DBB+VCC=TOUR!
Road cycling tour with optional gravel sections in Serbia with a support car and breakfasts included. A 5–12 July shift has been added to the sold-out 13–20 July!
Every ex- or current member of VCC gets a 100 € discount — with a free DBB+ membership for a year (worth 100 € itself).
Day 1, Sunday, 13 July
Belgrade — Vršac
96 km ↑ 230 m (road route)
Belgrade — Vršac
96 km ↑ 230 m (road route)
DBB did a tour to Djerdap in October 2024. Almost all the pictures you’ll see are from there, of actual places that we passed by and stayed in.
This text is complimentary to the adjacent pictures, so we suggest that you read and browse through those in parallel.
On the first day, it was a bit rainy. Of course, in July we expect it to be warm & sunny.
That’s why we’re starting from the beach this time — meet at Smokvica restaurant for a late breakfast, chill & swim at Ada lake, and off we go.
We make a stop for a beer (or two — Serbian law allows a little alcohol when riding) and later arrive to Vršac — a cozy town near Romanian border with Austro-Hungarian heritage.
Our hotel has a spa zone with jacuzzi & sauna, a gym (with exercise bikes :) — and a community space where we’ll have joint breakfasts (included on all days of the tour) and late-night wine sessions.
We’ll spend three nights here to ride from Vršac. There’s a dedicated bicycle room to store & work on our bikes. Though we’d prefer some bubbles instead — in the bath & in the glass.
This text is complimentary to the adjacent pictures, so we suggest that you read and browse through those in parallel.
On the first day, it was a bit rainy. Of course, in July we expect it to be warm & sunny.
That’s why we’re starting from the beach this time — meet at Smokvica restaurant for a late breakfast, chill & swim at Ada lake, and off we go.
We make a stop for a beer (or two — Serbian law allows a little alcohol when riding) and later arrive to Vršac — a cozy town near Romanian border with Austro-Hungarian heritage.
Our hotel has a spa zone with jacuzzi & sauna, a gym (with exercise bikes :) — and a community space where we’ll have joint breakfasts (included on all days of the tour) and late-night wine sessions.
We’ll spend three nights here to ride from Vršac. There’s a dedicated bicycle room to store & work on our bikes. Though we’d prefer some bubbles instead — in the bath & in the glass.
Day 2, Monday, 14 July
Vršac Mountains
44 km ↑ 850 m (gravel + plan B)
Vršac Mountains
44 km ↑ 850 m (gravel + plan B)
Near the town of Vršac are Vršac Mountains — they’re not high, but nicely rise above the flat landscape.
We’ll ride a gravel loop via the top of the mountain and get back to town. The route is relatively technical, so we have plan B.
When we tried last time, it was wet and we couldn’t make the full gravel circle because of the mud — so we rode to the fog-shrouded summit tower by the asphalt.
This also taught us to plan a couple of shortcuts in case the gravel is not passable in only one place. Now we’re really prepared.
Closer to the end of the ride we can wash our bikes near a nice winery with good food & atmosphere — let’s have dinner there and ride 1.5 km back to the hotel.
We’ll ride a gravel loop via the top of the mountain and get back to town. The route is relatively technical, so we have plan B.
When we tried last time, it was wet and we couldn’t make the full gravel circle because of the mud — so we rode to the fog-shrouded summit tower by the asphalt.
This also taught us to plan a couple of shortcuts in case the gravel is not passable in only one place. Now we’re really prepared.
Closer to the end of the ride we can wash our bikes near a nice winery with good food & atmosphere — let’s have dinner there and ride 1.5 km back to the hotel.
Every cyclist gets his/her own room with a private bathroom. Registration includes breakfasts on all eight days.
