The best motorcycle roads in Montenegro, Bosnia and Albania

Three small countries, a few hours apart, with some of the most dramatic roads in Europe and a fraction of the Alps' traffic. From the Croatian coast, a long week covers them.

At a glance

The Kotor serpentine

From the old town of Kotor, the road climbs the mountainside above the bay in a stack of tight, numbered hairpins, often counted as 25. At the top, carry on to Njeguši, known for its smoked ham, and into Lovćen National Park, then down to Cetinje.

Tips: the road is narrow, with low walls and tour buses coming down. Ride it early, give way at the bends where there's room, and stop at the pull-outs for photos.

Durmitor and the Sedlo pass

Durmitor National Park in northern Montenegro is a high limestone plateau of meadows, lakes and peaks. The Durmitor ring road loops from Žabljak over the Sedlo pass, one of the highest paved roads in Montenegro.

Tips: the road is narrow, with patches of gravel and livestock. It closes with snow, so expect it open from late spring to autumn. Check conditions in Žabljak before you go.

The Tara and Piva canyons

The Tara canyon is one of the deepest in Europe. Cross it on the Đurđevića Tara bridge, a tall concrete arch over the river, and stop for the view.

West of Durmitor, the road along the Piva canyon from Plužine to the Bosnian border at Šćepan Polje runs past a turquoise reservoir and through a long series of tunnels cut into the rock. Many are narrow and unlit.

Tips: keep your visor clear and your lights on in the tunnels, and watch for oncoming vehicles in the middle of the road.

Sutjeska National Park

Cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina at Šćepan Polje and follow the Drina north towards Foča. From there, the road south-west towards Gacko runs through Sutjeska National Park, the country's oldest. It follows a forested gorge to Tjentište, where a huge concrete memorial marks the WWII Battle of the Sutjeska. The park also holds Perućica, one of the last primeval forests in Europe, and Maglić, the highest peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Llogara Pass

In southern Albania, the SH8 climbs from the coast near Vlorë through pine forest to the Llogara Pass, then drops in a run of hairpins with the Ionian Sea spread out below. Carry on along the Albanian Riviera through Dhërmi and Himarë towards Sarandë.

Tips: the views at the top of the descent are the best of the ride. Stop at the pass, not on the hairpins. Watch for animals, slow vehicles and sudden changes in the surface.

Good to know

• Insurance. Check your green card covers Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania before you leave.
• Borders. Expect summer queues, and keep your documents and the bike's papers to hand.
• Currencies. Montenegro uses the euro, Bosnia and Herzegovina the convertible mark, and Albania the lek.
• Tolls. Some tunnels and new motorways have tolls. Check the current rules for your route.
• Road surfaces change quickly, from new tarmac to potholes and gravel. Animals on the road are common.

Season

May, June, September and October are best. July and August are hot on the coast and busy at the borders. The high roads around Durmitor can have snow into late spring and from late autumn.

Ride them with others

The Balkans are close to Croatia, where MotoBFF started. Find group rides heading south in MotoBFF, ask in your city chat who's going, or post your own and share the route. See also the best motorcycle roads in Slovenia and Croatia.