Motorcycle Road Trip: The Great Balkan Crossing

Welcome to Bucharest and Romania! Our local expert Maria’s team will meet you at the Bucharest airport. After picking up your BMW motorcycle, you visit the Palace of Parliament, one of the most massive buildings in Europe and the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. You can also explore the old centre of Bucharest, stroll through its streets, taste the wines and experience the unique spirit of city. You spend a comfortable night in Cismigiu Hotel, one of the most charming hotels in Bucharest, located in the centre of Lipscani, the historical district of the city.

Today is the first day of your incredible journey across the Balkans. You start by riding your BMW motorcycles through the Carpathian Mountains. Take this opportunity to admire the splendid views of Cheia Pass – one of the most famous passes in Romania but little known to the foreigners. On the way, you can visit the Slanic Prahova salt mine situated between the Prahova valley and Teleajen valley. This is the biggest salt mine in Europe and is 208 metres deep. You have lunch at a small restaurant in the heart of the mountains, for a taste of the traditional cuisine of Romania. You continue towards Brasov, an old medieval town. Here, you will find the smallest street of Europe, admire the architecture of the city dating back to the time of Baroque and Renaissance.

Back on your bikes, you leave in the morning for a first-hand experience of the history, myth, intrigue and magic surrounding the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s castle.

You then continue on your great Romanian adventure and reach the famous Transfagarasan Road, one of the most beautiful roads in the world! You cross the Carpathian pass with great views over the valley below. Riding through clouds on this high pass, you stop by a beautiful lake for a relaxing swim before heading back. You finally arrive in Sibiu, one of the most important cultural cities of Romania. Named as the European Capital of Culture in 2007, you visit this historical city and enjoy its relaxing atmosphere.

Today, you ride on a beautiful road through the Carpathians, the Transalpina, that meanders across some of the highest peaks of Romania. At 2,100 metres altitude, you will literally be riding above the clouds and you will have stunning panoramic views of the region. You ride your motorcycle till Drobeta Turnu Severin at 1,600 metres altitude.

Leave the old town of Ranca behind, you ride towards the Danube through some beautiful landscapes of Almajului. After crossing the Serbian border, you continue your ride through the mountains and arrive in the Derdap Park, sprawling over an area of 640 square kilometres along the Danube. You visit the Djerdap Gorge and the famous Iron Gates which act as a gateway between the southern slopes of the Carpathians and the largest river in former Yugoslavia.

Today you ride along the Uvac River with some of the most visually stunning views of Serbia. You can also visit some of the small villages, such as Sopotnica that is known for its tiny waterfalls at 1,000 metres altitude above the village. Your day ends in Sarajevo. The city is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps. Sarajevo is known for its cultural and religious diversity and was named “the best city to visit” for the year 2005 in the Foxnomad competition. In Sarajevo, you can stroll through narrow cobbled streets and visit the many mosques and Oriental style shops in the city. We recommend that you try some of the local specialties such as the jagnjetina, a grilled lamb-based dish, or the Begova Cobra, a chicken dish.

You leave the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina to visit Mostar, the cultural capital of the country and its famous Old Bridge, one of the landmark monuments of Bosnia. You then ride towards Croatia, the land of a thousand islands. Here you will have the opportunity to explore its caves, waterfalls and the Dinaric Alps. You finally arrive in Dubrovnik, a stunning city on the Adriatic sea coast, with a beautiful harbour and centre.

Today, you give your body and your bike some rest and enjoy Dubrovnik. The Irish writer George Bernard Shaw described this city as paradise on earth and called it “the pearl of the Adriatic”. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and is named amongst the best medieval walled cities in the world.

Back on your bike, you continue your journey through Eastern Europe. You reach the stunning Durmitor Park in northwestern Montenegro. The Park was formed from ancient glaciers. The highest peak in this Park reaches an altitude of 2,522 metres. Besides several rivers, large clear lakes and pine trees, the park is also home to an impressive variety of endemic flora and fauna. After the Park, you ride to Zabljak, the highest town in the Balkans.

Today, you ride to the beautiful Tara River Canyon. The canyon, 78 km long and 1,300 metres deep at its peak, almost rivals the Grand Canyon of Arizona, United States. The Tara Canyon, being part of the Durmitor National Park, is a protected area and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You then ride to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.

Your day begins with a visit to the beautiful city of Ohrid, located on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is home to 365 ancient churches and is often referred to as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. You stay overnight in your hotel in the centre of this alluring city.

From Ohrid, you ride towards Edessa and then Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Here you can visit the famous White Tower, a historic monument located on the waterfront.

After enjoying the sun, sea and the beach in Thessaloniki, you are back on the road to cross yet another border – the Bulgarian border. You arrive in Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria, with 96 of its buildings being classified as cultural monuments. You get back on the road and ride till the beautiful mountain resort of Bansko, where you stay overnight.

You spend the day in Bulgaria and arrive in Koprivshtitsa, a large Bulgarian town, known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and folk music festivals. Back on your bike, you ride through the mountains with superb views of the Shipka Pass. You continue your journey till Veliko Târnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.

On the last day of your journey through the Balkans, you return to Bucharest. Once here, you leave your bikes and go horseback riding in the surrounding mountains. You stop in Horezu, a town famous for its traditional crafts and woodcarving. You then return to Bucharest for your last night in the Balkans. Dinner with Maria’s team to speak about your journey and your experience.

Our local expert Maria’s team will transfer you to the Bucharest Airport for your return flight.