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Around or Through Albania? Around or Through Albania?
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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 20 Dec 2007
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Location: Varazdin, Croatia, Europe
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Howdy.

We did tour Albania 4 years ago on KTMs and at that time an enduro was the tool for the job. Mind you, we did had great time but the roads had been just awful for anything but an single cylinder machine. Although the roads have been poor, we've managed to get in one day from Dubrovnik to Ioanina.

Meanwhile, as i read, the road quality has improoved a lot so many croatian bikers with street bikes do visit Albania. One of the favourite roads is to enter from Montenegro, ride down to Tirana and then head to Ohrid for great macedonian cousine. This route is completely doable in one day. I would suggest you to take this route as Ohrid is a very nice place for sightseeing (also very cheap!).

Kosovo isn't worth the hassle at the border. Being under UN protection, you'll have to buy a separate insurance for this region. Also, as serbian forces aren't on all border crossings, you could face the situation that you're not allowed to exit Kosovo as you'll be treated as an illegal immigrant! Not to mention the current tense situation...

So, have a great trip and don't hesitate to ask more questions.
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  #2  
Old 21 Dec 2007
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Well although not cast in stones, further research and your comments are gearing us to do the Albanian route. Still more research will be required but if the road are not has bad as that, I would rather we use the more direct route with the least border crossings.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions everyone
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  #3  
Old 21 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SixDays02 View Post
Meanwhile, as i read, the road quality has improoved a lot so many croatian bikers with street bikes do visit Albania. One of the favourite roads is to enter from Montenegro, ride down to Tirana and then head to Ohrid for great macedonian cousine. This route is completely doable in one day. I would suggest you to take this route as Ohrid is a very nice place for sightseeing (also very cheap!).
I can confirm that this route was 90% tarmac last February, and the bits that weren't were short and seemed to be under construction. I managed to do it OK with an overloaded big traillie and bugger all experience so reckon it must be fairly easy.

I really haven't come across anything in Europe to equal Orhid(/Orchis??), don't miss out!
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  #4  
Old 21 Dec 2007
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Ohrid actually
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  #5  
Old 21 Dec 2007
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Briefly: Albanian coastal route is fine all the way, with a few construction zones and ten or twent miles of muddy gravel at the southern end just before the Greek border. Nothing serious, nothing worrisome. Wonderful people and great scenery.

Side trips on smaller roads tend to be 4 wheel drive roads, i.e., not suited for road bikes.

Insurance can be purchased in Albania for about 50 euros covering (they claim) Albania and Kosovo. Don't think I'd like to rely on this....but then, I didn't buy any insurance at all and had few real worries.

Development is coming fast along the coast: I'd call it a clear case of "get it while you can."

Hope that helps.

Mark
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