Croatia and Montenegro have opened up in recent years to be top destinations for the adventurer. I was last there in 1987 during the height of the Cold War and was curious to see how things have changed so I booked a trip through Backroads to see for myself. Here is what I found…

First, Backroads is a top notch organizer. Once you meet your group you can forget about all logistics and worries and simply enjoy the trip. They take care of everything, and I mean everything. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks around every corner are all set. The bikes (whether self powered or e-bikes) are in great condition. The trials they choose are either free of cars or only lightly traveled and as tough or easy as you want them to be. Finally, the guides are fantastic.

It seems like the region was divided into two distinct areas: the hillsides and the coast. The former were quite rural, with picturesque little towns around every corner.

We biked through miles of olive orchards and vineyards with almost no traffic.

The coast was the antithesis of the interiors; all deep blues and reds. We were there in August and it seems like the whole country was out sunbathing on every available strip of rocky beach along the winding coast.

Our trip leaders planned every ride to end along the coast with a dip in the Adriatic. We left with a great impression of these two countries (that once were one). The Venetian influence on the region was quite clear and still prominent and the economic situation along the coast was a 100% improvement from the 1980s.

Of course, with tourism comes….well, tourists. Yes, I was one in that group, but it was a bit overwhelming when the cruise ships pull in and thousands of people descend on Dubrovnik, Split or Kotor. For that reason, I found the smaller islands, like Korčula to best the best bet for exploration and enjoyment.

So next time you are considering a trip, keep Croatia and Montenegro in mind for something a little different!