Final report: Mountain bike trails in the Malesi e Madhe region
Created by Ride Albania Mountain Biking / Tobi Gessler on behalf of VIS Albania
Komuna Malesi e Madhe
Tirana, October 2016
Index Disclaimer………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Results: Overview map……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 Overview list………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 Individual trails…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5 Recommended further actions…………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 Annexes……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Disclaimer The present report and its associated bike trail recommendations, maps and gpx-files have been created with care. This report and all its associated files reflect the situation on the ground in Summer 2016. We will not be held responsible for any accidents/losses from the use of any information, maps or files you find here. The trails shown are mountain bike trails, some of them in remote areas far from villages. Always ride safe with the appropriate equipment, including helmet, first aid kit, water, food, communication tools with emergency numbers, and inform yourself about the local weather and conditions.
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Introduction The Italian NGO VIS - together with local municipalities - is working since several years in the Malesi e Madhe region of northern Albania. Goal of their work is a sustainable economical development of the area, which means creating jobs and employment while protecting the rich nature and tradition. Tourism is one of the promising elements for such a development, specially “soft” tourism with it`s comparably - low impact on nature & tradition. Obviously trekking/hiking, but also mountain biking is such a form of tourism - this report is about the second. The first steps of this consultancy and its product of developing bike trails for the Malesi e Madhe region where taken on an initial assessment tour of the area in spring 2016, together with representatives of the NGO VIS. What followed was a period of approx. 10 days of field work in summer 2016 for the actual exploration and development of a total of 12x trails in the region. This consultancy also included a 2-day capacity building training for local youth on mountain bike guiding skills, which will be held end of October 2016.
The following final report and the accompanying CD-ROM present the 12x bike trails developed.
Our special thanks go to the NGO VIS for their support of mountain bike tourism in the area, as well as to all the inhabitants of the Malesi e Madhe region with their great hospitality, delicious food and fantastic nature. “Buke, kripe e zemer”, “bread, salt and our hearts”, an old proverb says about the regions hospitality, and this is exactly what we experienced during our time there.
3
Results: Overview map with route(s) The following map shows an overview of Malesi e Madhe region, the 12x bike trails plus possible access routes on a mountain bike into the area.
4
Overview list The following table gives an overview over the trails with their start and ending points, as well as their length, cumulative elevation gain and technical difficulty. Beside the info of half- full- or multiday tour a more precise cycling time is not given, as fitness levels and speed ambitions of bikers vary a lot and produce accordingly big variations in the time needed. But with the information of length, elevation and difficulty every biker can estimate his own time. NAME 1- Tamare – Nikc – Vukel – back 2- Lepushe- Bjeshka Morina - Lepushe 3- Lepushe- Qafe Kurcun –Gropat e Selces Lepushe 4- “Lepushe Roundtour”: Qafe Bordolec – Lepushe Qender – Lepushe Budace – Canyon – Qafe Bordolec 5- Tamare – Broje Tamare 6- Rrapsh- BratoshVrith- Razem 7- Rec – Qafe Grade – Small lake – and back to Rec 8- Rec – Qafe Grade – Rrepisht – and back to Rec 9- Lepushe – Greben – Vermosh 10- Razem – Fushe ZezeRrapsh 11- Vermosh - Velipoje end of valley Vermosh 12 – Two-day tour Razem –Tamare - Vermosh
Type Full day Full day Half day
START Tamare
END “
LENGTH 30km
Cum. Elev.gain Tech. difficulty 800m Medium
Lepushe
“
28km
800m
Medium
Lepushe
“
12km
450m
Medium
Half day
Lepushe
“
10km
300m
Easy
Half day Half day Half day
Tamare
“
15km
600m
Easy
Rrapsh
Razem
18km
600m
Medium
Rec
“
15km
350m
Easy
Full day
Rec
“
23km
700m
Difficult
Half day Full day Full day
Lepushe
Vermosh
16km
350m
Razem
Rrapsh
21km
450m
MediumDifficult Difficult
Vermosh
Vermosh
17km
300m
Medium
2x days
Razem
Vermosh
38+39 km
600+1600m
Difficult
Individual trails For more detailed information on every of the 12x trails, including maps, elevation profiles, pictures etc., please refer to the individual trail-sheets on the CD-ROM of this report.
