27 Day the Balkans, Carpathians, Albanian Alps Guided Motorcycle Tour

Overview

Trogir - Dubrovnik, Croatia; Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Zlatibor - Smederevo - Surdulica, Serbia; Apa Neagră - Alba Iulia - Lake Bâlea - Bran - Transfagarasan - Transalpina, Romania; Lake Ohrid - Matka Canyon - Skopje, North Macedonia; Gjirokastër - Butrint - Berat - Tirana - Lake Bovilla - Valbona Valley - Theth Valley - Osum Canyon - Komani Reservoir - Shkodra, Albania; Budva - Kotor - Durmitor - Tara Canyon, Montenegro

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Split, Croatia
• Witness stunning landscapes
• Explore local villages and iconic stops
• Ride through winding roads and passes
• Journey through the Albanian Alps
• 26 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Split

   The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from their Meet and Greet location, where the motorcycles are parked. They use their own motorcycles for these tours, and you can trust that they're in top condition, fully maintained, and have all the latest gear. Here's what they've got for you to choose from: - BMW F750GS - BMW F800GS - BMW F850GS - BMW F900GSA - BMW R1250GS - BMW R1300GS All bikes come in different seat heights. On the evening before you leave and before dinner (welcome dinner), you'll check out the bikes together and make any necessary adjustments, like for the rider height. There's also

2. Day 2: Start of the tour (188 kilometers / 117 miles)

   After breakfast at the hotel and a brief orientation, you'll begin your journey. You'll pick up the motorcycles at the starting point Meet and Greet location in Trogir and prepare them for the ride. The clock is set to 9:00 at the start. Get ready for an adventure! You'll take it easy on your first stage, covering a short distance to get used to the motorcycle. Your first stop is Mostar, a city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina crossed by the River Neretva. Its landmark, Stari Most (Old Bridge), a reconstructed medieval arch bridge, is particularly well known. The nearby alleyways are packed

3. Day 3 (284 kilometers / 176 miles)

   Get ready for a new day of adventure. After a hearty breakfast, you'll hit the road at 8:00 on two wheels. Today, you're heading east, towards the Danube, on your way to Romania, through Serbia. You'll cross the border from Bosnia to Serbia today, as your primary destination is the Carpathian Mountains. Join them as you experience the natural beauty of Serbia's west on a motorcycle ride to Zlatibor. This resort transforms into a vibrant hub during the winter months, but in the summer, it's your playground. Serbia, with its waterfalls, majestic rivers, and imposing mountains, is a land of natur

4. Day 4 (241 kilometers / 150 miles)

   Today, too, you have an exciting journey ahead of you. You are approaching the mighty Danube, Europe's second longest river (by the way, the longest river would have been the Volga). You are on your way to Smederevo, a fantastic and cultural city in the very east of Serbia, located directly on the Danube. And of course, the perfect geographical location for wine growing. Even the ancient Romans knew this, which is why the Smederevo region is probably one of the oldest and best-known wine-growing regions in Europe today. So, if you love wine, you've come to the right place. The wine doesn't alw

5. Day 5 (299 kilometers / 186 miles)

   Today is the day you cross the border into Romania. A large part of the route takes you north-east, on the Romanian side, along the Danube to the Iron Gate. A gorge and small water passage forms the border between Serbia and Romania. This gorge also separates the Carpathian Mountains from the Balkan Mountains. Here, you already get a taste of what lies ahead of you, dreamlike and pristine landscapes. You ride through typical small and dreamy villages, places where not so long ago steam locomotives were used to transport everything necessary (such as animals, food and goods) back and forth betw

6. Day 6 (230 kilometers / 143 miles)

   A new day dawns. You set off as usual at 08:00. Your destination for the day is Alba Iulia (Karlsburg) in Transylvania and thus the crossing of the Southern Carpathians. You take the Transalpina. This pass crosses the Transylvanian Alps, connects Little Wallachia with Transylvania and reaches an altitude of 2145 meters. Guaranteed to be the best opportunity to ride the most beautiful panoramic road south of the Swiss Alps, through the Southern Carpathians. The view of the sheer endless expanse, over the rugged peaks of the Transylvanian Alps, will take your breath away. Down in the valley, the

