Bike Tour Reviews Cycling The West Balkan Triangle
Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
COUNTRY: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
Guided from EUR € 1427
Description:
This cycling tour takes you through one of the most spectacular regions in all of Europe: the West Balkan Triangle and the Mediterranean. This sensational area, spread over the magical hills and mountains of the Dinarids, along the seashores settled by…
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★★★★★ Carol Keys 1 month agoBeautiful and varied tour taking in 3 fantastic countries
This was our first time visiting Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina & Montenegro and the tour provided a good flavour of all three countries.
We booked an extra day at the start of the tour to take in the sights of Dubrovnik. This was well worth it, with the highlight being a walk around the city walls in the old town and a boat trip out to Lokrum Island. On the downside, Dubrovnik was very crowded and prices were comparable to the UK. The rest of the tour was mainly in much quieter places, sometimes in the middle of nowhere and prices were very cheap in Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Our hotels varied from fairly basic to very nice but all of them met our needs.
The tour itself did include a few very busy roads which were not ideal but probably unavoidable. However, it did include some lovely stretches along the coastline in Montenegro and the ride in B&H along an old railway line was predominantly traffic free.
We did feel a bit under time pressure a couple of times when we were required to meet the van with our luggage at a border crossing, as it was difficult for us to estimate how long it would take us to get to the rendezvous.
Our only real frustration was with the one Garmin we were given to navigate. This was quite dated, not intuititive to use and didn't seem to recognise some of the new roads. We often found it difficult to get the correct information displayed on the screen at the right time. We had written notes but in places where navigation was tricky, the notes didn't help either. -
★★★★★ Pamela Lydon 2 months ago
Life Changing!
This trip will change how we vacation in the future!
There were 6 of us in our group, 5 on e-bikes, and 1 on a rode bike. We joined another group of 6 upon our arrival. Our guide Alex (Juro) provided us with a daily overview of the places we would be visiting and the terrain we would be covering. Our other guide was also Alex who followed behind the group in a van with our luggage and snacks. Together they helped to make the trip. They took our safety very seriously and shares some stories along the way of the places we were visiting. They were both engaging and worked hard to enhance our experience.
The ride covered all different types of terrain. We went on main roads, back quiet streets, flat roads, and covered grades as a steep as 12%. On an e-bike you took the hills at your own pace going both up and down. Juro would help guide the group, so we stayed together, and regrouped as needed. The important thing we all learned was to take time to enjoy the journey.
We stayed in lots of amazing places ranging from larger hotels to quaint 7 room hotels. The food and wine were wonderful everywhere we went, and the locals were so friendly. Lots of people spoke English and those who didn’t, Juro or Alex help as our interpreter.
The views were stunning. The pictures can’t begin to capture the breathtaking views of the mountains or along the sea. We were able to stop along the ride to take picture and Juro helped to make recommendations on where to stop for the best pictures.
The trip left us all wanting more. We agreed this trip changed how we want to vacation and explore other countries. We are already planning our next trip. Thank you to Juro, Alex, and BikeTours.com for a life changing experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first bike tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 19, 2024
Wow, thank you for your fantastic review, it feels so good hearing that. That's exactly what our goal is - reshaping your vision of vacations. We’re thrilled that this trip left such a lasting impression on you and can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey!
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★★★★★ Dave Hajra 2 months ago
An epic trip!
It was our first bike trip (10/5/24 to 10/12/24) and exceeded our expectations on every level. It all felt seamless, from the ease of booking our guided tour through to the final transfer to the airport. The itinerary was well planned and each destination was captivating. The accommodations were very comfortable and charming. Our two guides, Alex and Alex (Juro) were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They went above and beyond in every way to make the journey especially memorable. Finally, the cost of this trip was reasonable compared to other operators offering similar tours. Will recommend this to anyone. Dave Hajra
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Gregory Bodin 2 months ago
West Balkan Triangle Review
Our 2 guides were excellent. Aleksander led the rides and was very attentive to both the fast riders and the slower riders. Juro drove the van and handle a lot of the logistics; he was very attentive to the details and made sure everything flowed smoothly. They were both very friendly and informative on the local culture.
