BalkansTT 2022 – What a show!

After two years of forced abstinence, the BalkansTT 2022 we liked it beyond any memory or expectation!

Extraordinary result that is the combination of a fabulous group (THANK YOU to each of our fellow travelers!) …

… and a destination of extraordinary wild beauty a step away from our Italian borders: a journey that cannot be missing in the curriculum of a motorcyclist!

To make your mouth water too, I invite you to follow us with the videos of the highlights of our adventure, that I will gradually upload:

 

 

 

Hellas TT

Hellas TT 2021

1-11 July

Road and outsideroad

Each adversity contains the seed of an equivalent benefit …

For the second year in a row, cause Covid, we have to give up our beloved "BalkansTT": so many borders, and for each of them too many unknowns – we will return to the 2022!

So what, what better opportunity to launch an itinerary that for too long has been chipping in the drawer, and that last year we tested with great satisfaction!

A formidable route through central Greece, from the Lefkada Peninsula to the mouths

 

of the Acheronte, from the road of thermopylae - on which still the spirit of the 300 Heroes- to the hermit sanctity of meteors.

Two versions: one for enduro motorcycle, on long sliding dirt sprayed here and there of some more technical passage, and one for road bikes of fine pleasantness; and then you find yourself in the evening in front of tables packed with all the best flavors of the Mediterranean!

If you've already had your mouth watered, well, here you are served the full menu of 10 days of a fabulous trip!

day 1 – 01/07, Thursday: meeting place at the port of Ancona with boarding at the 19.30;

day 2 – 02/07, Friday: arrival at the port of Igoumenitsa at 17.30, short transfer for overnight stay in Parga, town of Epirus nestled among the rocks of a small and enchanting gulf.

day 3 – 03/07 Saturday Parga River – Lefkada Municipality

ENDURO

road

Departure to kalodiki marshes and then continue on the first dirt road that will take us to the Preveza Submarine Tunnel in the inland sea. Finally you arrive at the Lefkada Peninsula which - after a short stop at the hotel to store your luggage- we will walk on spectacular roads overlooking fabulous beaches.

Along the beautiful coastal road we reach the Kalodiki Marshes, at certain times of the year covered with white and pink water lilies, inhabited by numerous varieties of birds and aquatic animals. From the Preveza Underwater Tunnel we reach the Lefkada Peninsula which - after a short stop at the hotel to store luggage- we will walk on spectacular roads overlooking fabulous beaches.

Dinner and overnight

day 4 – 04/07 Sunday Lefkada for galaxidi

ENDURO

road

The first white road of the day sails the rocky promontory of Akarnanika. Then continue on a beautiful panoramic dirt road overlooking kalamos island to Astakos, and then take a further offroad stretch that leads to the Acheronte marshes. Finally it makes its way east along two beautiful tracks immersed in nature that will take us to Galaxidi.

Continue south on the coastal road leading to the arid eagles headland and Astakos, and then take the panoramic road that leads to the plain of Lessini and the mouths of the Acheronte, and from here to the majestic Patras Bridge. A beautiful road will lead us to our final destination, the small village of Galaxidi

Dinner and overnight

day 5 – 05/07 Monday, Galaxidi – Delphi – Karavomilos, Fuss

ENDURO

road

Today we are waiting for the Stelvio di Itea and the Track of the Temple of Athena up to Delphi, where we allow ourselves a dutiful visit to the Temple of Apollo. In the afternoon the fantastic parnassos track accompanies us at the foot of the famous Thermopylae, glorious theatre of the battle that made famous the 300 Spartans.

We travel the Gulf of Itea to Delphi, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, with due visit to the temple of Apollo. In the afternoon we honor the statue of Leonidas along the road of thermopylae, glorious theatre of the battle that made famous the 300 Spartans.

Dinner and overnight

day 6 – 06/07 Tuesday Karavomilos – Lake Plastiras

ENDURO

road

We climb the winding pelasgia road on a beautiful off-road route tangent to the coast to the headland of Nies, and then we continue to Lamia where we will take one of the most fascinating tracks on the tour and, finally! Another one until you reach the small artificial lake of Plastiras.

We climb among the olive trees of the panoramic road of Pelasgia up to the headland of Nies, overlooking the Gulf of Pagassitikos closed by the Volos Peninsula. From Sourpi then continue towards Almiros to cross the uncontaminated expanse of Gouras, until a lovely back road takes us to the small artificial lake of Plastiras.

