a simple repair yourself then you can if you wish take a small repair kit with you as this will avoid the need to wait for assistance should the team or support vehicle be any distance away. The bikes will come with one water bottle cage fitted.  

You are required to bring your own cycle helmet as this is not included as part of your bike hire and hire or purchase options cannot be guaranteed.  It is mandatory for cycle helmets to be worn at all times when cycling.  Failure to wear a cycle helmet is at your own risk and might also affect the validity of your travel insurance.

Hybrid Giant Roam

EXPLORE E+ 2

You will at all times have the security of a support vehicle; either a jeep or a bus. The vehicle will carry your luggage (we transport your main baggage by support vehicle from each overnight stop to the next) and yourself if you want. The support vehicle will be with us throughout the day stopping around every 12 miles (20 km).

Our leaders carry a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems so all you normally need to carry is a daypack, for your camera etc. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so if you are bringing your own bike on the tour you must ensure that it is in good working order. If in doubt, have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.

If you wish to hire a bike, e-bike or have a single room for the tour this can usually be arranged for you at extra cost. You will have the opportunity to request these extras at the time of booking or, subject to availability, at a later date, by emailing your request to us.

If you require additional accommodation or transfers in advance of the trip start date or at the end of your trip we can arrange this for you at extra cost.

The Albania tour is suitable for most bikes although we do not advise using carbon wheels.

We strongly recommend that you have your bike fully serviced before going on the tour. Ensure that wheel spokes are adjusted, all bearings are greased, gear and brake cables checked, all nuts and bolts tightened, also check chain, quick release clamp and tyres.  Put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn.

We recommend that you bring the following items with you.

• Multi tool
• Tyre levers
  
• Pump
  
• Spare inner tubes
  
• Spare spokes
  
• Check with your bike shop for disc/ brake pads
  
• A few links for your chain
  
• Spares for any unique items for your bikes e.g fluid or bleed kit.

Your bike must be carried as part of your luggage allowance. The weight of a bike in a cardboard box is about 15-20kg, so please bear this in mind when packing for the trip as you may have to pay for excess luggage.

We have a wide mix of cyclists on our tours from couples & friends to solo travellers. Our prices are based on twin shared accommodation. If you sign up for one of our tours as a solo traveller we will twin share you with another person of the same gender in your group. If you prefer to have your own room this is an option on most of our tours for an extra charge.

Most meals are included in your trip price apart from on non-cycling days and some other exclusions. Please check the itinerary for full details. If you have a special dietary request, please advise us at the time of booking. Most diets can be catered for, but it is always important to advise us in advance.

Albanian cuisine is a distinctive mix of Mediterranean flavours. Fresh local ingredients are widely available. Meat dishes are most commonly prepared using goat or lamb. Typical dishes include byrek: minced meat, vegetables, eggs and cheese in flaky pastry; tavëkosi: (traditional Albanian meal) mutton baked in a dish with yogurt and eggs; tavëkorani: a kind of trout unique to Lake Ohrid baked with nuts, sauce and onions; pasha qofte: a hot soup that is a meal in itself containing meatballs, rice and eggs. Typical Albanian drinks are 'Scanderbeg'• cognac, with a characteristic unique flavour and aroma and Raki usually made from grapes, though there are also other kinds made from plums, mulberries, and walnuts. As a rough guide, you can expect to pay the following for food: Lunch £4.00, Dinner £10.00, Bottle of Beer £1.50, Water £0.50.

It is mandatory that you are well-insured for the full duration of the tour. This must include personal injury, medical expenses, death, repatriation, helicopter or aircraft rescue, loss of luggage or equipment, cancellation or curtailments.

You should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in your tour. Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be directed to your insurers. We strongly recommend that you take out insurance at the time of booking your trip to ensure that you are covered in the event of cancellation.

For people within the UK, Snowcard Insurance Services specialize in all mountain sports holidays including mountain biking. Follow the link above to obtain full information and a quote.

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 all to yourself there is a single supplement option on most of our tours. For more information on the 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.

Whilst we endeavour to provide correct and relevant information obtained directly from the relevant Embassies, High Commissions and Consulate Generals - this information is subject to frequent changes, without warning and at very short notice. Due to this, we cannot be held liable for any errors in the information provided on this site. We strongly advised you to check all information with the relevant embassy for details on your visa/passport requirements.

You must ensure that you are in possession of a full passport with at least 6 months validity from the date you enter the country.

Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should either check this website Albania Visa Information or consult their local embassy or consular office to enquire if their country is on the exemption list. 

We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or local Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks before going on your trip for advice on the correct vaccinations required for your trip. Also please refer to advice from National Travel Health Network and Centre . 

There are no mandatory vaccinations for this trip, however the following are recommended Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis.

Vaccination requirements can change and we aren't medically qualified to answer your questions regarding vaccinations so please also check again with your health professional before departing for your trip. 

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.  

In terms of clothing this is clearly up to you and we can only supply a rough guide as to what to take. This guide is entirely flexible and should be tailored to your specific needs.  Please bear in mind the time of year that you are going on the trip. July & August can be very warm months in Albania. 

• Cycling helmet (mandatory and to be worn at all times when cycling)
• Sunglasses
• Water bottles or camelbak
• Lightweight trekking boots/shoes - cycling footwear
• Lightweight trekking shorts
• Padded cycling shorts
• Long trousers
• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Swimwear
• Fleece jacket/pullover
• Waterproof Biking Jacket (breathable fabric)
• Fingerless biking gloves
• Sun hat
• Torch or headlamp - & spare bulbs/batteries
• Buff
• Scarf
• Sunscreen/ Lip balm

Our guides carry first aid supplies, however we recommend you bring your own first aid kit which should contain the following item; 

• Paracetamol/ Ibuprofen (or whatever you prefer for headache)
• Lomotil or Diacalm
• Rehydration salts (Dioralite)
• Antiseptic cream
• Throat lozenges
• Plasters (band aids)
• Nasal spray
• Eye drops
• Ear plugs
• Anti bacterial hand wash
• Antiseptic wet wipes
• Hand sanitiser
• Insect Repellent

Miscellaneous

• Energy Bars (gels, power bars)
• Energy/recovery drinks
• Camera

Tips serve as the established means of expressing gratitude to your local guides and support crew. From our perspective, we advise local teams that tips are not an obligation or a prerequisite; instead, they are a bonus contingent upon the quality of the service provided. For both your guide and support crews, we recommend giving a tip if you believe their services have met your satisfaction.

It is preferable to tip as a group at the conclusion of the tour, and typically, this amount is collected and handed to your guide, who then distributes it among the team. As a general guideline, we suggest allocating a total of $80-$100 for tipping. It's important to note that tips do not constitute a part of their wages. redspokes consistently ensures the highest pay rates for local staff. Any tips they receive are viewed as personal expressions of gratitude from group members.

Spending money depends on your taste for souvenirs, drinks etc. We estimate that £200 will be more than enough to cover the 14-day tour.

• Population 3.2 million

• Major language Albanian

• Major religions Islam, Christianity

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

• Currency lek