The Trans Balkan Race 2026 covers 1400 km with 30,000 meters of climbing — a line across the spine of the Dinaric Alps, from the Karst edges of Slovenia to the Adriatic coast of Montenegro. It’s an off-road race designed for endurance, not tricks: there are no excessive technical sections, but a mountain bike will let you enjoy it fully. What makes it hard isn’t the riding itself, but the scale — vast wilderness, scarce resupply points, and the raw nature of the Balkans.

The journey begins in Trieste, Italy, crossing into Slovenia after just 10 km. From here, the route traces southeast into the misty hills of Čičarija and the deep forests of Mount Snežnik. Soon after, you’ll cross the border into Croatia and enter Risnjak National Park, home to the elusive lynx that gives the massif its name.

From here, the route dives into the vast Velebit Nature Park — Croatia’s largest protected area. Endless white gravel roads carry you through the highlands, down toward Gospić, birthplace of Nikola Tesla. After skirting the Una National Park, the track follows the Via Dinarica into the rugged heights of Dinara Nature Park. Here, the race changes pace: the landscapes grow wider, the trails more remote, the riding tougher. Everything feels bigger and more exposed — a shift that marks the beginning of the route’s most demanding stretch.

The next frontier is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Riders descend into the wide open Livanjsko Polje, then climb into the Cincar highlands, where wild horses still roam. The track cuts through Blidinje Nature Park before spilling into Mostar — a rare glimpse of civilization, and the lowest (and hottest) point of the route at just 60 m above sea level.

Beyond Mostar lies the most demanding part of the race: wide plateaus, karst deserts, mud, and forests. You’ll enter Sutjeska National Park, home to legends and heroes, and Perućica, one of Europe’s last primeval rainforests. Thisis a place where both history and wilderness run deep, and where the race begins to test every limit. From here, the view opens above Lake Piva and into the dramatic Piva Canyon.

The final act unfolds across Montenegro’s wild heart. Riders crest the heights of Durmitor National Park, one of the country’s most famous and stunning landscapes. Towering peaks, alpine pastures, and glacial lakes define this high-altitude world, with the route climbing to its highest point. 

From Durmitor, riders traverse the wind-whipped highlands of Žabljak and cross the relentless climbs connecting the highlands of Kolašin. At last, the race descends into Nikšić, before the road opens onto one of the Balkans’ most unforgettable sights: the shimmering blue of Kotor Bay — the finish line.