Dinner and overnight

day 7 – 07/07 Wednesday Lake Plastiras – Kalambaka Meteora

ENDURO

road

Very busy driving day! First a long theory of dirt road through dense impervious woods to the scenic road of Pindov Park, and then two more mountain tracks that will lead us to Kalambaka, famous location at the foot of the Meteors.

After walking the periplo of Lake Plastiras, we take the long and scenic road that crosses Pindov Park to Kalambaka, famous location at the foot of the Meteors.

Dinner and overnight

day 8 – 08/07 Thursday Kalambaka People's Republic, rest day

Day dedicated to visiting Orthodox Monasteries and hiking to admire the unparalleled sandstone cliffs, or -why not?!- to relax.

For the irreducible of the bike, after the visit to the Meteors, two short but exciting routes.

Dinner and overnight

day 9 – 09/07 Friday Kalambaka for playing Vradeto on Vradeto

ENDURO

road

We will cross Pindov Park to get to Metsovo along some stretches on the ski slopes. It skirts Lake Pigòn and then takes two remarkable slopes in the Elatohori forest that will lead us to Vradeto in the heart of the mountains.

Departure to Metsovo along the beautiful panoramic road that runs along the northern part of Pindov Park. Continue to Lake Ioannina along the winding E92 and then cut towards Vradeto through the mountains.

Dinner and overnight (in one of the most remote hotels in all of Greece)

day 10 – 10/07 Saturday Vradetus – Igoumenitsa Municipality

Departure from Vradeto along the spectacular road that leads to the Vikos Gorges passing by the village of Mikro Papigo. Then descend to the precipice towards Ioannina and then take the beautiful panoramic road through the mountains to the port of Igoumenitsa for boarding.

Boarding scheduled for hours 21,30

day 11 – 11/07 Sunday Arrival at the port of Ancona (17,30) and leave

PARTICIPATION FEES:

ENDURO: Euro 1890

road: participant/pilot: Euro1690 – participant/passenger: Euro 1590

REGISTRATION FEE (includes travel documentation and travel insurance – non-refundable): Euro 50 to participant

The fee includes:

  • ferry participant + A/R motorcycle in double room;
  • 8 overnight stays with breakfast in the Hotel 4 stars or typical;
  • 8 Dinners;
  • motorcycle riding (enduro path – 1 every 6 participants);
  • gpx tracks (road route);
  • assistance van for luggage transport and any motorcycle in dis failure;
  • visits to the archaeological sites planned (Temple of Apollo + meteors);
  • gadgets;
  • Travel Cancellation Insurance that allows you to cancel the trip, as well as for the classic motivations, also indicated in the policy as a result of the
    • revocation of holidays;
    • events in which the insured person or his family members are affected by diseases classified as a Pandemic by the Who;
    • catastrophic events in the 30 days before departure and within a radius of 100 km;
    • policy that can also be taken out for trips in criminal proceedings to the 100%.
    Exclusion for pre-existing diseases. Age limit 90 years.

The fee does not include:

  • optional excursions;
  • fuel and highway tolls;
  • meals, drinks, tips, personal extras;
  • everything not mentioned in the "quota includes".

Minimum number of participants x travel realization: 15 (of which 12 ENDURO path)

Mode’ REGISTRATION

deposit 990 per pilot; 890 passenger;

BALANCE to reach minimum number by 04/06 within the 15/06: 900 per ENDURO participant, 700 per ROAD participant – both driver and passenger).

DOWNLOAD FORM YOU SIGN UP

Info: Andrea 393.46.90.651; John 328.84.30.292; <info@viaggiinmoto.net>

 

The magic of BalkansTT

Also the Edition 2018 He renewed the "magic" of BalkansTT: to discover-a few hundred kilometres from "home"- a completely different world from that newspaper, made of huge and wild spaces, where life seems to be suspended in the forms and rhythms of centuries ago.

