Croatia to Greece CCG2602

For an Edelweiss tour guide, the journey begins often a few days early—after all, someone has to get the motorcycles to the starting line! Following two dense days of van driving through Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia, the schedule was tight, but the passing landscapes made every single kilometer worthwhile. So, enjoy some pictures of our van trip along the way! Now, the group, the guides, and the entire fleet have finally assembled in Dubrovnik at our wonderful seaside hotel. With the welcome briefing, motorcycle handover, and our first dinner together wrapped up, the excitement is tangible. Everyone is ready to press the starter button—see you tomorrow for our very first ride!

FROM DUBROVNIK TO THE MOUNTAINS OF MONTENEGRO 🏍️ The first riding day of our new adventure had finally arrived! We started the morning with a delicious breakfast in beautiful Dubrovnik, the famous filming location of Game of Thrones. After yesterday afternoon’s heavy rain, the weather looked much more promising. It was warm, although the sky was still covered with clouds, and there was a good chance we might get a little wet along the way. But first things first: our very first Edelweiss daily briefing of the tour! With the route explained and everyone ready, we split into two groups, fired up the engines and rolled out of Dubrovnik. Before leaving the city behind, we enjoyed one last spectacular view of its famous Old Town from above. The adventure was officially underway! 🏍️ Getting out of Dubrovnik took some patience. Traffic was heavy, and progress was slow, but once we escaped the city, the first beautiful curves and typical landscapes of the southern Adriatic coast were waiting for us. Our first international border crossing was just ahead: Montenegro! And this one certainly tested our patience. We had to cross the border together with our support van, which meant a long wait. A very long wait! The occasional light rain didn't make things any faster, but eventually everyone made it through, and we could finally continue our journey. A coffee stop shortly after the border was exactly what we needed. ☕️ Then came one of the great highlights of the day: the spectacular Bay of Kotor. We reached the bay and crossed it by ferry, surrounded by dramatic mountains rising straight from the water. Traffic was still heavy, but the scenery more than made up for it. And then the real fun began. Leaving the busy coastal roads behind, we started climbing the famous scenic road above Kotor. Hairpin after hairpin took us higher into the mountains, and with every turn, the view over the bay became even more breathtaking. What a place to ride a motorcycle! 🏍️🏔️ Somewhere along the climb, we found a lovely local restaurant for our lunch stop. Good food, a relaxed atmosphere and a chance to enjoy the surroundings before getting back on the road. With everyone refreshed, we continued through Lovćen National Park, enjoying more beautiful curves and spectacular mountain scenery. Our route then took us toward Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital, where we made a short fuel stop before leaving the city behind. And what a fantastic final stretch was waiting for us! We joined the scenic road toward Kolašin, and the riding just kept getting better. Beautiful mountain landscapes, excellent asphalt and one flowing curve after another made this section a real pleasure. After a morning of city traffic, a long border crossing and occasional rain, this was exactly the kind of riding we had been waiting for! Finally, we rolled into Kolašin and arrived at our first hotel of the tour. The motorcycles were parked, the riding gear came off, and it was time for our well-deserved dinner. Our first riding day had given us a little bit of everything: the historic beauty of Dubrovnik, Adriatic coastal scenery, our first border crossing, the incredible Bay of Kotor, mountain hairpins, local cuisine and fantastic roads through Montenegro. Not a bad start to our journey from the Adriatic to ancient Greece! 🏍️ And this was only Day 1 on the bikes. Greetings from Kolašin, Domenico, Dominik & Gabor

Fantastic! No other words could describe today's ride better than this! The Tara River Canyon and Durmitor National Park are simply breathtaking, especially paired with perfect weather, beautiful roads, and endless viewpoints. Leaving Kolašin behind, we soon entered Durmitor National Park and rode along the edge of the Tara Canyon—the deepest gorge in Europe. After a relaxing coffee break by the iconic Đurđevića Tara Bridge (currently undergoing maintenance work), we paused again to capture the Durmitor massif in all its imposing beauty. But the highlight of the day was still ahead: we navigated a narrow, twisty ribbon of tarmac right through the heart of the national park, stopped for lunch in a cozy local spot, and enjoyed countless sweepers and switchbacks. We finally headed back to the hotel after a long, deeply rewarding day in the saddle!

We left Montenegro this morning for a 180 km ride to our next destination in Shkodër, Albania. It was a beautiful day in the saddle, though we did have to navigate the border crossing, which is always a bit of a time-eater. The weather gave us sunshine and clear blue skies, while the twisty roads kept us fully engaged as always! Steeped in history as one of Albania’s oldest and most vibrant cities, Shkodër greeted us with its lively streets and rich culture. Tonight, our hotel sits directly across from a grand mosque, giving us the opportunity to listen to the evening call to prayer—a truly unique cultural moment. Good food, great friends, and amazing scenery made for another wonderful day. Tomorrow brings another border crossing and a longer stretch of riding, so it's time to get a good night's rest after dinner!

ENDLESS CURVES FROM SHKODER TO OHRID 🇦🇱🇲🇰🏍️🏔️ Another morning, another adventure! Our day started in Shkodra with a good breakfast, followed by our usual Edelweiss daily briefing. Today, we had a long journey ahead of us, taking us across Albania toward the eastern part of the country and eventually to Ohrid in North Macedonia. Eastern Albania is a very different world from the Adriatic coast. The terrain is rugged and mountainous, with remote valleys, impressive peaks and only a limited network of roads. Paved roads are even fewer, which makes planning a motorcycle route through this region particularly interesting. And today, we were going to experience this part of the Balkans firsthand! We left Shkodra in heavy morning traffic, slowly making our way out of the city before heading east toward Kukës, close to the border with Kosovo. Once we escaped the city, the wind picked up and accompanied us on our way toward the mountains. With one of the longest riding distances of the entire tour ahead of us, we used the highway for the first part of the route to make some good progress. By the time we reached Kukës, it was time for lunch. We found a lovely little restaurant on the shore of the Fierza Reservoir, where we enjoyed a well-deserved break surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Good food, a peaceful setting and a chance to recharge before the real fun began. Because the best riding was still ahead of us! As we continued south, the roads became increasingly winding. Curve after curve carried us deeper into the Albanian mountains, through spectacular landscapes and remote valleys. The roads were paved, but their condition varied considerably. Some sections offered beautiful, flowing asphalt, while others required a little more attention. But that is all part of the adventure when exploring this fascinating corner of the Balkans! And then, just to make sure the day wouldn't become too easy, we had our first little technical challenge. A puncture! 🛞 But a flat tire wasn't going to stop our adventure. With a little teamwork and a quick repair, we were soon ready to continue. Back on the road, the curves just kept coming. Left, right, uphill, downhill—one beautiful stretch after another. The scenery changed constantly, and the further we traveled, the more we enjoyed the incredible roads leading toward the North Macedonian border. Endless curves. Spectacular mountains. A true biker's paradise! 🏍️🏔️ Eventually, we reached the border. And, as we had already learned during this tour, border crossings in the Balkans sometimes require a little patience. Passport checks, vehicle documents and the usual formalities meant that getting into North Macedonia wasn't exactly a quick process. But finally, everyone was through, and we were ready for the last section of the day. 🇲🇰 And what a final section it was! The road along Lake Debar was an absolute treat for motorcyclists. Endless curves followed the contours of the lake, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and water. After a long day in the saddle, this was exactly the kind of road that makes you forget how many kilometers you've already ridden. Pure riding pleasure, right until the very end! Finally, we rolled into Ohrid, our destination for the night. The motorcycles were parked, the riding gear came off, and a well-deserved dinner was waiting for us. What a day again! Heavy traffic, strong winds, mountain roads, a beautiful lakeside lunch, a puncture, another international border crossing and more curves than anyone could possibly count. From the mountains of Albania to the lakes of North Macedonia, this had been one of those riding days that remind us exactly why we love exploring the world on two wheels. Another unforgettable chapter of our journey from the Adriatic to ancient Greece! 🇦🇱🇲🇰🏍️ Greetings from Ohrid, Domenico, Dominik & Gabor

