Albania / Montenegro / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Croatia: Yearly Vacation - Albania - Day on the Road
Seventeen days, two motorcycles, one destination. For this year's holiday, Nada and I headed to Albania, planning to explore its coastline from north to south before turning towards the mountains and making our way home through some of the country's most scenic landscapes.
Our unexpected rest day in Velipojë was over. The rain had moved on, my stomach was slowly beginning to cooperate again, and it was finally time to continue the journey home. We loaded the motorcycles, said goodbye to the Adriatic coast and headed north.
The route first took us through Shkodër, before crossing the border and leaving Albania behind after more than two unforgettable weeks on the road.
From there, we continued through Montenegro, passing through Podgorica and Nikšić. The kilometres rolled by effortlessly, and before long another country was already behind us.
Next came a short section through Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following quiet roads towards Trebinja, we eventually reached the Croatian border and entered the final country of the day.
By lunchtime, we arrived in the small village of Broce, where we treated ourselves to a leisurely meal overlooking the Adriatic.
Our next stop was Ston. Besides being famous for its impressive medieval walls, the town also had a practical purpose for us. On the ride south at the beginning of the trip, Nada had accidentally left her buff behind here. Fortunately, it had patiently waited for us until our return journey.
With the missing piece of equipment successfully recovered, we continued north along the Croatian coast towards Omiš. Nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the dramatic cliffs surrounding the mouth of the Cetina River, Omiš provided a perfect setting for the final stop of the day.
A relaxed walk through the old town and an expensive pizza brought another long riding day to a successful conclusion - Garmin Connect. After crossing four countries and covering hundreds of kilometres, there was little left to do except enjoy the evening and reflect on how close to home we had already come.
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| Our Albanian loop: 1,823 kilometres travelled in 12 days and 19 hours. |
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| Riding alongside the Trebišnjica River on quiet roads through southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
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| The mountains were behind us. The Adriatic was once again within sight. |
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| Croatia's Adriatic coast is home to more than 1200 islands, islets and reefs, creating the second-largest archipelago in the Mediterranean. |
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| Nada took charge of navigation and led the way to our lunch stop. |
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| After crossing four countries, it was finally time to slow down and enjoy lunch in Broce in Ston Channel. |
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| Built in the 14th century to protect the valuable salt works of the Republic of Dubrovnik, the Walls of Ston stretch for more than five kilometres and rank among the longest fortification systems in Europe. |
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| Behind its peaceful appearance lies a turbulent history. The Church of St. Blaise has been rebuilt several times following a series of devastating earthquakes that struck Ston over the centuries. |
Opened in 2022, the Pelješac Bridge eliminated Croatia's only coastal border crossing and connected the country's territory by road.
With Blue Horse and Thunder safely parked, we wandered into the old town of Omiš.
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| An evening by the waterfront in Omiš, where the Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea beneath the town's dramatic limestone cliffs. |
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| Dinner. |
Wandering through the narrow white stone streets of Omiš as the day slowly came to an end.
With steep cliffs on one side and the Adriatic on the other, Omiš had little room to expand, leaving behind a charming maze of narrow stone streets and hidden corners.
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| Day 16: From Velipojë to Omiš - 437 km. |
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