The Trans Dinarica — the first and only cycle route linking all eight countries of the Western Balkans — has been named as one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel experiences for 2024. The renowned travel media company, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will release the 2024 edition of their much-anticipated annual book spotlighting the planet’s most exciting destinations on October 24, 2023.

The Trans Dinarica route averages about 50 kilometers per stage, follows quiet asphalt roads, forest trails, and bike paths.

The Trans Dinarica bike trail makes the dream of cycling across the Balkans, one of the most adventure-travel-rich corners of Southeastern Europe, a reality for the first time. The route, which is more than 4,000 kilometers, rolls across and connects Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia. Riders will now be able to tackle around 100 stages that prioritize responsible travel, culture, national parks, and UNESCO sites while bringing a sustainable economic engine to communities across the western half of the Balkan Peninsula.

Cycling across the Balkans on a  5,500-kilometer adventure

“From the beginning of the Trans Dinarica’s development until today, the idea is to give travelers a way to enjoy the region while moving safely and at their own speed,” says Jan Klavora, one of the route’s designers and a co-director at GoodPlace: a Slovenia-based, sustainability-travel-focused NGO that works with destinations to develop tourism products and strategies. “This region is perfect to discover by bicycle because of its hospitality and richness of heritage. We are proud and honored that Lonely Planet acknowledges this and has also made a priority of responsible travel.”

Trans Dinarica is designed for all cycling enthusiasts

The route, which averages about 50 kilometers per stage (day), follows quiet asphalt roads, forest trails, and scenic Balkan bike paths. The Trans Dinarica — supported by USAID’s Economic Development, Governance and Enterprise Growth (EDGE) Project and GIZ’s Sustainable Rural Development in Albania — was created to make it easy for cyclists of all abilities to discover the region on two wheels. To that end, visitors to the route’s website will receive basic information about the trail for free and then pay a nominal fee for all the Trans Dinarica GPX tracks and information about accommodations and services across the entire Trans Dinarica.

“We hope travelers take advantage of the Trans Dinarica cycle route so they can better enjoy themselves on bicycles,” continues Klavora. “But, more than anything, we hope people will feel the magic that we have felt while traveling in this way across the region.”

Trans Dinarica isn’t just a cycling route, it’s an invitation to explore the rich landscapes, cultures, and heritage of the Western Balkans. The route offers something for everyone, blending adventure with meaningful connections to the Balkan people and places. Ready to experience it for yourself? Download the Trans Dinarica GPX tracks, explore accommodation options, and find out more about the route.

Another Trans Dinarica field exploration is behind us. There were a lot of questions before visiting Albania. For two reasons: although all of us from the team had been to Albania before, it is the least familiar country to all of us. Secondly: even the Albanians themselves don’t know which road is still dirt and barely passable, which is under construction, and which may have already been paved – this is the speed at which a country that was very isolated from the rest of the world until the 1990s is changing.

Albania, a rapidly developing country with diverse roads and stunning landscapes, offers cyclists an ideal mix of unspoiled nature and new infrastructure along the Trans Dinarica cycling route.

Today, Albania, Trans Dinarica’s country no. 5, is developing at the speed of light, and if you were in Tirana, the capital with half a million inhabitants, a decade ago, you would hardly recognize it today. Progress can also be seen in the countryside, especially with many new roads and other infrastructure projects, and on the coast, where tourism is booming. But we at Trans Dinarica hold the red thread – the Dinaric Mountains and the less populated mountain regions, which means that we cycled to many less-visited places, making the bike route a prime spot for bike tours and a fantastic opportunity to cycle Albania. This also meant a bit more research work for us; we even had to swap our support van for an off-road pick-up truck for a few days.

Albania is perfect for cycling, and cyclists are perfect for Albania

This intertwining of unspoiled nature, living the old-fashioned life and on the other hand development (roads!) and openness of the country for tourism leads us to the conclusion: Albania is a perfect country for cycling, and cyclists are perfect guests for Albania. If you’re planning an Albania bike tour or exploring cross-border routes like the Trans Dinarica cycling route, you will be warmly welcomed by the locals. Everywhere we went, we were met with hospitality and genuine enthusiasm about the idea of a cross-border cycling route. Another interesting fact: unlike other Balkan countries, there is less meat on the menu, a lot of fresh and pickled vegetables, homemade cheese, eggs, and fish. And language shouldn’t be an obstacle either: young people speak English perfectly, older people… Well, if necessary, you will use pantomime. On the road, we met three ladies on gravel bikes from England, and they confirmed just that: that neither language nor vegetarianism is a problem.

Roads? Be prepared for everything

The roads… Hmm, the roads will be very diverse: from perfect, new asphalt through a mountain pass to macadam, on which you’ll be forced to push the bike uphill, while the traffic in cities like Tirana or Shkoder might be a little bit chaotic. The final decision on the route will be made after a complete analysis and in a way that makes connections with Montenegro and North Macedonia logical and simple. Albania, we are already looking forward to meeting again!

Curious about what makes cycling in Albania so special? Find all the details on the country’s scenic cycling routes, insider tips, and explore more about Albania on the Trans Dinarica cycling route here.

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Trans Dinarica – Albania photo gallery