The whole trip was easier than expected, stayed coastal all the way down from Rijeka in Croatia, into Montnegro to Herceg Novi and the STUNNING ride from Kotor to Cetinje a MUST DO for bikers. Down to Budva, Bar, Ulcinj and into Albania at Murgan. Head for Durress, Vlore, over another STUNNING pass, the Llogora, another MUST DO, the road is new, fast and sweeping bends a joy. Not too many crash barriers to spoil the view. Then to Himare, Sarande, Butrint and the ranshackle old ferry across the Vivari channel and reasonable road that turns into gravel half way round a bend, beware! Then after a few K%26#39;s a brand-new highway appears to take you to the Konsipol border with Greece. We had no problems, except the route out of Albania was so easy I still had a load (about 14,000 Albanian Lek (roughly 100 Euro%26#39;s)) with me and when I tried to change it in Greece was laughed out of 5 banks!!!!
Great trip, do it before Albanian coastal development ruins it.
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Really enjoyed reading your comments regarding your recent trip. We are planning to do the reverse next May in a small motorhome. Would the ferry across the Vivari channel accomadate our motorhome. Albania intriques us, do you know if there are many campgrounds enroute along the coast you mention.
Any info would be appreciated.
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Albania, a great place to be enjoyed. I regret our trip by motorcycle from England by ferry to Holland then Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, ferry to Italy, France and ferry home was all done in 24 days (4864 miles). Far too short a time to really discover the Balkan coast. Next time we will take our time.
We were Bed and Breakfasting our way round. Albania does not seem to have much in the way of formal camp sites, but there are miles of deserted beaches and asking at a local cafe will elicit help and information. We never felt that security was a problem. Italian is a useful language in the South, but English is widely spoken, particularly by the younger people, seems to be the compulsary second language these days. Pay and ask for cost quotes in Lek, not Euros.
The Vivari channel ferry (100 Lek to cross) is much more robust than it looks! When I crossed there was a passenger bus on it, and I was waved on board too, bumping over 4x4 inch planks and dodging holes, you should not have a problem, after all, this is a major route by Albanian standards! Contrary to much of the other postings on here (and Horizons Unlimited, another useful site) we had absolutely no problem at any of the border crossings, only on exiting Montenegro did they ask to see my Registration Document, most Balkan borders (even the short Bosnian strip) was a wave-through. Enjoy
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