HU Travellers Meeting Montenegro 2013
Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting
Thursday June 27 - Sunday June 30, 2013 - near Kolasin, Montenegro
It's All About Overland Adventure
Whether you're a seasoned veteran with wisdom to share or a complete novice hungry for ideas and guidance, it doesn't matter if you ride a motorcycle, a bicycle, or drive an expedition vehicle...
Horizons Unlimited meetings are for everyone who dreams of adventure along the road less travelled.
Horizons Unlimited Montenegro Event Schedule
The Plan
Our plan is very simple. We will wait for your arrival on Thursday and you will be a part of our story for the next three days! Share your experiences with other participants, learn something from them or you teach them, take a ride thru unspoiled nature.
Presentations will start on Thursday afternoon, continue on Friday and Saturday during the whole day. For those who want to get in touch with our beautiful and unspoiled nature we can suggest some routes (gravel and paved) which we planned for Friday and Saturday. After Saturday barbecue, on Sunday morning everybody goes in their own direction. Some will go back home, and some who knows, maybe will continue further after getting some great ideas during the meeting.
Presenters at HU Montenegro 2013 include...
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Vladimir Jovicic (SRB)Ride around the world |
Three motorcycle drivers started from Montenegro and took the tough road around the world, struggling through beautiful nature and rough roads through Siberia and Road of Bones, and further through Alaska, Canada, USA and Europe for the greatest adventure of their lives!
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Rodoljub Roki Rogosic (GER)From Germany to Morocco and back |
For me, Morocco was like some mysterious place. I remember when I was a kid, Tito and Yugoslavia had really good relations with Morocco. I imagined those people as being from another planet, Boumedienn and Algeria, Nasser and Egypt, Gaddafi and Lebanon. I was really fascinated with those countries. After many years I met a lot of people from Morocco and realised that they are not from some other planet, they are like us. But the desire to visit this country never passed me. And here, after 30 or more years I fulfilled my dream with my family. This is a story of our journey.
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Marko Blecic (MNE)Climbing Mt. Everest |
From a small country like Montenegro it's not so often that people want to do some great thing. But there were a couple of them with one wish, to climb to highest peak on Earth, Mt. Everest. This task was really tough, but their drive to succeed was much higher. Marko will try to share with you their experience, their fears and their doubts, but also their feelings when they reached the summit.
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Ivan Bozovic (MNE)Riding from Montenegro to NordKapp |
In 2008, three men from Montenegro decided to move on a journey "a little" more north of their homeland. How much is "little"? Well, does Nordkapp sound north enough? Here comes the story of three adventurers on the road! 12,000 km, 23 days, 17 countries*, 3 engines and, obviously, 6 wheels.
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Janko Vlahovic (MNE)Policeman on motorcycle |
When I was a little boy, there were traffic police and motorcycles in my home town Kolasin. When I saw them, I finally realised what I really wanted. I wanted to become a policeman on motorcycle. As a policeman I started work in 1984, and in 1987 my dream came true - I get my first official motorcycle. And after 25 years I'm still living my dream, on highway on motorcycle.
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Dane Medic (SRB)Ride to Iran |
Travelling is an adventure only when boundaries are not set, when plans and routes are picked on the spur of the moment by your inner sense. Hints by locals on the next step to pick should, of course, be followed to make the most of your journey. Exploring the unknown, uncovering what is behind the next corner, be it cultures, natural beauties or unexpected individuals is the drive that took me out there. Take a peek on how trips I took to Japan through Siberia and Mongolia, as well as to Iran look from this perspective.
LOTS of presentations to come! As people register to present we'll list them here. Planned are:
- traveling around the world
- traveling with companions (wife, girl)
- experiences of police motorcycle riders and their advices
- story of one photographer who working with some of greatest extreme athletes
- small traveling, Europe
Educational Sessions
- First Aid course - 2 days
- Reading maps, learning how to orientate with compass or with basic things from nature
- Packing the bike before the big trip
- Changing the tire, with some basic technical instruction
More to come...
How about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and seminars - but we need volunteers to give them! Any topic you can contribute having to do with motorcycle travel, maintenance, planning etc, lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please contact me here to volunteer.
Horizons Unlimited Montenegro 2013 Ride-outs
If you don't want to participate on daily presentation we have prepared some ride-outs for you. All rides have been prepared so that you see how beautiful nature is in Montenegro (lakes, rivers, mountain peaks...) We prepared five different routes with different levels of difficulties. Every ride (if it's interesting for participants) will start in the morning so they can be finished before start of first afternoon presentation. Of course we do have guides for these rides, but if somebody wants to go alone, we will provide them with maps and route information. If you want, camp owners can arrange some lunch packets for these rides (€10 euros per person).
