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The dry sculpted hills of the Muzina plateau, views across the Drinos valley to Mount Lunxhëri, oliv

ROUTE

Muzina Pass Ride — Gjirokastër to Sarandë over the Drinos Pass

From Gjirokastër over the Muzina Pass and down through olive country to the Ionian at Sarandë — the scenic alternative to the coast road between the south\u2019s two bases.

scenic-road74 km2 heasy
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Albinfo / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

ABOUT THIS ROUTE

The route in detail

Instead of running the busy SH4 down to the coast via Kakavija, take the SH77: a quiet high pass through the Muzina hills with open views over the Drinos valley, then a descent through ancient olive groves to the sea.

The road climbs from the Drinos plain into dry, sculpted hills above the tree line of the olive groves, crosses the open Muzina plateau with wide views both to the sea and back to the Dhembel mountains, and descends past Delvinë through olive and citrus country to Sarandë. Short detours reach the ruins of ancient Finiq on the hill above the lake and the Blue Eye spring inland. The ride pairs naturally with Butrint and Ksamil for a full southern-Albania day.

PLAN RESPONSIBLY

Season & safety

Seasonal conditions

Rideable year-round; exposed and windy on the plateau in winter storms. Best April–June and September–October. Verified 2026-11-07.

Key hazards

  • Wind exposure on the open Muzina plateau.
  • Flocks and shepherds on the pass section.
  • Fast descent into Sarandë shared with summer beach traffic.

Required gear

  • Certified motorcycle helmet and full protective riding gear.
  • Working lights and a clear visor — unlit traffic and livestock are common at dusk.
  • Waterproof outer layer, an additional warm layer and charged phone.
  • Basic puncture and roadside emergency equipment appropriate for the motorcycle.

Check before you go

  • Check current road conditions locally — Albanian road works open and close without notice.
  • Check the forecast for wind, rain and fog along the route.
  • Confirm sufficient fuel range — services thin out on remote sections.
  • Plan the ride within daylight and identify safe rest stops before departure.

Local guidance

Treat the published duration as riding time only. Follow posted limits, maintain space from larger vehicles, remove dark sunglasses before tunnels and never stop inside a tunnel or on an active traffic lane.

WAYPOINTS

Route points

  1. 01

    Gjirokastër

    start

  2. 02

    Qafë e Muzinës

    waypoint

  3. 03

    Delvinë

    waypoint

  4. 04

    Sarandë

    end

MAP & ROUTE

On the atlas

Elevation559 m high point12 m low point854 m total climbing16% steepest stretch (km 27.4)
559 m0 km69 km

INTERESTS

Why riders & travellers love it

WEATHER

Weather along the route

Forecast data from Open-Meteo. Updated regularly.

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