The imprint of the Serenissima

The meeting place is in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

A stroll and dinner in the old neighborhoods and along the banks of the Ljubljanica River, which winds its way through the city.

If you rent a motorcycle from our partner, you'll pick it up the next morning.

You start by crossing Slovenia.

Nicknamed the "Little Switzerland of the Balkans", Slovenia has all the hallmarks of an Alpine country: snow-capped peaks, mixed coniferous and deciduous forests, torrents and alpine meadows, villages and steeples with slate roofs, and more.

Here, nature reigns supreme, the landscapes are relaxing and the roads are superb, with very little traffic.

🔎 https://www.geo.fr/voyage/slovenie-les-10-plus-beaux-endroits-a-visiter-203669

Once over the border, you'll cross the Croatian countryside on your way to the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia's largest and oldest nature park.

The site, a Unesco World Heritage Site, covers a hydrographic system made up of 16 lakes that flow into each other via almost a hundred waterfalls over a 130m vertical drop!

This natural wonder is worth a visit. Please note: it gets very crowded during peak season.

🔎 https://www.plitvice.fr/

Today's route takes us along the Adriatic coast to the town of Zadar, following the backbone of the large island of Pag.

Some of the most beautiful postcards on the Adriatic pass before your eyes. The road clinging to the cliffs first winds along the sea, before stretching the length of the island of Pag, the fifth largest Croatian island, just as deserted as its neighbors.

Then it's on to Zadar, one of the jewels of the Dalmatian coast, where Roman remains and Venetian palaces intermingle. In the evening, stroll along the quays to listen to the sea organ, admire the monument to the sun, or lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old town.

In Zadar, you’ll set off for the island of Ugljan, then on to Pasman, crossing the bridge that connects them. As you travel the length of the islands, you’ll discover the magic of the Dalmatian islands before a short boat ride to reach the coast.

You continue south on the Jadranska Magistraia, the famous D8 highway that runs along the entire Dalmatian coast.

Stop at Krka National Park, where the vast waterfalls create breathtaking scenery.

Next up is Trogir, your destination for the day. Listed as a World Heritage Site, this medieval town will charm you with its peaceful and unspoiled atmosphere.

A slightly longer stage today to Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A very different country from the others, Bosnia is a melting pot of Balkan cultures and antagonisms, as Mostar can testify. You'll reach Mostar after crossing the Catholic canton of Croatian culture, world-famous for the Marian site of Medjugorje.

And suddenly, everything changes. Minarets replace steeples, and clothing reflects a more oriental culture,

Formerly on the border with the Ottoman Empire, Mostar is a Bosnian city, i.e. predominantly Muslim of Turkish culture, with a strong Croatian Catholic minority.

The town is famous for its Stari Post (Old Bridge). Destroyed during the war in the 90s, it has since been rebuilt identically.

🔎 https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mostar

Between Mostar and the border, you pass through the Bosnian Serb cantons. Here, Orthodox culture and religion dominate.

On the other side of the border is Montenegro. A tiny country in terms of size, but a sumptuous one in terms of landscape and natural relief.

Durmitor Park is a Unesco World Heritage Site, in the category of natural sites. And deservedly so!

Covered in forests and glacial lakes, criss-crossed by canyons and tumultuous rivers, the park is an exceptional tourist destination.

Crossing it on a motorcycle is a source of strong emotions.

🔎 https://www.voyagemontenegro.com/guide-montenegro/attraction/parc-national-durmitor

After the secret Montenegro of the mountains, let's head for the most famous Montenegro, the mouths of Kotor.

The panoramic road that takes you there is a thing of beauty. A great motorcycling experience!

There are two interesting monasteries on the route: Moraca and Ostrog.

You'll discover the mouths of Kotor along an incredible serpentine road.

The view across the double bay evokes the wings of a gigantic blue butterfly!

🔎 https://tourisme-montenegro.com/2015/09/06/bouches-de-kotor/

Today's stage is shorter, to allow you to arrive early in Dubrovnik and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the streets of this "pearl of the Adriatic".

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is renowned for its impressive ramparts, cobbled streets and picturesque red-roofed buildings.

For fans of the Game of Thrones series, Dubrovnik was chosen for all the scenes set in King's Landing!

🔎 https://www.routard.com/reportages-de-voyage/cid140515-dubrovnik-nos-coups-de-coeur.html

As you leave Dubrovnik, you’ll rejoin the D8, which you’ll follow north to Korčula, a charming medieval waterfront town on the island of the same name.

The stage isn't very long, but it will delight your senses with its unique panoramic views.

Feel free to continue all the way to the tip of the island before heading back to your hotel.

Today, another superb day of motorcycling awaits you along the most beautiful part of the Adriatic coast.

This part of the Croatian coast, rarely visited outside the summer season, offers breathtaking views over the chain of Croatian islands.

In Split, take the time to discover the old town, with its astonishing history.

Built around a villa constructed by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the 3rd century A.D., it has preserved impressive remains, gradually amalgamated by the constructions of successive eras. A must-see!

🔎 https://www.ovpm.org/fr/ville/split-croatie/

This is the final leg of the journey in Croatia. The D8 takes you north, between the rugged Adriatic coastline and the mountains of Sjeverni-Velebit National Park.

Out at sea, you can see the deserted islands of Cres and Krk, floating like white pebbles in the sea.

Arrival in Opatija, at the gateway to Istria. This former fashionable resort town enjoyed its heyday during the Austrian era, until the early 20th century.

It has retained a timeless charm thanks to the many Belle Époque-style buildings and villas that line its coastline and grace its beautiful neighborhoods.

If you came on your own motorcycle, we recommend returning via Venice by taking a ferry from Pula after a final day of riding in Istria.

If you rented your motorcycle in Ljubljana, head back to Slovenia through Istria.

The time has come to return.

Why not extend your stay by a day in Venice or Ljubljana before heading home?

Ask us to arrange it for you so you can enjoy yourself a little longer before heading home.