Easy Rides
Tour 1
Vranjak - Kolašin - Biogradsko lake and back
44 km on asphalt road, 10 km on gravel road -
Approx. 1 hour riding + 3 hours sightseeing
Tour 2
Vranjak - Kolašin - Mioska - Boan - Žabljak - Tara river - Kolašin
196 km, 186 km on asphalt road, 10 km on gravel road -
Approx. 4 hours riding + 2 hours sightseeing
Heavy Rides
Tour 3
Vranjak - spring of Biogradska river - Bendovac - Biogradsko lake - Kolašin - Vranjak
57 km, 32 km on asphalt road, 25 km on gravel road - Approx. 3 hours riding + 3 hours sightseeing
Tour 4
Vranjak - Eko katun Komovi - Mateševo - Veruša - Bukumirsko lake - Veruša - Mateševo - Kolašin
111 km, 69 km on asphalt road, 42 km on gravel road - Approx. 5 hours riding + 2 hours sightseeing
Tour 5
Vranjak - Lisa - Trešnjevik - Andrijevica - Murino - Plav - Andrijevica - Berane - Lubnica - Kolašin
137 km, 100 km on asphalt road, 37 km on gravel road - Approx. 4 hours riding + 2 hours sightseeing
Facilities for a Fantastic Four Days
Campground - Eko Katun Vranjak
The meeting will be held on mountain Bjelasica (1700m) in NaturePark Biogradska Gora. There is one campground called Eko Katun Vranjak which is 15 km (10 km of asphalt and 5 km of gravel road) from Kolasin, the nearest town. The campground has all necessary facilities that are normal for a modern camp but on the other side they keep all traditional customs so you can really feel old living styles.
Accommodation
Campground has space for unlimited numbers of tents. Price is €3 euros for tent per day.
Eko Katun Vranjak also has wooden cottages:
- 14 cottages with double beds - ideal for two persons/couple (€15 euros per day for cottage)
- 5 big cottages with 5 beds each (€10 euros for bed per night)
- 3 big cottages with 7 beds each (€10 euros for bed per night).
Sheets and towels are included in the price of cottages/beds.
If you want a bed in a cottage, you should pre-book. Blazo has kindly offered to assist, please e-mail him at blaz...@vijesti.me
Camp has two shower cabins and two toilets.
If you don't want to sleep in camp there are a lot of possibilities for private accommodation or hotels in town near camp (Kolasin). We will provide a list of hotels and private accommodations which have websites.
Also near Eko Katun Vranjak there is one mountain house, also called Vranjak (cc300meters).
This mountain house has 24 beds ((two big rooms - each room has 6 beds, three smaller rooms - each room has 4 beds), two toilets and one shower cabin. Price of accommodation is €10 euros for bed (per day). If you are interested in this kind of accommodation please contact Blazo at blaz...@vijesti.me before arrival.
Food
Camp has their own kitchen where they prepare tasty and really good food. Owners of this camp are proud of their natural grown vegetables and other food, and everything is produced in this untouched part of Bjelasica mountain.
Breakfast (€5 euros per person / day)
- example#1: fritters (domestic speciality), honey, cheese, coffee, tea, domestic milk
- example#2: french toast, jam, cheese, coffee, tea, domestic milk
Dinner - late lunch (€15 euros per person / day)
example: soup, salad, lamb (speciality prepared under the iron pad), potatoes, cheese, smoked ham, sausage, dessert.
If you have some special wishes about food (vegetarians or something similar), please inform us so the owner of the camp can organise everything on time.
Notice #1:
In camp there is no store, so everything that you need you have to buy in nearest town - Kolasin. And please do not bring your own food, we have to respect owners of the camp. In camp, you can buy drinks and food other than the organised buffet.
Notice #2:
In the HU tradition, we plan a barbecue for Saturday evening, which is included in your registration fee!
I've already registered - I just want to pay!
