BALKAN TET 2026 3 riders · 21 days

Route variants

Alternative trip plans — for comparison and future trips. The ACTIVE variant is what's currently wired into the map and itinerary. Tell me to switch and I'll rebuild the day plan to any of the alternatives.

🌍 Balkan Classic

DEFAULT 🇸🇮 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇲🇪 🇷🇸
Five-country tour — variety over depth — A taste of every Balkan flavor in one trip. Best for a first-time Balkan rider, balanced and well-rounded.
~2,460
TET km
~5,800
Total km
9
TET days
5
Countries
Highlights
  • Iconic Vršič Pass (SI scenic asphalt)
  • Croatian limestone karst (HR-01 + HR-03 Velebit)
  • Bosnian war/mountain plateau (BIH-04 Bjelašnica, Sutjeska)
  • Montenegrin Tara canyon (MNE-01 partial)
  • Serbian Drina valley (SRB-04 Variant A)
Pros
  • Five very different riding experiences in one trip
  • Iconic destinations, photo-friendly
  • Best for first-time Balkan rider
  • Lots of variety = stays interesting day-after-day
Cons
  • Only ~11% of available SRB TET ridden — leaves a lot on the table
  • Long road days on the way back (Day 18 = 11h motorway)
  • Multiple short TET tastes vs deep immersion
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 10SI: SLO-01 Soča (~150 km TET)
Day 11HR: Fužine + Gorski Kotar (~150 km TET)
Day 12HR: Lika main + Velebit option (~290 km available)
Day 13HR→BIH: BiH-01 full (213 km TET)
Day 14BIH: BiH-04 plateau + BiH-03 entry (~280 km TET)
Day 15MNE: MNE-01 to Žabljak (~82 km TET)
Day 16SRB: SRB-01 around Zlatibor (~120 km TET)
Day 17SRB: SRB-04 Drina valley (~180 km TET)
Best for: First Balkan trip · variety hunter · iconic destinations
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🌐 Balkan Maximum

AVAILABLE 🇸🇮 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇲🇪 🇷🇸
Same five countries, +35% more TET — Same dates and sleep stops as Classic, but each day cherry-picks extra TET sections plus the small mini-loops most riders skip past.
~2,810
TET km
~5,800
Total km
9
TET days
5
Countries
Highlights
  • Cherry-picks the BEST 100–150 km from each long TET track instead of the full thing
  • Adds the small side loops we currently bypass: BIH-05/06/08/09/10 (~70 km extra)
  • More variety per day — never bored on the same surface for hours
  • Easier to bail / shortcut: just skip the next mini loop if running late
  • Touches more named tracks — "we rode 8 sections, not 3 long ones"
  • Riders self-select which loops to ride based on energy/time
Pros
  • +405 km TET vs current Sampler (~35% more)
  • Same 21-day calendar, same sleep stops, no rescheduling
  • More photo / story material — different terrain every couple of hours
  • Lower fatigue per day vs riding one section to exhaustion
  • No commitment to finish — pick more, ride what time allows
Cons
  • More route navigation — more transitions between tracks
  • Slight risk of "tour bus" feel if rushed (mitigated by wide time budget)
  • Some cherry-picked loops are short (4–9 km) — more setup time vs ride time
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 10SI: SLO-01 (~150 km) — same as current
Day 11HR-02 Fužine full + HR-01 Gorski Kotar best 80 km + extend to Delnice (~210 km TET)
Day 12HR-01 Lika best 120 km + HR-03 Velebit loop full (~220 km TET)
Day 13BIH-01 full 213 km + side: BIH-05 (7) + BIH-06 (4) + BIH-08 (40) loops (~250 km TET)
Day 14BIH-04 Sarajevo plateau + BIH-03 entry + BIH-09/10 mini loops (~280 km TET)
Day 15MNE-01 Tara canyon deeper (140 km) + side spurs (~150 km TET)
Day 16SRB-01 around Zlatibor wider (~150 km) + Drina valley short ride (~50 km) (~200 km TET)
Day 17SRB-04 Drina deep (~180 km) + SRB-01 east tail (~100 km) (~280 km TET)
Best for: Wide-net riders · variety hunters · "more named tracks" satisfaction
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🦅 Bosnia & Serbia Deep