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In 7 days pass 7 States (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania), and this carousel of boundaries, of languages and currencies creates an initial effect of emotional disorientation: then you leave the relative security and familiarity of the Ribbon of asphalt to start on paths and tracks that the Navigator don't even imagine, and here begins an adventure that really exciting experiences reserve who is willing to step out of your usual "comfort". Nature assume dimensions which we are no longer used, It feels smaller in a horizon where no one sees a soul as far as the eye, but you feel alive, extraordinarily alive! Those devices on which we are normally accustomed to trust to meet every need and resolve any issues – from mobile phones connected to the web to credit card- Here again becoming inanimate entities, powerless, forgotten at the bottom of a purse Pocket. In hours away from any form of "civilization", It's back to discover those fundamental values too often neglected in everyday hustle: their first quality, of calm, of lucidity, of ingenuity to remove a flat tire in the middle of a forest, of determination to overcome moments of difficulty and tiredness. And when these are wavering, don't seem to be enough, Here's comes out what it's like to face a challenge not in isolation, self-referential, but as part of a group from the common destiny: and then they will be travelling companions-of complete strangers until the beginning of the week, with which you are now in total intimacy and fellowship- that will help you get up, or that with the water up to your knees you will push out of the puddle you planted. And share with them the many remarkable episodes of the crossing, the mountains climb on ancient military roads carved into the rock cliffs, the ridges suspended between the Green and the endless blue of the sky, the horses Gallop in the wild that seem to challenge you, children who descend at breakneck speed from their poor shepherds ' huts-eyed looks as though strapped of the Martians. And in the evening, Rinse away dust and tiredness, retrace before an overflowing beer mug businesses just experienced, and already sketch on maps those who will occupy the next months of dreams and preparations.

For a video summary even more emotional you can enjoy the video below

and for a more detailed and objective Chronicle, I refer you to this BalkansTT 2018 – tale Stefano Ruggieri.

BalkansTT 2017, that's cool!!

The BalkansTT 2017, that's cool (excuse the technicality)!!

After the Edition “zero” last year, When trying to draw a single location we had put a little’ in trouble less off-roaders, While the more relaxed had remained a little’ by voglino of clearing land, for the 2017 We now forecast a Edition “double zero” with two proposals: One “SOFT” truly suitable for everyone, with a 25% about to off easy level and with some passages a little’ more challenging, and a “HARD” addressed explicitly to more hellish, with adequate experience and above all a lot of want to drive facing over a 40% by off of all levels of difficulty.

And so in recent days, in the weeks between late June and early July, the itinerary soft was beaten by a group of a dozen participants, riding the bike more disparate – from agile mono to classic twins with three bags-, While experimenting in the path hard was cautiously reserved to a small vanguard of arditi. Especially for the latter, weekly development should be taken into account of the trip, that require participants a good physical preparation, to withstand the stresses of driving standing several hours a day for several days in a row.

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End result an experience of extraordinary intensity, that is almost unbelievable live in a target a few tens of kilometers as the Crow from our daily deliveries. List of emotions, to make her mistress is undoubtedly that of guide, non-stop from morning to evening through withering landscapes, Wild, solo beauty. And then the suggestion of historical legacy that permeates every plate of these lands, ever changing border between East and West, North and South, Millennium point of encounter and confrontation of the main cultures of European and Middle Eastern area: and so in one day we pass from the familiar Catholic symbols at onion domes of Orthodox bell towers up to slender minarets. On the walls of some houses, in the gloomy atmosphere and nervous by certain boundaries, meet the scars of the terrible civil war that devastated the former Yugoslavia during the last decade of the last millennium, and from which most young people were born that we cross countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Add Albania and Italy at one end to the other, and here is squeezed from Trieste to Tirana 7 Been in 7 days!

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The sterratoni overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean, the many promontories of the Interior, the bends from the precipice the Amphitheatre of Kotor, the breathtaking canyon of Tara, blinding mountains of Durmitor and Valbona, Eastern geological end of our Dolomites, and then the city of legendary enchantment as Mostar, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik – I can barely retain the memory overhead, that almost afraid to take off my helmet that won't fly away, I'm not even going to try to put everything in black and white in the space of a post, I hope rather than a reflection of such beauty and joy I find stolen my travel companions in expressions – a journey that I'm already counting the days till next departure in the summer of 2018, and that I hope to share with many of you!

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Presentation of travel and Events 2017 of the heroic in motion, 18 and 19 March

Dear heroic friends on two wheels, Let's meet at Gropparello (PC) the weekend of 18 and 19 March for a hands-free presentation of all the events and travel calendar 2017, from those closer like calendar and destination-in spring around the most beautiful roads of Italy- that those “far away”, as the BalkansTT and the Mongolia Motorbike Marathon planned this summer! We will examine in person all your large and small curiosity about each program and path. The meeting will take place at the “Enduro school” of Gropparello, and indeed so you'll have the opportunity to “touch” This type of courses, in my opinion, very useful for improving safety and fun in all conditions. The meeting is free and all are welcome, ESSENTIAL however inform me in advance to the usual contact details day and hour of your arrival, to ensure you can pay everyone the necessary attention!

I hold the whole weekend, If you feel like spending a weekend in good company show you the facilities where I support too.