Day 3, Tuesday, 15 July
Deliblato Desert
95 km ↑ 520 m (gravel)
104 km ↑ 430 m (road)
or 1st rest day
Deliblato Desert
95 km ↑ 520 m (gravel)
104 km ↑ 430 m (road)
or 1st rest day
After breakfast, we’ll head to Deliblatska Peščara — they call it the European Sahara as it’s the largest desert in Europe. It is a real sandy desert — although it has some surface vegetation making it unique-looking, not like actual Sahara.
The gravel, or rather compacted sand, is not particularly technical — although one of us fell on the way to the obelisk. The soil was wet & slippery that day, which allowed us to draw some guidance notes for those skidding & slipping behind.
A couple of people who rode rim-brake bikes had to turn around — the brake calipers got clogged. However, a couple of people on disc-brake road bikes made it through the desert.
On the short but steep downhill after the obelisk Alex has broken his seatpost due to a hard impact on a bump — so he had to continue on foot (either standing on pedals, or walking on sand — which we all did at one point).
Soon, we’ll met the rim-brake peers in a somewhat surprising place for lunch — both the gravel & road routes have been designed for that.
Another split in two groups — and we’ll meet again at an aqua park. And after some bathing around, we’re riding back to the hotel in Vršac for our last night there.
The gravel, or rather compacted sand, is not particularly technical — although one of us fell on the way to the obelisk. The soil was wet & slippery that day, which allowed us to draw some guidance notes for those skidding & slipping behind.
A couple of people who rode rim-brake bikes had to turn around — the brake calipers got clogged. However, a couple of people on disc-brake road bikes made it through the desert.
On the short but steep downhill after the obelisk Alex has broken his seatpost due to a hard impact on a bump — so he had to continue on foot (either standing on pedals, or walking on sand — which we all did at one point).
Soon, we’ll met the rim-brake peers in a somewhat surprising place for lunch — both the gravel & road routes have been designed for that.
Another split in two groups — and we’ll meet again at an aqua park. And after some bathing around, we’re riding back to the hotel in Vršac for our last night there.
Day 4, Wednesday, 16 July
Vršac — Veliko Gradište
LONG 92 km ↑ 420 m (gravel or road)
EASY 69 km ↑ 280 m (gravel or road)
Vršac — Veliko Gradište
LONG 92 km ↑ 420 m (gravel or road)
EASY 69 km ↑ 280 m (gravel or road)
We leave Vršac and go to Veliko Gradište via a ferry crossing. Before it, it’s again either gravel or road section.
In October, being stationary at the ferry felt cold — so we skipped the little castle right on the other side, just to avoid being still anymore. We should visit this time.
We stay not in Veliko Gradište town itself, but on the Silver Lake (Srebreno Jezero) which is an oxbow lake of Danube. The water is suitable for swimming, and our accommodation is right next to a beach. Moreover, there’s another aqua park nearby.
The next October morning turned out sunny, so you can imagine how the beach area looks like in the summer from our pictures (but we have added the last one from the internet anyway).
The LONG route differs from the EASY one in that it is prolonged from the hotel to draw a certain shape in Strava around the island — you’ll get it when you see the map.
In October, being stationary at the ferry felt cold — so we skipped the little castle right on the other side, just to avoid being still anymore. We should visit this time.
We stay not in Veliko Gradište town itself, but on the Silver Lake (Srebreno Jezero) which is an oxbow lake of Danube. The water is suitable for swimming, and our accommodation is right next to a beach. Moreover, there’s another aqua park nearby.
The next October morning turned out sunny, so you can imagine how the beach area looks like in the summer from our pictures (but we have added the last one from the internet anyway).
The LONG route differs from the EASY one in that it is prolonged from the hotel to draw a certain shape in Strava around the island — you’ll get it when you see the map.
Avg per day is 75 km ↑ 410 m (EASY routes) or 90 km ↑ 680 m (LONG routes). Every third day there’s an option to take a rest day.