THE CITY OF A THOUSAND WINDOWS & THE STONE CITY 🇲🇰🇦🇱🏍️ Another morning, another border crossing, and another beautiful day ahead of us! We left Ohrid under bright sunshine, although the morning temperatures were still pretty chilly. After breakfast and our usual Edelweiss daily briefing, we fired up the engines and headed toward the Albanian border. It was only a short ride, but before leaving North Macedonia, we enjoyed one last view of beautiful Lake Ohrid and the surrounding mountains. Then it was time to say goodbye to North Macedonia and return to Albania! 🇦🇱 Today, two very special destinations were waiting for us: Berat, the City of a Thousand Windows, and Gjirokastra, the Stone City. Two historic Albanian towns, each with its own unique character, and plenty of beautiful roads connecting them. THE CITY OF A THOUSAND WINDOWS Once we had completed the border formalities, we continued our journey through Albania. The sunshine accompanied us as we made our way through the countryside, enjoying the changing landscapes along the route. Of course, no Edelweiss riding day would be complete without a coffee stop! ☕️ After a short break, we continued toward Berat, arriving just in time for lunch. Berat is one of Albania’s most beautiful historic cities, famous for the traditional white Ottoman-era houses climbing the hillside, with their countless windows overlooking the town. It is easy to understand why the city earned its nickname: the City of a Thousand Windows. We found a lovely local restaurant where delicious Albanian food was waiting for us. The owner and staff were incredibly friendly, making our lunch stop even more enjoyable. Good food, kind people and a beautiful historic setting. What more could we ask for? Well, perhaps a little less excitement before leaving the city! 😄 ANOTHER LITTLE TECHNICAL ADVENTURE Just as we were ready to continue our journey, we discovered another technical problem. A flat tire. Again! 🛞 Apparently, the Balkans wanted to make sure we had plenty of stories to tell after this tour. Fortunately, we found a local tire service, where the mechanics were extremely helpful and friendly. They quickly took care of the problem, and before long, the motorcycle was ready to continue. A big thank you to the local mechanics who helped us get back on the road! With the tire repaired and everyone ready, we could finally leave Berat behind and continue toward our second highlight of the day. ON THE ROAD TO THE STONE CITY Our destination was Gjirokastra, another of Albania’s remarkable historic towns. The road offered some excellent riding, with beautiful scenery and enjoyable curves as we made our way through the Albanian countryside. Although our unexpected tire repair had put us a little behind schedule, the ride was still a pleasure. After all, unexpected moments are part of every great motorcycle adventure! Finally, later than originally planned, we arrived at our hotel in Gjirokastra. Known as the Stone City, Gjirokastra is famous for its traditional stone-roofed houses, steep cobbled streets and impressive fortress overlooking the town. A fascinating place to spend the night and another beautiful chapter in our journey through Albania. The motorcycles were parked, the riding gear came off, and it was time for our well-deserved dinner. And tonight, local Albanian specialties were on the menu! After a day of border crossings, historic cities, beautiful roads, friendly people and another unexpected tire repair, sitting together around the dinner table felt especially good. Two historic cities, one flat tire, plenty of kilometers and another unforgettable day in the Balkans! 🇦🇱🏍️ Greetings from Gjirokastra, Domenico, Dominik & Gabor

Time to leave Gjirokastra—the iconic "Stone City"—and our beautiful hotel perched right above it. What a breathtaking view over breakfast! Getting underway took a bit of coordination: first, we took a shuttle down to the garage, where we met a classic local surprise: no credit cards and no Euros accepted, only local Lek! Since Euro payments are usually the norm, someone made a quick sprint into town to exchange cash. Once settled, we hit the road and soon reached the border into Greece. After crossing—and losing an hour to the time zone change—we quickly entered the Pindos Mountains, a wild, rugged, and remote corner of northern Greece. A narrow, endlessly twisty road led us up to Monodendri, a picturesque village near the awe-inspiring Vikos Gorge, where the clock adjustment meant it was already high time for lunch. Back in the saddle, we climbed a bit higher to take in the views of Vikos, certified as the world's deepest canyon relative to its width. A final coffee stop in the stone-built mountain town of Metsovo recharged our batteries before the final descent. Today’s destination: Meteora. Our hotel sits right at the foot of these towering rock formations—what an unforgettable sight to end the day!