7. Day 7 (255 kilometers / 158 miles)

   The tour is only now really picking up speed and gaining momentum! Because today, you are already heading south again through the breathtaking Cozia National Park, before conquering the Transfăgărășan from the south-west towards the north-east. Another spectacular and extraordinary panoramic road that you should definitely not miss! This route is in no way inferior to the previous one. The Transfăgărășan has a total length of almost 150 kilometers and connects the Argeș Valley in Great Wallachia with Transylvania. This pass road is only open for four months of the year - from July 1 to October

8. Day 8 (171 kilometers / 106 miles)

   Today, you can take it a little easier, as you have a somewhat shorter route ahead of you. Today, you'll ride the remaining and probably more beautiful part of this extraordinary panoramic road, the northern section, and then continue on to Bran, the actual center of Transylvania. Once you arrive in Bran, you will take a short breather and treat yourselves to your first day off. After checking into your room, and only those who want to, can join them on a visit to Bran Castle, better known as Dracula Castle. Although it is advertised as the castle of Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's stories, t

9. Day 9

   As promised, today is a rest day, more or less. Relaxation is on the agenda all day today: In short, you decide what you want to do with this day off. Sitting together with your new friends and sharing what you've already experienced, have a beer together at lunch time, or explore the town of Bran yourself. The motorcycle is of course at your disposal on this day. Alternatively, you can explore the area around Bran on your own. You can count on it, there is a lot to discover in this region, especially on a motorcycle.

10. Day 10 (354 kilometers / 220 miles)

    Unfortunately, this day is already over and so is your visit to the Carpathians. The journey continues in the direction of Albania, although this involves an even greater distance. On your way there, you visit one of the most beautiful Romanian towns, located directly on the Danube. You ride to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, not far from the Iron Gate. A place that still holds many memories of the “good old” Roman times. The accommodation there gives you a magnificent view of the Danube. The place itself and a subsequent dinner together in one of the typical restaurants on the Danube will stay in your

11. Day 11 (422 kilometers / 262 miles)

    You head back towards the Adriatic coast and through the heart of Serbia. You cross the border into Serbia, and how could it be otherwise, over the Iron Gate, following the route south of the Danube and not, as on the journey into the Carpathians, the northern side of the Danube. You pass Lake Vlasina, near the Bulgarian border, and Kosovo. You can certainly call this area the poorest region in Serbia, but definitely not poor in culture and poor in indescribable landscapes and natural beauty. Not to mention the opportunities for motorcycling there. This Serbian plateau is simply worth a visit.

12. Day 12 (314 kilometers / 195 miles)

    Macedonia is on the menu today. To harmonize, a detour to the quirkiest capital in Europe, Skopje! On the north side, on the Vardar River, is the old town and the Old Bazaar, an absolute highlight. In the Ottoman-influenced quarter, there are countless restaurants serving Macedonian and Turkish food, teahouses, stores and mosques. Mosques as far as the eye can see. Each street is dedicated to a specific theme, so on one street, for example, there is one jeweler after another and on the other street a barber, and so on and so forth. The locals go shopping there, eat and drink tea or meet for a

13. Day 13 (291 kilometers / 181 miles)

    Unfortunately, you must leave this beautiful place and make your way to Gjirokastër, one of the oldest towns in Albania. A picturesque small town from the Ottoman period and also known as the “city of a thousand steps” or “city of stones”. On the way there, you ride almost completely around Lake Ohrid and cross the border to Albania. Here too, incomparable landscapes and friendly and always helpful locals who are always up for a chat await you. Even if they sometimes have trouble communicating with them. You also visit the Llixhat e Bënjës, a thermal bath in the middle of a unique landscape. Y