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Recommended further actions Concerning the future success of bike tourism in the area, we recommend the following actions: -
-
-
Mark some trails, at least with overview/infoboards and signposts in the main tourist locations of the area (GIZ in Himare region as possible reference) Make the gps-files of the trails wide, easily and for free available – all possible websites, facebook-pages, etc. (including specialized cycling-websites like Strava etc.) Produce some digital and printed maps and make them easy available – at the right places. The maps should contain the trails but also other services like guesthouses restaurants guides rentals etc. Mountain bike tourism should be developed jointly with or at least connected with neighboring Montenegro. Montenegro already has a well established bike tourism scene creating substantial revenue – actually directly in the mountains next to Malesi e Madhe. Best would be the development of a cross-bordering multi-day tour between Albania & Montenegro. Invite (foreign) outdoor tourism operators to show them the assets & offers of the region. Include in this promotion tour a B2B-meeting with local tourism businesses to create actual deals / products (again GIZ in Himare region as possible reference).
Annexes Annex 1 – GPX-files of all trails, jpeg-maps and elevation profiles, high resolution pictures of each trail all on CD-ROM as a package
Questions / remarks / further ideas? We are happy to hear from you under tobi@ride-albania.com or our Albania phone 069 284 70 18
Tirana, October 2016
6
Nr & Name
1- Tamara to Vukel / Nikc and back again
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
30km
Total elevation gain
800m
Level of difficulty
Medium
Elevation profile
Start point
Tamare center
Arrival point
Tamare center
Suggested best time
April-November
Concise narrative description of the trail
This full day round tour takes you from Tamare over an old gravel road up to the remote villages of Vukel and Nikc. Straight from the the beginning it`s spectacular: Your view opens into a narrow mountain valley, with a pristine river flowing at its bottom and vertical rock walls above. The road takes you through it all, and soon you reach the hamlet of Kozhnje. A short new built asphalt section (with a sudden start and stop) takes you to the highest point of this tour, the village of Vukel with its church and local cafĂŠ. From here we continue over gravel to the end of the valley with its hamlet Nikc, nestling below the high mountains, and presenting some nice old houses. The round tour continues along the valley basin, before we reach the intersection where we left for the short asphalt climb. Now its more or less all downhill back to Tamare (same way as up), enjoy the air & peace of this hidden mountain valley.
Highlights
The wild mountain valley with its changing panoramas. The old houses of Nikc and Kozhnje. Local village life.
Water / Food/ Accommodation
There`s a bar & minimarket in Vukel, and in Nikc you can find some family guesthouses.
Nr & Name
2- Lepushe- Bjeshka Morina - Lepushe
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
28km
Total elevation gain
800m
Level of difficulty
Medium
Elevation profile
Start point
Lepushe (Qafe Bordolec)
Arrival point
Lepushe (Qafe Bordolec)
Suggested best time
Late June- early October
Concise narrative description of the trail
This is “into the wild�: From Lepushe we climb a 4x4 gravel road with some steep and rocky sections up to the highest point of this full day tour. Here the track starts to follow more or less the altitude, and it becomes softer / muddier. We bike along the ridge, and get fantastic views down into the main valley of Kelmend. The trail then starts to lose altitude, and after a total of approx 10km you reach a lonely alpine pasture with some abandoned huts, the occasional shepherd & his animals still grazing the area. This is our turning point for the day, and we follow the same way back up to the highest point. From there we turn left, for some variation in the downhill: A 10km long track through woods & pastures, often garnished with splendid panorama. Back in Lepushe we are, enjoy a local beer!
Highlights
Wilderness, variety of tracks, scenic mountain panoramas
Water / Food/ Accommodation
No
Nr & Name
3-
Lepushe- Qafe Kurcun –Gropat e Selces - Lepushe
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
HALF DAY
Total trail length
12km
Total elevation gain
450m
Level of difficulty
Medium
Elevation profile
Start point
Lepushe (Qafe Bordolec)
Arrival point Suggested best time
Lepushe (Qafe Bordolec)
Concise narrative description of the trail
This great half-day tour lets you enjoy a variety of terrain, and it’s a “friendly one” as it allows you to climb (in the end) on the new built asphalt. But be aware that this tour includes a total of approx 600m pushing and 300m carrying the bike – we think it’s well worth it, but just to be fair. From the pass near Lepushe you gently climb along the flank of the mountain, cross a river and soon come to the back-in-time hamlet of Koprishtit. Its only 2-3 houses, and from here a single trail takes you up and into the wood. Not always easy to navigate (so gps with the track is must), the trail takes you through changing nature. At some point it`s back to a clear 4x4 track, and this takes you over a great curvy downhill to the village of Gropat e Selces. This is the main valley with the new asphalt road, over which you climb back to the starting point.
Highlights
River crossing. Hamlet of Koprishtit. Downhill to Gropat e Selces.
Water / Food/ Accommodation
Water spring at the road in Gropat e Selces.
June-October
Nr & Name
4- “Lepushe Roundtour”: Qafe Bordolec –Lepushe Qender – Lepushe Budace – Canyon – Qafe Bordolec
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
HALF DAY
Total trail length
10km
Total elevation gain
300m
Level of difficulty
Easy
Elevation profile
Start point
Qafe Bordolec
Arrival point
““
Suggested best time
June- October
Concise narrative description of the trail
This one is a gentle half day tour around the village and hamlets of Lepushe. Starting from “Qafe Bordolec” (=pass of Bordolec) with its café church etc., it takes you down over some short asphalt to the center of Lepushe village. Here the trail changes into a natural road, which takes you along the houses of the village and soon down to the small river of the valley. You follow the river on changing sides and over various terrain for about 3km, before you reach over a bridge the new main asphalt road of the valley (connecting Lepushe & Vermosh). Follow this road another max 2 km downwards, before you reach the point where the road passes a scenic narrow gorge. Enjoy the scenery, before you climb back on asphalt to your starting point, the Qafe Bordolec.
Highlights
Village of Lepushe, following the valley river, the gorge at the lowest point of the route.
Water / Food/ Accommodation
There`s a bar & minimarket at the start/ending point, and spread over Lepushe you can find several family guesthouses.
Nr & Name
5- Tamare – Broje - Tamare
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
HALF DAY
Total trail length
15km
Total elevation gain
600m
Level of difficulty
Easy
Elevation profile
Start point
Tamare Qender
Arrival point
““
Suggested best time
April- November
Concise narrative description of the trail
This half day tour takes you from the regions central village of Tamare up to the hilltop hamlet of Broje and back down again. Expect a rather simple but steady climb over a 4x4 road up to the hamlet. Along the way as well as on the top you get rewarded by scenic views of the steep mountains surrounding you and down to the village of Tamare. On the very highest point of this tour you come to local cemetery, a peaceful place in the shade of century old trees. From there it`s all downhill, over the same route which took you up.
Highlights
Views all along the route, cemetery on the highest point, remote hamlet of Broje
Water / Food/ Accommodation
Theres no market, fountain or spring along this route, so take enough water & snack from Tamare for half a day
Nr & Name
6- Rrapsh- Bratosh- Vrith- Razem
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
HALF DAY
Total trail length
18km
Total elevation gain
600m
Level of difficulty
Medium
Elevation profile
Start point
Rrapsh
Arrival point
Razem
Suggested best time of the year
May- October
Concise narrative description of the trail
This half day tour brings you from one valley to the other, from Kelmend to Shkrel. Leaving the new asphalt road in Rrapsh you gently climb a rather rocky 4x4 road towards the village of Bratosh. After a first settlement called Kastrat, you will reach Bratosh through a small descend give its village life and catholic church a short look. After Bratosh the trail climbs on a very rocky 4x4 road for about 3km – either push your bike or then train your professional climbing skills & endurance. After that you reach the village of Vrith and another asphalt road, which you can cycle over some narrow slopes up to the touristic village of Razem, the final destination of this tour. VICE VERSA OPTION: 18km / +250m You can also do this half day the other way round, expect clearly less altitude to climb, but instead the very rocky 4x4 track (from Vrith to Bratosh) as a descend.
