THE BALKANS
&
ALBANIAN WILDERNESS
MOTORBIKE ROAD TOUR
(20 Days)
REF: BALKANS-ROAD

(France, Italy, Northern Greece, Albania,
Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italian Lakes)

29 July - 17 Aug 2012
Sorry - Bookings for this tour now Closed

2013 Date here soon...

£ 2994 rider with own bike
£ 2379 pillion

The itinerary is designed to give you an ideal combination of ride / rest days
& points of interest

Our adventure begins with a ride from our meeting point in Chamonix to our port of departure in northern Italy where we take our overnight ferry to Northern Greece.

We then ride in five of Eastern Europe's most unspoilt and scenic countries Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Our mileages throughout the tour are modest and we take the time to visit the beautiful and historic cities of Mostar, Kotor, and Dubrovnik.

We return to Chamonix via the Julian Alps & Italian Lakes.

Dream destinations - Immerse yourself in the shear beauty of the landscapes and the fascinating cultures. A treat for the archaeologist, ornithologist, and geologist.

ALBANIA - Roman, Greeks, & Byzantine sites (World UNESCO sites), museums, spectacular mountains, lakes, wildlife - a nature lover's paradise.

MONTENEGRO - Dalmatian Coast, deepest canyon in Europe. We visit the old Mediterranean port of KOTOR and its impressive ancient walled city.

BOSNIA - We visit MOSTAR (World UNESCO site) and its famous historical bridge.

SLOVENIA - A small country of natural wonders - spectacular peaks and valleys of the Julian Alps, ice caves, virgin forests, and cobalt blue rivers and lakes.

A land of historic towns, mountain villages, and Hungarian style houses.

CROATIA - Is renowned for its long unspoilt and spectacular Adriatic coastline.

We visit the historical old town of Dubrovnik (World UNESCO site) with its beautiful architecture and stunning coastal setting.

Crystal clear seas, lush islands, fishing villages, secluded beaches, vineyards, Roman ruins, and Medieval walled cities are some of the many treasures you will enjoy on your adventure holiday.

MAP showing route coming soon...

OUTLINE ITINERARY
THE BALKANS &
ALBANIAN WILDERNESS
The itinerary is designed to give you an ideal
combination of ride / rest days & points of interest

Total Distance: 4633km / 2879 miles
(includes optional ride mileages)

Day 1 - CHAMONIX, FRANCE
Meet at our hotel in Chamonix, France - tour briefing 18:30 hours.
Overnight in hotel overlooking the snow covered Mont Blanc.

Day 2 - FRANCE / NORTHERN ITALY
Chamonix to North of Italy
Overnight Hotel
520km / 320 miles

Day 3 - NORTHERN ITALY
Short ride to ferry (overnight ferry to Northern Greece)
Overnight Ferry - 2 berth cabins
170km / 106 miles

Day 4 - Northern GREECE / ALBANIA
Early morning arrival in Northern Greece. Breakfast in the port terminal. A great ride through the mountains into Albania to enjoy the unspoilt Ionian coastline. We take time to relax and explore one of the incredible archaeological sites overlooking the Ionian Sea.
Overnight hotel in beautiful small town (World UNESCO site)
250 km / 155 miles

Day 5 - SOUTH EASTERN ALBANIA
An area of outstanding natural beauty; forests, lakes, gorges, waterfalls and prehistoric sites. We ride north east through the Gromaz Mountains on one of the most scenic roads in Albania
Overnight hotel in small town in the mountains.
200km / 125 miles

Day 6 - CENTRAL ALBANIA
We ride north along the south western shores of Lake Ohrid which forms the border between Albania & Macedonia. The lake is a deep tectonic lake with several unique species of fish and a haven for a wide variety of birds. We continue east through the mountains past the capital of Albania to our quaint village in the hills. Opportunity to visit historical museums, castles, and traditional Albanian house.
Overnight traditional Guest House
220km / 138 miles

Day 7 - NORTHWEST ALBANIA / MONTENEGRO
A ride to stir the senses through Albania's northern wetlands; a safe haven for a variety of birds - heron, Spoonbills, Pygmy Cormorants etc. We visit Rosaph Castle to enjoy the incredible views across Lake Shkorda National Park Adriatic and Montenegro. Our afternoon ride is along the wonderful Budva Riviera with its olive covered hills rolling down to the numerous beaches - an area steeped in history and tales of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Saracens. A visual delight as we ride through the seaside towns with their wide boulevards and colourful flower beds. Climbing over the mountains we descend to Lake Kotor and the romantic walled city of Kotor at the foot of the majestic granite peak of Lovcen.
Overnight hotel in Kotor (World UNESCO site)
274km / 170 miles

