We ride through many fine countries on our motorcycle tours but few offer the surprising diversity and beauty of the Balkan states. This really is motorcycling at its best, with vast mountain ranges, beautiful coastlines and everything in between all under the unmistakable sparkle of the Mediterranean sunshine.
Daily reports were written by our fantastic guide Tim Stevenson
DAY ONE
From sunrise over Ashford, Kent this morning, we just knew it was going to be a good day. We made great progress across Northern France, and had a serene experience passing through the Verdun memorials in the quiet evening sunlight, before crossing the Moselle for our first night together in Lorraine. A very promising start, with so much to look forward to!
DAY TWO
We had a lovely day in France – thanks for having us! But we had to move on… lured by dirndls and steins 🍻.
DAY THREE
We had a lovely day in Germany – thanks for having us! But we had to move on… lured by the Central Alps.
DAY FOUR
It was a very relaxed time in the fabulous, out-of-season ski resort of Saalbach. Given the inclement weather, we didn’t feel guilty about just chilling and relaxing in our lovely hotel and spa, exploring the town, and taking a ski lift up into the clouds. After checking the webcams, we decided to leave the Grossglockner for tomorrow! It was a good opportunity to catch up on some housekeeping, cleaning, maintenance, and even a first service!
DAY FIVE
We had a lovely day in Austria and Italy! Thanks for having us! But we had to move on… lured by the Julian Alps and the Adriatic. We started the day with the Grossglockner – is there a better way to begin? Then, due to road closures, we discovered some wonderful new Austrian and Italian passes – this is how routes are perfected!
DAY SIX
We had a lovely day in Slovenia! Thanks for having us! But we had to move on… lured by 101 Dalmatians. The morning included visits to the remarkable medieval Predjama Castle, perched in the middle of a cliff, and of course the breathtaking Postojna Caves, the longest cave system in Europe, before crossing into Croatia!
DAY SEVEN
We had a lovely day off the bikes at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. I’d heard a lot about this incredible natural phenomenon – a system of 16 tiered lakes that cascade into one another, formed through tufa formation that truly stuns the imagination. Much like the Postojna Caves yesterday, it reminded me of an over-the-top film set for some wild fantasy adventure movie. But this is the natural world at its finest, far exceeding the creative capabilities of mere mortal set designers! But we have to move on…
DAY EIGHT
We had a lovely day in Bosnia and Herzegovina! We crossed the border from Croatia into Bosnia this morning, and what a beautiful country it is! With its recent history never far from our minds, we still managed to enjoy the glorious scenery, first-class roads through stunning hills and valleys, and yet more lakes! Sarajevo tonight, and what a vibrant, energetic city it is – rejuvenated and full of joy. To be fully explored tomorrow!
DAY NINE
Welcome to Sarajevo – and thanks for having us! We’re spending a couple of nights at the splendid Hotel Europe, where Archduke Ferdinand missed his lunch appointment 110 years ago, with somewhat calamitous consequences. A big shout out to Neno, our man in Sarajevo, for a fascinating and informative guided tour of the city, reminding us all that there’s so much more to this complex region than the recent history we’re all so familiar with. But we have to move on…
DAY TEN
We had a lovely day traveling south through Bosnia on some amazing roads with stunning scenery, from Sarajevo down to their tiny strip of coast at Neum, via Mostar (and its iconic rebuilt bridge). Then, we crossed back into Croatia and made our way down the eye-achingly beautiful Dubrovnik Riviera to… Dubrovnik, which looks simply gorgeous. We have tomorrow to explore.
DAY ELEVEN
We had a lovely day exploring Dubrovnik. The old town is in a league of its own – simply stunning. We sailed around islands, walked the fortifications, ascended by cable car, and even had a ride out to Montenegro, as if we hadn’t ticked off enough on this epic adventure. But we have to move on…
DAY TWELVE
We had a lovely day riding the full length of the Dalmatian Coast. What a treat! This is one for the bucket list, even if you’ve done it before! Taking advantage of the spanking new Pelješac Bridge, which links the Pelješac Peninsula with mainland Croatia, we bypassed Bosnia’s short coastal strip at Neum for a swift ride up the coast. We all noticed the black-and-white dualism of this splendid ride – Cruella de Vil, eat your heart out. This has to be the best Mediterranean Riviera route, though I have more research to do 😋. But we have to move on…
DAY THIRTEEN
We had a lovely morning exploring the amazing moonscapes of Pag Island off the Croatian coast, followed by a final play on the glorious Adriatic coastal road before heading north. We revisited beautiful Slovenia, crossed through the Karawanks Alpine region into Austria, and arrived at our hotel in Villach. But we have to move on…
DAY FOURTEEN
We had a lovely day back in the Alps. From the Dalmatian Coast straight into the Alps, it’s a biker’s dream – from the sublime to… the sublime 🤩. We crossed the borders of Austria, Italy, and Germany multiple times, straddling the peaks on the best alpine roads, before finally taking the Brenner Pass to our old favourite hotel in the beautiful border town of Füssen. But we have to move on…
DAY FIFTEEN
We had a lovely ride across southern Germany, from Füssen in the east to the Rhine, then up and over the Vosges via the beautiful Col de la Schlucht (from Munster to Gérardmer), and on to our fabulous luxury spa hotel, formerly the Bank of France, in Remiremont. We’re looking forward to a leisurely morning of pampering in the spa after today’s hard-core ride! But then we have to move on.
DAY SIXTEEN
We had a lovely ride north today, from the Vosges, through Lorraine and the Ardennes, to our overnight stop in Belgium. Country number ten – eleven if I include Wales 😋. We took time, of course, to reflect at the Verdun memorials. This brings us to our homeward dive under the Channel tomorrow, completing the circle of our amazing adventure. What an inspirational journey it has been, shared with such a wonderful group of intrepid riders, fellow explorers all, who we look forward to riding with again soon.
Thank you too, for joining us on our journey – it’s been lovely having you along 🥰. Until next time…
