Balkan Express

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A land of legends – the Balkans is nothing short of epic. With a history spanning tornadoes of time, whispers of dervish dancers in the hills, and fables of gods, wars and giants – this is truly a place where the ancient east crashes into the modern west. Here you will find Byzantine kingdoms crumbling into the Adriatic Sea, golden minarets and wooden crosses sitting side by side, and UNESCO wonders peeking out from under the shadow of former communist towers.

Visit up and coming Albania with its rare Alpine communities, virginal coastline and a captivating capital rising like a bright phoenix from the ashes of Hoxha’s regime. Uncover the riches of Macedonia with its chanting call to prayer, marble statues, and dream like lakes disappearing in the mist. Pass through Kosovo where a new dawn rises from behind great mountains and former war-torn towns piece themselves back together. Finally, dive into Montenegro where seaside scenery abounds beneath the weight of Mediterranean blooms.

This all-encompassing adventure plunges you deep into Europe’s greatest storybooks; this has been the stronghold of Greek mythology, fierce Ottoman rule, Roman summer playgrounds, and mad dictators. Yet, despite the attempt to razor old traditions to the ground and push the Balkans into a concrete box – there remains a rare and splendid heritage with roots that runs as deep as time.

8 UNESCO World Heritage cities visited
6 riding days with 100% vehicle support
4 Contries Visited : Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro
Total distance : 1560 km | 100% tarmac

Arrival

Day 1

Kaleidoscope colors welcome you to trendy Tirana, the bright and buzzing capital. As soon as you touch down it’s a swift drive from the tarmac to your city center hotel. The rumors of mountains and wild plateaus are already visible but today it’s time to explore Europe’s up and coming contender.

Tirana has been battered and bruised by communism, collapsed pyramid schemes and civil unrest. But when the spring of the 21st century came around she bloomed beautifully. Edi Ramer, the prime minister of Albania wasn’t a man to be boxed in by politics. The former art professor enticed the country to take up paintbrushes instead of arms. Wandering the easy breezy streets of Tirana, you will see the drab communist buildings have shaken off their winter coats and are painted in vibrant hues.

Delve down into the underground nuclear shelter of Bunk Art where the Orwellian horrors of Hoxha’s regime have been collected and displayed in a maze-like museum. Proof that Albanians have shaken off the terror of their past to perfect the art of living beautifully can be found in the palpable energy radiating from the achingly cool district of Blloku. The former neighborhood of the ‘party’ elite has thrown open its doors and is now lined with a sultry café culture, late night drinks, and pavement terraces punctuated with well-dressed guests.

Total Distance | 1400km

Tiranë-Përmet

Day 2

Excitement mounts this morning as soon as you kick your foot down and take to the wild open roads, so few have had the pleasure to explore. Leaving the city behind, the Albanian countryside cracks open like a pearl â€“ offering swaying grasslands, curious locals, and remote villages along the way.

Distance | 250km

Përmet-Ohrid

Day 3

Rumbling towards the shores of Ohrid, take the scenic route that passes through the majesty of the Prespa Lakes - set against a backdrop of mirrored mountains. High in the hills, and torn between Macedonia, Greece and Albania; these cool calm waters flood with over two hundred species of water birds who come for their summer fling. Stop for a moment to watch the red beaked pelicans, swooping black ravens, and leggy herons fish for their breakfast. As Prespa sits at an altitude of 855m, her glacial waters seep through underground channels and streams, on a journey to fill Lake Ohrid.

Soar onwards and enter the Galicica National Park. Straddling Macedonia and Albania, the limestone walls rear up around you, deep valleys fall into the abyss and the lakes shrink to puddles as you climb to a dizzying 2000 meters. Purr down the mountain, where the wind turns warm as you head for the gentle shores of Lake Ohrid. Ohrid is a tight packed vision of old cobbled streets, sweet restaurants, and sacred churches. Ringed by mountains you can sit peacefully on the beach, visit the nearby Bay of Bones Museum with its collection of lakebed treasures, and dine on famous speckled trout for supper.

Distance | 250km

Ohrid-Prizren

Day 4

After breakfast on the lake continue your tour along the banks. Pass by the Monastery of St Naum sitting serenely on a rocky bluff. Follow the curve of the Black Drin as it leads you deeper into Macedonia. Stop for lunch in Skopje, Macedonia’s mad capital where gleaming marble architecture sits alongside ancient neighborhoods that date all the way back to 1392. Skopje truly is a tale of two cities – cleaved in half by the river, one side of the city sees splendid fountains, lavish spas, jazz bars, and statues of Alexander the Great. The same Alexander, whom Greece and Macedonia are in a tug of war over – both claiming the fallen king as their own.

Over in the old town and its all tight knit labyrinth paths echoing with the melodic call to prayer, studded with gold souks, and brimming with old men sipping sweet dark coffee in cafes that spill out onto the streets. There is a tongue in cheek wonder about Skopje, even after a somber history laced with tales of the Ottomans and Byzantines – the city itself is oddly adorned in neoclassical style. The mayor is known for declaring the city – Europe’s capital of Kitsch, and there is bizarre bohemian air that wafts through the art galleries, museums and festival like eateries. Back on the road and Kosovo welcomes you. Hailed as Europe’s newest country, Kosovo has been independent for only a few short years and the mind still reels with images of rubble strewn streets and bloody conflict. But for Kosovo’s second coming, she holds her head high. Rugged scenery takes your breath away and school yards resound with the laugher of village children. Finish the day at Prizren; a lively town brimming with youth and vitality.

Distance | 300km

Prizren-Kolasin

Day 5

Wake early to pad through the tiny packed center of Prizren where mosques and churches sit beneath the looming castle walls. Prizren has embraced life in the 21st century, but its complex and divisive past sees only a handful of Serbs left in the city that was once layered with nationalities. Be sure to see the UNESCO splendor of the Our Lady of Ljevis. The 14th century Serbian church is awash in frescoes, badly damaged by the war but a fascinating example of the onion like layers of Kosovo’s history.

Pass over the old stone bridge as you leave Prizren and hurtle through the agriculturally rich lands en route to Pristina. Kosovo’s capital isn’t the prettiest painting on the wall but its reborn again energy is almost infectious. Burn through one of Kosovo’s most authentic cities – Gjakova – with its sultry summertime feel and the oldest bazar in the whole of the country. Pec also awaits, with its ancient monastery marking the entrance to the Rugova Canyon.

The closer you get to the unrefined Rugova Canyon, the more Kosovo cuts deep to the heart of beauty. Rare roads deliver you straight to snowy peaks on paths punctuated with lonesome shepherds, feral wildflowers, and murmuring spring waters. The road is not for the faint hearted; hairpin turns, hand-pulled tunnels, and plunges that creep up out of nowhere keep the pulse of adventure beating fast. Finally, Kosovo delivers you gently to the borderlands of Montenegro and the spellbinding ski resort of Kolasin. The small ski resort is dwarfed by the might of the mountains and the air is as clean and fresh as a tall glass of water – perfect for a peaceful sleep.

Distance | 320km

Kolasin-Kotor

Day 6

Enter one of the deepest canyons in the world as your motorbike soars into the shadowlands of the Tara Canyon in the Durmitor National Park. America’s Grand Canyon only cuts 200m deeper than Tara – also known as the Tear of Europe. You can be sure fewer travelers will have witnessed the drama of this off the beaten track site. Here, the whitewater rafting is wild, and the old watermills, churches, and bridges are slowly being swallowed up by nature.

As you weave down the sparkling tarmac roads of the mountain, the land suddenly cracks open to reveal the wild sapphire waters of the Adriatic Sea. Kotor welcomes you with its winding streets of ancient history, its bleached stone buildings gleaming in the sun, and its soft terracotta rooftops. Flanked by moody mountains and old world Turkish and Greek settlements, Kotor hits you with cupid’s bow making her an easy charm to fall for.

Indeed, the Illyrians, Venetians, Austrians and French all fell for her. But it’s the Venetians who truly left their mark – sculpting Kotor’s style and carving out the St Johns Fortress that snakes like the Great Wall of China up the emerald cliff. 17th century palaces, museums, and ancient churches are all there for the taking as you spend the evening soaking up the joys of Kotor. Feast on fresh fish beside the water’s edge, watching sunset boat rides glide across the blue. Those who are feeling shaken by the way the moonlight bounces off the inky fjord waters can soak up the best bars and castle top clubs in town.

Distance | 300km

Kotor-Tiranë

Day 7

After a leisurely breakfast, its time to test your prowess on the cobbled streets and coastal roads that curve around the mesmerizing Montenegrin coastline. One of Europe’s most underrated coastlines, Montenegro catches you completely off guard - a place where you never lose sight of those verdant mountains trimming the waters of lapis lazuli. Let your jaw drop as you pull over to look out onto the polka dot sized island of Sveti Stefan – one of the most photographed fairytale spots in the whole of Montenegro.

Swing by buzzing Budva where the nouveau riche flock to spend their summers strutting along the riviera. Before you know it, you have burst into the Skader Lake National Park - a place rumored to have been created by the tears of a pixie. Water lilies litter the surface of impossibly clear waters, rare birds swoop and dive, and steep green cloaked mountains ripple along the way – marking the path that will lead you back to Albania and to the northern stronghold of Shkoder.

