Ionian Ascents: Albania, North Macedonia and Greece

Nine days, 569km and 8,719 metres of climbing. Three countries, four rivers, and three border crossings made on the bike. The route runs from Tirana across Albania, North Macedonia and northern Greece to the Llogara Pass on the Albanian Riviera, a kilometre above the Ionian Sea, with three days over 1,500 metres of ascent.

Riders start east of Tirana on a ridgeline that follows the North Macedonian border, then pick up the Black Drin and follow it upstream to Ohrid, on a lake that has held water for two to three million years. The week's first real climb crosses Galičica between Lakes Ohrid and Prespa and drops back into Albania, with a short transfer carrying riders into Greece. Transfers do that work all week, moving between valleys and countries so the riding stays on the best roads.

From Kastoria the road climbs alongside the Haliacmon to Nea Kotili at 1,520m, then descends 64km into Konitsa. The route follows the Aoos down to the Albanian border, where it becomes the Vjosa, the last big undammed river in Europe, ending the day at the hot springs in Benje. The Drinos valley runs south to Gjirokastër, a UNESCO town of grey stone houses, then over the Muzina pass to the coast at Sarandë. The last ride climbs the Riviera before a longer transfer carries riders inland to finish in Berat.

Highlights:

• Ride the shores of Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, UNESCO-listed and millions of years old
• Cross three countries in a day via the Galičica mountain climb
• Descend 64km from Nea Kotili (1,520m) into Konitsa, the tour's longest descent
• Follow the Vjosa, Europe's first wild river national park, to the hot springs at Benje
• Explore the UNESCO stone town of Gjirokastër and cross the Muzina Pass
• Finish with the optional Llogara Pass, hairpins to 1,036m above the Ionian Sea

Surface and terrain:
About 98% sealed roads, mixing quiet mountain roads, secondary roads and lakeside routes; roughly 5km of unsealed surface on the opening ride. Terrain is mountainous, with three of seven days carrying over 1,500m of ascent, including two back-to-back mid-week. Average climbing is 1,246m/day; the final day is the hardest at up to 2,497m.

Weather:
Ridden in April, May, August, September and October across all three countries. Spring and autumn bring daytime highs of roughly 18–26°C; August runs hot, often above 32°C inland. Mountain passes can be 10°C colder than the valleys below.

Suitable for:
Rated "Fondo" difficulty. Suited to experienced road cyclists comfortable climbing for an hour or more and handling long mountain descents on consecutive days; not suitable for riders without recent climbing experience. Group size 4–16, minimum age 18.