Balkans travel advice, hints, tips, etc.

[Simon_100]

Well it's a filthy job but by George someone's got to do it - I've just had the go ahead to visit the Horizons Unlimited Travellers'Meeting in Monte Negro Horizons Unlimited Travellers'Meeting in Monte Negro next August! (thumbs)

The Balkans have been beckoning me for several years so I'm keen to get the most of the trip while I'm there. I'm not much limited by time but the budget is a real issue, so, info on costs, campings, 'must do' rides, sights to see, etc. all appreciated.

Ta in advance ...

Regs

Simon

[minkyhead]

had a look where koslin is ..and its pretty near the theth trail i recently posted on and thats a very very nice place to ride not far from the meeting

https://goo.gl/maps/XKmmow5suz52


http://adventurebikerider.com/forum/25- ... trail.html

have a look at louis report too ..he sent me a gpx track which of corse i will share or pm loius for more info

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/a ... il.931695/

ellis gs a abr poster lives in tirana and would be a great contact too

i did reply to your pm by the way ..keep well

[crofty]

Simon costs for food/accommodation are cheap but one thing that does mount up if you are visiting all of the Balkan countries is insurance. Particularly Macedonia at 55 euros/Bosnia 40 euros. The rest are cheaper but it is something to consider. Arriving at some borders on a Sunday can be a problem with no insurance for sale you get turned back. it may not apply to you with Spanish insurance but best to check

[Simon_100]

had a look where koslin is ..and its pretty near the theth trail i recently posted on and thats a very very nice place to ride not far from the meeting

https://goo.gl/maps/XKmmow5suz52


http://adventurebikerider.com/forum/25- ... trail.html

have a look at louis report too ..he sent me a gpx track which of corse i will share or pm loius for more info

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/a ... il.931695/

ellis gs a abr poster lives in tirana and would be a great contact too

i did reply to your pm by the way ..keep well

Thanks Matey. I've seen your topic re the trail and I'll definitely fit that into the trip. I also saw your PM but was waiting fir the same long distance Skype call to talk about it further - more from me to you soon chum! (thumbs)

Regs

Simon

[Simon_100]

Simon costs for food/accommodation are cheap but one thing that does mount up if you are visiting all of the Balkan countries is insurance. Particularly Macedonia at 55 euros/Bosnia 40 euros. The rest are cheaper but it is something to consider. Arriving at some borders on a Sunday can be a problem with no insurance for sale you get turned back. it may not apply to you with Spanish insurance but best to check

Thanks, good point. I have extra European cover with y membership of the RACC - the Catalonian RAC - which also does recovery on trails, including this one - I've seen it!



Does anyone know if there's one source book they'd recommend, e.g. Rough Guide, etc. that details these minutiae as well as culture, history, etc.?

Cheers

Simon

[crofty]

Sorry Simon you may have misunderstood me, I was not talking about breakdown cover I was talking about compulsory insurance cover to drive in these countries. Lonely Planet does a smallish Eastern Europe volume which has potted histories and other info on all the Balkan countries.

[PaulinBont]

Tips?

Must visit Pivlice Lakes National Park, must take the road around the Bay of Kotor and over the mountain pass (Montenegro), must visit Lake Ohrid , must visit Albania and Macedonia

I'd highly recommend Lake Bohinj in Slovenia ( OK I know that Slovenia isn't really one of the Balkan countries )

[Bigdavesmate]

http://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum ... lkans.html

Have a look at my RR, might be of some help?

[herman]

The D8 coastal road in Croatia is a good way to get south with loads of campsites and accommodation. We cut inland at Obrovak over a mountain track towards Plitvice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plitvice_ ... ional_Park which puts you out of the tourist bits and is a stunning route. I am working on a free pass for this years trip and will try and include Dooby's place in Zagreb http://www.lobagola.com/ this time. Hoping for May /June when the snow is well and truly out of the way. B)

[Jersey87]

Simon costs for food/accommodation are cheap but one thing that does mount up if you are visiting all of the Balkan countries is insurance. Particularly Macedonia at 55 euros/Bosnia 40 euros. The rest are cheaper but it is something to consider. Arriving at some borders on a Sunday can be a problem with no insurance for sale you get turned back. it may not apply to you with Spanish insurance but best to check

Can't remember the cost of the Bosnian insurance when I went through in 2015 (Montenegro was about 15 euros), but this summer I arrived on a Sunday at a different border crossing from Croatia and the guards had no interest in my enquiries as to where I could buy any but let me through anyway. Seemed like they couldn't be less interested.
I decided to err on the side of caution (and probably the law) and rode the 1.5 hours to the crossing I used the year before only to find the insurance office closed. Spoke to the guards there and explained the situation and was basically told not to worry and if they ask me where my insurance was when I leave just play ignorant. Ended up doing just that and crossed back into Croatia the next morning without any questions asked.

Much the same situation later that day when I crossed into Serbia - couldn't be less interested at the border (both entry and exit into Bulgaria).

I wouldn't recommend this course of action mind - always assumed I was just tempting fate.