Day 5, Thursday, 17 July
V. Gradište — Donji Milanovac
LONG 115 km ↑ 1250 m (road)
EASY 84 km ↑ 600 m (road)
V. Gradište — Donji Milanovac
LONG 115 km ↑ 1250 m (road)
EASY 84 km ↑ 600 m (road)
Good weather that day means we have more pictures to show — or maybe it’s just how beautiful Djerdap national park is, to which we are entering.
The LONG and EASY routes are the same until our accommodation, with the latter skipping the following climb (either gravel or road) to Miroč mountain.
Speaking of the accommodations. To fit all in, we have two of them — and both are somewhat special.
First, is a villa on the river bay, right next to the water, with an outside kitchen, a wooden chalet with a community space and an impressive view from the rooms.
The second are a few traditional mountain houses of the region that have been disassembled and brought & rebuilt near the bay (and close by to the villa — so we’ll be able to stay all together).
That was done as a heritage project with the help of the European Union — and apparently some good designers were also responsible for the interiors.
The joint is owned by a boat captain, so we’ll also have a Danube cruise to the 55-meters-big stone carving of the face of Decebalus — the last Dacian ruler who fought with the Roman Empire in I century a.d. — and to Tabula Traiana, a Roman artifact accessible only from water.
In the evening the hosts will prepare dinner from local ingredients for us and then we can move to the chalet to play some board games and whatnot — you can only guess what’s happening on the final pictures :)
The LONG and EASY routes are the same until our accommodation, with the latter skipping the following climb (either gravel or road) to Miroč mountain.
Speaking of the accommodations. To fit all in, we have two of them — and both are somewhat special.
First, is a villa on the river bay, right next to the water, with an outside kitchen, a wooden chalet with a community space and an impressive view from the rooms.
The second are a few traditional mountain houses of the region that have been disassembled and brought & rebuilt near the bay (and close by to the villa — so we’ll be able to stay all together).
That was done as a heritage project with the help of the European Union — and apparently some good designers were also responsible for the interiors.
The joint is owned by a boat captain, so we’ll also have a Danube cruise to the 55-meters-big stone carving of the face of Decebalus — the last Dacian ruler who fought with the Roman Empire in I century a.d. — and to Tabula Traiana, a Roman artifact accessible only from water.
In the evening the hosts will prepare dinner from local ingredients for us and then we can move to the chalet to play some board games and whatnot — you can only guess what’s happening on the final pictures :)
Day 6, Friday, 18 July
Donji Milanovac — Golubac
LONG 110 km ↑ 1640 m (road)
EASY 59 km ↑ 340 m (road)
or 2nd rest day
Donji Milanovac — Golubac
LONG 110 km ↑ 1640 m (road)
EASY 59 km ↑ 340 m (road)
or 2nd rest day
You’ll notice more people on half of the pictures for this day — those are from our regular Sunday ride in July (think of it as MOGT if you’re from VCC).
The reason for those photos is that after our October tour we have changed the routes to make our trip even more exciting. Hence, the LONG route this day is in the places shown at the July ride — including the impressive Majdanpek, one of the largest porphyry copper mines in the world.
If 100+ km with 1600+ m of elevation sounds too much for you in an 8-day tour, there’re two options:
• you could either go back to Golubac using the same road as we did in October, which is the EASY route — and our car will follow you to provide support — or
• you could put your bike onto the car and be driven back. That would make for a rest day for you.
In either case you will have opportunity to visit an archaeological museum visible on one of the photos.
In any case, in the afternoon we’ll arrive to Golubac, known for its fortress with rich history dating back to the Roman Empire times — and the fact that it’s located on the floodplain of Danube which is held by the Iron Gates through the Džerdap Gorge.
Hard to believe, but when we were there in October, we witnessed Polar Lights — one of the pictures proves that was not a dream. Maybe we’ll get lucky again this time!
The reason for those photos is that after our October tour we have changed the routes to make our trip even more exciting. Hence, the LONG route this day is in the places shown at the July ride — including the impressive Majdanpek, one of the largest porphyry copper mines in the world.