Highlights
Settlement of Kastrat, century old stone roads along the tour, views down to lake Shkodra
Water / Food/ Accommodation
There`s a bar & minimarket in Bratosh, and in Razem there are several good sleeping options, from simple guesthouses to full blown hotels.
Nr & Name
7- Rec – Qafe Grade – Small lake – and back to Rec
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
HALF DAY
Total trail length
15km
Total elevation gain
350m
Level of difficulty
Easy
Elevation profile
Start point
Rec
Arrival point
““
Suggested best time
April- November
Concise narrative description of the trail
This rather easy but rewarding half day tour has a good variety: Different terrains, natural attractions, as well as scenic views. From the village of Rec you climb over some half 4x4- half donkey-tracks, before you reach an asphalt road for another short climb. This takes you up to the village of “Qafe Grade”, surrounded by green fields and the rocky mountains looming in the background. After the village it’s a natural dirt road, on which you climb further with some ups and downs. In this area you will bike through some beautiful chestnut woods. Turning point of this tour is a small pond close to an old tree and a viewpoint down to the plains of lake Shkodra. Enjoy a rest, before the same route takes you back, with the exception that for the downhill to Rec you now completely use the asphalt road.
Highlights
Plains of Qafe Grade, chestnut woods, view over lake Shkodra
Water / Food/ Accommodation
There`s a bar in Qafe Grade, but you should be equipped with basic water & snack for this half day before you start.
Nr & Name
8- Rec – Qafe Grade –Rrepisht – and back to Rec
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
23km
Total elevation gain
700m
Level of difficulty
Difficult
Elevation profile
Start point
Rec
Arrival point
““
Suggested best time
April- November
Concise narrative description of the trail
This demanding tour (calculate up to a full day) brings you to an impressive ghost village high in the mountains over lake Shkodra. From the village of Rec you climb just short over some half 4x4- half donkey-tracks, before you reach an asphalt road for another short climb. This takes you up to the village of “Qafe Grade”. After that its natural dirt road, on which you climb further through some beautiful chestnut woods. A final 2km of climb takes you over some steep, dry and rocky 4x4 track in spectacular surrounding. You need some biking-skills to not push here. The turning point of this tour is the remote and half deserted village of Rrepisht. Beautiful old houses, the occasional villager and the backdrop against the rocky peaks create a unique atmosphere. But no shop, no bar, no well, maybe not even (one of the few) villagers in sight. So go prepared up there. The same route takes you back, with the first 2km again pretty rough & rocky downhill. The way back to the starting point differs in the end: For the last descend down to Rec you now completely use the asphalt road.
Highlights
Chestnut woods, view over lake Shkodra, remote and mainly deserted mountain village of Rrepisht
Water / Food/ Accommodation
There`s a bar in Qafe Grade, but you should be equipped with water & food for this full day before you start. Take enough water in the heat of summer.
Nr & Name
9- Lepushe - Greben – Vermosh
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
HALF DAY
Total trail length
16km
Total elevation gain
350m
Level of difficulty
Medium-Difficult
Elevation profile
Start point
Lepushe
Arrival point
Vermosh
Suggested best time
June- September
Concise narrative description of the trail
This long half day tour (or full day if you want to take it very easy / lots of stops etc) takes you from the village of Lepushe in upper Kelmend over a mountain pass to the village of Vermosh, located in Albanias northernmost corner, at the border with Montenegro. Over a at some parts quite rocky 4x4 road you bike up to the pass of “Greben”, which lies at 1550m. From there its all downhill often through woods & bushes (on an again rocky 4x4 track), with various intersections – so GPS here with the track of this tour is a must.
