Alpine Adventure East with 4 Nights in Croatia

Multi-City, Croatia Motorcycle Tours

	Rider	Pssngr
May 13, 2012 - May 27, 2012	US $7,330	US $5,320
Single Room Upgrade	US $690	US $690
Sports Car Driver	US $5,800	US $5,320

*Please contact advertiser for rates & availability for your travel dates.

Multi-City, Croatia Motorcycle Tours

Active Adventure

From Delightful Florence to Magical Prague.
Culture, Scenery, and Adventure on the Border Between the West and the East.

The Alpine Adventure East mixes diverse cultures and three millennia of history as it hop-scotches across borders. The Tuscan hills, Croatian coastline, Austrian Alps, Czech plains, and the rolling hop fields of northern Bavaria are each delightful and memorable. To travel from one to the other over the course of two weeks reveals how intimate the vastly different nationalities of Europe are to one another.

See Florence through the eyes of a local

Revel in the warmth of central Italy’s Tuscany while discovering Florence, a city of art and romance. Enjoy a guided walking tour of this beautiful city. Should the magic captivate you, spend the next day investigating the art and architecture in even greater detail.

But know that Florentine art isn’t limited to the Renaissance Masters. Nearby are masterpieces of engineering art. Aficionados of Italian motor vehicles may recognize Raticosa, Futa, Scarperia and Mugello as names of test roads for Italy’s exotic 2 and 4 wheel creations. And so, the free day presents the difficult choice of art or engineering. Enjoy another day in the city, or head into the countryside to enjoy those great roads? Decisions like this must be made daily as we begin this great adventure. If that isn’t enough, other rides take you into the Chianti region, or to the fascinating walled city of Lucca.

On the road to Spello �' twisty is the catchphrase

Heading east from Florence, the Tuscan hills are pierced by passes Consuma, Mandrioli and Viamaggio. The turns and elevation changes on these roads are a delight and a challenge. One begins to understand where the word “sport” fits into both riding and driving. For motoring here is, indeed, a sport!

Spello, the first overnight stop on the tour, rises from a Roman gate in the valley up the side of Monte Subasio. Nearby is Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. It is possible to “bee-line” to Spello and investigate it in detail, or to meander through Gubbio, where the Middle Ages come alive via the narrow, serpentine streets.

Pass through Marche to the sea

The mountains of the Marche hide awesome delights such as Italy’s most impressive cave system, the Frasassi caverns. This rural province is seemingly void of traffic and peppered with small farming villages little changed over the centuries.

Nearing Ancona, occasional glimpses of the sea finally become the dominant focal point as the Adriatic melds with the horizon. From the top of Monte Conero the views seem endless.

Across the Adriatic

For centuries the Adriatic was the main thoroughfare between Italy and the Balkans. It is ours as well. An overnight trans-Adriatic ferry crossing transports us to Dalmatia. Riding off the ship in Split, Croatia, isn’t simply a trip to another country, but another time. Split, or Aspálathos, as the Greeks knew it in the 6th century B.C., is a bustling port city. Our arrival first thing in the morning allows plenty of time for an enjoyable stroll on the promenade or a ride along the azure-blue waters of the Dalmatian Coast.

The theme of the next days is “the way it was.” Villages along the route offer a glimpse of rural life largely unchanged from the pre-glasnost era. Here one finds an enthusiasm and determination which springs from recent overwhelming changes in the political system.

Split, Mostar, and the Dalmatian Coast

There is much to see and do near Split. Amble down to a beach and let the waves lap at your toes, ride the coast, or visit one of the unique Dalmatian Islands. Hvar is considered to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world, while Brac is the third largest in the Adriatic and boasts the highest peak of all the Croatian islands. Should that not be high enough, ride from sea-level to a mile high on Biokovo mountain, or take a long ride into the hills of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the still disputed city of Mostar.

Zadar and Karlovac

The tour turns north as you depart Split, making its way along the Adriatic. A jewel on the Croatian coast is Zadar, an ancient town superbly situated on a peninsula. The delightfully restored old town is perfectly sized for an in-depth exploration in an afternoon.

Pag, our last destination on the coast, is known for its local cheese and for sea-salt harvested from large evaporation ponds. The island of the same name is uniquely absent of flora �' riding up Pag is somewhat like riding on the moon!

Turning inland to Karlovac, the tour passes through areas that saw fierce fighting during the Croatian War of Independence. You might detour through a corner of Bosnia or explore the fantastic Plitvice Lakes National Park. This place of great natural beauty is bittersweet, as it was the location of first death in the War of Independence.

The day ends in Karlovac, a place designed and built from nothing in 1579. In contrast to towns that grew along with the centuries, careful attention was paid to the beauty and harmony of Karlovac. The old town is in the shape of a six-pointed star. Within the star are about a dozen geometrical streets lined with houses which once belonged to the town's merchants, artisans and military command.

Slovenia

Discovery of new places goes hand in hand with the crossing of historic boundaries. Slovenia is the northernmost spin-off of the former Yugoslavia, and before this was a part of the Holy Roman Empire. This delightful country was the most industrious and prosperous region of Yugoslavia, yet the rural areas retain a quaint style that will long be remembered. Jezersko, magnificently situated on the Slovenian-Austrian border in the shadow of the Kamnik Alps, is our destination. The unique accommodation here is on a tourist farm, likely the oldest in the entire country!

Cross the Alps; mountains, lakes, and valleys

An Alpine crossing begins with the climb to the summit of Seebergsattel. The road over the top was most likely built by the Romans. The twists and turns of this amusing road set the tone for the day as it is the first of two or three passes that must be conquered on the way to Steyr, Austria.

The former Austro-Hungarian Empire gives way to the historical Free State of Prussia upon departing Austria. That was then �' now, the city of Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic.

The magic of Prague

Discover atmospheric castles on green hilltops and marvel at centuries of architectural majesty in Prague.

We can’t say it any better than William Jeffery Prowse did �' “…the persons I pity who know not the City, the beautiful City of Prague.” A free day here will allow you time to know this city. A guided walking tour will begin in the New Town, cross the famous Charles Bridge, and leave you in the Old Town where you can spend the afternoon dining, shopping, or simply people watching. Relax and savor it, as time in Prague will pass all too quickly.

Bavaria �' the breadbasket of Germany

Impressive farms, situated in perfect fields, will be your memory of eastern Bavaria. Picture perfect scenes will frame the ride through Bamberg to Munich.

Two weeks, 6 countries, and memories too numerous to count. It all comes together with a final dinner with a group of newly made friends. Adventure - this is what it is all about!

Adventure - this is what it is all about!

Typical Day

Your tour includes a pre-programmed GPS on every bike as well as a detailed tour book with day-to-day itinerary. Each evening your lead guide will discuss the suggested routes for the following day and review points of interest along the way. You can choose each day to ride on your own, ride with others, or follow a guide on a bike. A luggage van carries all of your belongings from hotel to hotel. You will arrive to find your luggage waiting in your room each evening. Motorcycle maintenance and minor repairs or adjustments are handled for you. A tour hostess is along to make sure all of your vacation desires are met and a tour photographer will provide you with a professional photo slideshow on a DVD.

Age range, type of group

You must have a valid motorcycle license at the time of your tour. If you have friends or family who don’t ride we can also make arrangements for them to come along in a fun convertible sportscar!

Sleeping and meals

All of your hotels are included. Accommodations are 3, 4, and 5 star depending on what is available in the area. All of your breakfasts and most of your dinners are included. You are responsible for your lunches, daily expenses, fuel and dinners on double overnights.

Other Information

Enjoy the freedom and adventure of a European motorcycle vacation with just the right amount of support. For 40 years Beach's motorcycle adventures has specialized in motorcycle tours of the European Alps. Beach's is the company which has always set the standard. We don't aim to be the World's leading motorcycle touring company-only the World's best!

Multi-City, Croatia Motorcycle Tours

Multi-City, Croatia Motorcycle Tours