Magistrala: Dubrovnik, Ohrid & Llogara, 17 Days

The start is at the meeting point in Füssen in the Allgäu. Via the Fernpass, Brenner and Pustertal the group reaches the Villach area in Austria. Around 400 kilometres and just over five hours of riding make up the first stage, before everyone gathers in the evening.

From Villach via Tarvisio in Italy and through the Soca valley in Slovenia to the Croatian island of Krk. Around 310 kilometres of twisty country road and just over five hours of riding bring the group to the Adriatic for the first time.

Today the route follows the Magistrala coastal road across the island of Pag and past Zadar to Vodice. Around 260 kilometres with constant views out over the open sea, ending at the 4* Hotel Miramare right on the Dalmatian coast.

Onward along the coastal road past Sibenik, Trogir, Split and Makarska into the greater Dubrovnik area. A visit to the cable car station high above the old town is on the agenda today, with wide views over the rooftops and the offshore islands.

At the Bay of Kotor the route leaves the coastal road for a mountain serpentine with wide views over the fjord, before continuing via Budva and Bar to Shkodra. There the 5* Hotel Colosseo awaits for the first of two nights in Albania.

A loop on small roads through Montenegro and back again to Shkodra. In the afternoon there is time for the old town of Shkodra or simply to rest after the first five stages between the Allgäu and Albania.

Today's stage leads to Kruje with its historic old town, the fortress and the Skanderbeg Museum. There is plenty of time in the afternoon to look around before the group stays at the 4* Hotel Panorama high above the plain.

Today the route heads far into northern Albania: along the Fierza reservoir on the single-track but paved roads SH30 and SH22, through remote and twisty hinterland to Bajram Curri at the foot of the Albanian Alps.

In the morning the route climbs into the Valbona valley to the point where the paved road ends – pure quiet, rock walls and views. Then it continues on the SH23 along the Fierza reservoir onwards to Kukes in the north-east of the country.

A section through North Macedonia brings the route to Lake Ohrid. At the lower end of the promenade in Pogradec sits the 4* Hotel Maji, home for the next two nights, right on the crystal-clear water of the lake.

A free day at Lake Ohrid: the hotel invites swimming and relaxing, the promenade and the small town of Pogradec are right outside the door, and the historic old town of Ohrid on the opposite shore is about an hour away by road.

Further south via Korca towards the Greek border, then along the Vjosa river via Tepelena to Gjirokastra with its historic old town. The night is spent at the 4* Hotel Cajupi in the middle of the town.

The stage visits the Blue Eye spring and the southernmost tip of Albania, uses the small ferry at Butrint and then follows the Ionian Sea up to Himare, where the 4* Rapos Resort Hotel sits directly on the coast.

The Llogara Pass drops in switchbacks with views over the Ionian coast, and from there the route runs via Orikum, Vlora and Fier northward along the Albanian Adriatic to Durres. In the afternoon the group checks in for the ferry to Ancona in Italy.

After the ferry docks in Ancona the route continues on Italian motorways into the Modena area – a quiet transit day after the intense stages in the Balkans, with time to let the impressions settle.

The last shared stage follows small roads along Monte Baldo and finishes over the Timmelsjoch to the final hotel in the Imst area in Austria. An Alpine finale after two weeks between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea.

After breakfast the programme ends with the individual ride home. Anyone who wishes can join the guides and head back together to Füssen in the Allgäu – around 3,800 kilometres through seven countries now lie behind the group.