Photo: Royal Enfield ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Canyons, fjords and three borders.
A loop from Dubrovnik through the Bay of Kotor, the Lovćen serpentine, Durmitor and the Tara canyon, the Albanian Alps and Riviera, Mostar and Sarajevo. The western Balkans remain the most underrated motorcycle country in Europe: Alpine-scale mountains, near-empty roads and a hospitality that is hard to put into words. A route for riders who value cultural contrast as much as corners.
- The 25 hairpins of the Kotor — Lovćen serpentine
- The Durmitor ring and the Đurđevića bridge over the Tara
- Llogara pass at 1,027 m and the Albanian Riviera
- Mostar’s Old Bridge and an evening in Sarajevo
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · 40 km, getting to know the bikes
Dubrovnik, start beneath the walls
We meet in Dubrovnik, sort the bikes, walk the old town walls in the evening and hold the briefing. A short shakedown ride to Cavtat, about 40 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Dubrovnik - DAY 2 · 170 km, the Lovćen serpentine
Bay of Kotor and Lovćen
Into Montenegro, a loop of the Boka with the Kamenari — Lepetane ferry and lunch in Kotor. Then the old P1 serpentine up Lovćen: 25 hairpins above the bay, up to the Njegoš mausoleum at 1,657 m and down to Cetinje. About 170 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Kotor - DAY 3 · 260 km, pass at 1,907 m
Morača and Tara canyons, Durmitor
Through Podgorica up the Morača canyon and past the Morača monastery, north to the Đurđevića bridge above the 1,300 m deep Tara canyon. In the evening the P14 Durmitor ring over the Sedlo pass at 1,907 m. About 260 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Žabljak - DAY 4 · 240 km, a mountain border
The Accursed Mountains and Shkodër
East to Kolašin, then Andrijevica and Plav, from where the road through Gusinje and the Grnčar border leads into Albania. Down through Vermosh and the Cem valley to Shkodër; the road is narrow in places with gravel patches. About 240 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Shkodër - DAY 5 · 300 km, pass and coast
Llogara and the Albanian Riviera
By motorway past Tirana and Durrës to Vlorë, then the SH8 along the coast up to the Llogara pass at 1,027 m and the serpentine descent to the sea. The Riviera road twists along the slope to Himarë. About 300 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Himarë - DAY 6 · 280 km, two UNESCO towns
Gjirokastër and back north
Via Sarandë and past Butrint to stone-built Gjirokastër, a UNESCO site. Then up the Drino valley and through Tepelenë north to Berat, the town of a thousand windows. About 280 km.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Berat - DAY 7 · 340 km, three borders
Through Montenegro to Mostar
A long day: Shkodër, the Hani i Hotit border, the Montenegrin coast to Herceg Novi and into Bosnia at Trebinje. Then up the Neretva valley to Mostar, with the Old Bridge and the bazaar in the evening. About 340 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Mostar - DAY 8 · 140 km, an evening in the city
The Neretva and Sarajevo
The Neretva canyon on the M17 to Jablanica and Konjic, the Ivan Sedlo pass at 967 m and down into Sarajevo. Half a day for the Baščaršija and the Tunnel of Hope. About 140 km.
Overnight: Hotel in Sarajevo - DAY 9 · 230 km, bikes returned
Return to Dubrovnik
Through Trebinje and the Popovo Polje back to the Adriatic, bikes returned in Dubrovnik in the afternoon. About 230 km.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
BMW F 850 GS or Honda CB500X hire with panniers
8 nights in hotels and guesthouses with breakfast
Lead rider and a support vehicle
Green card insurance and border fees for three countries
Entry to Lovćen and Durmitor national parks
Four group dinners
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Fuel
Lunches and remaining dinners
Single supplement
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
A category A licence and at least 8,000 km of riding, ideally with some unpaved experience. Ivan briefs the group in advance on local traffic habits and on keeping distance on gravel and in unlit tunnels.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- Full riding kit: helmet, protection, gloves and boots
- Rain gear and waterproof covers
- Documents and insurance for your chosen riding format
- Compact soft luggage without unnecessary weight
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.