Croatia/Romania

[neil.larsen]

I'm sure this has been posted a number of times before, but...
I'm working in Kalovac, Croatia this week, and have conspired to come on the bike, rather than fly.
I'll finish work Friday night, and have next week off to find my way home. Prefer to hit Calais the following Friday or early Sat, so any suggestions about a good route back in 6 days! I thought of dropping down the Croatian coast before turning East to get to Romania and home again, but haven't settled on more detail than that yet. Mostar/Sarajevo any good?

Any more detailed suggestions welcome, things to see, places to stay, all the usual stuff.

Thanks in advance
Neil

[chris]

Hi matey
Check this:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...utes-gps-35235
hang loose
Chris

[Ghost Rider]

Or alternatively, if you'll excuse the shameless plug, you could buy my book on motorcycling in Eastern Europe. See:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...550#post192274

Both Mostar and Sarajevo are well worth a visit, but if you only have the time to visit one of them, then make it Mostar. If you have the time from both, then the Mostar to Sarajevo road is definitely up there with Europe's best biking roads.

[neil.larsen]

Well, seeing as I'm not interested in "ironbutt" type travelling, I've decided to give Romania a miss. I may even take up Mr Bright's suggestions about some gravel roads here in Croatia instead on the way past, they look nice!
Thanks for the replies.
neil

[dooby]

Neil as Chris provided link on his question regarding route, You should try them. Go from Karlovac towards Velebit and ride there, and then if you ask me, I will go from Velebit to Karlobag and will take the ferry from Karlobag.

Then crossed the island Pag and will go towards Zadar, and on that part will visit Nin. From Zadar go to Sibenik, and if you like nature and watterfalls tak some time and visit Krka National Park.
Then I will go towards Split, and then maybe visit Bacinska lakes(on google maps by small town Bacina), and ride along the coast to Ston. Don't miss Ston, it's ancient walls are second longest in the world, just behind the Great wall of China. By the town there is old salt factory, where salt from the sea is colected from the shallow pools, and everything is done by handwork.

From Ston ride along the coast to Dubrovnik(on the way to Dubrovnik there is outstanding arborethum situated in small town of Trsteno). In Dubrovnik don't miss the strall on the walls, and go around the old town and enjoy.

From Dubrovnik go to Metkovic(just the town you'll pass by) and then to Mostar. Visit it' rebuilded old bridge and old part of the town. Maybe You'll be llucky enough to see young crazy and very brave take plunges to the Neretva river from that old bridge which is more than 20 m high.

From Mostar go to Sarajevo, and don't miss this town. You will meet some of the nicest and funniest people around. The citizens of Sarajevo are very friendly and there are lots of stuff to see in Sarajevo-Bascarsija(old town), lots of beautifull Mosks, Churches, Sinagogs etc.
If you would like to have a nice meal and taste some of the local couisine, then go to restaurant called Park Princeva-popular place among the bike-travellers. it is situated on the top of the hill above the town, and the view is stunning.

Hope that this helps

Enjoy your trip and take care

[vlassishlk]

Hello, I visited Mostar last summer.
The best way to get to Mostar is passing the border crossing near Metcovic. No problem with this border crossing either, so 46 kms after that, we reached the city of Mostar, and immediately headed for the old part of the town which has been restored after the war.

There, trying to find a place to park, we saw a row of parked motorcycles (10-15) with all the gear left on the seats and mirrors. A local Bosnian told us that we could leave everything(helmets, jackets, tank bags) on the motorcycles and he'd watch out for them for 2 euros/hour. We hesitated at first but as it was really hot (38-39C) and seeing that most others had done the same we agreed to that, and left our helmets on the mirrors and also left the tank bag on. The part of the old town near the bridge and the bridge itself have been restored and there were hundreds of tourists wandering in the small alleys, a lot of tourist shops selling the usual tourist items and souvenirs from the war (helmets, knives, machine gun clips e.t.c). The river had a lot of water and it was really impressive to see locals diving from the highest point of the bridge to the river bellow (They do it for money, they collect money and once every half an hour if they have gathered enough someone dives.). After a cup of coffee we returned to the motorcycle hopping to find the helmets where we had left them, happy to see that everything was in place.

