GPS Off-Road Tour Guide to the Balkan Mountains

Book including code for data download

Following the Dinaric Alps, we explore Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania. We then travel through North Macedonia to Greece before heading north again through Bulgaria. In Serbia, we reach the Danube Valley, with Romania forming the final part of the guide.

Gravel tracks, forest trails and grassy tracks, ranging from easy to challenging, take us through unspoilt forests, across barren high plateaux and past spectacular mountain panoramas, promising a varied and exciting off-road adventure. Along the way, we discover the diversity of the Balkan countries while also experiencing something they all have in common: the warm hospitality of their people.

Using the download code included in the book, you can download the tracks and waypoints for all routes as GPX and KML files and import them into your navigation device.

At the end of each route description, you will find a waypoint list that provides useful guidance for passengers who cannot see the GPS device. Each route is given a difficulty rating (SG), making it easier to assess the route in combination with the vehicle classes (FZK).

We have also rated the routes using a star system based on our impressions of driving enjoyment, scenic beauty and the overall experience. These star ratings are, of course, highly subjective.

Tips and tricks on off-road driving, together with useful background information, complete this off-road travel guide.

The Data Download

With the data download, you will receive the following for each route:
– all GPS tracks and waypoints (GPX)

The ‘GPS Data’ folder contains two subfolders. These include the track and waypoint list for each off-road route in two different file formats: a KML file for viewing in Google Earth and a GPX file, the standard exchange format for navigation software and GPS devices.

We hope you enjoy this travel guide and wish you an exciting and memorable journey.

280 pages

Routes in Each Country

4 in Slovenia
2 in Croatia
7 in Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 in Montenegro
2 in Kosovo
3 in Albania
2 in North Macedonia
2 in Greece
6 in Bulgaria
3 in Serbia
2 in Romania

Which vehicle sizes is the 4×4 Touring Guide suitable for?

Vehicle Classes (FZK) 1–4

We are often asked how we classify vehicles into different categories. This is how we define them:

FZK 1: Off-road vehicles (Defender, Land Cruiser, G-Class, etc.) in virtually standard specification.
FZK 2: Pick-ups with camper units, 4×4 Sprinter, Bremach, Daily 4×4, etc.
FZK 3: Lorries up to 12 tonnes, Unimog, 12M18, 1017, TGL, etc.
FZK 4: Heavy lorries, Zetros 6×6, MAN KAT, etc.

The boundaries between the classes are flexible. A light, compact Unimog may be able to tackle FZK 2 routes that might not be suitable for a pick-up with an extremely heavy, tall camper unit and poor approach, departure and breakover angles. In this case, the pick-up would be more appropriately classified as FZK 3.

The Off-Road Touring Guide to the Balkan Mountains features 38 routes.

All 38 routes are suitable for FZK 1 and FZK 2 vehicles.
17 routes are suitable for FZK 3 vehicles.
5 routes are suitable for FZK 4 vehicles.

Is four-wheel drive required?

The trails mainly consist of gravel and dirt tracks. In midsummer and dry weather, four-wheel drive is not required on many of the routes. However, the vehicle must have sufficient ground clearance and short overhangs.

Of the 38 routes, four-wheel drive is required on 15 routes. The remaining 23 routes should be manageable without 4×4 in summer, provided they are driven with appropriate care.