Day one is a rest day in Tirana after the airport transfer, with a late-afternoon orientation and a welcome dinner. The riding starts properly on day two with a van transfer to Shkoder and a 30 km warm-up along Lake Shkodra to the fishing village of Zogaj. Day three is the border crossing: a transfer to Rrapshe, a descent down a set of switchbacks to the northernmost point of Albania, then across into Montenegro and along the Luca River to Andrijevica.

The middle of the week is the climbing. Day four goes north from Andrijevica on a forest road through the Komovi Mountains to Tresnjevik Pass at 1,565 metres, then down into the Tara River Valley to Kolasin. Day five starts at a viewpoint over the Tara River Canyon, which is 1,300 metres deep at its deepest point, crosses the Tara Bridge 165 metres above the river, and finishes with an 11 km climb onto the plateau and the town of Zabljak inside Durmitor National Park.

Day six is the hardest and the best. An 8 km ascent to Prevoj Sedlo Pass at 1,905 metres, Montenegro's highest paved road, puts you close to Bobotov Kuk (2,522 m) and the north face of Sedlena Greda (2,225 m). The descent winds through limestone scenery, hairpin bends and short tunnels down to Lake Pluzine on the Piva River.

Day seven is a choice. The group transfers to the 17th-century Ostrog Monastery, then continues to Cetinje, the old royal capital. You can spend the afternoon walking the town, or ride an optional 40 km out-and-back along the edge of Lovcen National Park. Day eight is the finale: a climb through the alpine forest of Lovcen, then a panoramic descent of serpentine switchbacks over the Bay of Kotor, finishing at a seaside hotel about 4 km from Kotor's old town, with a farewell dinner at a restaurant by the sea.

What separates this from a generic Balkan bike tour is the route itself. Montenegro only became independent in 2006, and the roads through Durmitor and Lovcen are quiet, paved and steep, with two UNESCO sites on the itinerary. The van transfers are built in deliberately — they skip busy roads and a 1,000-metre climb on day three — so the daily distances stay realistic rather than heroic.

What's included

- 8 nights lodging - All meals beginning with dinner on day 1 - Van support - Luggage transfers - Airport transfer from Tirana airport to the hotel on day 1 - Tour orientation and welcome dinner - Farewell dinner by the sea in Kotor

What's not included

- International flights - Beverages - Bike rental (e-bike, hybrid or road bike, €200) - Single supplement (€420) if you want a room to yourself - Airport transfers at the end of the tour - Travel insurance - Personal expenses