Free day! Some decided to take a break from the saddle to explore Meteora independently or with a local guide, while most of the group geared up for the optional ride. We started by carving through the stunning roads winding between the majestic Meteora rocks, stopping to visit the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen—the easiest to access thanks to its pedestrian bridge. Continuing our loop, we reached the ancient stone bridge of Pyli for a relaxing coffee break before heading to a local taverna for lunch. Traditional Greek salad was a must, of course! We made our way back to the hotel by early afternoon, leaving plenty of time to recharge before a free evening for everyone to enjoy at their own pace.

THE SPINE OF GREECE: FROM METEORA TO DELPHI 🇬🇷🏍️🏔️ Another morning, another adventure through Greece! We started our day in Kalabaka, near the spectacular monasteries of Meteora, under cloudy skies. Rain had fallen during the night, leaving the roads wet. After our usual Edelweiss daily briefing and a quick fuel stop, we headed south toward Delphi. The first section took us along the highway in the rain. Not exactly the weather we had hoped for, but nothing that would stop our adventure! By the time we reached Domokos, it was time for a coffee break. Good Greek coffee, a few sweet treats and a chance to warm up before getting back on the road. ☕️ Fortunately, the weather slowly started to improve. The rain stopped, and more and more dry asphalt appeared in front of us. Our next stop was Thermopylae, the site of the legendary battle in 480 BC, where Greek forces led by King Leonidas of Sparta faced the Persian army. We stopped at the monument for a few photos before continuing our journey. And then came the best riding of the day! CURVES, MOUNTAINS & ANCIENT HISTORY As we climbed toward Mount Parnassus, the road became increasingly winding. Curve after curve carried us through the beautiful Greek mountain landscape, and with the rain finally behind us, we could really enjoy the ride. 🏍️🏔️ Before reaching Delphi, we stopped at a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Pleistos Valley. Thousands of olive trees stretched across the valley below us, surrounded by mountains. What a view! Naturally, another photo stop was required. 📸 Finally, we rolled into Delphi and arrived at our hotel. But the day wasn't over yet! We still had enough time to visit the famous archaeological site of Delphi, once home to the Oracle of Apollo and one of the most important religious centers of ancient Greece. Walking among the ancient ruins after a day of riding through the mountains was a perfect way to finish another unforgettable day. Rainy roads, Greek coffee, the legendary battlefield of Thermopylae, fantastic curves on Mount Parnassus, spectacular olive groves and ancient Delphi. What a day again! 🇬🇷🏍️ Greetings from Delphi, Domenico, Dominik & Gabor

After a rainy night in Delphi, we set off at just the right moment – the rain had stopped, and we were able to ride away from the bad weather. The roads were still quite slippery in places due to overflowing drains, so a little extra caution was needed at first. But it wasn’t long before the beauty of Greece was back in full view. Our first stop was a beautiful bay, where we enjoyed a coffee and took in the scenery while leaving the wet kilometres behind us. From there, we continued towards the impressive bridge across the Gulf of Corinth, crossing over to the Peloponnese. Right by the bridge, we stopped at a small roadside truck stop for a relaxed lunch. With our batteries recharged, we continued through the Greek countryside towards Olympia. Winding roads, small villages and impressive mountain scenery made the ride a real highlight. In a charming mountain village, we made one more enjoyable coffee stop before finally arriving in Olympia. In the afternoon, the group split up: some set off to explore the famous archaeological site of Olympia and walk in the footsteps of the ancient Olympic Games. The rest of the group opted for a much more relaxed afternoon by the pool. That way, everyone could enjoy the afternoon exactly as they pleased.

