Albanian Alps Bike/Trek 2006



Come bike and trek with us for ten days from July 1 through July 10, 2006.

The Fine Print



Number of Participants: Mimimum = 3; Maximum = 7. This is intended to be an intimate experience for a small select group of adventurous people.

The trip includes the following:

All meals for the time you are with us. Some dinners will be in restaurants, some in private homes; lunches will be either in restaurants or "sack lunches." Breakfasts will be simple--Albanians don't eat breakfast as Americans do--a couple of cigarettes, some plum brandy, and a couple of cups of "Turkish" coffee suffices. We will not pay for most drinks.

All scheduled transportation. The tour will include a minibus providing all necessary transportation for the trip. Any additional transportation will be paid for by the participant.

Alll lodging, consisting of 6 nights in simple, clean hotels; 3 nights with village families. More expensive lodging is available in Tirana and Shkoder, and participants can choose to pay the premium over the scheduled hotel and stay there.

All participants must provide proof of medical insurance including repatriation insurance. We can help arrange this for those unfamiliar with companies.

Bikes. Bikes are available for rent in Albania, but we encourage you to bring your own. Transporting a bike on international airlines costs about $100 each way.

Travel to and from Albania: Participants pay their own travel from their home to Albania and back. We will meet all participants at the Tirana Airport upon their arrival on the first day of the tour. Participants arriving earlier agree to meet us at the Hotel in Tirana on the first day, or to meet us in Shkoder on the second day. All in-country travel costs beyond that provided as part the trip itinerary will be paid by the participant. Participants are most welcome to stay longer and home stays can be arranged. It would be especially rewarding to visit the schools in Shkrel, meeting the English language students.

Total Trip Cost: $1500. The entire amount must be paid in advance.

Deposit: We require full payment by June 21. Since this is a small tour, spaces will be filled on a first come/first served basis. Those who pay first will be guaranteed a spot in the tour.

Refunds. If conditions, political or environmental, prevent us from making the trip, full refunds will be made. If for some reason the trip is truncated, partial refunds will be made.

Disclaimer: All participants in the trip outlined here must be aware that we are going into the most remote part of the poorest country in Europe. Sometimes things don't go as planned. Weather may not cooperate. For example, there may be too much snow to follow the route outlined, necessitating an alternative. Roads wash out, vehicles break down, hotels close. These challenges can be seen as problems, or as simply part of the excitement of traveling "off the grid." We will do our best to provide an experience that you will cherish forever.