14. Day 14 (84 kilometers / 52 miles)

    You prepare yourselves for another day of rest, and perhaps a necessary one. And since you are already here in this area, you should know how to make the most of the beauty of the Albanian Riviera. You head off to Butrint, very close to the Ksamil peninsula. Another hidden gem of the Balkans! This place is a ruined city that impresses with its rich history and culture. The archaeological park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also offers you the opportunity to explore ancient ruins from different eras. The nature around Butrint is breathtakingly beautiful, with the lagoon, the river Vivar an

15. Day 15

    As previously announced, today is another rest day, more or less. So, relaxation is on the agenda for the whole day. In short, you decide what you want to do on this day off. For example, you could explore the National Archaeological Park with the ruins of Butrint, the legendary beach of Ksamil, or visit the town of Sarandë with its beautiful beach promenade. Of course, the motorcycle is also at your free disposal on this day.

16. Day 16 (232 kilometers / 144 miles)

    As an exception, the journey starts at 09:00 today. You have set your sights on Berat. The city of a thousand windows. Berat, more than 2000 years old, is located approximately 70 kilometers south of the capital Tirana in the mountainous region of central Albania. Not only the picturesque landscape, which is characterized by steep slopes and the river Osum, but also its unique architecture make it one of the most beautiful cities in Albania. It owes its nickname “City of a Thousand Windows” to the excellently preserved old town buildings overlooking the river valley. In order to preserve the h

17. Day 17 (236 kilometers / 147 miles)

    You leave the beautiful city of Berat and still have the taste of the previous evening's meal on your palates. But the journey goes onwards, to the capital Tirana, where they have planned another day stop. Yes, that's right, and why? There is so much to discover in and around Tirana that you can't just pass through without giving it a second thought. However, you are only going to be able to see the port city of Durrës in passing. Before reaching Tirana, you visit the Osum River, or more precisely the Osum Canyon, southeast of Berat. The canyon (Kanionet e Osumit) is an incredible natural wond

18. Day 18

    As already mentioned, they have planned another day here in Tirana. Today, at least in theory, the whole day is dedicated to relaxation but you could also join them on a short private tour in and around Tirana. And one after the other: - Visit to BUNK'ART: A nuclear bunker and a historical and artistic museum on the outskirts of Tirana. The museum is located in a huge underground bunker with five floors and 106 rooms, spread over an area of around 3000 square meters. The bunker was once intended as a shelter for the then dictator Enver Hoxha and the inner circle of his government during the Co

19. Day 19 (282 kilometers / 175 miles)

    What you have already experienced was already unique and extraordinary, but what is to come in the next few days will take everything to a new level. Wait and see! But before you get to your actual destination, you take the opportunity to visit Kruja Castle and the Skanderbeg Museum. The small town of Kruja is located in an area full of untouched nature, consisting of magnificent mountain landscapes with forests of black pines as well as lakes and springs. But who was Prince Skanderbeg anyway? Gjergj Kastrioti, known as Skanderbeg, lived from 1405 to 1468 and was an Albanian prince. He became

20. Day 20 (101 kilometers / 63 miles, 3 hours ferry crossing)

    You spent the night in Llomi, practically at the end of the valley, in a cozy, privately run accommodation. Here too, or especially here, the locals are always friendly, helpful and open to strangers. Here, finally, tourism makes its entrance. Rested and full of energy, the journey moves on to Fierzë this morning. You must catch the ferry to Komani, which shouldn't be a problem as the Berisha ferry normally departs at 13:00. At least that's the plan, as the ferry only departs once a day. So, assuming the ferry departs, you have a 2.5 to 3-hour ferry ride across the Komani reservoir, navigating

21. Day 21 (221 kilometers / 137 miles)

    Today's destination is Theth in the Theth Valley, on the other side of the Maja e Boshit mountain. There is no connecting road or passable mountain pass over the 2416 meters high mountain. Instead, there is a breathtaking hiking trail, the Valbona - Theth Hiking Trail. Anyone who enjoys hiking should definitely not miss out on this. However, depending on the weather and the general time of year, this hiking trail can prove to be very dangerous. This also applies to experienced hikers. However, as you are motorcycle enthusiasts, a hike along this trail is out of the question for you anyway and

