Between two Shorelines
2 days | € 195,00 per person
This two-day journey links the wild beauty of Lake Skadar with the ancient walls of Stari Bar. You’ll ride through a landscape where mountains meet water and cultures intertwine — from Albanian and Montenegrin villages to traces of the Ottoman past. The route combines panoramic country roads that barely see any traffic and offers timeless scenery. You’ll cross old chestnut forests, pass ancient stone bridges and ride within sight of the blue shimmer of Skadar Lake almost the entire way.
Evenings bring comfort and charm — your stay in a wellness boutique hotel in Stari Bar offers a welcome touch of luxury after a day in the saddle. The next day, the route returns through the mountains and the mysterious Tudjemili rail tunnel, ending with a wine tasting at a family vineyard near Virpazar.
Two days of riding that capture Montenegro in all its contrasts: salt and fresh water, sea and lake, effort and ease.
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Included
Excluded
Extra
+1450m - 1350m
73 km
6-7 hrs
The journey begins in Virpazar, where the lake glows silver in the morning light. Make sure you arrive on time because you have a long journey ahead of you today. The trail leads south along the eastern shore of Lake Skadar, following narrow rural roads that weave between vineyards and olive groves. Throughout the ride, you’re surrounded by water and sky — the vast lake on one side, the mountains of Albania rising beyond it.
The villages along the way reflect Montenegro’s multicultural soul: Albanian, Montenegrin and Ottoman influences blend in the architecture, language and hospitality. Stop for coffee in a local café, and you might hear three languages spoken at once. As you approach Ostros, the landscape shifts. Here the slopes are covered with ancient chestnut forests, once planted by monks centuries ago, their gnarled trunks forming a shaded cathedral of green. Beyond the corner, the first views of the Adriatic appear — a thin blue line on the horizon.
Your destination is the historic town of Stari Bar, where you’ll stay in the beautifully restored Stara Čaršija Hotel & Spa. Relax in the hammam, enjoy a traditional dinner on the terrace, and watch the sunset turn the ancient fortress walls gold.
+800m - 900m
40 km
3,5 hrs
After a relaxed breakfast, the route turns inland again, climbing gently into the hills above the coast. The morning light filters through pine forest as you make your way toward one of the most unique cycling experiences in Montenegro: the abandoned Tudjemili railway tunnel. Two kilometres of darkness stretch ahead — silent, echoing, unforgettable. Riding through it feels like travelling through time itself. Emerging back into daylight, you’re greeted by sweeping views across the Skadar basin, and from here it’s almost entirely downhill to Virpazar.
The last stretch of the journey winds through the vineyards that surround the lake. Here you’ll stop at a family-run winery for a well-earned tasting of local Vranac wine, paired with homemade cheese, olives and freshly baked bread.
The day — and your adventure — ends where it began, by the shores of Lake Skadar. Dusty legs, clear mind, and a smile that only a perfect ride can bring.