From Olympia to Kalamata – Curves, Coffee and the Sea What a day! Greece showed itself from its very best side this morning: brilliant sunshine, blue skies and temperatures that were simply perfect for riding. Today’s route took us from Olympia towards Kalamata – and one thing quickly became clear: it was definitely not going to be a boring day! As soon as we left Olympia behind, the first small, winding roads were waiting for us. The route twisted its way through the mountainous landscape, taking us further and further south. Bend after bend, hairpin after hairpin – exactly what you come to Greece for on a motorcycle. But then, suddenly: Road closed! A landslide had made our planned route impassable. Time for a little change of plans. What initially looked like an annoying setback soon turned into a welcome change of scenery. Our detour took us along even more beautiful little roads through the Greek mountains – and, of course, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a coffee stop. Over a traditional Greek coffee, we took a little break, cooled down the bikes and enjoyed the surroundings. Somehow, a Greek coffee tastes even better after a few hours of winding mountain roads! Then it was time to get back on the road. For lunch, we kept things simple: a picnic! A beautiful spot, something good to eat, the motorcycles parked alongside us and plenty of time to take in everything we had experienced so far. After lunch, it was back on the bikes. And the roads clearly weren’t finished with us yet – or perhaps we simply weren’t finished with them! 😄 Bend after bend, the road carried us through the landscape, slowly changing as we got closer and closer to the coast. And then finally: the sea! After all the mountains and curves, the coastline opened up in front of us and with it came our destination, Kalamata. What a sight! The final kilometres took us towards the sea before we finally reached our hotel. But the day still had one more highlight in store. On the 5th floor of the hotel, a bar awaited us with a view that could hardly have been a better reward after such a riding day. A cold drink in hand, the sea stretching out before us and the evening light all around – the perfect way to finish a day filled with curves, little adventures and Greek joie de vivre. Olympia → Kalamata: another day that proved that sometimes it’s the unexpected detours that make the best stories. 🏍️🇬🇷

What a day in the saddle! Covering over 300 kilometers of pure twisties, today’s route from Kalamata to Tolo was nothing short of epic. We kicked off the morning by tackling the legendary Langada Pass, carving through its dramatic rock walls and sweeping curves. After navigating the pass, we pulled over in historic Mystras for a well-deserved coffee break, taking in the stunning views overlooking the ancient valley of Sparta. From there, we set our sights south before meeting the eastern coast of the Peloponnese and turning northward. This coastal stretch turned out to be pure riding perfection: a serpentine road climbing up and down the mountainside, hugging the coastline with virtually zero traffic and brilliant blue skies above. For lunch, we descended into the picturesque seaside village of Kyparissi. Resting right by the water, the group fueled up on local specialties—with the classic Greek salad once again taking the top spot as everyone's favorite refresher! Back on the bikes, the coastal scenery only got more breathtaking. We paused for another relaxing break along the beach at Paralia before firing up the engines for the final stretch to Tolo. It was a long day on the road, but hands down one of the most unforgettable riding days of the entire tour!

Today we said goodbye to Tolo and headed towards Athens. The last day started with beautiful weather, and the first few kilometres rewarded us with stunning views of the deep blue sea. Winding roads, sunshine and breathtaking coastal scenery made for a perfect start to the day. Before continuing our journey, we made a stop at the impressive ancient theatre of Epidaurus. A short visit, but one that was absolutely worthwhile and another opportunity to experience a fascinating piece of Greek history. From there, we continued along the coast to our next stop. Pavlos was waiting for us with a delicious meal right by the sea – the perfect place to take a break, enjoy some great Greek food and soak up the atmosphere. After lunch, we continued towards the Corinth Canal. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Just before reaching the canal, the rain caught up with us and the first drops began to fall. We still had the chance to admire the impressive Corinth Canal before setting off for the final stretch towards Athens. The last part of the ride was accompanied by a little rain, but thankfully it didn’t dampen our spirits. Despite the change in weather, it was a fantastic and varied day on the road – with beautiful sea views, ancient history, great food and, of course, plenty of enjoyable kilometres on the motorcycles.