11Likes
-
2
Post By Wildman
-
2
Post By fahrer1
-
3
Post By Benny_76
-
1
Post By liammons
-
2
Post By duibhceK
-
1
Post By duibhceK
![Reply](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/buttons/reply.gif) |
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
9 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 20
|
|
balkans route
Afternoon all!
So myself and a couple of friends are doing a quick two week tour of the Balkans in July. Countries will be Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania (v.briefly) then back through Hungary, Slovakia and Czech rep.
What are 'must sees'?
Are there any border crossings that are closed to international travellers?
How do you plan an off road route? Plan was to pick places to stay each night or at least have a rough idea then try and find off road routes between them. Just not quite sure how to go about doing this!
New to all this so any advice appreciated!
Cheers
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
9 Feb 2015
|
![Wildman's Avatar](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/customavatars/avatar26604_1.gif) |
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The Garden of England
Posts: 478
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom89
… What are 'must sees'?…
|
Vršič Pass
Durmitor
Transalpina
Transfăgărășan
__________________
Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every (part of every inhabited) continent of the Earth" 94% done! What's left? Central America, East, Central and West Africa, Australia & New Zealand
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
9 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Zagreb
Posts: 48
|
|
What are "must see" destinations? It depends what you are interested in. As you have mentioned dirt roads, I'll assume that you care for nature more than culture or history.
Slovenia: Vršić pass, Bled Lake, Postojna cave
Croatia: Backroads in Istria, Mt. Učka, Mt. Velebit with countless dirt roads, Adriatic road between Rijeka and Zadar, Plitvice lakes, Krka waterfalls, Mt. Biokovo,
Croatia/Bosnia: Željava deserted air base (partly in Croatia), take care not to unintentionally get out of EU illegally. If you go there, climb to Mt. Plješivica.
Bosnia: River Una canyon, Kravice waterfalls, the springs of river Bosnia in Sarajevo-Ilidža, and river Buna in Blagaj, the old forest Peručica - plenty of unpaved roads everywhere.
Montenegro: Mt Durmitor, The canyon of river Tara, The bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, the mouth of river Bojana
Serbia: Zlatibor, Đerdap gorge, Ibar canyon, Mt Kopaonik
Romania: Transfagarasan, Transalpina,
the list goes on and on and on...
Some border crossings are just for locals, but those are not on any maps.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
10 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: York
Posts: 34
|
|
I was down that way last June, didn't do any off road but the Adriatic Highway (E65 route, or D8 road) is a fantastic ride, fast sweeping bends, turquoise sea, small fishing villages clinging to the coastline, some nice seafood restaurants along the way, perfect for a spot of lunch and a cold ![beer](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/beer.gif) on a hot afternoon.
I can also recommend the Bosnian city of Mostar, well worth a visit if you like historical places, incredibly friendly people, great food and if your lucky you'll see the locals jumping off the Stari Most bridge.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
10 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 20
|
|
cheers guys! keep it coming!
Started putting suggestions onto a map on my lunch break today so I'll soon have a map littered with pins... and as far as interest goes, decent offroad routes/scenery, historical, cultural. anything is interesting really!
Going on from there, what's the best way to plan a specific route? if i worked out where we plan to sleep each night is the best way to just get a gps and follow unpaved roads in that general direction? or can you set them to only use unpaved roads? (new to gps use as well...)
Did star plotting a specific route using the mapometer for runners/cyclists but sure there must be a more accurate/quicker way to do it!
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
10 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: My place and other places.
Posts: 172
|
|
Head up to the North East of Montenegro. From Gusinje to the Albania border is spectacular country and totally untouristed today. Beautiful mountain scenery and some dirt.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
11 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 20
|
|
liammons, do you mean south east of Montenegro?
duibhcek, how did you plan the offroad bits? or did you just do it by gps as you went along? Great pics in the ride report 8)
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
11 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: My place and other places.
Posts: 172
|
|
No Tom, the sticky out bit above Albania, look on googlemaps, link up to the SH20 in Albania.
Some great roads and wilderness.
Also the area around Biogradska Gora NP.
In Bosnia, Sutjeska has some nice offroading too. Crossing the border and following the Tara river canyon as you go BIH to MNE is a wonderful tarmac drive, there are a couple of turn offs there that bring you into Durmitor and the surrounding area.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
12 Feb 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 297
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom89
duibhcek, how did you plan the offroad bits? or did you just do it by gps as you went along? Great pics in the ride report 8)
|
I tend do do some research online and rely a lot on OSM maps,. They are pretty good for the region. Sometimes check things in Google Earth or Yandex. And occasionally it is just fun to make it up as you go along. You may need to retrace your steps once in a while but you end up seeing some amazing places.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
10 Apr 2015
|
![eljulian's Avatar](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/avatars/Avatar077.jpg) |
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Berlin
Posts: 110
|
|
Hi Tom,
I did a little tour of the Balkans last year and if you like your roads a bit rougher, I full-heartedly recommend Bosnia and Herzegovina (!!!), especially the region south east of Sarajevo and Mostar. In my humble opinion one of the top off road destinations in Europe. Often overlooked.
Go check out Gilga's beautiful thread on ADV:
Off-road Touring, Beautiful Balkans - ADVrider.
Montenegro is very beautiful, full of breathtaking mountain views, has better infrastructure, is easier to travel. Lots of tourists though, so it feels less adventurous and you'll be sharing the sights.
Albania: not so developed, feels rougher, less European. Very touristy along the coast (beaches and all that), but few venture further. Beautiful and worth discovering.
Your itinerary is pretty ambitious for a two weeks' tour. You'll be riding all day, every day, trying to reach your day's goal. I would seriously consider just getting down there and then slowing down and roaming around a bit.
Summers in the Balkans should be mostly hot and dry. But I had bad luck and happened to ride in the wettest two weeks of that summer. Not fun! You might not want to book accommodation too far in advance so you are able to change your route to avoid possible rain.
Cheers,
Julian
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
![Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.](/stuff/ripcord/ripcord-logo-250.jpg)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
![Five books by Graham Field!](/stuff/grahamfield/graham-field-2021-280.jpg)
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
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 all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. 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 and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|