UPDATED April 28, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Plum Ride no comments Carolina & Gergos Excellent Adventure: Scouting The Plum RideA few weeks ago, we sent our veteran Tour Leaders Carolina and Gergo to scout the route of our new Plum Ride Cycling Tour through Central Europe, scheduled for August, 2027. When they returned from their trip, we sat down with them to ask a few questions about the route.Tell me the basics of the scout.. when did you start, what was the strategy, where did you go and how long did it take?At the startCarolina: I met Gergo in Budapest on March 15th. We drove to Gdask, Poland, scouting a few new stages stages of the Amber Route along the way. Gdask is a fascinating port city at the Baltic Sea, the colourful facades of the Long Market are a real highlight with old buildings hosting trendy cafes, stores and restaurants full of tourists riders that arrive earlier will find lots of places to visit. From there, we began a three-week drive toward Thessaloniki, Greece. Using the route designed by the office in RWGPS, our job was to verify the plan. Gergo drove and took RWGPS notes while I assisted with navigation and compiled the overall notes for the Tour Manual. We covered two to three stages per day, depending on whether the route was already perfect or required more exploration to find the best options.Gergo: This type of scouting mission is not new to me. In 2010, we completed the scouting for the original Amber Route with Henry. Then the Venice-Lisbon stretch with Cristiano, and so on. This time our team with Carolina started on the 16th March and I returned Hungary on the 7th April. The strategy was that we create a route between the suggested stopover locations, trying to include as many interesting places, quiet roads, and popular bicycling routes as we can.What were some of the highlights for you that you think the cyclists will also enjoy?Carolina: Plum spirits: the route moves south through territories where plum distillates change identity and style Slivovitz, then Plinka, then Rakia. Riders can try local brands and in Serbia it is possible to visit local distilleries. Historical depth: Riders pass through places marked by royal wealth, mining history, fortresses, castles and major turning points in European history such as Cold War memory sites, and old imperial centres. It rides through places where European history is physically visible: Bansk tiavnica is described by UNESCO as Slovakias oldest mining town and later a major centre of mining education and engineering; Vukovar in Croatia, where war ruins of the battles of the 1991 are still visible on the buildings; and the White Tower in Thessaloniki that represents the citys history from its foundation in 316/15 BC to the present.North MacedoniaLandscape variety: The route changes constantly, starting in the north with the Baltic Sea, passes through the Spreewald a UNESCO biosphere reserve then moves into the Czech and Slovak river plains, the Danube cities such as Budapest and Belgrade, with its incredible architecture, the gorgeous Balkan mountain landscapes, Lake Ohrid the oldest lake in Europe, and finally the descent toward Thessaloniki on the coast of the Aegean Sea, crossing cherry fields.Gergo: Starting with Gdansk, which is a gem, an unexpectedly beautiful Hanseatic city. If the schedule allows me to do so I will definitely try to add a few days to spend there before the tour. Then Berlin, Prague, or the little known Kutna Hora or Litomysl. Budapest is a highlight of course, then Belgrade and Skopje bring a different vibe to the picture.What is something about our route that might surprise people?Carolina: The route challenges the old idea of a singular, Eastern Europe. The route moves through a region where old agrarian landscapes, socialist-era legacies, industrial strength, and fast-changing cities all exist side by side. So what riders see on the ground is not a static post-socialist landscape, but a region where villages, old industry, new factories, logistics corridors, and rapidly changing cities coexist. What also surprises people is how many different Europes fit into one ride: Baltic coast, German lowlands, Bohemian towns, Danube capitals, Balkan plains, mountain regions, and finally Thessaloniki. So the route feels big and exotic, but also surprisingly structured and rideable.Gergo: The magnificent nature between the big cities, especially the forests between Czechia and Slovakia. The mountains in North Macedonia are definite highlights too.What are the roads like? All paved? Smooth or bumpy?On the road in the BalkansCarolina: Simple 2 lane roads, mostly well paved but with some bumpy or broken secondary-road sections and short unpaved stretches from Czechia down south.Gergo: Mostly paved, but occasionally broken and bumpy here or there, even a few stretches on gravel. Mostly smooth pavement.What is the traffic like and is there many places with separated bike paths or city bike lanes? Carolina: This varies a lot by region. In the north and in parts of the Danube corridor, riders should encounter more developed cycling infrastructure. Poland is part of EuroVelo 10/13, and has an extensive cycle-path network. In the Hungary/Slovakia section of EuroVelo 6, the route was on segregated or traffic-free infrastructure. Further south, riders should expect more normal road riding and less separation from traffic. Serbia and North Macedonia are mostly on local and regional roads. Some bike paths and city lanes, yes, but most of the trip is still classic road touring. Traffic is mostly low, but in some stages riders will be sharing the road with trucks and local traffic, but never for too long in any one day.Gergo: This varies country by country, or by region. Good infrastructure around cities, and somewhat more challenging as we go south.What type of people might enjoy this cycling tour?Carolina: It suits people who enjoy history, changing cultures, food and drink traditions, and the feeling of crossing whole regions rather than just doing a scenic loop.Gergo: People who like to ride their bicycles for multiple days in nice places. All riders? Yes, probably all.What type of bike would be best for this tour?Carolina: The safest recommendation is an all-road or light gravel bike with fast tires in the 3540 mm range. I would avoid a very aggressive race bike with narrow tires, because the route is too long and too mixed for that to be the smartest choice.Gergo: I would bring a light touring bike or a gravel bike for this tour. 40 mm touring tires are the sweet spot between good rolling properties and reliability. I suggest SPD/flat pedals and shoes with walkable rubber soles.Did you try some plum brandy or slivovitz along the way?Carolina: I sipped Rakia in North Macedonia. Im not really into brandy hahah sorry, I cant be helpful here Gergo: Haha, no we havent, we were too busy scouting! Oh, wait! Once in North Macedonia on a cold evening the waiter brought us Rakia without asking. (FYI: In Macedonia they make rakija from yellow and white grapes, then to get their own distinctive flavour they add a blend of honey, anise and other fruits).RELATEDTOURPlum Ride Plum brandy has a long and illustrious history in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning as far back as the 14th century. Distilled from local plums... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Carolina & Gergos Excellent Adventure: Scouting The Plum Ride" Cancel reply