Cycle the Balkans

Trip Type: Cycling
Croatia | 8 Days | 1 - 15 People
Starts From:

NZD 3,540.00 /Person

Get your legs moving on a Balkan cycling adventure from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo. Taking in stunning scenery on the coast and inland, this trip will t...

Cycle the Balkans

Get your legs moving on a Balkan cycling adventure from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo. Taking in stunning scenery on the coast and inland, this trip will take you from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Tackle challenging climbs, scenic flats and a new rail trail following the now defunct Austro-Hungarian railway line, finishing in the intriguing, yet sobering city of Sarajevo. Explore Kostar – the 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage-listed city – and Mostar to see the bridge divers hurl themselves off the Old Bridge into the Neretva River. Enjoy sunny days on the bike passing abandoned hamlets, local shepherds, scenic flats and rolling country and spend free evenings soaking up the local culture.

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia. Your adventure begins in Dubrovnik – a medieval city surrounded by the sparkling Adriatic. There’s plenty to see and do inside these walls, so it’s highly recommended you arrive early so you can explore everything Dubrovnik has to offer. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, maybe take a walking tour of filming locations or find a good hole-in-the-wall restaurant and tuck into some fresh seafood. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm. After, why not head out for dinner with your new fellow travellers – your leader will always have great recommendations!

This morning, you'll take your private vehicle to Montenegro, then continue over the border to Herceg Novi where you’ll have your bike fitted. When you’re reading to go, your first ride of the trip will follow the Bay of Kotor, cycling alongside rolling hills to the small, whitewashed port town of Kamenari. Take a short ferry ride across the azure waters between the headlands to Lepetane, then continue riding along the quiet road to Kotor itself. Sitting on the shores of the Adriatic, Kotor is a 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage-listed city boasting a spectacular location between the bay and the mountains. Its medieval Old Town features winding cobblestone lanes, historic buildings and a buzzing nightlife. When you arrive, your evening is free to explore.

Depart Kotor this morning, driving north to the scenic Slano Lake. Today’s ride will start near the dam wall and take you along the old road (mixed asphalt and gravel surface) via the tiny hamlet of Kunak. Montenegro is naturally hilly, and this section of road has a steep climb. Park the bikes on the main road and take a short taxi ride to Ostrog Monastery – a white-washed building built into a cliff and the most important site in Montenegro for Orthodox Christians. After, jump back on the bikes and continue along the quiet roads to the tiny village of Stubica, before dropping back down to the Zeta River all the way to Niksic. Visit the Ramparts of Onogost along the way for a view over the town – founded in the 4th century, Niksic is the country's second-largest city. When you arrive, maybe ask your leader for a great local dinner recommendation.

Today, you'll cycle from Niksic to Pluzine – a small town on the shore of Lake Piva. It's a hilly ride, starting with a long but gradual climb to undulating terrain. Ride through rolling, tree-lined hills with the support vehicle nearby in case you'd prefer to avoid the ascent. Visit the 16th-century Piva Monastery and its museum that contains a psalm from the Crnojevici printing press – the first printing press in the Balkans, circa 15th century. Have a picnic by Lake Piva for lunch, then take the short drive back to Niksic for another free evening.

Today will be a longer ride than yesterday, heading through Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time. Depart Niksic and drive to the small Bosnian village of Zavala, where you’ll start your ride on an old, country road through half-abandoned hamlets. Join the Ciro Trail – a new traffic-free trail that follows an old Austro-Hungarian railway track running from Dubrovnik to Mostar. Stretching more than 140 km, this well-maintained track traverses some wild landscapes and long-abandoned villages. You’ll ride on the trail to the city of Capljina, passing old train stations that have been refurbished into guesthouses and the picturesque lake of Nature Park Hutovo Blato. There will be plenty of stops at viewpoints along the way and ample places to recharge your batteries, including the famous Vjetrenica Cave. You'll then drive to Mostar – known for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), where locals dive into the River Neretva. This is a tradition for local boys, who are said to have a lifetime of bad luck if they don’t complete the jump to become a man. It's a beautiful spot to kick back by the river, have a Bosnian coffee and watch the divers.

Today you’ll ride along another section of the Ciro Trail, as you depart Mostar and head south. The trail follows the valley of the Neretva River downstream, surrounded on both sides by towering hills. You'll pass though farmland, small villages and past ancient remains like Mogorjelo. After a quick coffee while the bikes are loaded onto the trailer, you’ll drive back to Mostar for the night, where you can continue exploring the alleys, bars and restaurants.

This morning you’ll drive north towards Sarajevo – the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and host of the 1984 Winter Olympics. You'll begin cycling from Jahorina – the site for several Olympic events including the female slalom. More importantly, Jahorina and Trebevic were the only lifelines into Sarajevo during its thousand-day blockade during the Bosnian War in the early 1990s. If the weather is clear, you’ll be treated to amazing views along your ride. After, load the bikes and drive into Sarajevo’s centre, where you’ll head out on an orientation walk with your leader. Tonight, maybe head out for an optional farewell dinner with your group an cheers to a trip well-travelled.

With no further activities planned, your cycling adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to extend your stay in Sarajevo, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Meals
6 Breakfast(s), ,

Transport
Bicycle , Support vehicle (e-bike option available , subject to availability)

Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)

Included Activities
  • Bay of Kotor Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Niksic region Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Ramparts of Onogost Fortress
  • Pluzine region Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Mostar region/Ciro Trail Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Ciro Trail Guided Cycling
  • Sarajevo Region Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Witness Mostar's famous bridge divers hurl themselves from the stones of Stari Most (Old Bridge), which has spanned the Neretva River for centuries.
  • Cycle along two sections of the Ciro Trail – this new rail trail follows the now defunct Austro-Hungarian railway line.
  • Ride the shoreline of the stunning Bay of Kotor – the winding bay of the Adriatic Sea.
  • Visit the incredible Ostrog Monastery –the Serbian Orthodox Church carved directly into the cliffs, high up in the large rock of Ostroska Greda.
  • Bike through tiny, historical villages and centuries-old cities, soaking up the days of old as you go.
  • To complete this trip, it’s important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle. You’ll have a leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker. While the cycling distances on this trip are relatively short (the longest ride is only 60 km) the terrain of the Balkans is naturally hilly and the climate often warm. You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip, but the support vehicle is always on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day. As your riding is done mostly on sealed roads with the occasional gravel cycle path there are no technical cycling skills required. Given the hills, we do suggest practicing riding downhill, so you’re comfortable once the trips begins. As there are cobblestones and many stairs in most European towns, and space in our support van is limited, it's strongly recommended that you leave any wheelie bags/cases at home and bring a backpack instead. This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out our Cycle Croatia & the Balkans trip.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

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Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
ZMXY
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Trip Finishes:
Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina
Countries Visited:
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Croatia
Montenegro
map

Booking Enquiry

Destination Details
Croatia | 8 Days | 1 - 15 People

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