If 100+ km with 1600+ m of elevation sounds too much for you in an 8-day tour, there’re two options:
• you could either go back to Golubac using the same road as we did in October, which is the EASY route — and our car will follow you to provide support — or
• you could put your bike onto the car and be driven back. That would make for a rest day for you.
In either case you will have opportunity to visit an archaeological museum visible on one of the photos.
In any case, in the afternoon we’ll arrive to Golubac, known for its fortress with rich history dating back to the Roman Empire times — and the fact that it’s located on the floodplain of Danube which is held by the Iron Gates through the Džerdap Gorge.
Hard to believe, but when we were there in October, we witnessed Polar Lights — one of the pictures proves that was not a dream. Maybe we’ll get lucky again this time!
How to get from the airport — and not only that — in the tour chat. We’re adding all who’ve submitted to join so that everyone could follow the discussion.
Day 7, Saturday, 19 July
Golubac — Smederevo
81 km ↑ 400 m (road)
Golubac — Smederevo
81 km ↑ 400 m (road)
A set of photos from another of our Sunday rides illustrates the day’s route. This one is from July (Midsummer 200 challenge).
Smederevo is the old capital of Serbia and in the past — its largest city. Placed on the tentative list for possible nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town’s fortress is impressive in its scale.
On our way there we’ll also visit Požarevac — a pleasant town with a wealth of history (even if without a fortress, for a change).
The name of the town means ”fire-town‘ in Serbian where the word “fire” is used in the sense of a disaster, as in forest fire.
Regardless of the peculiar name, it is written in some records from the beginning of the last century that Požarevac was the city with 80 taverns, and only one doctor. We could live with that, as you could tell by the amount of beers on the photos :)
By the way, you can also see the same ferry as on day 4 — only without the coldness of that day. It’s more pleasant in the summer, for sure.
Smederevo is the old capital of Serbia and in the past — its largest city. Placed on the tentative list for possible nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town’s fortress is impressive in its scale.
On our way there we’ll also visit Požarevac — a pleasant town with a wealth of history (even if without a fortress, for a change).
The name of the town means ”fire-town‘ in Serbian where the word “fire” is used in the sense of a disaster, as in forest fire.
Regardless of the peculiar name, it is written in some records from the beginning of the last century that Požarevac was the city with 80 taverns, and only one doctor. We could live with that, as you could tell by the amount of beers on the photos :)
By the way, you can also see the same ferry as on day 4 — only without the coldness of that day. It’s more pleasant in the summer, for sure.
Day 8, Sunday, 20 July
Smederevo — Belgrade
80 km ↑ 180 m (gravel or road)
Smederevo — Belgrade
80 km ↑ 180 m (gravel or road)
You have now seen two of our Sunday rides — and here is another one: but so much more relevant this time. That was actually a part of our October tour — a Sunday ride that went through Smederevo where the participants of the tour joined to get back to Belgrade.
We’ll do the same this time. It’s possible to ride either full tarmac (and in the Sunday ride there will most likely be those who’ll prefer that option) or a nice tame gravel road almost all the way to the city.
The two groups will meet in the middle of the ride to have a lunch at a cafe with local vibes in Pančevo. Fish burger (riblja pleskavica) is the specialty to try here.
When back in Belgrade, represented on the stock pictures, we’ll finish at our favourite beer garden all together to celebrate the end of the tour and make even more new friends — from Serbia for those who will have come from abroad, and vice versa.
Because cycling tours, for us, are all about new acquaintances. And sharing experiences — new ones or the old-but-gold — with those you already know or those whose friendship will be born in those unforgettable moments. Join in, you’ll love it.
We’ll do the same this time. It’s possible to ride either full tarmac (and in the Sunday ride there will most likely be those who’ll prefer that option) or a nice tame gravel road almost all the way to the city.