AVAILABLE 🇸🇮 🇧🇦 🇷🇸
Skip HR and MNE to double-down on Bosnia and Serbia — For riders who want maximum TET km in two countries instead of light tastes of five. Mostly transit through HR/MNE on asphalt.
~2,620
TET km
~5,500
Total km
10
TET days
3
Countries
Highlights
  • Full BIH TET network — 6+ tracks
  • Half of SRB-01 (832 km available, ride ~400 km)
  • Full SRB-04 Drina valley (430 km available)
  • Reach SRB-02 south spur — into Kopaonik
  • Less crowded — no tourist HR coast
Pros
  • Maximum TET km in 2 countries (~63% increase over Sampler)
  • Less crossings/borders to manage
  • Time to do tracks justice — not just slice them
  • Underrated regions, more authentic
Cons
  • Loses iconic Velebit / Plitvice (HR)
  • Loses Durmitor / Tara (MNE)
  • Heavier riding day-after-day — fatigue risk
  • Less photo variety
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 10SI: SLO-01 partial → asphalt transit through HR
Day 11BIH: BiH-01 full → BiH-02 entry
Day 12BIH: BiH-02 + BiH-05 + BiH-06 + BiH-08 small loops
Day 13BIH: BiH-04 plateau + BiH-09/10
Day 14BIH: BiH-03 → cross to SRB
Day 15SRB: SRB-04 Drina valley (full ~250 km)
Day 16SRB: SRB-01 west portion (~250 km)
Day 17SRB: SRB-01 east + SRB-02 entry (~200 km)
Best for: Returning Balkan rider · TET km maximizer · 2-country focus
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🏆 Flagship Tracks

AVAILABLE 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇲🇪 🇷🇸
Ride the longest signature TET in each country — HR-01 deep, BiH-04 full, MNE-01 pushed deep south, SRB-01 west — do justice to each country's most-published TET.
~2,830
TET km
~5,800
Total km
9
TET days
4
Countries
Highlights
  • TET_HR-01 FULL 358 km (instead of partial)
  • TET_BiH-01 FULL 213 km (already in plan)
  • TET_BiH-04 FULL 203 km (already in plan)
  • TET_MNE-01 FULL 310 km (instead of 82)
  • TET_SRB-01 partial west 250 km (instead of 71)
Pros
  • "Did the whole track" satisfaction per country
  • Most photogenic / most-published TET sections
  • Less route-planning ambiguity in the field
  • Same countries as Sampler, deeper riding
Cons
  • HR-01 alone is 358 km TET — 12+ hours single day
  • Probably needs longer days (push 11-12h some days)
  • Less "explore" feel — more "execute the plan"
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 10SI: SLO-01 partial (current)
Day 11HR-01 full first half (~180 km TET)
Day 12HR-01 full second half + HR-03 Velebit (~250 km TET)
Day 13BIH: BiH-01 full (current)
Day 14BIH: BiH-04 full (current)
Day 15MNE: MNE-01 FULL 310 km — push deep south
Day 16SRB-01 west deep (~250 km)
Day 17Return via Bihać + HR-03 second pass
Best for: Bagger of trails · "did the whole thing" satisfaction
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🌊 Coast & Mountains

AVAILABLE 🇸🇮 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇲🇪
Inland TET down, Croatian coast on the way back — Lighter on TET km, heavier on scenic Adriatic coast on the return. Best for mixed-purpose / photographer trips.
~2,250
TET km
~6,200
Total km
7
TET days
4
Countries
Highlights
  • BIH/MNE inland TET as in Sampler
  • Spectacular Croatian Adriatic coast asphalt return
  • Plitvice, Krka waterfalls accessible
  • Mostar/Dubrovnik possible
  • Mix of dirt + photo-trip vibes
Pros
  • Best mix of TET + tourist scenery
  • Bring back better photos for non-rider friends
  • Coast roads are easier on the wrist after Balkan TET
  • Gives a "rest" feel without losing trip energy
Cons
  • Less TET overall (700 km vs 920 in Sampler)
  • Coast = traffic in summer (June is OK)
  • Skip Serbia / Drina valley
  • Can feel "touristy" if that's not your style
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 10-14SI + HR + BIH inland TET (similar to Sampler)
Day 15MNE: Durmitor full
Day 16Cross to coast: Kotor / Budva
Day 17Adriatic coast asphalt north: Dubrovnik → Split
Day 18Split → Zadar → Plitvice → Postojna → Salzburg
Best for: Mixed-purpose trip · photographer · partner-friendly
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🇷🇸 All Serbia TET