The ride was beautiful with quite a variety of terrain (coastal ride, bay ride, inland valley). I would recommend an e-bike unless you are in very good shape; the distances aren't huge but some of the hills are big.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ David Moody 2 months ago
The fascinating Balkans on bike
We thoroughly enjoyed our introduction to cycling the Balkans. Dubrovnik was a perfect gathering point. We stayed an extra day to explore and were glad we did. Cycling the hills was challenging for those on road bikes; the views were magnificent. The Adriatic was magical and occasionally confined traffic requiring extra caution. Our guides, Alex and Alex, were competent, hardworking, and especially helpful, answering questions and showing us aspects of these countries we would never would have found on our own. There were 14 of us on the tour from ALL OVER, and getting to know them all over the course of the tour was part of the fun. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Ann Catherwood 2 months ago
No regrets!
We thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The scenery along the coastline and inland was spectacular. We enjoyed riding the ascents and descents but were glad we decided to rent e-bikes. Some of the climbs are challenging.
Our guides ( Alex and Alex) were excellent. They were helpful, informative and kind.
We enjoyed the variety of accommodations along the way - each one unique. The lunches were good- usually very local which we enjoyed.
The only downside comment we have is that several times we had to ride on roads that were heavily trafficked with trucks and cars. This wasn’t a surprise but just rather unpleasant. We realized that it was necessary in order to get to some of the less traveled roads and beautiful scenery.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- First one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Elizabeth Denniston 2 months ago
Spectacular
An amazing way to see the most stunning scenery. I had no idea what each day would bring, and the trip unfolded as one magical day after another.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 14
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Bob N 3 months ago
Spectacular scenery and towns
West Balkan Triangle; Epic Croatia through Biketours.com
Bottom Line: Fabulous Tour. Great Scenery. Very nice hotels and food. Friendly people. You had better be extremely fit if you are not riding an e-bike. 190 miles and over 11,000 feet of climbing. With an e-bike, no problem.
Guides: Alex and Alex (Juro). Fantastic guys. Focused on fun and safety. Very accommodating. We loved them. Great fun and professional.
Bikes: Marvelous e-bikes. Makes the tour possible for many. Powerful and great range. Road bikes a bit dated but light. Rim brakes. 23mm tires. 52/36 11-28T gearing not great for 7 kilometer 7 to 10% climbs. (And the climbs are frequent) Tough to spin.
Routes: Well planned. Some beautiful remote and coastal areas. Some heavy traffic in Hercog Novi area can be a bit intimidating for some. Most areas traffic not an issue. Overnight cities were charming.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Anita Elder 6 months ago
Beautiful scenery and routes!
I really enjoyed riding my bike through Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. The scenery was gorgeous and I made new friends. The hotels were mostly great with a couple of exceptions:
1. No elevator at the Splendido and very difficult to carry heavy suitcase down and then back up some stairs to our room. No coffee/tea until 8:30am and then it was terrible. Their food in the evening was good, however.
2. Hotel on the last day was not very good. The AC didn't work well and there was only one electrical outlet on the other side of the room from the bed (had to get an extension cord to plug in c-pap).The lunch stops during our ride were great and was more than I expected.
The local partner needs to step up their game. Because they didn't have anyone dedicated to collect luggage each morning and deliver it to the next hotel, the ride leader and support driver had to do it. This caused long delays in starting our ride each day. We would usually be told there would be a briefing at 8:00 am, but until they ride leader and driver got to the hotel, loaded up the bags, and dealt with some other issues, it was always well after 10am before we started riding. This meant that we were riding (and doing steep climbs) in the worst heat of the day.
The support driver, Nikola, was a sweetheart. Alex, the ride leader, was a good rider and knew the routes well, but he was rude to several of the guests.
With a little organization and extra staff, this tour would be perfect and at a decent price.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 8-15, 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Average
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ robert harrison 7 months ago
enjoyable interesting trip
the trip overall was enjoyable.The tour leaders Alex and Amir were helpful and organised the transport,luggage and hotels effectively.What they could have done was given us more information about the places we visited.For example in Kotar we could haVE visited and climbed the city walls had we been told that was an option.This really was down to their inexperience and lack of training The other point oi would make is that on the departure there was only limited airport transport available.Bike tours need to ensure that transport is available throughout the day for the various flights people are taking back
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Andrew Lindsay 7 months ago
Disappointing Tour - Did Not Meet Expectations
Positives:
1) The e-bikes were very good and well maintained; the routes were generally excellent if a little short for e-bikes (rides often finished early afternoon whereas on most other organised cycle trips I've been on they were spread out over most of the day).
The rides from Herceg Novi to Kotor; Ravno to Ston and Ston to Kun were particularly enjoyable - brilliant scenery and quiet roads.2) Accomodation - Hotels were all very good apart from Marija 2. This hotel was a good 20 minute walk from Kotor; room was clean but rather dark and miserable (no view; no balcony but lots of signs instructing occupants what not to do). Fried eggs at breakfast were cold). By contrast the Hotel Stancia in Ravno was a delight.