The two groups will meet in the middle of the ride to have a lunch at a cafe with local vibes in Pančevo. Fish burger (riblja pleskavica) is the specialty to try here.
When back in Belgrade, represented on the stock pictures, we’ll finish at our favourite beer garden all together to celebrate the end of the tour and make even more new friends — from Serbia for those who will have come from abroad, and vice versa.
Because cycling tours, for us, are all about new acquaintances. And sharing experiences — new ones or the old-but-gold — with those you already know or those whose friendship will be born in those unforgettable moments. Join in, you’ll love it.
Your guides,
Andrei & Alex
Andrei & Alex
Get in touch with us via the form below. When the number of the interested will reach the amount of slots, we’ll suggest that everyone makes a prepayment to secure their slot. The full payment is due one month before the tour date.
Some of our tours & camps have discounts that are announced and applied in any qualifying case — whether you mention it or not when booking. This particular event does not currently have any discounts announced.
There’re joint expenses, consisting mainly of food and beverages, that are added together and then smartly split between the tour participants — everything is calculated automatically by an app, so there is no hassle.
Breakfasts are included, and lunches & dinners are usually at cafes and restaurants, amid the ride and in the place where we finish that day, respectively. Mid-ride snacks can be stored in the support car.
We suggest a gravel bike or a road bike with disc brakes and 28+ mm tyres. It is possible to take part on a rim-brake road bike, but you may want to skip at least some of the gravel sections in that case.
There is no good gravel or road bike rent in Belgrade, but we could try and source a fitting bicycle for you if you cannot bring your own — DBB is a community of hundreds of cyclists, many of whom have more than one bike.
Women always stay in spaces physically separated from men in our tours — except for those coming as pairs, of course. Depending on the demand, we will try and offer you a discount in an attempt to support female cycling.
If you’ve ever ridden 100+ kilometers a day, you should be fine. If one gets too tired, there is always an option to skip every third riding day and stay in the hotel or car. The group travels at a pace comfortable for its every member.
On day 3 you could stay in the hotel that has a spa zone and is located in a nice-to-explore town of Vršac. On day 6 you could skip the hardest route of the tour and ride an easy one or get to Golubac in the support car.
July is rather hot in Serbia, so you’ll most likely only need summer clothes. There are lakes with beaches in Belgrade and in Veliko Gradište — and in the latter and in Deliblato Desert here’re also aqua parks.
At the tour we’ll have the usual bike maintenance tools and products. However, you should have what fits you and your bike individually. In the tour chat there will sure be exhaustive information on all that.
There is an international airport in Belgrade. The information on airport transfers is provided in the tour chat. You could store your bike box with us in Belgrade city centre for the duration of the tour.
That’s a frequent question, and we’re ready to advise in the tour chat in detail. You can be sure that bringing a bike with you is not that difficult and doesn’t require significant additional expenses — the rest are details.
Marmaris → Kaş, Turkey
22–30 Mar 2025 (9 days)
Shared room = 790 € or Private = 1280 €
22–30 Mar 2025 (9 days)
Shared room = 790 € or Private = 1280 €
Limassol, Cyprus
12–20 Apr 2025 (9 days)
Private room = 990 € or Double = 1480 €
12–20 Apr 2025 (9 days)
Private room = 990 € or Double = 1480 €
Belgrade ↔ Sarajevo
26 Apr–4 May 2025 (9 days)
Private room = 990 € or Double = 1480 €
26 Apr–4 May 2025 (9 days)
Private room = 990 € or Double = 1480 €
Tivat, Montenegro
1–8–15–22 Jun 2025 (3 × 8 days)
Shared room = 690 € or Private = 1080 €
1–8–15–22 Jun 2025 (3 × 8 days)
Shared room = 690 € or Private = 1080 €
Belgrade ↔ Đerdap
5–20 July 2025 (2 × 8 days)
Private room = 990 € or Double = 1480 €
5–20 July 2025 (2 × 8 days)
Private room = 990 € or Double = 1480 €
Tara mountain, Serbia
27 Jul–9 Aug 2025 (2 × 7 days)
Twin bed = 890 € or King bed = 1080 €
27 Jul–9 Aug 2025 (2 × 7 days)
Twin bed = 890 € or King bed = 1080 €
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15-second Privacy Policy
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The data delivered to us by the Email Provider is encrypted with PGP. Our Email Provider is:
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The data stored for us by the Newsletter Provider is encrypted with SSL or other protocols. Our Newsletter Provider is:
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By providing the Personal Data to us you give us your consent for storing, processing, and using it for the purposes of:
• contacting you for the reason said in the submission form via email, phone, sms, messaging platforms where your details are recognised;
• delivering parcels to the street address you have provided via post, express mail, courier services operating in your location.
