Stage 1: Bremen - Istanbul

9 to 21 March 2008

Balkan dreams

The extraordinary nature of this Eurasian adventure is apparent right from the starting stage. Some of the most attractive parts of Germany are followed by a wonderful Alpine crossing before, high above the Adriatic, the beauties of Slovenia and Croatia appear. During the breathtaking onward journey to Istanbul, the Balkans reveal their greatest secrets.

Minimum number of participants

8 people

Price of journey per person excluding flight(s):

3,499 EUR


A summary of the stage

The Bremen-Istanbul stage

Day 1

Individual arrival in Bremen, organizational matters/vehicle instruction, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bremen

Day 2

Stage for the day: Bremen – Berlin (380 km), official start of the XWORLD tour from Bremen, travel to Berlin and photoshoot at the Brandenburg Gate, dinner together in the Käfer Restaurant in the Reichstag, overnight in hotel in Berlin

Day 3

Stage for the day: Berlin – Dresden (220 km), off-road event on the Tagebaugelände at the Eurospeedway, sightseeing in Dresden, a World Heritage Site, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Dresden

Day 4

Stage for the day: Dresden – Füssen (690 km), travel along Lake Starnberg, evening event at Neuschwanstein Castle, overnight in hotel in Füssen

Day 5

Stage for the day: Füssen – Klagenfurt (440 km), travel along the Zugspitze and Kreuzjoch, cross the Gerloch pass (1,507 m), dinner together and overnight in hotel in Klagenfurt

Day 6

Stage for the day: Klagenfurt – Zagreb (220 km), cross the border from Austria into Slovenia and from Slovenia into Croatia, on/off-road through Slovenia and Croatia, dinner together, overnight in hotel in Zagreb

Day 7

Stage for the day: Zagreb – Zadar (280 km), travel through the Plitvicka Jez National Park, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Zadar

Day 8

Stage for the day: Zadar – Mostar (340 km), travel the coast road along the Adriatic, cross the border from Croatia into Bosnia, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Mostar

Day 9

Stage for the day: Mostar – Uzice (310 km), cross the border from Bosnia into Serbia, orientation drive, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Uzice

Day 10

Uzice – Sofia (370 km), cross the border from Serbia into Bulgaria, sightseeing in Sofia, dinner together, hotel overnight in Sofia

Day 11

Off-road event near Sofia (100 km), dinner together and hotel overnight near Sofia

Day 12

Stage for the day: Sofia – Istanbul (450 km), cross the border from Bulgaria into Turkey, cross the continental border from Europe into Asia at the Bosphorus, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Istanbul

Day 13

Sightseeing in Istanbul, incl. the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque), and the Egyptian Bazaar, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Istanbul

Day 14

Individual departures from Istanbul

Impressions of the stage: