Balkans' route planning!
 

Hi bikers!

Some of you might already know me for my 2014 6 months italian trip of 47000km.
Now, I want to plan a little journey into the Balkans. Unfortunately due to work I have to get by just with a misery of 15 days and no more than 4000 kms.
I have with me a not expert biker and I rather do less kms than I would do on my own.

In a gist, here I ask you to advice me on:
- The route (paying much of your attention on Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Romania).
- The average fuel costs, accomodation costs and food costs.
- Safety and security tips.

If you want post some pictures too... :thumbup1:

Thanks for all of those will reply to this post!
I will really appreciated that... bier

Alessandro

You might want to head out to the Hubb meet in Montenegro.
Stay a couple of days on Hvar- lovely fresh fish & fruits galore.
Plenty of info and pics on the hubb.

In Bosnia the area around Rumboci, Šćit (nice lake and Monastery), Prozor and Gornji Vakuf is very nice, as is the route over the mountains from Mrkonjik Grad to Glamoć is very scenic

Enjoy the journey

Wayne

Hi Sandro

I am too taking a friend from Germany to Croatia, also not used to 1000km+ days so we are almost in the same Situation.

Usually I don't do a lot of planning but since im not alone a bit of planing is nessecary.

You can find my little route here

KM per day:
250
330
480
433
273
589
424
Total 2779

So its a nice average of 400km per day. Mostly small roads no Highway.

Best places to go:

For some offroad just go to the Velebit National Park in Croatia, if you find a closed road, open the barrier drive trough and close it again. In case a Park Ranger stops you, show him how much you respect him (10 Euros is enough respect :-) and go on as planned.

Coast Road is great but sometimes alot of traffic, just pick a road close to the Coast Road and you will have just as good windy roads as down the coast bot no traffic at all.

Visit Plitvička jezera here

If you want to swim beneath a nice waterfall this is the place to go. It is located in Skradin near Sibenik.

Dubrovnik :-) I am sure you already knew that

Mostar also very famous

And now of my absolutely favourite roads
Dubrovnic - Foca (Bosnia) - Durmitor (Montenegro) - Lovcen - Kotor
Very scenic route

Here the roads to take (Absolute must if you ask me) Do it, Do it , Do it ;-)



Safety: No Problem at all, just be kind and nothing bad will happen to you. If you cross the borders they ask you where you go... and they will tell you;"Oh watch out the next land is poor, and not very safe" Same line at every border crossing from Coratia down will Macedonia... once you are in Macedonia the will say:" Okay greece is next, you survived the dangerous part." ;-)

Accomondation: Take appartments down the Coast, great view /low cost (50 Euros for a 2 bed Appartment)

And for Romania, take the Transfagarasan

Okay thats it sofar

If you have any further questions just aks, I can provide some pictrues and Videos to if you like.

Cheers
DarK_Chili

Hi Dark_Chili,

Thanks for sharing all of those precious information!
It seems to be a "ready-to-go" route plan.
As well as you I do not like to "really" plan the route, I like to improvise but I was looking for informations as I want to know some "must see" places of where I'm going to.
Coming to Rome (where I live) and not see the Colosseo would be a pity, is it? :)

Cheers,
Alessandro

Albania
 

Go to Albania, best adventure riding in Europe (in my opinion :) ) Cheap, safe and friendly, it's possible to take an overnight boat from Italy. Just finished a mini film about the trip: https://youtu.be/7iz5qhibiD8

Have fun

:stupid:

Forget Dubrovnik, leave it to the German tourists on their cruise ships and go straight to Kotor. :thumbup1:
Mostar is nice as well.

Montenegro is the jewel in the Balkan crown. Durmitor and Biograd national parks are well worth spending some time in. Kotor bay and Kotor town are both stunning. Sveti Stefan is ok for a photo opportunity from the shore, but unless you want to spend some serious $$$ to sit in a pool with the rich and famous you can quickly move on.

Northern Albania (and possibly the rest as well, I just haven't been) is great fun for adventure riding and Lake Shkoder is nice for relaxing.