From Greece to SE England and back
 

Hi, everyone!
I need some piece of advice: I am a rather experienced rider, riding an R1200GS and I am planning a tour from Greece to Kent after 10/10/2017 and return, always by bike around 10/11/2017. I am planning to cross the FYROM, Serbia, Hungary, Germany, Belgium, France to Calais, while on the way back I was thinking of passing from Italy and catching the ferry from Ancona to Igoumenitsa. Has anyone done anything similar? Do you think the season may be inappropriate or risky? Any suggestions?
Thanks everyone and ride safe!

I have done both, ridden back across the Balkans a couple of times and took the ferry from Igoumenitsa to Ancona as well. I don't think it will be risky but it might be cold in oct/nov as a lot of the riding is over high ground in the Balkans and northern Europe is cold in nov. I rode back from Greece this May which was wet in Greece, took the midnight ferry from Igoumenitsa (Minoan lines) gets you into Ancona lunch time so you can get a useful bit of mileage done that day.

Dear Steven,
Thank you very much for your reply. Just one more thing: do you think that it will be ok to come back in November from Italy? I ask because I'm afraid I might find snow in the Alps.
Thanks a lot and ride safe!

Hi. This website might be of use to you: FAQ General Information

You could always go down the Rhone valley to the south of France and then along the coast to Genoa and across to Ancona, but if you have a good screen, heated grips and a heated vest and take the A40 towards Chamonix and the Mont Blanc tunnel you should be okay in November, :thumbup1:

We drove in January-February 2015 from Greece to Holland through FYROM, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Germany & Holland.

Along with us, it was a friend with a VESPA GTS 250. Other than the cold, snow (in Poland & Slovakia) & rain, we did not have any problems at all.

If you can cope with the elements of nature, you wont have any problems. Plus, it will depend how severe the winter will be and how early the cold will start. In our case the year before & the year after it was one of the coldest winters but not the time we travelled. :mchappy:

Καλό ταξίδι!! :thumbup1:

Thank you all for your kind responses and your advice! I have already started planning he tour and I feel pretty excited about it!

Cancelled!
 

Unfortunately, at just a few days from departure and while i was preparing myself and my bike for the tour, i had to cancel for force majeure! Thank you all for your kind responses and i really hope to do this trip another time!