Best Secret Cycling Holiday
The Perfect cycling designation is a place with warm weather, flat plains for TT training and FTP tests, low traffic, while having long climbs and rolling hills and oh not breaking the bank. I have cycled around the world and many countries have some of these but only one has all, Vlora Albania.
Vlora Beach
Vlora a beautiful beach city and the perfect destination for cycling. Only 30 miles away you have Llogara pass a mountain that is takes you from sea level to over 3,000 ft or 1,000 meters of climbing over around 8 miles. The climb has a section of over 10% gradient for a mile straight up. The climb is made for the pure climbers.
Behind Llogara pass mountain range is a quiet road with very little traffic to Brataj. You ride between in a valley where the towns of Kote are located. Brataj and back is 100 km for me and around 3500 ft of climbing. If you turn before you after Kote you can continue climbing to Vajze a beautiful mountain road with almost no traffic. Cycling north you have mostly flat plains and great for sprints and functional threshold tests.
Outside of Brataj. around 100 KM or 62 miles round trip
Cycling south behind Vlora is the brand new Vlora By pass that rises 500 meters above sea level. The road was just completed and the road has barely any traffic. The climb is around 3 to 5 miles long and then you descend. Once you get to the Orikum, you can decide to suffer up Llogara Pass or cycle the sea road back.
The best thing about Albania are the motorist. Unlike the US and other places motorists are much better behaved than in the US. In the US, the motorist are trying to kill you cut you off throw beer bottles at you etc. In Albania they drive fast but they are not trying to kill you.
Mostly empty country roads to cycle.
Moreover, many roads have shoulders unlike Croatia, Serbia and other Balkin countries. You should watch out for cows and sheep on the road. I was descending a mountain and around the corner was a herd of cattle chilling in the middle of the road. So watch out for that.
View from my 2-bedroom apartment
The best thing about Albania is the cost of living. You can get an apartment especially during the off season (September-May) for between 200 to 500 euros a month. Unlike other cities in Albania in the winter, more things stay open and the city has a lot to offer.
I am opening a starting a new bike touring company of for Albania. We will cycle the historic areas of Albania and spend time on the beach. The route is called the Culture and Sun route as we will visit the historic town of Gjirokaster visit ancient castles and then head to the beach cities of Saranda, Himare and Dhmeri. If you are interested check it out by clicking here!
