Route through the Balkans
 

Hey

Currently planning a route UK to NZ and undecided which route to take through the Balkans.

Basically looking at any route from Venice-Istanbul although i'm quite keen to do the Croatian coast to Dubrovnik and then Montenegro.

From there, i'm a bit lost.

Options i have come up with so far are:
Albania-Macedonia-Bulgaria-Turkey
Serbia-Romainia-Bulgaira-Turkey

or any combination of the two ...

can anyone help me out with some suggestions?

The Dalmatian coast is spectacular - amazing view, amazing road. Monte Negro is apparently quite pretty too, but I couldn't see it through the rain.... Very good choice to go that way.

Albania was surprisingly good. The most spectacular petrol stations in all the world! Tirane is mental if you happen to arrive in the midst of some kind of political rally. The road from Tirane towards Macedonia was fantastic, too. Up and over a mountain, loads of hairpins. I'd recommend Albania.

I blasted through Macedonia, it wasn't as nice as I expected. Bad weather didn't help though.

The Greece option over to the Turkish border near Alexandroupoli was quite a dull ride after Thessaloniki, but it was nice to have a few beers and some gyros at the beach.

Hi, i would also recommend Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria although i must say Romania is stunningly beautiful, The mountains roads to Kukes in Albania are excellent, Lake ochrid in Macedonia is touristy but good. Most roads have pot holes that you can get lost in. The people in Turkey are incredibly friendly. Andy B

Like they said the Croation coast road ('adriatic highway' if you like) is grand.

But I was really surprised and impressed by the mountains inland. In my case in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia. When I was there 4 years ago I blasted through in a couple of days due to bad rain, but I swore I'd return at some point to investigate the area properly!

Simple way to plot a half-decent route is to look at an AA or Michelin atlas and pick out small twisty looking 'green/scenic' roads running through mountain ranges. You can't go far wrong!

Does anyone know anything about dirt roads in the Balklans? I remember even my AA road atlas showing lots of little roads in the middle of nowhere in Bosnia which I had intended to explore, and it occurs to me there must surely be a network of small tracks linking up isolated villages, like what you can find in Turkey?

I broke a pannier and a wrist on that stretch :innocent:, great road but a bit slippy if it's not rained in a while :laugh:! Too many leaky diesel trucks using it I think...

Cannot recommend Romania enough (three days turned into twelve), and the bit above North Kosovo for scenery isn't far behind. Grab the michelin / aa maps for the region and string the scenic routes together.

Thanks for the replies, still need to do more research i think but tending towards Albania-Macedonia at the moment :)

Montenegro is also very scenic. The bay of Kotor is a must-see, but the deep canyons in the mountains are just as nice. From here you could cut across via Serbis to Bulgaria.

Albania is also well worth a visit. Depending whether you prefer tarmac or dirt roads: The coastal road through AL to Greece is fairly good, the southern part from Vlore to Sarande is beautiful. In Greece you would take the mountain road past the spectacular Meteora monastries travelling eastwards.

But if you enjoy dirt roads you would rather travel through the mountains of AL. The Albanian Alps are great, so is the road from Kukes to Peshkopi and further on to Korce.


@Nath
Albania still has a lot of dirt roads, esp. deep in the mountains. Simply spectacular :D If you're interested I could forward you some PS data on that. Either contact me by email via the HUBB or PM me.

Hans

Sorry mate, I meant GPS data :thumbup1:

Ok, so what are everyone's opinions on Bulgaria vs. Northern Greece?
or maybe something like Albania-Greece-Turkey missing out Macedonia itself altogether?

i am planning a similar trip from Dubai to Europe. the route is for sure via Bulgaria and Romania. dont like to miss the Transfargasan and Transalpina.

For turkey i got the advise to follow the black sea costal roads. googled it out and will take that route.

Hi, greece-Bulgaria; road along greek coast to Turkey is a long boring motorway. Southern Bulgaria is far more interesting and cheaper, although accomodation and camp sites can sometimes be hard to find,
Transalpina is superb but don't leave it too long as they have alreay begun tamacing in from both ends.
Dirt road from Kukes-Peshkopi is great fun
Black Sea Coast road i have only travelled a small part of this and can't really comment but this would mean missing out on Pamukkale, Cappadocia, Road of Stones and road from Bayburt to Caykara (dirt). Andy B

There is a campsite in south-eastern Bulgaria, called Sakar Hills Camping, which opens again on April 1st.
Regards,
Martin Jeffes

When in Hrvatska don't miss Trogir (west of Split). Mmm, Trogir 2008 .... :wub:

Depends..... the western & central north of Greece is beautiful mountaineous country, but the north-eastern part is rather boring. So if you pass through Albania, either go through Macedonia and carry on to Bulgaria travelling eastwards, or carry on to Greece, travel through the Pindos mts. and turn north into Bulgaria, then east towards Turkey. Both routes are very scenic.

On your way back home I`d suggest Romania (Transfagarash) and then westwards.

I would prefer Bulgaria rather Northen Greece
See sugestited road

bulgaria map - Google Maps

Rodopi Mountain in Bulgaria is exhalant place for traveling with nice people and delicious food. Have said that I have traveled in northern Greece too.

If you decide to go this road or similar) once you have passed the border head to Bansko and stay in the near village called Dobrinishte. There is public bath with hot mineral water (elixir for your body and soul after days of riding on two wheels). This is well know place in Bulgaria and not crowded with tourists, lots of places to stay (cheap over the summer)

After Bansko/Dobrinishte i would suggest you to stop at Smolyan for a night (but not after).

Ones passed Smolyan head straight to the Turkish border (since there is nothing much to see)

I might be able to provide detailed info (No GPS track sorry) if you require.

Hi agian, a number of the roads that show border crossings between Bulgaria and greece do not exisist despite being clearly marked in most maps including google. Andy B

I rode down through Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro to the Albania and Kosovo borders, and returned same way to UK. It was a superb trip.
If you go that way download "Adriaroute 2.10" for the GPS. It gives superbly detailed roads in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro, right down to rough tracks. It is compatible with Garmin Mapsource and much more detailed than Mapsource.
I didn't go over into Albania because of insurance. I also had to purchase insurance for Montenegro at the border post south of Dubrovnic which was quick and efficient.
The Montenegro locals strongly advised me not to go into Kosovo. They also said that I would have to be very careful if I went into Albania, not for my personal safety but for not getting my bike stolen since I was alone.
Try and spend some time in Montenegro and get up into the mountains in the north and over towards the Kosovo border. Really nice country and people.
Ted99UK.

Hi Martin,

There appears to be a problem with your Sakar Hills Camping web site.

I simply cannot locate the Contact button on your index. It's like it's spring loaded and will not appear on the screen. Hence I do not have your email address and I cannot therefore contact you with my enquiry for accommodation for a planned trip next year.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan