Original
Cycling
Cycle the Balkans
8 days • 4.6
4.5
Excellent
44 reviews
8 days
Start
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Finish
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Trip Code
ZMXY
Min Age
14
Trip Size
1 - 15
Physical Rating
Meals
6 breakfasts
Transport
Bicycle, Support vehicle (e-bike option available, subject to availability)
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)
From £1,553(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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.
Is this trip right for you?
To complete this trip, it’s important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.
You’ll have a leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
While the cycling distances on this trip are relatively short (the longest ride is only 60 km) the terrain of the Balkans is naturally hilly and the climate often warm. You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip, but the support vehicle is always on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day.
As your riding is done mostly on sealed roads with the occasional gravel cycle path there are no technical cycling skills required. Given the hills, we do suggest practicing riding downhill, so you’re comfortable once the trips begins.
As there are cobblestones and many stairs in most European towns, and space in our support van is limited, it's strongly recommended that you leave any wheelie bags/cases at home and bring a backpack instead.
This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out our Cycle Croatia & the Balkans trip.
Itinerary
Explore The Balkans by bike on an adventure through coastlines and an old railway line
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.
Inclusions
Meals
6 breakfasts
Transport
Bicycle, Support vehicle (e-bike option available, subject to availability)
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Guesthouse (1 night)
Included activities
Bay of Kotor Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Niksic region Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Ramparts of Onogost Fortress
Pluzine region Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Mostar region/Ciro Trail Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Ciro Trail Guided Cycling
Sarajevo Region Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
Optional activities
Dubrovnik - Church of St. Blaise - Free
Dubrovnik - Mt Srd Cable Car - EUR27
Dubrovnik - Discover Game of Thrones Filming Locations Urban Adventure - EUR69
Dubrovnik - Hike up Mt Srd - Free
Kotor - St. Tryphon’s Cathedral - EUR4
Kotor - Maritime Museum - EUR5
Kotor - Fortress - EUR3
Ostrog Monastery - Free
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
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Important notes
1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
4. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
5. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.
6. Due to health and safety concerns around the traffic we take local taxis rather than cycle up to/down from the Ostrog Monastery on Day 3.
7. Due to border crossing restrictions between EU and non-EU countries, clients are unable to bring their own bikes on this trip.
Reviews (41)
5 stars
34
4 stars
3
3 stars
2
2 stars
2
Clair
Apr 30, 2025
My Intrepid leader made me feel safe and confident in a new country. They also made it more fun with their local knowledge.
Hanne
Oct 15, 2024
Highly recommend this trip! Our leader Mario and support driver/mechanic Davor were truly wonderful, and my five fellow travelers from the UK, Canada, and Australia made the experience even more fun. The scenery was breathtaking—from rugged mountain vistas to charming cities—the food was delicious (don't miss the goulash in Nikšić), and the accommodations clean and comfortable. The biking was challenging enough to keep things exciting, especially for those of us who opted out of using e-bikes. I'd rate this at least a 3.5 (out of 5) in difficulty due to steepness and distance of some inclines (no shame in using the support vehicle when needed!). We had some rain on the first day, but it just added to the sense of adventure. I recommend bringing layers for different weather conditions and a good sense of humor. You'll need it for the uphill grind—but the rewarding views are worth it. Bring a smile and an easygoing attitude, and you’ll love every moment of this Balkan biking experience!
Colleen
Oct 13, 2024
This was a brilliant tour of the Balkans. Enjoyed the cycling and the scenery. Mario (tour leader) and Davor (Support Vehicle) were fantastic and knowledgeable - thank you!!!
Kathryn
Oct 13, 2024
This was my first time travelling with an organised group and the tour exceeded my expectations. The itinerary struck a good balance between cycling time and bus transfers that enabled us to see more of the Balkans than would be possible only by bike. It also meant we didn’t cycle on very busy roads. The tour leaders, Mario & Davor, looked after us so well & made the whole trip so much fun. While everything was well-organised, it was not rigid & I felt that there was flexibility as required. I am now dreaming of another Intrepid cycle trip.
Justin
Oct 13, 2024
Just finished my first Intrepid trip, cycling in the Balkans. Loved every minute and I am now sold on Intrepid. As well as a great itinerary, our guides, Mario and Davor, were so good and so much fun. Can't wait to do another cycling trip with Intrepid.
Mark
Oct 10, 2024
Incredible trip Cycling the Balkans. Mario and Davor were both fabulous and fostered a great harmony within the group. Knowledge, professionalism and safety were outstanding throughout the trip. Do yourself a favour and get travelling in the Balkans!!
Jawahar
Oct 09, 2024
Have always wanted to visit the Balkans and this was an excellent introduction to some of these beautiful countries. Our group leader Mario was great and made sure we enjoyed our cycling!
Matt (Albert)
Oct 06, 2024
I was excited about this trip and it surpassed my expectations! Our guide Mario was brilliant. The area was interesting and the rides were scenic and enjoyable. My wife and I both joined this trip which worked well especially as the e-bike option makes it suitable for a wide range of riders.
Christine
Oct 05, 2024
What a beautiful way to see the Balkans! I got an e-bike which was perfect for me. There are a few climbs which are a bit challenging if you’re not trained for those inclines and not on an e-bike. Mario and Davro were amazing guides and kept the perfect pace throughout the trip.
Sophie Mae
Aug 25, 2024
Biking the Balkins was amazing! The landscape was spectacular. Our tour leader Igor was so knowledgeable and had awesome recommendations for things to do or eat each day! Andro was so efficient with the van and loading and unloading the bikes. Planning my next trip around traveling with them again
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