3) Food - This was an enjoyable part of the tour. The 'included' lunches and evening meals were very good. The lunches at Ravno, Ston and Kun were especially enjoyable - offering liquor tasting; olive grove visit and locally produced food respectively. The local restaurants we chose for our evening meals were also excellent.Areas To Improve: As a guided introduction to the West Balkans this trip has nothing to recommend it. The guide, while perfectly charming and an excellent cycle tour leader, had next to nothing to say about the countries we visited (their history; their customs and culture; their flora and fauna). I suspect his Company has never provided any training on how to be a tour guide.
This tour makes it very easy to miss exploring the old town of Herceg Novi; the walls of Kotor and Cavtat Old Town (indeed most of the group did) because they were never recommended or even mentioned; nor did we cycle to them). Dubrovnik is the jewel (albeit a very busy jewel) of the West Balkans and it would be very easy to book this tour and never see it (the old town is a 40 minute walk from the Hotel Adria).
I've cycled many times with Explore and Exodus on group guided tours and their delivered experience is vastly superior to that of BikeTours.com.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- I've been on well over 20 bike tours. The West Balkan tour is bottom quartile. Your guides need training. Happy to provide more feedback.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
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★★★★★ robert harrison 7 months ago
enjoyable interesting trip
Overall the trip was good.Alex and Emir as the main tour guides were efficient and the organisation of the luggage and the bikes was excellent.The cycling and the routes were good.Where the tour could have improved was giving us some basic information about the places we were visiting.For example at Kotor most of us were not aware that you could walk up the city walls to the top of the hill.We don,t expect an hours lecture but some local knowledge would further enhance the trip and perhaps training for the tour leaders would be appropriate.Finally there was some confusion on the final day we were leaving re airport transfers and it seemed that drivers had other duties which reduce their availability.Biketours need to ensure the transport is available as this is specified on the tour information
Idespite these points I would certainly recommend this cycling trip to friends who might like to go. -
★★★★★ Kathleen Cook November 17, 2023
Great Trip
Our group of 15 riders had a great trip. Some were on road bikes, some on e-bikes, and some on hybrid bikes. I would not recommend the hybrid bikes for this trip. The climbs were very challenging on the hybrids even for experienced bikers. The climbs were tough for those on the road bikes, and even those on e-bikes had to put forth considerable effort. But those on hybrids were really at a disadvantage.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Chris Hayman November 6, 2023
Our Favourite Bike Trip
This is our seventh and most favourite bike trip.
The guides were great, the itinerary fantastic and the accommodations far surpassed expectations.
Highly recommend this trip. While holly we rented e-bikes which made it very accessible
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★★★★★ JO ANNE REID October 30, 2023
An excellent way to experience the landscapes , culture , history and the people.
Our guide Alex was most vigilant for our safety, checking the bikes, quick repair of flat tires if necessary, conveying briefings with road conditions and expected grades.The trip was beyond my expectations : the beauty, the snacks and meals, comfortable accommodation.
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★★★★★ Becky Foster October 25, 2023
Beautiful and very challenging!
Cycling near the Adriatic Sea was spectacular, probably the most beautiful cycling I have ever done. It was also the most challenging trip we have done. The countries of Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro are mountainous! This is a perfect trip for serious cyclists.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October, 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Kathleen Bowman October 25, 2023
Fabulous biking adventure
Walled cities, mountain passes, incredible views of the bays and islands - I wished I had a GoPro camera on my helmet. The hotels were charming, the food local and hardy. Biking was exhilarating; challenging at times, but the van was always available for those who preferred to skip the hard climbs or busier roads. Most of our group road e-bikes and were happy with their choice. Best of all were our guides, Alex and Emir. They were knowledgeable and inspirational and took very good care of us.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- Four
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ J.Miller October 23, 2023
"Bucket-list" bike trip
New and interesting touring this beautiful part of Croatia (the Balkan countries). The guides were experienced, personable, and trustworthy....aways leaving us feeling safe and informed. Accommodations and meals provided were enjoyable and comfortable. The pace of the trip was comfortable and well-informed.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October, 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 23, 2023
Wow, those are some great photos you posted! Thank you for your kind words about your experience touring the beautiful Balkan countries with us. We're delighted to hear that you found the guides to be experienced, personable, and trustworthy, providing a sense of safety and knowledge throughout your journey. We hope to welcome you back for more exciting adventures in the future!