For those who want to seize the opportunity to attend “School”, below I provide a brief, then the Council contact the instructors: during the first day (Saturday, Enduro 00), you will learn all the basic techniques of off-road driving from a theoretical session and then move on to the practical. Will be treated all aspects relating to the positions to be taken while driving off-road with exercises that will condition all participants to deal with the dirt roads in the hills planned in the afternoon. On Sunday (Enduro 01), Once passed through movements and basic settings, will address all scenarios that can occur along a course in ATVs. Still exercises in the first part of the morning and then move on to actual practice that engage all afternoon. Both the first and second session of Sunday, There will be tests on "tape" that on dirt tracks between the amazing hills of the area.

To stay up to date, You can also reference all’event dedicated to Facebook.

See you soon, Andrea

How to get there. To reach Gropparello: Recommended motorway exit Piacenza sud, After the tollbooth, take the bypass towards Parma, Bobbio. Leave the ring road at exit Farnesiana. At the stop sign, turn left towards San Giorgio. Overcome San Giorgio di 3 KM, in località Case Nuove divert towards Viustino – Ronco and Veggiola. Continue on only way 4 Km and take it to Places the thick Agriturismo Torre dei Cavalieri (N44 49.590 E9 40.709).28_ 26

EnduroTrail18M

Good Heroic Journey 2017!

Dear Heroic friends,

the 2016 -year leap day- It won't be easy to forget! Several earthquakes, both metaphorical and real, they produced more rubble onto a landscape already harshly marked by an incessant economic and social crisis.

Sometimes seems to be missing a map likely, the collective feeling of a possible route and further, where everyone can draw your own individual path; but it's apparent lack – us travellers well know: the future always comes, and there is an elsewhere Nice is that done waiting, except that we're capable of getting us, kilometre after kilometre!

Our bike is there, to give us a smile as soon as we manage to jump in the saddle: the 2016 It was generous of wonderful adventures along the most beautiful roads of Italy and the world, and we can look with just as much confidence in 2017 that is about to take off!

The agenda for the new year is already dense of commitments: all appointments “Classics” confirmed, from Winter Heroes at FURBINENtreffen for starters, I grandi viaggi border doubled after the satisfactions of this summer, from “BalkansTT” available in both version soft that hard at “Mongolia Motorbike Marathon” that will route apart from the Gobi desert to lakes and forests of the North, to Siberia; and of course some new project to experiment, such as in April at the fair “Rimini Off Road” then we set off for a memorable Apennine crossing! Meanwhile, make a note of the dates, from 21 at 25 April, that'll reveal all the details!

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To avoid losing the compass I created a Summary page of all our possible opportunities for meetings; I invite you to come back often to visit, Why gradually will be enriched up to occupy virtually every weekend – In short, Do not worry, the 2017 It will be a year really heroic and without the risk of getting bored! :-)!

Of all these beautiful programs we can already talk about it aloud in Verona at “Motor Bike Expo” from 20 at 22 January; waiting to see you in person, I send to you and your loved ones the blinker wishes for a 2017 rewarding on the road and in life,
Andrea

buon_2017

BalkansTT 2017: you prefer “hard” or “soft”?!

Come regalo anticipato di Natale mi sono concesso una immersione nelle tracce negli appunti e nei ricordi della “edizione zero” del BalkansTT di questa estate -sperimentale, folle, intensissima, davvero balcanica!-; oddio sembrano già passati millemila anni, è proprio tempo di manovrare per tornarci! 🙂

Era dal momento dello sbarco a Bari, con tutta l’Italia da risalire, il morale alle stelle e ogni muscolo dolorante per le tante ore di guida in piedi, che mi chiedevo come dipanare quella ricchissima matassa di carraie, carrarecce, mulattiere che si aggroviglia fra Trieste e Tirana, ed apparecchiarla per renderla perfettamente godibile con le nostre endurone.

All’opposto dell’Italia -dove gridiamo al miracolo quando riusciamo a viaggiare per 10 consecutive minutes in offroad- here in the Balkans, the problem is to manage an extraordinary abundance of gravel roads; and even if they are all low or medium difficulty, having indigestion during the first two or three days you're so cooked that barely can get out of the parking lot of the hotel!

After many headaches and some maps torn in a fit of frustration, applying the golden rule “If you are unsure please open” finally came the inspiration for a solution as simple as it is ingenious: the BalkansTT 2017 will double, with a version “soft” for those who want to enjoy some glimpse of the most spectacular routes on asphalt and offroad punctuated by-why not?!- by sunning on the beach or in the restaurant, and a version “hard” for those who have a fucking want to stay in the saddle and eat dust from morning to night!

