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Trans Dinarica navigation packages: maps, GPS tracks, POIs, stage descriptions and more

For those of you ready to jump on the bike, let us briefly explain the form the Trans Dinarica GPS navigation packages — with GPS or GPX tracks and Points of Interest, or POIs — will take. We want to be clear about the tools available when cycling through the eight countries of the Western Balkans.

 

Cyclists on gravel bikes checking the navigational data for the Trans Dinarica cycle route.

You will be using the Ride with GPS mobile app for navigation on the Trans Dinarica cycling route.

 

1. The Trans Dinarica route exists in digital format only.

Trans Dinarica cycling route will only be available in digital format. This extensive Balkan cycling route will not be marked on-site. Can you imagine how many signs would be needed to physically mark approximately 5,000 kilometers of trails? So, don’t expect signs at crossroads.

 

2. The general Trans Dinarica map and data.

The general map of the entire Trans Dinarica route across all countries is available free of charge. Each stage is presented with an official pdf map available for free download, showing route track, vertical profile, and basic technical info about the length and elevation. This way, you are able to see where the route leads and use it to plan your own cycling trip and navigate through the Western Balkans with ease  – with some ingenuity and more clicking, of course. But, to make the life of an adventurer easier … (see point 3)

 

3. Extensive Trans Dinarica GPS navigation packages.

Navigation packages for each of the individual countries are available for a small fee; for Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia. You can check the prices here: Navigation Pack. And there is a discount for everyone who chooses to buy the navigation package for the entire Trans Dinarica.

These fees associated with the Trans Dinarica bike tour navigation packages are for the route’s sustainability. The fees will be used to offset the cost of keeping the navigation packages and GPX tracks accurate and so that the trail is updated with local businesses that offer accommodations, food, and services. In short, we are committed to making a positive impact on communities across the region. You can find some idea about why we believe the cycle route has a positive effect on the local community in this story: Why do I believe in Trans Dinarica?

 

4. For the navigation, you’ll be using the Ride with GPS mobile app (or others).

After thorough research of the possibilities, we decided that the navigational package of the Trans Dinarica cycling route will be available on the Ride with GPS App, in the form of the so-called “RWGPS Experience”, the excellent performance of which we have already tested in practice. A free-to-use mobile app allows active turn-by-turn navigation without an internet connection after preloading the entire map. The process is fast, and easy, with plenty of display options and help along the way.

For those in favor of different mobile applications or special GPS navigational devices like Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead, etc., the navigational package, once purchased, will offer the possibility of downloading GPS data for active navigation with those devices or apps, too. To be precise – you can manually download GPX files from the RWGPS App (just tracks, no POIs or any other Experience content).

Even without using the RWGPS mobile App for navigation, you can still use the RWGPS Experience on your mobile device as a secondary source of maps, POIs, and itinerary information, since all these are accessible offline. We’re sure you’ll enjoy it.

 

Cases of using a mobile app Ride with GPS for navigation on Trans Dinarica cycling route.

Cyclists can download GPS tracks for navigation through the RWGPS app, or use the packages with other mobile apps.

 

What does the country-specific Trans Dinarica navigation package contain?

  • GPS track for the whole country.
  • Surface data (paved, unpaved).
  • Information on the height difference (altitude/climbs).
  • Useful POIs (warnings about important route characteristics, accommodations, inns, shops, bicycle workshops, natural and cultural heritage, …).
  • Descriptions of individual stages (interesting sites along the way, difficulty of cycling, specifics regarding accommodation …).
  • Information about the so-called hubs that you can use for easier logistics (connecting routes to major cities with airports, bus, and rail connections).

 

In short, the navigation package is informative enough that you should have no problems planning a cycling trip and navigating through the Balkans. This still means that you will be cycling in a foreign country in a ‘self-guided’ way, i.e. on your own. Please do not count on someone from our team to help you look for a place to stay in the middle of the Bosnian mountains at 9 pm. If you’re getting curious and want to know more about planning a long-distance cycling trip, check out our other articles for tips on cycling holidays in the Western Balkans, recommended gear, and more.

 

Cyclists on a wooden bridge in Albania, riding the Trans Dinarica cycle route.

Using detailed Trans Dinarica GPX tracks and navigation packages provides cyclists with useful POIs, route information, and surface data.

 

What about guided Trans Dinarica cycling tours?

For organised guided and self-guided tours or bike rental contact one of the official Trans Dinarica tour operators.

What kind of bicycle for the Trans Dinarica? Gravel, touring or MTB?

“Can I explore the Trans Dinarica cycling route through the Western Balkans with a loaded touring bike? Or do I need something more off-road oriented?” is another common question that you were curious about. Here’s the short answer:

 

Two Trans Dinarica cyclists at the Black Lake in Durmitor, Montenegro.

The diverse paths of the Trans Dinarica cycling route wind through terrain that invites all types of riders.

