Balkan cycling tours: Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia & Croatia

EuroVelo 8 is the Mediterranean Route, about 7,350 km from Cádiz in Spain to Cyprus. In Montenegro it passes Herceg Novi, Tivat and Kotor. It crosses Lovćen and Lake Skadar national parks and leaves for Albania at Sukobin.

Our EuroVelo 8 trip follows much of that route and adds a start in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. From there you ride to Herceg Novi. Next you cycle the Bay of Kotor via Perast. Then you pass olive trees over 2,000 years old near Bar on the way to Shkodra. Back in Montenegro, you ride the monastery route above Lake Skadar. The last riding day drops 1,700 m from Lovćen National Park to Kotor's old town.

Riding days are 32 to 46 km, with an optional longer loop in Albania. Transfers skip busy roads and some long climbs.

Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans. About two-thirds of it lies in Montenegro and one-third in Albania. More than 280 bird species live here, including the Dalmatian pelican.

Our Lake Skadar cycling trip rides both sides of the border. From Cetinje you follow the historic route via Rijeka Crnojevića to Virpazar, in Montenegro's wine country. Next you climb to Ostros, with views of the Prokletije peaks. Then you cross into Albania to Shkodra. From there you ride to the Drin River for lunch at Mrizi i Zanave, a slow-food restaurant. The trip ends with the Lovćen descent and a ride around the Bay of Kotor.

Most days are 30 to 47 km. The Ostros day has the most climbing: 1,150 m.

Two road trips link Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Both cross Durmitor to the Tara Bridge and reach Shkodra past the Balcony of Enver Hoxha. Both follow the southern shore of Lake Skadar and descend the serpentines to Kotor. Both also ride the old Ćiro railway between Trebinje and Ston, a Croatian town of walls and oysters.

The 8-day road cycling adventure runs from Trebinje to Kotor. Its longest day is 105 km, and its hilliest has 1,640 m of climbing. Explore the Balkans by Road starts in Žabljak. It climbs toward the Komovi mountains and over a pass to Plav. It ends in Ston after seven riding days, with a shuttle to Dubrovnik.

Pick the 8-day trip to finish in Kotor, or Explore the Balkans to finish near Dubrovnik.

Ride these routes between April and October. April and May suit the coast and Lake Skadar, before the summer heat and crowds. Both four-country trips ride Durmitor, where the mountain stages open from mid-May, once the passes are clear of snow.

September and October are often the best all-round months. The sea is still warm, the roads are quiet and the mountains are open. July and August bring more heat and busier coast roads.

Our guide to self-guided cycling in Montenegro covers tunnels, traffic and route planning. It also lists what to pack.

In Montenegro, plan on 500 to 600 m of climbing on a normal day. The EuroVelo 8 and Lake Skadar trips keep most days under 50 km. The four-country trips cross mountain passes on longer days. All four cross-border trips are graded moderate.

On an e-bike, a rider of average fitness copes well with the climbs. On a regular bike you need real hill-riding form. Each cross-border trip starts with a briefing and a bike fitting.

Bike hire is booked separately on the cross-border trips. Our rental fleet has road, touring, mountain and electric bikes, each with a helmet and basic kit. Collect yours in Podgorica or Kotor.

These trips use Dubrovnik, Podgorica and Tivat airports. We can arrange optional airport transfers. On some days you ride across a border, such as Montenegro into Albania.

Carry your passport every riding day. Check the entry rules for your nationality before you travel. In peak summer, the road border between Croatia and Montenegro can have long queues. Montenegro and Croatia use the euro, and Albania uses the lek.

To start, tell us your dates, your riding level and the countries you want to see. We will send a draft itinerary and adjust it until it fits.