EuroVelo 8 Odyssey: Cycling Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania

Arrival at Dubrovnik Airport. An optional transfer takes you across the border to the historic town of Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located at the crossroads between East and West. In the evening, you will have an (online) briefing about the program and a bike fitting. Overnight stay in a centrally located hotel in Trebinje.

We start the cycling tour right at your hotel doorstep. First, we ride through the villages near Trebinje in the Trebišnjica Valley, then follow the road toward the border with Montenegro. From the border station, you begin a gentle downhill ride toward Herceg Novi in Montenegro. Enjoy your first views of the Bay of Kotor. Check into your hotel and explore the historic center of Herceg Novi, or take your first dip in the Adriatic Sea.

Cycle to the highlights of the Bay of Kotor. We continue along the old railway line that once connected Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi until we reach Zelenika. You then follow the coastline to Risan and Perast, the pearl of the bay. Take time to explore the picturesque old town and its beautiful church islands (reachable by shuttle boat). We recommend having lunch at a mussel farm in Orahovac before continuing along the coast to Kotor. There, you meet your shuttle bus, which follows the beautiful coastline past Budva and Sv. Stefan. Meeting point is in front of Kotor’s Old Town (where you will return on Day 7). Your accommodation for the night overlooks the ancient medieval town of Stari Bar.

Today’s tour begins directly at your accommodation. Along the road, you’ll pass olive groves with trees over 2,000 years old, some of the oldest in Europe. You follow a secondary road above the Adriatic that winds through the olive groves surrounding Bar, Montenegro’s “olive oil capital,” and stop for a picnic at Lake Sas. Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you ride through a wide valley until we reach the Ulcinj – Shkodra road. You cross the border into Albania. After a few more kilometers, you reach Shkodra, Albania’s second-largest city. You’ll notice many cyclists on the road. Overnight in a centrally located hotel.

Cycle to the Drin River and enjoy lunch at one of Albania’s best restaurants, the slow-food restaurant “Mrizi I Zanave” (“Garden of the Fairy”). On the way, you pass the massive Drin River dam and experience village life in Albania. You may either return via the same route (total 64 km / +300 m), or we can arrange a shuttle service on request (extra fee on site) to bring you back to Shkodra. If you want to ride more, you can extend the day with an extra 50 km of flat cycling through Albanian villages. Overnight in the same hotel. The profile shows the maximum possible distance of 89 km / +300 m / -300 m.

Your shuttle transfer picks you up at your accommodation. The one-hour drive takes you across the border into Montenegro and bypasses the first major climb. Today, a beautiful yet challenging panoramic tour awaits, with three significant climbs. You follow a narrow road above Lake Skadar and cycle through vineyards, villages, and countless breathtaking viewpoints of the lake and the dramatic Albanian Alps. You pass through ancient, majestic chestnut forests surrounding the village of Ostros. Continue high above the lake until you spot Montenegro’s “Alcatraz,” a former prison island from the time of King Nikola. In Godinje, a traditional wine region, you can recharge before the final climb toward Virpazar. Optional: Usually you arrive at Lake Skadar between 3 and 4 pm. If you like, you can take an optional 1.5-hour boat tour to enjoy the beauty of the lake and go for a refreshing swim. At 6 pm, your shuttle picks you up and takes you to Lovćen National Park.

Today’s tour follows the famous Austro-Hungarian serpentine road directly from the mountains down to the sea, offering some of the best panoramic views of the Bay of Kotor. You start right from your hotel in the national park. If you want a challenge, you can climb the last 200 meters to the mausoleum of Montenegro’s most important historical figure, Petar Petrović Njegoš. From the viewpoint at the mausoleum, you can enjoy breathtaking views across nearly all of Montenegro on a clear day. Once you conquer the initial climb, the route takes you downhill for more than 30 km. Along the way, there are several great viewpoints perfect for photos. You finish your three-country cycling adventure right in front of the walls of Kotor’s Old Town. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere of Kotor. Overnight in Kotor.

Your included services end with breakfast. Optional transfers to Dubrovnik, Tivat or Podgorica airports are available, or you may extend your stay.