EaglesLandLoop – Albania Bikepacking Tour

13-day bikepacking round trip in Albania with departure and arrival in the city of Durres.

🛣️ ROUTE 🛣️
The track develops entirely in the Albanian territory except for a small detour in the Kosovar city of Giacovia (P.S. the old school paper identity card is not welcome at the border). Initially descending towards the south, you travel along the seafront passing through the cities of Vlora, Himare, Ksamil and Saranda along marshy lagoons and breathtaking beaches. Then it goes inland via the perched towns of Girocastro and Berat, passing through the villages of Peshtan (a small place where there is a formidable family-run B&B), Polican and Elbasan. In the middle we come across the death road that connects the town of Ballaban to Osumi: a mystical experience, but largely satisfying with its fantastic canyon that awaits us at its end. Then continue north along North Macedonia border, crossing another rather demanding dirt road in the Shebenik-JabIlanicë park, where out of nowhere you come across an improbable trout restaurant, up to the town of Peshkopi. In these areas of north-eastern Albania we have found a completely opposite welcome to the magnificent reception received before and after. We had also been warned of this by other Albanians met during the trip. Following the towns of Kukes and Fierze from where we crossed the lake of Koman via a small ferry that the locals use daily to reach their jobs. From here we continue to the very pleasant Scutari. City located near the homonymous lake and capital of Albanian culture that marks the border line between the still somewhat backward and poor countries of the hinterland and a decidedly growing and developing city. A day in the town of Theth in the Albanian Alps, before visiting the castle of Kruja until arriving in Tirana, a city in line with the canons of a classic European metropolis. The journey ends in the port city of Durres, featuring a beautiful waterfront and honestly little more than that.

OFF ROAD : 25%
ROAD : 75%

🛵 BIKE 🛵
The most suitable bike for this trip,, given the great variety of terrains that characterize the route, can be a Gravel bike, also given the prevalence of asphalt. Drawing up a short ranking:
– Gravel bikes 5/5
– Mountain biking 3/5

KOMOOT
DAY 1 to 13 – https://www.komoot.com/it-it/collection/1699228/-the-ell-eagles-land-loop-albania

STRAVA
DAY 1 – Durazzo, Fier
https://www.strava.com/activities/7867381861
DAY 2 – Fier, Llogara Pass
https://www.strava.com/activities/7870286482
DAY 3 – Llogara Pass, Gjipe Beach, Saranda
https://www.strava.com/activities/7875817971
DAY 4 – Saranda, Gjirokaster, Peshtan
https://www.strava.com/activities/7880883452
DAY 5 – Peshtan, Osumi Canyon, Polican
https://www.strava.com/activities/5558845282
DAY 6 – Polican, Berat, Elbassan, Librazhd
https://www.strava.com/activities/7889975785
DAY 7 – Librazhd, Parku Shebenik-Jabllanice, Peshkopi
https://www.strava.com/activities/7895489163
DAY 8 – Peshkopi, Kukes
https://www.strava.com/activities/7900410972
DAY 9 – Kukes, Fierze (Zona B.) via Kosovo
https://www.strava.com/activities/7904971050
DAY 10 – Ferry Fierze-Koman / Bike Koman-Scutari
https://www.strava.com/activities/7910301313
DAY 11 – Shkoder, Theth, Shkoder
https://www.strava.com/activities/7916539462
DAY 12 – Shkoder, Kruja, Tirana
https://www.strava.com/activities/7921211564
DAY 13 – Tirana, Durazzo
https://www.strava.com/activities/7925229503