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9:00 Today’s hike is in the direction of Birizhdol, Dopkun and the Canyon – again, around 8 hours.Tonight’s dinner in Lepushe is sure to satisfy the heartiest appetites.
8:00 After a breakfast of local delights, the valley tour continues by car towards Fierza’s small ferry terminal. The 3-hour cruise is an opportunity for continual admiration of the constantly changing scenery of Komani Lake and its fjords. During July and August, Mario's guesthouse offers good eating and better splashes in the invigorating waters.14:00 or 17:00 The arrival in Kruja varies with the season and always includes memorable visits to the castle, the museum, the old bazaar and the wonderfully preserved ethnographic museum.20:00 Arrival in Durres for delectable sea-food dining and sea-side sleep.
8:00 Local variations of breakfast and picnic- lunches to prepare for the longer hike towards the pass of Thethi. The unforgettable 9 hours include requisite pauses and lunch in a breathtaking venue. Local guides and reliable horses are at the ready for packing and assistance should anyone become a bit faint from the sheer beauty! 17:00 The evening meal and repose is fit for Illirian royalty.
Monday-12th of SeptemberThe third day. A long and beautiful ride across 260 km of mostly high mountains and valleys. A lot of forest, grass routes, high mountain passes to enjoy from Shkodra to the lake of Ohrid. Good navigation and changing landscape. Difficulty is easy-medium-hard. Overnight in the city of Pogradec.
11:00: Arrival in the seaport of Saranda. Visit to the archeological site of Butrinti Park.13:00: Sea-food lunch in Ksamil and a dip in the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea.19:00: Dinner at Limani, Saranda’s most famous and liveliest restaurant. Accommodations in the enchanting sea-side city.
8:30 Next stop: Voskopoja. Visit the old churches and learn about the history of the once important center through a local guide. Lunch precedes hiking in the direction of Gjenomadh or Voskop, (a trek of about three hours). Return to the village for dinner and a merited rest.
8:00: Eat a hearty breakfast to continue biking!14:00: In Korça, a visit to the historical center, the museum, the old bazaar and the many lovely enclaves of the city. Dinner in a traditional restaurant before a peaceful night in comfort.
8:00: After another hearty breakfast and with a picnic lunch in hand, there’s a challenging hike towards the 1,500 mt. height of Mali me Gropa (Mount with Holes), a unique work of nature.17:00: Returning to the Dajti terrace and to accommodation in a comfy hotel with a panorama of Tirana, archery practice is offered upon request. 19:30: Dinner at a traditional restaurant and a delicious fresh mountain-air sleep is the prize of the day.
8:00 Breakfast is traditionally hearty before the splendid excursion across Komani Lake.10:00 The local raki is served on board the 3-hour ferry cruise, a delight of cinematographic scenery.13:00 Arrival in Valbona to savor the regional cuisine in one of the renown restaurants. The visit through the Valley is interspersed by coffee-chats shared with the hospitable locals. 19:00 A mini-concert offered by local artists in traditional dress enhances the memorable dinner at Margjeka Hotel: an opportunity to learn the time-honored dances and understand something of the ancient poetry before a sweet sleep in the High-land air.
9:00 A leisurely breakfast before visiting the historic and once very important village, whose ancient mysteries are explained by a local guide and a resident priest. 12:00 Returning to Korça.13:00 Following another traditional repast, a visit to the old bazaar and the charming Pedestrian Street.17:00 Traveling towards Tirana.20:00 A farewell dinner and satisfying snooze in Tirana.
8:00 A hearty breakfast fortifies for the bike excursion, passing through Pogradec and Volorekë.10:30 A break in St. Naum is memorably picturesque.14:00 A traditional lunch in Ohrid before ending the tour at the Macedonia-Albania border. A refreshing coffee-break and traveling by car towards the village of Dardha.19:00 The Dardha Hotel offers the relaxing options of a sauna, turkish baths and jakuzzi.20:00 A traditional dinner of the local cuisine.
16:00 Arrival in Tirana and travel towards Berat.18:30 The delicious dinner in Berat is enlivened with a mini-event offered by local artists and the sleeping accommodations are lovely.
After a traditional breakfast in the house of a typical shepherd-family, another riding experience awaits. Borsh´s Castle (known historically as the Castle of Sopot) is located on a hill at 500 meters above sea level and dates from around the IV-III century B.C. Its surface is rocky and the remains of an ancient wall on the southwest side is a length of about 10 meters and a height of 1.33 m. Fragments of black-glazed ceramic (IV century BC) have been found in front of the town, that period marking the biggest development of the city. In the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Justinian put it on the list of fortifications ( 527-565). Sopot is mentioned in 1192 in memory of Anna Komnenes, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexis I Komnenai. In 1266, Sopot lies in the French power of Charles I of Azhuin and then in German hands, and later on, for a long time under the Republic of Venice. In the Middle Ages, it was adapted for military garrison and developed to a full fortification in the time of Ali Pasha. The mosque was built at the castle by Haxhi Bendo, one of the supporters of Ali Pasha. This is going to be a short day of three hours of riding. You will start from the Borsh seaside and take the old road through olive groves and citrus orchards. Many defence bunkers remain along the seaside of Piqeras, an old fishing village. We stop riding at the village house and drive to the sea for a lunch break on the beach and some hours of rest and swimming before a splendid seafood supper complete with samples of the special local cheese and coastal salad. An evening stroll around the village or to the coast (20 minutes) makes for the sweetest sleep.
