The Balkans for Adventure Bikes

Guided adventure tours through Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania

DATES:

10.05. – 19.05.2024

14.10. – 23.10.2024

09.05. – 18.05.2025

10.10. – 19.10.2025

 

Description:

Untouched nature, enchanting landscapes, amazing windy roads, and even more impressive gravel tracks… Add to that a brief break on the Adriatic Sea, delicious meals, and welcoming hosts, and the recipe for a dream journey for motor bike adventure fans is born. Starting from the initial meeting point in Graz, Austria, we will travel through Slovenia and Croatia to Bosnia & Herzegovina. There, at last, begins the adventure for real, taking us onwards into Montenegro and Albania, back to Montenegro, and ultimately back to Bosnia. The end of the trip will once again be Graz in Austria. Tour data: From/to Graz about 2250 km, from/to Banja Luka (BiH) approximately 50 percent of the roads will be unpaved. The difficulty grade is medium to hard, so not suited for off-road beginners.

Characteristics of the tour: The tour is suited for bikers that have already gathered experience driving on small, windy gravel tracks and field paths, and who also have a good off-road handle on their adventure bikes. Adventure bikes of all sizes are welcome on this tour. The use of, at a minimum, road and off-road Allround tires is mandatory, and particularly in wet weather conditions terrain-oriented tires (ex. TKC 80, K 60 Scout) are an enormous advantage. This tour is not appropriate for pure street motorbikes or motorbikes equipped purely with street tires! The possibility of taking a passenger along on the bike exists, but is not recommended.

 

Our exclusive travel itinerary:

Day 1: Graz (AUT) – Slovenia – Croatia – Banja Luka (BiH)

380 km

Rendezvous at the meeting point in Graz. After briefly getting to know each other, we will begin our common journey. Aside from Slovenia, we will mainly travel on the main highway directly to Bosnia & Herzegovina, to Banja Luka, the capital of the Republika Srbska region. Prior to dinner we will have the opportunity to go for a leisurely walk through the city. Overnight accommodation in Banja Luka (BiH).

Tip 1: There is a hotel at the rendezvous spot. For participants who have to travel a fair distance in order to reach Graz, it is recommended that they arrive the day prior and stay overnight at the hotel.

Tip 2: Anyone arriving at the rendezvous spot with a car and trailer can leave same at the hotel throughout the tour by paying a daily fee.

 

Day 2: Banja Luka – Medugorje (BiH)

220 km

Following the flow of the river Vrbas, we are travelling southwards and eventually reach Medugorje, one of the most well-known pilgrimage destinations in all of Europe. Overnight accommodation in Medugorje (BiH). 50% paved roads, 50% unpaved roads.

 

Day 3: Medugorje – Pluzine (MNE)

180 km

We will spend the morning in the hills of Bosnia, before reaching the border with Montenegro towards noon. Montenegro is one of Europe’s newest countries and a significant part of its surface is covered with national parks. It is particularly known for its rough yet green natural landscapes. Overnight accommodation will be in a traditional rural guesthouse. 60% paved roads, 40% unpaved roads.

 

Day 4: Pluzine – Savnik (MNE)

160 km

According to the UNESCO World Heritage list, the Durmitor is considered Montenegro’s largest national park since 1980, and also one of the most beautiful in the entire world. The highest mountain peak therein reaches a height of over 2500 meters and the area is full of stunning gorges, caves, and glacier lakes. For lunch, we will enjoy a refreshing picnic on the shores of Lake Piva. The remainder of the day will be spent in the area of Savnik, in the midst of the national park. Our overnight stay will be in a typical local accommodation. 65% paved roads, 35% unpaved roads.

 

Day 5: Savnik – Theth (ALB)

180 km

Passing through Montenegro’s capital of Podgorica, we continue on our way to Albania. That particular country contains around 2300 hectares of wild mountain ranges that are little known to the average tourist. The first part of the Theth mountain pass is paved and takes us past breathtaking landscapes up to a height of 2600 meters above sea level. On the other side of the pass, the pavement ends and the landscape changes completely. We descend the entire mountain slope down deep into the valley and look forward to a simple but clean overnight accommodation with friendly hosts awaiting us. 65% paved road, 35% unpaved road.

 

Day 6: Theth – Budva (MNE)

175 km

We continue our drive through the national park and visit Lake Theth, to be followed by a technically difficult gravel track. Afterwards, we will enjoy our lunch on the shores of Lake Shkoder (located in the national park of the same name), before continuing towards the Adriatic Sea. Our overnight accommodation will be in Budva (MNE), close to the coastal line. 50% paved roads, 50% unpaved roads.

 

Day 7: Budva – Nicsic (MNE)

150 km

After breakfast we reach the impressive bay of Kotor, from where we will have a unique view over the whole country. Windy roads will accompany us until lunch. Afterwards, we will continue through Lovcen National Park and a number of tunnels, before ultimately reaching Nicsic towards the evening. 60% paved roads, 40% unpaved roads.

 

Day 8: Nicsic – Mostar (BiH)

190 km

Today we will pass through numerous quaint villages along enchanting roads back to Bosnia. The day’s destination is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Mostar, a pearl of the Balkans and especially well-known for its famous bridge. In the evening we will wander a bit through the historic center and enjoy the atmosphere of this special place. 30% paved roads, 70% unpaved roads.

 

Day 9: Mostar – Banja Luka (BiH)

240 km

Over beautiful gravel tracks and passing glistening glacier lakes we make our way back to Banja Luka at last, where we will enjoy one final evening together and reminisce about the experiences gathered on this wonderful trip.

 

Day 10: Banja Luka – Graz (AUT)

380 km

Unfortunately, today the time has come to say goodbye to your newly-won friends. With many happy memories packed among your luggage the journey home can begin. Your guide will accompany you until the official starting point of the tour in Graz, Austria. Once again a significant portion of this journey will be on the highway. End of the tour.

We reserve the right to make changes to the daily schedules and/or routes due to weather conditions or other unforeseeable events.

 

Services included:

10-day guided motorbike tour over some of the most impressive bike tracks in the Balkans
Experienced English-speaking guide with extensive knowledge of the local areas to be traversed, who will accompany the group throughout the tour with his own motorbike
Luggage vehicle, including motorbike trailer or large transporter from/to Graz
Daily tour briefings before departure in the morning
Daily accompaniment on all tours
9 overnight accommodations in specially selected inns, cabins, and hotels of the good to very good middle-class variety
Full room and board from/to Banja Luka (BiH) including breakfast, lunch, and dinner

 

Not included: Additional meals/snacks outside of the listed services (ex. during arrival to and departure from Banja Luka), fuel, oil, toll fees on the journey before/after the tour, personal purchases/expenses, entrances, tips, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, motorbike transport, as well as all other services that are not explicitly listed as included.

Also not included, but highly recommended: Travel insurance with storno coverage.

 

Price:

Per person in a double room: € 1999

Single room surcharge: € 399

½ double room available upon request.

 

Travel terms:

Minimum required number of participants: 8 people. In the event that this minimum threshold is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel the tour up to 3 weeks prior to the start date.