Travel to Greece from UK best route

[Sidecarwilly]

Hi all
Apologies if this has been asked for previously....but I am planning my trip next year [2010] for the Super Rally [Harley rally] to be held in Greece. Its early days yet of course. Looking at the Eupopean road maps there are a few options of which way to get there. I am planning for a trip of not less than 3 weeks...perhaps as much as 5 weeks to really get the most out of the trip.

1.
Make my way from a ferry port [I am travelling from Scotland] across Germany/Austria and pick up the E75 through Serbia/Macedonia and into Greece
2.
Travel down to Ancona in Italy for a ferry to Greece
3.
Travel to Bari for the ferry to Greece

4.
Take the Adriatic coast roads through Albania

Perhaps I can recieve some suggestions/hints/tips and so on for these options...especially not using one of the Italian ferries. Almost certainly there will be a few that have ridden this route....I would appreciate your help on best way...camping /hotels any potential issues with border crossings/insurance/documents and so on.

I ride a Harley Davidson and have ridden in The Netherlands/Belgium and France previously.

Just for the record...when I tackle the journey I will be coming up to 63 years of age...maybe there is another old timer out there that may wish to team up with me. The rally is only for Harley riders though.

Thanks in anticpation for your help

I should really spend some time and do a search through the web site.


By the way...my handle is sidecarwilly...had a sidecar...now riding solo

Regards and safe riding to you all

Bill McF
[Scotland]

[speedmaster58]

Hi Bill

I am going down to Greece in April & our route is:
Tunnel to Calais, then thro' France to Colmar for an overnight stop in a Formule 1 then into Switzerland via Basel & down to Lake Iseo in Italy via Lugano & Milan, then down to Anocona for the Ferry to Greece. We then plan to come back via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany & France.
If you want I can give you info on any Hotels, camping sites when we get back in May.
Last year we did Italy & came back over the Swiss passes which was brilliant & in the summer you have no problems finding rooms in hotels or camp sites.
Cheers Martyn

[greektzon]

hallo sidecarwilly.
I am Greek and i think you must not come from Albania and Serbia/Macedonia .
These areas are a little dangerous i think.
Choose the numbers 2 and 3.

I am rider too,and i didnt know for this super rally.
Tell me more details.

[MikeS]

I really wasn't that keen on the east coast of Italy as far down an Riccione/Rimini- its very industrial! I've heard it gets better further south though.

Don't forget the Croatian coastline, really lovely road. I think it must have been made just for bikers!

Or the roads through the hills in Montenegro, plenty of stunning views:

[Mike]

Originally Posted by greektzon

hallo sidecarwilly.
I am Greek and i think you must not come from Albania and Serbia/Macedonia .
These areas are a little dangerous i think.

I rode the coast through Croatia, [Bosnia-Hercegovina], Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece at the tailend of last year. Can't recommend it highly enough -- including, perhaps especially, Albania. The kindest, most welcoming people. Fascinating place to see, and experience. I had heard a LOT of negative things abot Albania, bt always from people who haven't been there.

The coast road was being expanded last year -- there'll be a lot of highway by next summer. But there'll be rougher routes through Albania if you want it for a loooong time to come!

Mike is absolutely right too abot the beaty of Montenegro.. Kotor is out of this world.

I didn't enter Serbia or Macedonia, though met good and interesting bikersfrom both countries. Beware a pretty stiff road tax, or compulsory insurance, for Serbia -- from memory it's $100+. Details somewhere on the HUBB.

--Mike

[usl]

Originally Posted by Sidecarwilly

4.
Take the Adriatic coast roads through Albania

[Scotland]

take this option ...you wont regret it....in fact you will regret it if you dont take it ...

[Jami]

One more vote from here to the Adriatic coast route. I did it a year and a half ago and didn't have any problems. Montenegro is indeed beautiful and has some really cool canyons in the inlands. Albania is very poor but if that doesn't shock you I say go for it!

Jami

[Sidecarwilly]

To all that replied..thank you.

Greektzon...check out www.superrally.gr

Club Hellas are organising the rally. 2009 its in Finland. In 2007 it was in The Netherlands and there were around 15,00 bikers there. Tremendous rally and some characters and scenes...plus the music and was good too. I think there will be many 1000 s of bikers making their way to Patras in May 2010 for the best rally of the year.

[James Rothwell]

Number 4 for sure!

[xander2]

Originally Posted by Mike

I rode the coast through Croatia, [Bosnia-Hercegovina], Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece at the tailend of last year. Can't recommend it highly enough -- including, perhaps especially, Albania. The kindest, most welcoming people. Fascinating place to see, and experience. I had heard a LOT of negative things abot Albania, bt always from people who haven't been there.

The coast road was being expanded last year -- there'll be a lot of highway by next summer. But there'll be rougher routes through Albania if you want it for a loooong time to come!

Mike is absolutely right too abot the beaty of Montenegro.. Kotor is out of this world.

I didn't enter Serbia or Macedonia, though met good and interesting bikersfrom both countries. Beware a pretty stiff road tax, or compulsory insurance, for Serbia -- from memory it's $100+. Details somewhere on the HUBB.

--Mike

Rode the same route last year. totally agree!!!!!!

The Balkans are superb.....


Ooohhh, that road down to Kotor!!!!

Macedonia was 50 euro compulsary insurance...get your greencard in order.