BALKANS • SEP 4–16, 2026
Balkans Tour 2026 — The Europe That Hasn’t Been Tamed
Austrian Alps, Croatian coast, Bosnian valleys, Montenegrin fjords. 12 days, 6 countries, the most cultural ride in our European calendar.
2,530 km on a BMW R1300GS.
The Balkans are the Europe that didn’t surrender. From the Austrian Alps in Zell am See, you ride south past the Grossglockner, through Slovenia, into Croatia’s Dalmatian coast — Plitvice’s terraced lakes, Šibenik fortress, the island of Hvar. From Makarska to Dubrovnik‘s walls, then Montenegro’s Kotor serpentines — twenty-five hairpins above one of the most photographed bays in Europe — and the deep south at Žabljak‘s Tara Canyon.
Then the heart of the tour: Sarajevo. The city that sparked the 20th century, scarred by the 1990s siege, rebuilt by people who refuse to forget. Mostar‘s rebuilt bridge, Kravice‘s waterfalls, the rural Bosnia that tourism hasn’t reached. Twelve days, six countries, ~2,530 km on BMW R1300GS.
Not a checklist tour. The Balkans demand attention — they reward riders who care about history, food, and the way landscape shapes culture. Full UpSerra logistics: hand-picked hotels, support vehicle, bilingual tour leader, professional photo coverage. The BMW R1300GS is included. You arrive in Munich, you leave from Munich.
BALKANS ON SCREEN
Watch the previous edition
Adriatic coast, Kotor serpentines, and the Balkans in motion. What UpSerra delivers — not in slogans, on the road.
More videos on @upserra YouTube channel →
THE ROUTE
Munich → Austria → Slovenia → Croatia → Bosnia → Montenegro → Munich
Day-by-day itinerary
MEET-UP · FRI SEP 4 · MUNICH
Bike handover and briefing dinner
Arrival in Munich. Afternoon technical handover of the BMW R1300GS by the European rental partner — full bike check, equipment review, documentation, and familiarization with your unit for the next 12 days. Briefing dinner with the team and the group: route overview, daily rhythms, meeting points, tips for crossing borders (intra-EU, Bosnia, Montenegro). First night in Munich.
DAY 01 · SAT SEP 5 · 170 KM
Munich → Zell am See (Austria)
Easy warmup stage. Crossing Bavaria into Austria, first night by Lake Zell am See, lakeside resort framed by the Hohe Tauern. Hotel Seehof 3★.
DAY 02 · SUN SEP 6 · 300 KM · GROSSGLOCKNER
Zell am See → Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Climb the legendary Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, viewpoint at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe — direct view of Austria’s highest peak (12,461 ft / 3,798 m). Cross into Slovenia. Ljubljana, the charming European capital you’ve never heard of. City Hotel Ljubljana 3★.
DAY 03 · MON SEP 7 · 230 KM · PLITVICE
Ljubljana → Plitvice (Croatia)
Cross into Croatia. Plitvice Lakes National Park — sixteen turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls, UNESCO Heritage. Walk the boardwalks in the afternoon. Hotel Jezero 3★ (inside the park).
DAY 04 · TUE SEP 8 · 230 KM · ADRIATIC
Plitvice → Zadar → Šibenik
Down to the Dalmatian coast. Lunch in Zadar with a stop at the Sea Organ (musical instrument played by ocean waves). Overnight in Šibenik, medieval fortress town with a UNESCO cathedral. Hotel Jadran 3★.
DAY 05 · WED SEP 9 · 150 KM + FERRY · HVAR
Šibenik → Split → Hvar (ferry)
Coastal road to Split, city of Diocletian’s Palace. Ferry to Hvar (~1h) — the lavender island of the Adriatic, one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Boutique hotels, Venetian architecture, sunset on the marina. Pharos Hvar Hotel 3★.
DAY 06 · THU SEP 10 · HVAR · FREE
Free day on Hvar
Beaches — Dubovica, Pokonji Dol. Optional boat trip to the Pakleni Islands (turquoise water, hidden coves). Stari Grad ruins, lavender fields, local wines, Mediterranean food. The kind of day this tour is built around.
DAY 07 · FRI SEP 11 · 100 KM + FERRY
Hvar → Makarska (ferry back)
Return ferry to the mainland. Short ride to Makarska, on its namesake Riviera below the Biokovo mountains. Beach afternoon. Hotel Biokovo 3★.
