Balkan Bike Tour

In May 2005, emerging from a tumultuous history, Montenegro became Europe’s youngest independent state. Since then, tourism has begun to develop quickly, yet most of the country remains well off the beaten path of even the most well traveled explorer. Less affluent then its Adriatic neighbour Croatia, Montenegro has a rich history of culture and heritage heavily influenced by Christian, Muslim, Illyrian, Byzantine, Turkish, and Slav civilizations. This hilly cycling adventure provides a thorough experience of this humble but proud nation.

Starting in Dubrovnik, you will transfer a short distance to UNESCO protected Kotor, with its picturesque bay, considered one of the ten most beautiful in the world. You will experience stunning mountain massifs that resemble those of Tibet and Patagonia, Europe’s deepest canyons and gorges, pristine rivers, refreshing lakes, unspoilt forests, and quiet remote villages that seem stuck in time. You will enjoy deliciously fresh cuisine inspired by the diverse culture of the Balkan Peninsula in villages like Rijeka Crnojevica, before continuing deeper into the raw and exotic beauty of the wilderness. You will cycle through the spectacular Tara River Canyon on a breathtaking road to the Durmitor plateau. Here you will discover fantastic waterfalls and cascades, and learn about where some of Tito’s 800,000 Yugoslav Partisans took shelter during WWII.

There are climbs and descents throughout this adventure, the most thrilling of which include the deserted roads surrounding Durmitor National Park and the Piva River Canyon. If you wish, a day of hiking can be arranged among the pine forests surrounding the famous glacial Black Lake at the foot of Mt. Meded. On your final day, you will visit the monastery at Ostrog, perched upon a mountain, providing an unforgettable view of the Bjelopavlići Plain. Your adventure concludes with a transfer back to Dubrovnik from where you can ponder the past eight days of cycling bliss and travel joy through a country that few others have experienced.