
Driving the paved SH20 road in Albania
Albania, europe
30 km
684 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, road trip dreamers, let's talk Albania! Head to the northwest, near the Montenegro border, and find yourself in Shkodër County. Specifically, you're looking for SH20, an absolute *gem* of a road that zigs and zags its way through the former Kelmend municipality.
This beauty stretches for about 30 km (18.6 miles) from Hani i Hotit heading north to Tamarë. You'll climb to the Leqet e Hotit mountain pass, topping out at 684m (2,244ft), so keep an eye on the weather, as it can get snowy up there and might close.
The best part? It's paved! Yes, the entire road was redone a few years back and is now in great shape for any car or motorcycle. Even the section beyond Tamare is paved almost all the way to the border with Montenegro.
Seriously, this might be one of Albania's best-kept secrets. It's still pretty quiet, which is a huge plus. Get ready for a steep climb (averaging around 7%) and hairpin turns galore! Think twisties, incredible views of the rocky mountains, and the Cem Selcit river. Keep an eye out for bunkers and abandoned military houses along the way, too! Cyclists and motorcyclists, you'll feel right at home.
Where is it?
Driving the paved SH20 road in Albania is located in Albania (europe). Coordinates: 40.8969, 20.1150
Road Details
- Country
- Albania
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 684 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.8969, 20.1150
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