Mountain Biking the Balkans

Price from
US$ 2,600
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Distance
367 km
Tour Code
MCT-BCM
Next departure
12-May-2024
Number of Cycling Days8
Average Distance Per Day: 46
0
150 Km
Average Climbing Per Day: 808
0
2,250 m
Total Cycling Distance367 kilometres
AccommodationIncluded
Bike HireMountain Bike: US$ 240
Single SupplementUS$ 295
Client Rating (based on 2 reviews)

About this Cycle Tour

Mountain bike through rugged valleys and historic settlements along the turquoise sea of the Dalmatian coastline while imagining the glory of past civilizations that have left their marks on these emerging nations.

Read more

Book Your Cycling Holiday

Itinerary

Day 1

We will meet in Trebinje, Bosnia. The afternoon is free to relax or explore this historic town filled with history and architectural splendours. Then we meet again for a welcome dinner.

Day 2

We embark on a cultural ride to the villages of Herzegovina. We pedal to the historic Roman Era Ljubinje town. We stop at the Church of the Nativi-ty of the Virgin, then roll to Plana Dola. Our last stop is Tvrdos, an Orthodox Monastery. After sampling red and white wines, we head back to Trebinje.

Day 3

From the top of Croatia's Srdj Mountain, overlooking Dubrovnik with striking views, we cycle on village paths and paved roads to the historic Mlini Kupari settlement. There we get more local by having lunch with villagers, before transferring to Dubrovnik.

Day 4

We transfer to Cavtat on the Adriatic coast. We ride up and down on single track and back roads through orchards and vineyards of the Konavle Valley. And after a short break, we continue to our beachfront hotel to take a dip and enjoy the sunset.

Day 5

We ride over the rugged hills and verdant vegetation of the Konavle Valley. We enjoy the serene villages of Zvekovica and take a break by the glassy Ljuta River, continuing to picturesque Herceg Novi.

Day 6

Transfer to Mount Orjen. We cycle along an old military trail and make a brisk climb over the Orjen Saddle and then head south to Bunovici. We visit the beautifully preserved baroque town of Perast. We take a boat to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks and continue across the Bay of Kotor to Tivat.

Day 7

Our morning climb heads through the pretty village of Gornja Lastva rising above Tivat Bay. We ride to the summit of Sveti Ilija then along Lovcen Mountain as we pass Vrmac Fortress. We descend through the Trojica Pass, before a last climb and descent of the day into Budva.

Day 8

We roll on a disused railway line and use a 600-m long tunnel along the way. Today's first climb rises gradually for 25 km before we get the thrill of a beautiful descent into the fishing village of Virpazar. From here we cruise across Lake Skardar National Park to Rijeka Crnojevića. Our steep climbing continues along a narrow road to Cetinje, the former royal capital of Montenegro.

Day 9

We venture into Lovćen National Park and tackle an old military road up to the steep summit of Babina Glava. We ride past Dolovi before ascend-ing to the mountain peak of Jezerski Vrh. We descend back into the national park and to the Njegusi, famed for its cheese and prosciutto. Continue cycling on an old Austrian road to Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 10

Extend your stay or catch your onward flight.

Elevation Profiles

Day 2 - Trebinje- Ljubinje - Trebinje Ride 65km. +300m / -150m.
Day 2 - Trebinje- Ljubinje - Trebinje Ride 65km. +300m / -150m.

Reviews

I'd have to say we liked Montenegro best and would go back there to cycle again in the north of the country. We had a great time and are already planning our next SpiceRoads trip. This was my third country :)

Mare HJune 2019

We loved this trip. We loved exploring 3 different Balkan countries, riding along mostly quiet back roads, with stunning scenery, across some challenging terrain. Our guide, Zoran, was absolutely fantastic: he was incredibly knowledgeable about the places we visited, he had great technical biking skills and experience and nothing was a problem for him at all. We've done many small group adventure travel trips and Zoran is really outstanding.

Diana WattsOctober 2018

Other suggestions for you