AVAILABLE 🇦🇹 🇭🇺 🇷🇸
Direct east via Hungary — skip SI/HR/BIH/MNE, hit every Serbian TET track plus a Hungarian taste
~2,880
TET km
~5,600
Total km
7
TET days
3
Countries
Highlights
  • Direct east route: Salzburg → Vienna → Budapest motorway, then dive south
  • All 5 Serbian TET tracks ridden: SRB-01, 02, 03, 04, 05
  • Bonus H-01 (Hungary) eastern spine taste (~150 km)
  • SRB-05 full track ridden (~255 km) — the only variant doing this
  • SRB-01 east AND west sections (~530 km total across days 14–15)
  • SRB-04 full Drina valley west + east extension (~500 km across days 16–17)
  • Visually unique on the map — northern arc via Hungary, not the Balkan southern arc
Pros
  • Only variant that touches every Serbian TET track at depth (not just samples)
  • No HR/MNE/BIH detour — every TET km is in Serbia (or Hungary)
  • Geographically clean: chain SRB-05 → 03 → 02 → 01 → 04 with minimal asphalt
  • Bonus: introduces Hungarian TET to the trip
  • Claus rides every Serbian track too (turn-back from Kraljevo via Hungary)
Cons
  • Skips Slovenia (Vršič / Soča valley — iconic)
  • Skips Croatia entirely (no HR-01 Lika, no Velebit)
  • Skips Bosnia entirely (no BIH-04 plateau, no Sarajevo experience)
  • Skips Montenegro entirely (no Durmitor / Tara canyon)
  • Day 10 is a long motorway transit (~700 km Salzburg → Budapest, no TET)
  • Claus solo return is longer (~1300 km via Hungary vs ~800 km via Foča)
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 10Salzburg → Vienna → Budapest motorway (~700 km, no TET)
Day 11H-01 east Hungary (~150 km) → border → SRB-05 full (~255 km) → Belgrade
Day 12Belgrade → SRB-03 east-central (~250 km) → south Serbia sleep
Day 13SRB-02 east-to-west (~250 km) → Kopaonik area sleep
Day 14SRB-01 east section (~250 km) → Kraljevo (Claus last day)
Day 15SRB-01 around Zlatibor (~280 km)
Day 16SRB-04 Drina valley (~300 km) → Užice
Day 17SRB-04 east extension (~200 km) — final TET day at Užice
Best for: Serbia completist · TET km maximizer · "different route, different country" rider
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🇫🇷 Western Europe TET Tour