As a conclusion about Mostar I'd say it's worth a visit if you're in the region. What is truly shocking is the number of buildings (especially in the non tourist part of the city) with bullet holes.

Bosnias official currency is not euro but at Mostar we paid everything with euro, without any problem.

Regards
Vlassis
Croatia - Bosnia - Dolomites - Austria - summer 2007

[MarkLG]

I rode to Dubrovnik and back in 2006. Don't underestimate the distance involved, it's a bloody long way.
I'd suggest heading up the coast, then either into Italy to the Dolomites, across the southern half of switzerland to mont blanc/chamonix then north to calais.
Or head into Slovenia, across the Julian alps, into austria then back via germany and france.
Either way will take you across some spectacular mountain roads and allow a little bit of free time along the way. Mostar isn't too much of a detour, but I think you'll be pushing it to spend any worthwhile time in Romania.

[neil.larsen]

Thanks for the replies -
Frgich - that's close to the general route I was thinking of, but with your suggestions, much better! My first stop was going to be the lakes at Plitivice lakes and then to the coast. My map has a ferry from Prizna onto Pag, is Karlobag better?

Vlassi - many thanks for that too, good to learn from your experience.

Thanks for the suggestions, Mark, but I'm reasonably familiar with the places you describe, but am a first timer over here, so will stick to the Croatia/Bosnia/Hungary and then home plan, I think.

thanks again
Neil

[dooby]

Damn I wrote it in a hurry so it went wrong. The ferry is from Prizna to Zigljen and here is the link to time table so you can plan which one to catch

http://www.jadrolinija.hr/pdfs/335.08.hr.pdf

And Neil, no problem at all

[Ghost Rider]

Originally Posted by neil.larsen

.... so will stick to the Croatia/Bosnia/Hungary and then home plan, I think.

Neil, TBH, if you can avoid Hungary, then do so. With the risk of offending any Hungarians that visit the HUBB, it's not really ideal motorcycling country.

[Wheelspin]

I have Hungarian friends and I have to agree its boring for bike trips - other than Budapest, I would forget it. Too flat and too many dead straight roads, without much to look at as you ride along..... Budapest, though, can be a lot of fun - but seeing as you haven't got much time, save that for another trip.

[neil.larsen]

I do so much like this forum!

Thanks again for your comments everybody. I'll skip Hungary this time, which gives me a little more time to slow down in Croatia and BiH. That was a decision I was trying to make yesterday.

Already thinking of a proper vacation further East instead of a "sneaked from work" week!

[Graham_Kawa]

Neil, how did you go? I am about to do a ride in a few weeks. Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Romania. Any good tips. Was thinking Mostar also but we have a very loose plan at the moment.

We are trying to work out ideal route from Sarejevo to Romania. We want to end up in Pitesti at which point we will turn north. Not sure if you stumbled on any advice there.

[martinjeffes]

Hi Graham,
just a word of advice particularly relevant to Serbia. Do not pay for anything using a Debit Card, or a Credit Card, and only appear to be carrying just enough cash, in euros, to pay for road tolls and green cards.
Some brits who came here last year had a credit card cloned at the border, and 14 000 pounds removed from their account. plus all the english cash they had on them. Be aware.
Martin T. Jeffes
Sakar Hills Touring Park.
Harmanli.
South Bulgaria.

[Graham_Kawa]

Thanks Martin, will use caution. Always good to get advice on troubles. Still looking forward to seeing the place though, so many good stories.

Funnily enough I had the same thing happen at a gas station in florida a couple years ago on holiday, so it can happen anywhere!!!!