Day 8 - MONTENEGRO / KOTOR
REST or optional ride. An opportunity to explore the incredible walled city of Kotor with its numerous cafes, shops, and ancient architecture or ride in the Lovcen National Park.
Overnight hotel in Kotor.
(optional ride 100km / 62 miles)

Day 9 - EASTERN HIGHLANDS MONTENEGRO
An area steeped in history and with numerous archaeological sites, monasteries, and mosques. A glorious ride through spectacular Biogradska National Park; an isolated mountain area with primeval forests, glittering glacial lakes, and lovely valleys with small isolated villages. Our ride finishes in a small village deep in a forest surrounded by carpets of wild flowers near the Albanian border.
Overnight traditional Guest House.
280km / 175 miles

Day 10 - NORTH WEST MONTENEGRO
Today's ride has it all as we ride into the incomparable Dormitor National Park; a landscape of magnificent mountains, alpine lakes, waterfalls and deep canyons. We visit the Tara Canyon - at 1330m deep and 78km in length this is the deepest and longest canyon in Europe. It is the second largest in the world next to the Grand Canyon!
Overnight hotel in a mountain village.
160km / 100 miles

Day 11 - Northen MONTENEGRO & into CROATIA
Leaving the Dormitor massif we ride south through a pristine wilderness, with its fantastic variety of trees, birds, flowers, and animals. Descending onto the high plain we see evidence of several ancient civilizations, stone age settlements in the numerous caves; Roman, Goth, Hun, & Celt.
We explore the traditional villages and a hidden canyon enroute to Croatia, and the beautiful historical city of Dubrovnik (A UNESCO World Heritage site). We have the afternoon and evening to explore this Adriatic gem.

Dubrovnik is a city rich with culture and history. The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day. Tall ramparts surround it and there are only two entrances to the old town which lead to the Stradun, the city's promenade. In 1991 & 1992, the Serbs shelled the city causing considerable damage, but thanks to local efforts and international aid, the old town has been restored to its former beauty.
Overnight hotel overlooking city
185km / 116 miles

Day 12 - CROATIA / BOSNIA
A glorious ride north up the turquoise coast with terrific views over the numerous islands. Turning north we cross the border into Bosnia and enjoy the ride through the countryside to the ancient town of Mostar.
Overnight in traditional Bosnian Guest House.
145km / 90 miles

Day 13 - MOSTAR
REST or optional ride to Sarajevo to explore its famous bazaars and the surrounding countryside.

A sightseeing day with an opportunity to explore the old markets, restaurants and café alongside the Neretva River and the famous Mostar bridge – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The historic town of Mostar, spanning a deep valley of the Neretva River, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town and during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Mostar has long been known for its old Turkish houses and Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which it is named. In the 1990 conflict, however, most of the historic town and the Old Bridge, designed by the renowned architect Sinan, was destroyed. The Old Bridge was recently rebuilt and many of the edifices in the Old Town have been restored or rebuilt with the contribution of an international scientific committee established by UNESCO.

The Old Bridge area, with its pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and western European architectural features, is an outstanding example of a multicultural urban settlement. The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar is a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.

Overnight in traditional Bosnian Guest House.
(optional ride 280km / 174 miles)

Day 14 - CENTRAL CROATIA
A great ride on quiet undulating roads through wonderful countryside back into Croatia to our hotel in a quaint village by the lake.
Overnight hotel.
240km / 150 miles

Day 15 - CROATIA “The Lakes National Park”
An enjoyable relaxing ride through the undulating countryside to the Lakes National Park. We enjoy a walk through the park.

The beauty of the National Park lies in its sixteen lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. The National Park covers a total area of 300 square kilometres, whilst the lakes join together over a distance of eight kilometres.
Overnight traditional Guest House.
215km / 135 miles

Day 16 - SLOVENIA - Julian Alps
A great ride on quiet country roads into Slovenia and onto our hotel in a quaint village deep in the Julian Alps.
Overnight hotel.
370km / 231 miles

Day 17 - SLOVENIA - Julian Alps - Lake Bled
REST or optional ride in the Julian Alps to Lake Bled; the jewel of the Julian Alps.
Overnight hotel.
(optional ride 204km / 128 miles)

Day 18 - ITALIAN LAKES
Overnight hotel.
520km / 325 miles

Day 19 - CHAMONIX
Overnight hotel.
300km / 188 miles

Day 20 - After breakfast we bid our farewells until next time.