AVAILABLE 🇫🇷 🇧🇪 🇩🇪 🇸🇮 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇲🇪 🇷🇸
Maximum western European TET on the outbound, full Balkan tour after
~3,730
TET km
~6,500
Total km
12
TET days
8
Countries
Highlights
  • Day 7: F-14 Champagne-Ardenne FULL (~400 km) + B-03 + F-19 Champagne crest bonus (~150 km)
  • Day 8: F-13 Vosges FULL (~585 km) + F-22 Jura bonus (~150 km)
  • Day 9: CH-01 Bernese Jura (~200 km) + I-09 Italian Dolomites (~150 km)
  • Days 10–17: standard Balkan TET (same depth as sampler)
  • Five countries of western TET on the outbound: F / B / CH / I / standard Balkan
  • Touches the Alps via Switzerland AND Italy in one trip
Pros
  • +1100 km extra western TET vs sampler — best TET-density variant
  • Touches Belgian Ardennes, French Champagne / Vosges / Jura, Swiss Jura, Italian Dolomites
  • Same Balkan content as sampler — gets both worlds
  • Geographically natural — F → B → F → CH → I → AT chain on outbound
Cons
  • Days 7–9 are very long TET days (12–14h each)
  • Day 9 is the heaviest: ~900 km incl. Swiss + Italian Alps detour
  • Less spare time for sightseeing in Reims / Freiburg / Bern
  • Riders need to be fit by day 10 (Salzburg arrival) — heavy western TET first
  • Claus picks his own join point on this variant via the Claus Join Planner
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 7Dover → Calais → F-14 FULL (~400 km) → B-03 → F-19 bonus → Reims
Day 8Reims → F-13 Vosges FULL (~585 km) → F-22 Jura (~150 km) → Freiburg
Day 9Freiburg → CH-01 (~200 km) → Lucerne → I-09 Dolomites (~150 km) → Salzburg
Days 10–17Same as Balkan Classic (sampler) — SLO-01, HR-01/02/03, BIH-01/04, MNE-01, SRB-01/04
Best for: Long-day rider · max European TET · five-country outbound · Alps-collector
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

🌍 TET Continuous Calais → Belgrade

AVAILABLE 🇧🇪 🇫🇷 🇨🇭 🇮🇹 🇸🇮 🇭🇷 🇧🇦 🇲🇪 🇷🇸
The ultimate TET chain: Calais → Belgrade with TET tracks every single day
~4,360
TET km
~6,500
Total km
11
TET days
9
Countries
Highlights
  • B-03 Belgian Ardennes (full 226 km) → F-14 → F-19 → F-13 Vosges (~325 km) → F-22 Jura
  • CH-01 Bernese Jura → CH-02 Lucerne → CH-03 Bernese Oberland (full)
  • I-07 Italian Alps → I-08 Brescia → I-09 Dolomites → I-10 NE Italy near AT/SLO border
  • SLO-01 Soča valley (~280 km) → HR-02 Fužine → HR-01 Lika → HR-03 Velebit (full)
  • BIH-01 (full) → BIH-04 (full) → MNE-01 Durmitor → SRB-01 + SRB-04 Drina
  • NINE countries with TET in one trip
  • Most ambitious total TET km of any variant (~4,200 km vs sampler ~920 km)
Pros
  • TET every single day from Calais to Užice — no asphalt-only days except border transits
  • Maximum TET coverage that physically fits in 21 days
  • Touches every TET region between France and Serbia
  • "Did the most TET possible" credential
Cons
  • BRUTAL — 350–500 km TET per day, 12–14h riding days
  • Many possible Claus join points along the corridor — Reims, Freiburg, Bern, Bergamo, Trento all viable
  • Less time for sightseeing, photos, mechanical issues
  • High rider fatigue risk by week 2
  • No fixed group meetup point — see Claus Join Planner for options on this variant
Day-by-day TET focus (Days 10–17)
Day 7Dover → B-03 full → F-14 → Reims
Day 8Reims → F-19 → F-13 Vosges → Freiburg
Day 9Freiburg → F-22 → CH-01 → Bern
Day 10Bern → CH-02 → CH-03 → Bergamo (Italy)
Day 11Bergamo → I-07 → I-08 → Trento
Day 12Trento → I-09 Dolomites → I-10 → Bovec (SLO)
Day 13SLO-01 full → HR-02 → Delnice
Day 14HR-01 Lika → HR-03 Velebit → BIH border
Day 15BIH-01 full → BIH-04 plateau → Foča
Day 16MNE-01 Durmitor → Zlatibor
Day 17SRB-01 → SRB-04 → Užice
Best for: Ultra-endurance rider · TET completionist · "ride every km of TET possible" challenge
View on map → ⬇ Download GPX bundle ⬇ Single full-trip GPX

How to switch

The active variant is wired into the database and map. To switch:

  1. Tell me which variant you want active (e.g. "switch to Serbia + Bosnia Deep")
  2. I'll rebuild Days 10–17 with the new TET tracks + connectors
  3. The current variant becomes inactive but stays documented here for reference

No data is lost — videos, photos, GPX downloads, and contact info all stay attached to days regardless of variant.