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Peregrine Travel Centre

Cycle the Balkans

Cycle the Balkans

From $ 3,225 AUD

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Description

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.

Trip Name
Cycle the Balkans
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
8
Capacity
15
Highlights
  • 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.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. MUSEUM VISITS & OPENING TIMES Many sites, attractions and museums are closed on Mondays (and sometimes Tuesdays). We recommend checking the opening times of anywhere you're interested to visit and making reservations where required/possible.

Day 1 - Dubrovnik
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!
Day 2 - Kotor
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.
Day 3 - Niksic
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.
Day 4 - Lake Piva & Niksic
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.
Day 5 - Mostar
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.
Day 6 - Mostar
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.
Day 7 - Sarajevo
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.
Day 8 - Sarajevo
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.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
24-05-202531-05-2025AUD $ 3,420-
14-06-202521-06-2025AUD $ 3,290-
28-06-202505-07-2025AUD $ 3,225-
12-07-202519-07-2025AUD $ 3,485-
26-07-202502-08-2025AUD $ 3,355-
23-08-202530-08-2025AUD $ 3,355-
06-09-202513-09-2025AUD $ 3,590-
27-09-202504-10-2025AUD $ 3,485-
04-10-202511-10-2025AUD $ 3,420-
23-05-202630-05-2026AUD $ 3,385-
13-06-202620-06-2026AUD $ 3,385-
27-06-202604-07-2026AUD $ 3,385-
11-07-202618-07-2026AUD $ 3,660-
22-08-202629-08-2026AUD $ 3,520-
29-08-202605-09-2026AUD $ 3,520-
05-09-202612-09-2026AUD $ 3,660-
26-09-202603-10-2026AUD $ 3,660-
03-10-202610-10-2026AUD $ 3,520-

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights),Guesthouse (1 night)

Transport

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

Map

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