ABOUT

The Trans Balkan Race is the ultimate test of endurance, resilience, and self-reliance — a 1400 km (and 30000 m of climbing) self-supported off-road race through the untamed heart of the Balkans.

The route traces an unforgettable journey across karst deserts, glacial valleys, and high mountain passes, linking the most stunning National Parks of the Dinaric Alps and crossing four countries of the former Yugoslavia: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Expect no easy days. Riders face extreme temperature swings, rugged terrain, scarce water sources, and distant resupply points — making this one of the toughest and wildest bikepacking races in the world. You’ll traverse remote mountain regions and some of the last untouched wilderness in Europe.

But the Trans Balkan is more than just a race. It’s a raw, personal journey — a test of what you’re made of, and a celebration of the landscapes that shape you.

Get ready for the Balkan Party!

The Balkans: a Wild Frontier

Bikepacking is freedom stripped to its essence: just you, your bike, and the road ahead. The Trans Balkan Race takes that spirit and throws it into the raw landscapes of the Balkans — a region where Europe feels both familiar and foreign, near and yet unknown.
Here, remote mountains, karst plateaus, deep forests, and rocky deserts set the stage for a journey that is as much about roots and traditions as it is about endurance. What unfolds is not just a race, but an adventure through places that remain wild, untamed, and unforgettable.

The Route

The Trans Balkan Race traces a line from Slovenia to Montenegro, linking remote trails, mountain passes, and ancient roads while keeping paved stretches to a bare minimum. The design is simple: rideable, logical, and uncompromisingly Balkan. No needless hike-a-bike, no contrived obstacles — just the raw terrain itself.
The route isn’t defined by technical tricks but by its scale: long climbs, relentless elevation, and the harsh reality of scarce resupply points. Dehydration, remoteness, and exposure are the real tests here. In the end, it’s all about finding the strength to keep moving when the environment pushes back.

The Land of Extremes

The Trans Balkan Race unfolds across the Dinaric Alps, weaving through some of Europe’s most striking National Parks. Karst dominates these lands, shaping a lunar landscape where temperatures can swing by 20 °C in just a few hours. Water is scarce, as rain vanishes into underground caves, leaving the surface dry, rocky, and unforgiving.
Then, just as suddenly, the moonscapes give way to deep forests, where mud and roots slow every turn of the pedals. The Balkans don’t deal in moderation — their nature is extreme, demanding, and unforgettable. No half-measures!

Where Worlds Collide

The Trans Balkan Race moves through a shifting mosaic of landscapes and communities. One moment you’re crossing tourist towns, the next you’re deep in rural backcountry. These countries still carry the scars of the Yugoslav Wars — visible in crumbling buildings, but also quietly present in memory. Yet, riders are met with warmth and generosity everywhere, even when the language barrier limits communication.
Beyond the remote villages lie isolated mountain regions, where human presence thins and wildlife takes over. Here, the population is mainly composed of mountain goats, and golden jackals call through the night. Bears and wolves still roam these territories, and the livestock is guarded by shepherd dogs — all fluff and fur until they’re not.

ABOUT

The Trans Balkan Race is the ultimate test of endurance, resilience, and self-reliance — a 1400 km (and 30000 m of climbing) self-supported off-road race through the untamed heart of the Balkans.

The route traces an unforgettable journey across karst deserts, glacial valleys, and high mountain passes, linking the most stunning National Parks of the Dinaric Alps and crossing four countries of the former Yugoslavia: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Expect no easy days. Riders face extreme temperature swings, rugged terrain, scarce water sources, and distant resupply points — making this one of the toughest and wildest bikepacking races in the world. You’ll traverse remote mountain regions and some of the last untouched wilderness in Europe. 

But the Trans Balkan is more than just a race. It’s a raw, personal journey — a test of what you’re made of, and a celebration of the landscapes that shape you.

Get ready for the Balkan Party!

The Balkans: a Wild Frontier

Bikepacking is freedom stripped to its essence: just you, your bike, and the road ahead. The Trans Balkan Race takes that spirit and throws it into the raw landscapes of the Balkans — a region where Europe feels both familiar and foreign, near and yet unknown.
Here, remote mountains, karst plateaus, deep forests, and rocky deserts set the stage for a journey that is as much about roots and traditions as it is about endurance. What unfolds is not just a race, but an adventure through places that remain wild, untamed, and unforgettable.

The Route

The Trans Balkan Race traces a line from Slovenia to Montenegro, linking remote trails, mountain passes, and ancient roads while keeping paved stretches to a bare minimum. The design is simple: rideable, logical, and uncompromisingly Balkan. No needless hike-a-bike, no contrived obstacles — just the raw terrain itself.
The route isn’t defined by technical tricks but by its scale: long climbs, relentless elevation, and the harsh reality of scarce resupply points. Dehydration, remoteness, and exposure are the real tests here. In the end, it’s all about finding the strength to keep moving when the environment pushes back.

The Land of Extremes

The Trans Balkan Race unfolds across the Dinaric Alps, weaving through some of Europe’s most striking National Parks. Karst dominates these lands, shaping a lunar landscape where temperatures can swing by 20 °C in just a few hours. Water is scarce, as rain vanishes into underground caves, leaving the surface dry, rocky, and unforgiving.
Then, just as suddenly, the moonscapes give way to deep forests, where mud and roots slow every turn of the pedals. The Balkans don’t deal in moderation — their nature is extreme, demanding, and unforgettable. No half-measures!

Where Worlds Collide

The Trans Balkan Race moves through a shifting mosaic of landscapes and communities. One moment you’re crossing tourist towns, the next you’re deep in rural backcountry. These countries still carry the scars of the Yugoslav Wars — visible in crumbling buildings, but also quietly present in memory. Yet, riders are met with warmth and generosity everywhere, even when the language barrier limits communication.
Beyond the remote villages lie isolated mountain regions, where human presence thins and wildlife takes over. Here, the population is mainly composed of mountain goats, and golden jackals call through the night. Bears and wolves still roam these territories, and the livestock is guarded by shepherd dogs — all fluff and fur until they’re not.