For those purposes we may have to transmit the Personal Data to third persons: telecommunication and email providers; messaging platform operators; postal, mailing, courier, delivery services. We will apply due diligence in doing so but cannot accept responsibility for the Personal Data out of our possession.
The data collected by us is only stored in an accessible way for as long as necessary for the respective purpose for which a particular piece of data has been collected. In the end of any non-individual email from us, we place a link to unsubscribe. In any case, you can write to a@dbb.rs that we must delete your Personal data.
Applied to all public rides.
RULE #1 // Use a Proper bike.
Well, use whatever bike & gear, but if one crashes while riding an improper bike or without a properly fitting helmet, we will presume his or her sole responsibility — for both potential injuries and material damage — even if the crash was accidentally caused by another group member. There is a reason.
RULE #2 // Proper are Road & Gravel bikes.
Improper bikes for riding in a group are:
• time-trial or triathlon bikes, or bikes with attached aerobars,
• flat-bar or other bikes with wide handlebars,
• fixed-gear bikes without at least a front brake,
• bikes with potential or actual significant malfunctions.
RULE #3 // All your pictures are belong to us.
People make photos & videos during our events and we will use them in any way your imaginary lawyer could imagine — but mostly in our Instagram — for which you grant us your irrevocable consent if you happen to be there. Club members have the right of access to all said images.
RULE #4 // You accept the Disclaimer.
All the rides are organised by Baranchikov & Partners Ltd, a legal entity that you can sue if anything makes you unhappy. Alexander Baranchikov, the sole proprietor of said entity, will do his best to make you happy, but accepts no personal legal responsibility for that.
RULE #5 // Obey The Rules.
If you come to our rides, you accept The Rules. And to enjoy any group ride you should also know the tips.
RULE #1 // Use a Proper bike.
Well, use whatever bike & gear, but if one crashes while riding an improper bike or without a properly fitting helmet, we will presume his or her sole responsibility — for both potential injuries and material damage — even if the crash was accidentally caused by another group member. There is a reason.
RULE #2 // Proper are Road & Gravel bikes.
Improper bikes for riding in a group are:
• time-trial or triathlon bikes, or bikes with attached aerobars,
• flat-bar or other bikes with wide handlebars,
• fixed-gear bikes without at least a front brake,
• bikes with potential or actual significant malfunctions.
RULE #3 // All your pictures are belong to us.
People make photos & videos during our events and we will use them in any way your imaginary lawyer could imagine — but mostly in our Instagram — for which you grant us your irrevocable consent if you happen to be there. Club members have the right of access to all said images.
RULE #4 // You accept the Disclaimer.
All the rides are organised by Baranchikov & Partners Ltd, a legal entity that you can sue if anything makes you unhappy. Alexander Baranchikov, the sole proprietor of said entity, will do his best to make you happy, but accepts no personal legal responsibility for that.
RULE #5 // Obey The Rules.
If you come to our rides, you accept The Rules. And to enjoy any group ride you should also know the tips.