DAY 08 · SAT SEP 12 · 150 KM · D8 ADRIATIC HIGHWAY
Makarska → Dubrovnik
The most beautiful stretch of the D8 Adriatic Highway — one of the most cinematic roads on the continent, with cliffs plunging into the sea. Afternoon walking the medieval walls of Dubrovnik (Game of Thrones, UNESCO Heritage). Hotel Lero 3★.
DAY 09 · SUN SEP 13 · 120 KM · KOTOR SERPENTINES
Dubrovnik → Kotor → Budva (Montenegro)
Tour around the Bay of Kotor (one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, sometimes called the southernmost fjord in Europe). Climb the Kotor Serpentines — 25 hairpins on Mount Lovćen with panoramic views of the bay at every level. Overnight in Budva. Hotel Moskva 3★.
DAY 10 · MON SEP 14 · 230 KM · DURMITOR
Budva → Žabljak (Durmitor)
Climb into the mountains via Podgorica (Montenegro’s capital). Tour of Durmitor National Park and the Tara River Canyon — second deepest canyon in the world (4,265 ft / 1,300 m), after the Grand Canyon. Mountain villages, alpine pastures. Hotel Žabljak 3★.
DAY 11 · TUE SEP 15 · 300 KM · SARAJEVO + MOSTAR
Žabljak → Sarajevo → Mostar → Kravice
Big day. Sarajevo — city of the assassination that sparked WWI, of the 1990s siege, of survival. Lunch at the Bascarsija old bazaar. Mostar with the rebuilt 16th-century Stari Most bridge (UNESCO Heritage). Day closes at the Kravice Waterfalls — a natural pool of emerald-green water. Hotel Kriva Ćuprija 3★.
DAY 12 · WED SEP 16 · 550 KM · FINISH
Kravice → Trieste → Munich · finish
Early start. Lunch in Trieste (Italy) at Piazza Unità d’Italia (the largest seafront square in Europe). Arrival in Munich at the end of the day, bikes returned. Farewell dinner.
EXPEDITION MEMORIES
The Balkans in pictures
A few memories from previous editions — to give you a sense of what September will look like.
More on Instagram @upserra_ →
SIX COUNTRIES, ONE STORY
The Europe that hasn’t been tamed
The Balkans are the chapter of Europe where empires left their marks and the landscape still surprises. Kotor Serpentines with 25 hairpins climbing the fjord. Tara Canyon in Durmitor, second deepest canyon in the world. Plitvice Lakes, UNESCO World Heritage. Mostar and Sarajevo, cities where recent history is still visible on the walls. Croatia’s D8 Highway, considered one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world.
In 12 days you cross Austrian Alps, Croatia’s Mediterranean coast, the island of Hvar, the fjord of Kotor, the Balkan mountains. You start in Munich on German engineering, ride through Adriatic splendor, dive into the scars of Eastern Europe, and return through Italian Trieste. Every border changes the landscape, the food, the language — always with the right curve waiting.
What’s Included
- BMW R1300GS rental for 12 days (always included)
- 12 nights of hand-picked accommodation across 6 countries (3★/4★ category)
- Breakfast at all hotels
- UpSerra bilingual tour leader (PT / EN)
- Mechanical support vehicle with luggage and tools
- Hvar ferry crossings (Šibenik/Split ↔ Hvar ↔ Makarska)
- Professional photo and video coverage of the expedition
- Initial briefing in Munich
Not Included
- International airfare (round-trip to/from Munich)
- Mandatory international travel insurance
- Motorcycle fuel during the tour
- Meals (high-quality regional gastronomy)
- Park entrance fees (Plitvice ~EUR 25, Durmitor ~EUR 5, Kravice ~EUR 10)
- Bike security hold (~EUR 2,000) and rider liability during the trip
- Optional Pakleni Islands boat trip on Hvar
- Personal expenses
Credit card hold for the bike: the European rental partner places a EUR ~2,000 (~USD 2,200) hold on your credit card during the trip as a security deposit. Released in full at bike return, with no incident. Standard European motorcycle rental practice — UpSerra coordinates everything. Optional CDW (collision damage waiver) reduces your liability.
