Routes in to Albania from Kosovo
 

I'll be heading to Albania from Kosovo in two days. Going to Camping Albania near Shkoder. Here's the thing. My guide book tells me to cross at the border crossing west of Gjakove. But my Michelen map has no road there!

I was thinking of taking the main crossing near Pritzren and then taking the SH 5 east of Kukes towards Shkoder.

Anyone been across either or any other of these routes recently? I've heard various rumours of some terrible roads in this part of the world but often these aren't true.

I don't really know about the crossing west of Gjakove, but on the maps it does look like a proper crossing.

We crossed last year from Albania to Kosovo at a smaller border crossing about 10km south of Gjakove. It leads to the road via Golaj and Krume to Kukes. Part of that road is (or at least was) unpaved and badly potholed, but that was a rather short section. It definitely is a lot closer to Gjakove than taking the detour via Prizren.

If you prefer to cross west of Gjakove, I'd say just try it. It looks like a genuine crossing and if it turns out not to be it is only +-30km to the Golaj crossing.

there looks to be a new border crossing to the west of Ponoshec,

I looked at traveling along the SH5 last year, but I took a different route from MK, there were lots of road resurfacing everywhere in Albania

hope this helps

Dave

Thanks guys. i'll take a look. I'm thinking of riding down to Fierza and taking the ferry but my off road skills are limited and I know Albania has a reputation for poor roads.

Decisions decisions...

Most of the main roads in Albania are fairly well surfaced, its the abundance of new seeminly unmapped roads and a lack of signs thats the problem.

Oh and the frequent lack of proper on off exits on 'motorways'

:oops2:

Ok, just crossed today. I took the crossing from Ponochec. It' snot on my Michelen map nor on my GPs but it IS there in real life. An excellent paved road. Very quick bord control and the Albania side didn't even ask for my Green Card.

Paved road on from there to the ferry at Fierze. I left Pritzen Kosovo at 9 am and was at the ferry by 11. The ferry came at 1 and left at 1:30. €25 for me and the bike.

three amazing hours on the ferry I would seriously recommend this route to anyone wanting to cross from Albanit to Kosovo or visa versa.

The 20 miles at the southern end of the ferry was rubbish paved road. Lots of holes and gravel and patchy tarmac, plus donkeys, cows, chickens and pigs!Exactly what I had hoped Albania would be like!

Took just over an hour to complete. But at the end, by the main road it's a short 10 minutes to Camping Albania! A great campsite.

So to repeat. I would certainly recommend this route. I left Pritzen, which is a lovely town, at 9 and was at Camping Albnia 88 miles of riding later, at 6 pm.