What do you say?!

For “soft” meeting in Trieste on Saturday 24 June with a stop in the evening in Istria, then cut the Croatia from the sea to the mountains with some long stretch on gravel roads are wide and extraordinarily scenic Plitvice Park; then we get a nice diagonalone that we will cross the entire Bosnian hinterland with a nice alternation of blacktop and trails through woods and hills up to fabulous Mostar Bridge.

From here back to the beautiful Dalmatian coast with essential stop in Dubrovnik, and then South to embroider the enchanting Bay of Kotor; still we're turning inward and the fabulous parks of Montenegro, del Kosovo e della Valbona in Albania, arriving in Tirana the following Saturday 1 July.

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Here the link to the event “BalkansTT soft edition” on FB.

The version “hard” will start instead on Sunday morning 2 July from Tirana, and takes off for the desire of dirt road with a stop of more than one hundred kilometres off nice tough up to Kukes. Then a couple of days of total immersion in nature in the sublime mountains of Kosovo and Montenegro up to the Valley of the Tara and the alleys of Sarajevo, legendary capital of Bosnia. For the next day's stage reserve a place of honor in the album of your travel memories: We will climb the Trebevic and from here we will go down to about 2000 meters above sea level in the “Throat of death” until you cross the Neretva, then an equal vertical drop everything to switchbacks carved into the rock; After a stop at the ancient mysterious stone sarcophagi landed exhausted at the foot of the fabulous Mostar Bridge – Uauuuuuu! From here it will seem all “downhill”, a long ride through the Highlands semi deserts until the Park Plitvice Lakes and then to wide roads with the horizon already the blue sea.

Here the link to the event “BalkansTT hard edition” on FB.

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A short-freshly our WebMaster will be returned from Thailand!- the site dedicated BalkansTT.org you will find all the info in detail, in the meantime, please refer to dedicated page on Facebook and then I always gladly available to make a nice chat via the usual contacts.

Meanwhile best wishes of Sretan Bozic the sretna nova godina / Familja Krishtlindjet dhe Vitin e Ri!

Heroic in motion at EICMA!

Dear, Dear Heroic in motion,

After a year really very rich, who has given us thousands of opportunities to meet Italy's most beautiful white roads and the world, back our usual date of early winter at the Milan fair, to prepare together the most beautiful revolutions of 2017, from “Dust&Gloria” at “BalkansTT” at “Mongolia Motorbike Marathon” just to mention the most greedy!

I'll be waiting for the duration of the show, then the opening of Tuesday 8 Sunday closed 13 November, at the space of our Media-Partner “Motorcycle touring“, Pavilion 10 Stand I72.

If you do not see me immediately-wow!- I go to pee, or enjoying a little’ of the countless motorcycle goodies when we will be immersed! Take a little walk and then go back (I recommend!) or give me a ring at the usual number (393.46.90.651) What are we doing a walking together between the stands!

Keep up to date through l’event on Facebook, There will also be succulent surprises – See you soon! Andrea

EICMA-12

 

 

Zero Edition of BALKANS TT = DONE !

It's reached the finish line of Tirana on “BalkansTT”, seven States in seven days, Party on 9 July from Trieste. And’ been a raid still sooner than expected. But the commitment to driving was proportional to the ultimate satisfaction of having accomplished a very unusual! We can say that it is not by chance that-while among millemila proposals throughout the globe- yet no one had attempted a crossing of the Balkans by Jeep tour! And’ really hard to imagine how, on the other side of the Adriatic, just let the few main roads, Open under the wheels so vast and wild lands, to conquer meter by meter, with deadly beauty landscapes. They offer the excitement of travelling for hours without meeting a soul different from that of your companions! And’ was a really intense experience, with all the “defects in youth” a “ZERO Edition”. But with all the advantages of youth: momentum, enthusiasm, tenacity. And a good dose of cockiness typically balcanica! A special congratulations to all participants that, even more tough stages, just under circumstance of unexpected difficulties, have always flaunted human talent and motorcycle manufacturers, coming every time at the finish, also thanks to the extraordinary team spirit that has been created since the first unexpected (a nice punch in the middle of a forest, to about thirty kilometers by road from the first town!) and then day by day, sometimes with increasing difficulty, went strong.

No time to go home, and we are already working on the trail and travel notes accumulated to make a schedule for next year that will make you enjoy those “Balkans that others will never see …”

A greeting from Andrea LAMPeggione and the staff of event: Franz, Dino, Mattia, Martina) by “Top Travel Team” – Verona