Shkoder is one of Europe’s oldest cities, found in the 4th century BC it still carries an ancient trade route air about it. Conquered by the Romans, taken by the Serbs, and grabbed by the Turks – Shkoder has been through tatter and tears before becoming part of Albania in 1912. There’s a hint of old world glamor echoing from the old converted mansions, the warble of the call to prayer from the grand mosques, and the buzzing memory of old trade ships passing along the banks of the Drin and Bruna en-route to nearby Montenegro. Leave the shadow of Shkoder behind as you take the final flatland leg down to Tirana, arriving just in time for evening drinks.

Distance | 240km

Departure

Day 8

Those who have a little extra time before their flight can soak up more of Tirana’s charm –delve further into the drama of the past with a visit to the enigmatic House of Leaves to witness the tactics of Hoxha’s secret police. Otherwise keep things easy and breezy by sitting out in one of the al-fresco restaurants breaking into your final byrek and sipping fiery raki before your flight.

The end of the road is finally here. These ancient places have always been highly coveted by the powers that be. Everyone wanting to conquer and pocket the beauty and rarity of these impossibly naturally rich lands. Days of blurred borders, epic encounters, and countries that reach a cultural crescendo – no doubt the Balkans will have driven a wonderful wedge in your mind.

Solo Rider

2290

Pillion / Own Bike

690

R 1200GS Upgrade

240

Single Supplement

190

What's included

7 Nights Accommodation
Motorcycle F700GS / F800GS
Multilingual tour guide
Hard case panniers
Motorcycle Insurance

All Lunches and dinners
All breakfasts
All attraction site fees
Airport shuttle service
Tolls and ferry ticket

What's not included

Single supplement
Motorcycle upgrade
Airplane tickets
Riding gear or helmet
Travel insurance

Drinks with meals
Top Case
Gratitude for guides
Visa expenses
Extra airport transfer

2021 - Tour Dates	Tour Status
June 4 - June 12	Available
July 10 - July 17	Available
August 7 - August 14	Available

In the event that your flight has lost you luggage please give the following information to the lost and found office that unless there will be another flight the same with your luggage on it, you will be traveling the next day and the destination for your luggage to be delivered should be determined by calling Motorcycle Albania at +355673080000. Motorcycle Albania and Lost & Found will make further arrangements to bring the luggage to you as soon as possible.

It is important to layer your clothing for different climates, as our tour may go through cool high mountain passes on one day and warm valley lowlands on the next. Rain in the mountains can occur unexpectedly, so you should bring a rain suit. Helmet is a must unless you have made further arrangements with us. In the event of lost luggage we will provide you with a helmet and riding gear until the arrival of yours.

You will need money only for meals and drinks. A typical dinner cost between 5-10 € and a litter of house red wine from 3-7€. Coffee is 50cent and beer 1€. Although ATM machines are common in most cities and towns there will be days where finding on could be challenging. But more challenging is trying paying with a credit card. Cash in the most easy form of payment and luckily, because of the prices in Albania, you don’t need much of it.

Because of the remoteness this tour will take us, is quite neccessary that you let Motorcycle Albania know in advance of possible medical conditions of food allergies that you might have. All our guides are competent first aid responders and will do everything to sort out the situation in the most professional manner.

We have updated our motorcycles by providing 2017 model for all our tours. On top of that, all our models now have motorcycles with lowered chassis for shorter riders. After you make you booking make sure to talk to us about the most appropriate size for you.

Depending on your riding skills, this tour is relatively easy for an off road tour. The off road bits are mostly unsealed but with a good base.

Because of limited accesabilito to most mountainous vilages this is the only way in or out for a lot of people and because of tourism and water level of the lake loading/unloading of the bikes on the ferries can be challenging. Therefore your guide might have to do that job for you.

All the roads exept for big citys are free of trafic and very well maintained. The drivers are quiet patience and forgiving.

Organic food is still the standart in the Albanain cousine. All the farmers grow their own heirloom varieties and because of the cost of chemicals used in developed countries they have followed more natural methods of agriculture. Combine the good flavor with the rich variety of traditional dishes and low prices and you landed on food paradise.

Because of the cheep prices of meals we decided that everyone should have the abundant option of choosing their own dish. Nonetheless your guide will suggest the best places and dishes and make reservations beforehand. If it is favorable to you, you can let the guide choose and order the best at each destination.

Every group is different but the most common style of riding is where the guide leads and you all make the same stops and rests to which we came to know from our long experience. All the helmets will be equipped with an intercom, where you can listen the guide telling stories and histories of the traveled area or interact in private conversations with other riders from the group. There is usually two coffee stops, one before and one after lunch stop as well as common regroups in attractions sites and beautiful view points.

Nonetheless with our GPS and and easy to follow route, you are free to ride at you own pace and enjoy the ride from your own prospective.