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICING FOR FULL PASSESIncludes admission to all presentations Thursday, Friday and Saturday, | |
Pre-Register & Pay before: | Event Price |
April 30 | €35 (saves €15) |
AT THE EVENT PRICING (APPLIES AFTER JUNE 20)Pay Cash on Arrival | |
Full 3-day Pass 2-day Pass DAY PASSES Thursday only | €50 €35
€20 |
MEALSSaturday night barbeque is included in your registration fee! All other meals are paid directly to the campground. |
ACCOMMODATIONAccommodation is not included in your registration fee, but a variety of options are available at a reasonable price:
Pre-booking is not required for camping, but strongly recommended for cottages, as there are limited numbers. You can pre-book beds by contacting Blazo at blaz...@vijesti.me. |
SELECT YOUR PRE-REGISTRATION OPTION |
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ADVENTURE TRAVELLERS |
PRESENTERS |
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TRADE STANDS |
JOURNALISTS |
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Join the Volunteer Crew
From welcoming travellers at the gate, to taking care of the campsite and making sure all the presentations run smoothly, the success of every HU event relies on the enthusiasm of its volunteer crew.
"What a wonderful bunch of people. I had no idea how much fun I'd have by helping out!"
"It was my absolute pleasure to be able to give something back to the HU community and working with such great folks really made the event special."
Volunteering is a great way to make new friends, get more involved with Horizons Unlimited and have loads of fun! You can sign up to volunteer when you register for the meeting, OR click here if you have already registered and want to add volunteering.
What happens at HU meetings?
Be a Presenter
We're inviting submissions for presentations, so whether you're attending the event or exploring a distant continent, if you've got a story to tell or expertise to share we'd like to hear from you.
We love to hear stories about your travel adventures, especially if you have great pics! Also, practical how-to sessions such as roadside cooking, navigation/GPS, trip prep and planning, adventure motorcycling medicine, packing light, setting your bike up, communications/blogging from the road, self-publishing your story, yoga for bikers, bodging/bike maintenance, self-defense, photography, videography, tire repair, safe riding techniques, how to pick up your bike, off-road riding, all are of interest.
There are 40 and 90 minute sessions available for talks, workshops, demos and live web chats, plus a new Pecha Kucha option (20 slides x 20 seconds each).
Comments about HU Events
"I don't even have plans to go ride around the world, but the presentations and people were great and you guys did an awesome job!"
"It was wonderful!! Loved the chance to rub elbows with experienced rtw'ers, and get their experiences/ views/ perspectives. The mantra I took away was 'just do it'."
"I have picked up so much information... and met some new friends and wonderful people."
"A superb event that was really well organised. I found the atmosphere amongst the attendees to be very positive too."
"I have not done much travelling so it was like visiting with a world traveller - Presenters were very approachable."
"Great atmosphere and camaraderie, especially at dinner time, and interesting presentations."
"Folks were all great and the most amazing thing was there was NO ATTITUDE."
"I have learned so much, made some great mates and met some of the best people. I was buzzing by the time I got home. I have a little trip planned and just can't wait to get out there."
You can help!
If you have a few minutes, please download a poster (Adobe pdf format) and print off a few and hand them round your club or your local bike shop or anywhere seems like a good place.
Montenegrin Poster in pdf format (500kb)
English Poster in pdf format (500kb)
You may need to right click and choose "save target as..."
Thanks!
Departing or Returning?
If you're planning an expedition in 2013, why not make the Horizons Unlimited meeting your official start point? Or maybe you're nearing the completion of a journey and would like a very public welcome home? Of course you might just be passing through and fancy marking a key stage of your travels?
We'd love to make you a big part of the meeting, so feel free to get in touch and tell us your plans.
Montenegro 2013 Venue Location
Eko katun Vranjak
Bjelasica Mountain
(from the Kolasin side)
Biogradska Gora National Park
Kolasin, Montenegro
N 42.846 E 19.649 (approx)
View Larger Map
New to Horizons Unlimited?
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80 G/S motorcycle. The website, HUBB forum and regular events across the globe have inspired thousands of people to follow their dreams and take the road less travelled.
Membership - Show you're proud to be a Horizons Unlimited Traveller!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events such as this one, we sell inspirational and informative DVDs, we have a few selected advertisers, and we make a small amount from memberships.
There is no requirement to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, the HUBB or to receive the e-zine. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
You can join at a reduced rate as part of your meeting registration. Note that new Memberships with your Meeting Registration are applied as of the Meeting date or as soon as possible thereafter, not earlier, unless you make a special request in the Comments box when you register.
Announcements
Next HU Travellers Meetings
- HUBB UK: May 30-Jun 2
- Bulgaria Mini-Meet: June 7-9
- Montenegro: June 27-30
- Ireland: July 12-14
- Colorado: July 12-14
- North Carolina, Aug 8-11
- Canada West: Aug 22-25
- Kyrgyzstan Mini-Meet: Aug 31
- Ontario: Sep 12-15
- Australia QLD: Sep 26-29
- Australia VIC: Oct 11-13
Perth WA: Oct 19-20- California: Oct 24-27
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