Highlights
Climbing out of Lepushe, views in the valley, arrival in the plains of Vermosh
Water / Food/ Accommodation
On the tour you will find nothing, so go equipped with water & snack. In the destination Vermosh you find a variety of traditional guesthouses to sleep & eat.
Nr & Name
10 - Razem – Fushe Zeze- Rrapsh
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
21km
Total elevation gain
450m
Level of difficulty
Difficult
Elevation profile
Start point
Razem
Arrival point
Rrapsh
Suggested best time
June- September
Concise narrative description of the trail
This full day tour takes you over an isolated mountain pass with great scenery from valley to valley (Shkrel to Kelmend), or from Razem to Rrapsh for the exact villages. It’s a day with some elements of hard to find trail and also some very rocky downhill – but with some experience, the gps-track and maybe also getting of the saddle if preferred it`s absolutely safe & possible. The tour climbs from Razem to the “Black plains”, the Fushe Zeze. From there you continue further on a 4x4 road to an alpine shepherds hut and the nearby pass, from where a descend over sometimes 4x4, sometimes more footpaths start. A long nice final 4x4 downhill brings you to the destination of Rrapsh.
Highlights
Fushe Zeze, shepherds huts, downhill to Rrapsh.
Water / Food/ Accommodation
On the tour you will find nothing, so go equipped with enough water & food. In the destination Rrapsh you find a minimarket but no place to sleep, so continue the journey by bike or car.
Nr & Name
11 - Vermosh - Velipoje - end of valley - Vermosh
Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
17km
Total elevation gain
300m
Level of difficulty
Medium
Elevation profile
Start point
Vermosh center
Arrival point
“
Suggested best time
June- October
Concise narrative description of the trail
This relaxed full day tour (or you can do it sporty in half a day) takes you from Vermosh center to the very end of the valley, and back again on its other side. It`s mainly 4x4 road, with the return part in some sections being unused and therefore blocked, so expect to lift your bike over the occasional fallen tree, mudslide etc. For the adventurous! At the end of the valley / before the turning point there is in theory also the option to leave your bike and climb steep up & over the border to the Montenegrin mountain lake of Rikavacko. We did it successful in offseason, but keep in mind that your bikes will be unattended and you cross the green border.
Highlights
Vermosh Velipoje hamlet, Rikavacko mountain lake.
Water / Food/ Accommodation
On the tour you will find nothing, so go equipped with enough water & food. At the starting / ending point of Vermosh you find various sleeping / dinning possibilities.
Nr & Name
12 - Two-day tour Razem –Tamare - Vermosh
DAY 1: Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
38km
Total elevation gain
600m
Level of difficulty
Difficult
Elevation profile
Start point
Razem
Arrival point
Tamare
Suggested best time
June- October
Concise narrative description of the trail
For the first part of this DAY 1 please refer to the trailsheet “10 – Razem- FusheZeze – Rrapsh”. After that this day ends with another 15km on brand new asphalt, and mostly downhill.
Highlights
Fushe Zeze, downhill to Rrapsh, viewing platform on the asphalt down to Tamare
Water / Food/ Accommodation
You will find a market in Rapsh, but that’s only after 2/3 of the day, so go equipped with enough water & food. At your final destination for the day 1, the village of Tamare, you find various good guesthouses to sleep & eat.
DAY 2: Detailed map of the trail
Duration
FULL DAY
Total trail length
39km
Total elevation gain
1600m
Level of difficulty
Medium-Difficult
Elevation profile
Start point
Tamare
Arrival point
Vermosh
Suggested best time
June- September
Concise narrative description of the trail
The first part of this second day starts with a climb of nearly 1000m over approx 22km – at least it’s a brand new and low traffic asphalt road. Great views included. For the second part of this DAY 2 please refer to the trailsheet “9 – Lepushe – Greben -Vermosh”.
Highlights
Asphalt climb after Tamare, Lepushe village, the final valley of Vermosh
Water / Food/ Accommodation
In the first half of the day, the asphalt climb to Lepushe, you come along some minimarkets & fountains. Lepushe is a good place for a lunch. At your final destination for the day 2, the village of Vermosh, you find various good guesthouses to sleep & eat.