Welcome to the ride that separates “Travelers” from “Bar-Hoppers”! Prepare to journey across epic distances, savor the aroma of Turkish coffee, and experience the finest shisha. Forget Starbucks—embrace a one-of-a-kind Iron Butt adventure through four countries, three borders, two continents, and the world’s longest suspension bridge!
The Iron Butt Challenge:
The Iron Butt 1600k (or SaddleSore 1000) is a legendary motorcycling challenge: ride at least 1,600km (1,000 miles) in 24 hours or less. It’s not just about endurance—it’s about mental strength, focus, and planning skills. Completion earns recognition from the Iron Butt Association, honoring safe, documented long-distance motorcycling. More than a ride—a test of limits and a badge of honor!
Day 0: Arrival in Zagreb
Welcome to Zagreb! After your flight, settle into the hotel, collect your bikes, and join us for a late lunch or early dinner and a journey briefing. Excitement may keep you awake, but we’ve got a remedy for that!
Day 1: Zagreb – Izmir (approx. 1,710 km)
The adventure starts at dawn. Cover 1,000 miles in under 24 hours. It sounds daunting, but the achievement lasts a lifetime. Remember: the group’s pace is set by the slowest rider. Border delays (especially into Turkey) add challenge, but our guides will adapt!
We depart Zagreb, ride the “Highway of Brotherhood and Unity” through Serbia, continue past Sofia, Bulgaria, and cross into Turkey. Push through border chaos and enjoy the ride into Asia, crossing the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge—the longest suspension bridge connecting two continents. Short fuel stops, full throttle, and a well-earned rest in Izmir.
Day 2: Izmir (Rest Day)
After the epic ride, take it slow. Relax in the hotel or join us to explore Izmir, starting with Turkish breakfast and coffee. Discover the city, visit the automobile museum, recharge, and prepare for tomorrow. Superb roads, minimal fines, stunning views, and the warmest people await.
Day 3: Izmir – Ephesus – Pamukkale – Fethiye (approx. 470 km)
Rise early and hit the road—after breakfast, we head for Ephesus. Tour this ancient wonder (once home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders) with a guide.
After Ephesus, thrill with the Turkish pace—traffic signs are often just decoration! Next: Pamukkale, the “Cotton Castle”, a UNESCO site known for its white travertine terraces and thermal springs. End the day in Fethiye with dinner, shisha, and sleep.
Day 4: Fethiye – Antalya (approx. 300 km)
Start the day with breakfast at Ölüdeniz Beach (the Blue Lagoon)—one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful spots.
Today is all about twisty roads and perfect asphalt on the D400 highway, hugging the Aegean coastline. Pause in Kaş, then focus on pure motorcycle joy before arriving in Antalya.
Hotel, dinner, coffee, and shisha finish the day.
Day 5: Antalya (Rest Day)
Sleep in, riders and bikes alike! After breakfast, explore Antalya’s historical Kaleiçi district, Hadrian’s Gate, famous mosques, and the city’s lush waterfalls. Evening means dinner, shisha, and prepping the bikes for the next stage.
Day 6: Antalya – Konya (approx. 270 km)
Leave the sea behind and venture into Turkey’s mystical heart—Konya. Experience the mesmerizing ritual of the Whirling Dervishes: not a dance, but a journey of the soul.
Dinner, shisha, and contemplation.
Day 7: Konya – Cappadocia (approx. 240 km)
A short but dramatic ride through jaw-dropping landscapes awaits. Stop in Beyşehir and Sultanhanı before reaching fairy-tale Cappadocia—land of stone “fairy chimneys” and otherworldly rock formations.
One of the most beautiful sunsets of your life is in store. Enjoy dinner, shisha, and early sleep, as tomorrow starts before dawn.
Day 8: Cappadocia (Rest Day)
Wake up at 4 a.m.—it will be worth it! Venture into the heart of Cappadocia to witness hundreds of hot air balloons rising with the sun.
Back to the hotel for more rest. After breakfast and coffee, tour the underground city of Derinkuyu—like stepping inside an Indiana Jones film. End the day with sunset at Uchisar Castle, the region’s high point, followed by dinner, shisha, and deep sleep.
Day 9: Cappadocia – Istanbul (approx. 730 km)
Enjoy breakfast, a leisurely farewell to Cappadocia, and then a full-day ride toward Istanbul. Settle into your hotel in the lively Kadiköy district on the Asian side before a well-deserved dinner and shisha.
Day 10: Istanbul (Rest Day)
Discover Istanbul—a metropolis of 16+ million residents bridging Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus.
Traditional breakfast, ferry ride to the European side, and guided tours of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Shop at the Grand Bazaar (one of the world’s oldest covered markets with secret hot spots), then return to the hotel for dinner, coffee, shisha, and bike checks.
Day 11: Istanbul – Edirne – Sofia – Niš (approx. 730 km)
Say goodbye to Istanbul. Stop for breakfast in Edirne (the Ottoman Empire’s former capital and home to Sinan’s Selimiye Mosque).
Ride through Bulgaria, past Sofia, and arrive in Niš for an evening city stroll and dinner.
Day 12: Niš – Belgrade – Zagreb (approx. 620 km)
The final day awaits! After breakfast, make a brief visit to the Skull Tower (Ćele Kula) for those intrigued by history’s darker chapters. From Niš, ride toward Belgrade, where lunch awaits at the iconic “Tri Šešira” restaurant in the bohemian Skadarlija district.
After lunch, it’s throttle wide open—cross the border back into Croatia and aim for Zagreb. Arrival is planned for the afternoon.
You survived, completed the mission, and now you have a story to tell for the rest of your life!