22. Day 22 (98 kilometers / 61 miles)

    You leave your hotel at around 08:30 today, but you still need to make sure you arrive at today's destination, Lipa Cave, on time! Lipa Cave, not far from Cetinje, is the first caving adventure in Montenegro and offers an enchanting variety of karst features and a unique experience of an underground world. The authenticity of the cave lies in its true wilderness, a 2.5 kilometers long system of passages and halls formed by countless drops of water over the course of 6 million years in complete darkness. The tour carries on to one of the most spectacular viewing decks in Montenegro, the Bay of

23. Day 23 (269 kilometers / 167 miles)

    The journey is nearing its end, but you still have a challenge or two ahead of you. You cover a longer distance along the Bay of Kotor, which is an almost 30 kilometers long, strongly winding fjord-like bay lined with high, very steep mountain flanks on the south-eastern Dalmatian-Montenegrin Adriatic coast. Deep blue water, these unique mountain ranges and beautiful old towns greet you. The route then takes you up into the mountains again, to Žabljak, past Lake Slansko to your destination for the day via magnificent mountain roads. Once in the mountains, you will first pay a visit to the Đurđ

24. Day 24

    Today, on your day off, you undertake a private rafting tour. The rafting starts in Splavište, located in Durmitor National Park. The transfer there is taken care of. During the rafting, you have a chance to enjoy the untouched nature of the national park, raft down the river Ljutica (the shortest river in the world with a length of 170 meters), over the Green Springs, Žugić Lever Tara, back to your hotel Porto Tara at the foot of Ćurevac, the place where the Tara canyon is the deepest at 1330 meters. Before you begin your descent down to the river, all participants will be briefed on safety a

25. Day 25 (237 kilometers / 147 miles)

    The last stages of the day have commenced. Sadly! You leave your hotel after a joint breakfast on the terrace of your hotel, surrounded by magnificent nature! You will start by crossing the Dumitor National Park. If you want to experience untouched wilderness, you simply must pay a visit to this National Park. With its spectacular peaks, the Durmitor mountain range, which rises well above 2000 meters, and the clear mountain lakes, the national park is without doubt one of the most beautiful areas in Montenegro. On the other side of the National Park, you find the Piva Canyon with a fantastic v

26. Day 26 (242 kilometers / 150 miles)

    It's done; you're heading back to the starting point. You have covered a long distance. Up to this point, you have covered around 4830 unforgettable kilometers and crossed 7 countries. Still the remaining 242 kilometers lie ahead of you. For the last stage of your journey, they have saved what is probably the most beautiful section of the Jadranska Magistrala, the legendary coastal road along the Adriatic. There are still a few kilometers ahead of you for the most beautiful views of the Adriatic. This road is not considered one of the most interesting coastal roads in Europe for nothing. Havin

27. Day 27

    If you do not wish to extend your stay with them here on the beautiful Adriatic, then today would be the day of your journey home. In any case, they all wish you the very best.

Ride Details

Terrain

95% paved roads

Bike

Rental bike (BMW models)

Mileage

5,050 kilometers / 3,138 miles

Daily rides

84 - 422 kilometers / 52 - 262 miles

Riding gear

Not included

Meals

all breakfasts, 1 welcome and farewell dinner

Accommodation

You will be accommodated in various 4-star hotels in double sharing rooms or single rooms.

Food

The package includes daily rich breakfast and 1 welcome and farewell dinner (excluding drinks).

Getting There

Have you heard of the Albanian Alps? If not, you're in for a treat! This region is a hidden gem, a true paradise for nature lovers. It's not yet a popular tourist destination, so you can still experience the best of nature and landscapes without the crowds. It's a place with centuries of tradition, where you often get the feeling that time has stood still. These landscapes and their cultures are w