 

Trekking or touring bikes, some call them hybrid or fitness bikes, will be very useful, and an enduro or cross-country bike can also be an excellent choice. We would only advise against folding bikes, downhill bikes, and road racing bikes. Although, you know, where there’s a will, there’s a way 🙂

We use gravel bikes for routing because they are fast on the road and relatively good on macadams. Above all, they are an excellent compromise because we don’t need a lot of luggage for our research work – a support van helps us with that.

 

Packing for the Trans Dinarica

When cycling a long-distance bike route, as far as luggage (and weight) is concerned, we advise you to take only the most essential things with you, as you will pass by the market or store almost every day (every other day for sure). What is necessary and how many extra kilograms should be carried on bicycles, opinions differ so much that it is difficult to draw a line between what is an acceptable weight and what is decidedly too much. Just be aware that sometimes roads like this await you:

 

Cyclist on a gravel road in mountains of North Macedonia, riding the Trans Dinarica cycle route.

Cycling through the Balkans, riders will encounter a mix of gravel roads and natural landscapes, making it a unique exploration of the Balkan Peninsula’s diverse terrain.

 

How much asphalt and gravel is there on the way?

Roughly 80% of the Trans Dinarica cycling route is asphalted, but the ratio of asphalt to gravel varies by stage. In some sections, like the Croatian part of the route, we’ve recorded stages with up to 99% macadam. Though most of the unpaved roads are well-maintained and easily passable, the experience of cycling on gravel often feels more significant since the slower pace on macadam makes it more noticeable.

When it comes to unpaved surfaces, cyclists can expect mostly well-maintained, hard macadam roads, which are accessible even by standard cars. However, some stages feature rougher terrain with larger stones, which are marked in the Trans Dinarica navigation packages for better route planning and preparation. Discover what kind of terrain you can expect as you travel through each Western Balkan country on this adventurous cycling route.

How hospitable are the locals in the Balkans?

Traveling through each Balkan country is always multifaceted; we experience it ourselves, and we are surrounded by nature, settlements, locals, animals … After our last cycling trip in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, we believe that meeting people—locals who have been cultivating the Balkan soil for decades—is a more important component than in the case of traveling through more touristic countries. In this article, we will share one day of our journey to highlight the deep sense of hospitality that makes Balkan travel truly unique.

 

Locals making rakija in Serbia while traveling the Balkans.

Locals might generously offer you some homemade meals, coffee, and rakija, and welcome travelers like family at every stop along the cycling tour.

 

A Serbian breakfast to remember

Our first stop on the Serbian section of Trans Dinarica was the small town of Sjenica. “Whenever you want! If it’s at 7:00 a.m., let it be at 7:00 a.m.,” answered the owner of a house, in which she rents out a few rooms this year when asked when we can have breakfast. When I went to prepare the bikes for the next trip in the morning, at 6:40 she was already walking from one kitchen to another (outside) kitchen. Inside she was putting different kinds of cheeses and pickled vegetables on plates, outside she was frying ‘uštipci’ (a kind of fried bread) and fresh green peppers, and under the tablecloth, freshly baked homemade bread was cooling. At 6:58, the table was so full that we couldn’t finish it. But she wrapped up some uštipci, cheese, and some dried meat for us to go on our way. Here, we had lunch.

 

Afternoon coffee in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Early in the afternoon, there were signs of a storm coming from the west. We were late with the day’s plan, a little earlier we found ourselves on a path we wouldn’t have liked to see under a five-and-a-half-meter van. Slowly, it worked. But the scene before the rain is fantastic; we are on a high plateau, the Albanian and Montenegrin mountains can be seen in the distance, covered with snow, and we are in the screaming green mountains, overgrown with juniper and pine and spruce. We MUST take some photos and videos here! We stop near a lonely house, prepare the camera and walkie-talkie, and start working. If I wasn’t really in a hurry because of the coming rain, I would first go and ask if I could park at the house, but … A minute later, when the cyclists were already moving away, a lady greets me from the porch and asks if we want coffee. Oh, please, thank you!

By the time the shots are finished and the bikes are stowed back in the van, the house already smells of strong coffee, and there is sparkling water, some candy, and slices of dried beef on the table. We talked about life in these remote places, about where the five daughters moved to, how they are waiting for a better road, and how many cyclists pass by here. They refused to accept the payment.

 

Evening rakija and a table full of delicious food

In the evening, just a few kilometers before our last checkpoint of the day, we wanted to see the possibility of accommodation in a small village. An elderly man was outside making rakija and called his son from the house to ask for information about rooms. After a short conversation right through the windows of the van, we decided to stay right here, in the village. And here – again, in a few minutes, in addition to the promised clean beds, the table was full of homemade goodies, bread, meat, and fresh vegetables. And of course, glasses for rakija as we finished driving for the day.

 

Cycling any part of the Trans Dinarica bike trail, you will find that locals go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. From offering coffee to packing you extra food for your ride, the people you meet will be a major highlight of your trip. Plan your next bike adventure with us, stay updated with the best tips for exploring the Trans Dinarica, and sign up for our newsletter to stay connected.

 

 

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