Requirements
Documentation (international riders)
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond return date (must be valid past March 2027)
- Schengen Area: US/CA/UK/EU/AU/NZ visa-free (Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia). Bosnia & Montenegro: visa-free for the same nationalities, but tracked separately at borders
- Motorcycle license (Class A or equivalent) — valid in country of issue. The European rental partner accepts US/Canadian/UK/AU/NZ home licenses
- International Driving Permit (IDP) recommended (issued by AAA in the US, AA in UK)
- Mandatory international travel insurance with motorcycle riding coverage + medical evacuation
- Credit card with at least USD 2,500 / EUR 2,000 available limit for the bike security hold
Other requirements
- Moderate level — heavy-bike experience (700cc+) with comfort on twisties — Grossglockner and Kotor Serpentines have 25–36 consecutive hairpin turns. Most paved, occasional rough sections in rural Bosnia
- Mountain riding gear: jacket and pants with full protection, riding boots, knee armor, riding gloves, rain shell. September Balkans range from 12°C / 54°F (mountains) to 28°C / 82°F (coast)
- Arrive in Munich by September 4 — afternoon technical handover of the bikes + briefing dinner. Arriving on Day 1 isn’t optional: you need to receive the bike, review documentation, and join the briefing before the Day 1 departure (Sep 5 early)
- Vaccinations: none mandatory for Schengen entry
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Reserve your spot — Balkans Tour September 2026
Leave your details and our team will reach out on WhatsApp within 24 hours.
Prefer to talk first? Message us on WhatsApp →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries do we cross?
Six. Germany (start/finish), Austria (Day 1–2), Slovenia (Day 2–3), Croatia (Day 3–9), Bosnia & Herzegovina (Day 11), Montenegro (Day 9–10). Italy is a brief passage on Day 12. Most are Schengen Area; Bosnia and Montenegro are tracked separately at borders but visa-free for US/CA/UK/EU/AU/NZ citizens.
Is it safe to ride in Bosnia?
Yes. Bosnia & Herzegovina has been at peace since 1995. Sarajevo is one of the most welcoming cities in Europe. Roads are generally good — some rural sections in Bosnia have rougher pavement, but nothing technical.
Do I need a visa for the Schengen Area?
US/CA/UK/EU/AU/NZ citizens: visa-free Schengen entry (up to 90 days within any 180-day window). UpSerra confirms latest requirements at booking.
Is my motorcycle license valid?
Yes — the European rental partner accepts US/CA/UK/AU/NZ home country motorcycle licenses (Class A or equivalent). We strongly recommend an International Driving Permit (IDP) — issued by AAA in the US, AA in the UK.
What’s the weather in September?
Late summer / early autumn. Coast (Croatia/Montenegro): 22–28°C / 72–82°F. Mountains (Sarajevo, Žabljak, Slovenia): 12–22°C / 54–72°F. Mostly dry with occasional rain. Layered gear with rain shell mandatory.
How tough is the tour?
Moderate. The Kotor serpentines and Tara Canyon are technically demanding twisties. Roads are 99% paved. Riding days are short to moderate (100–300 km, with one long final stage). Heavy-bike experience required.
Is Hvar worth the ferry?
Absolutely. Hvar is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. The free day there (D6) is designed for you to rest, hit the beach, eat Croatian food, optional Pakleni Islands boat trip. Most riders go home wanting to come back — Hvar is a destination on its own.
Best flights to Munich?
Munich (MUC) has direct flights from JFK/EWR, ATL, ORD, CLT, IAH, LAX, MIA, SFO, plus London, Toronto, Sydney. Plan to arrive on September 3 to recover from jet lag. Important: arrival by morning/afternoon of September 4 is mandatory — afternoon technical handover and evening briefing dinner happen the same day, before the Day 1 departure on September 5 early.
How do I pay? What’s the deposit?
10% deposit at booking confirms your spot. Balance via international wire transfer in EUR or USD. Once you submit the booking form, our team contacts you on WhatsApp within 24 hours to handle the details.
Pricing
Per person, in USD. BMW R1300GS rental and full UpSerra logistics always included.
| Package | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Solo (single room, BMW R1300GS included) | USD 9,500 |
| Couple (rider + passenger, double room, BMW R1300GS included) | USD 11,500 |
Payment terms: 10% deposit at booking confirms your spot. Balance via international wire transfer (EUR or USD). Talk to the UpSerra team on WhatsApp.
Limited spots.
Small group to preserve pace and full attention from the team.
Reserve your spot directly with our team.
“More than roads, we live experiences. More than destinations, we build friendships.”
@UPSERRA_ · OFFICIAL BMW MOTORRAD PARTNER