Magic East (Top Trail 3) cycling route
Top Trail 3, Magic East, is a 305 km signposted loop through the east of Montenegro between Mojkovac, Berane and Rožaje in 6-7 days, never below 665 m, with 8,900 m of climbing, a high point of 2,162 m and gradients of up to 35%.
Loop through the east of Montenegro · 6-7 days (305 km)
Photo: Vuk Pajković · CC BY-SA 4.0
Magic East (Čarobni istok) is Top Trail 3, a 305 km loop through the east of Montenegro between Mojkovac, Berane and Rožaje in 6 to 7 days. The whole loop lies above 665 m and tops out at 2,162 m, with 8,900 m of climbing and gradients of up to 35%. The national tourism organisation publishes the brochure and a GPX track that also holds a 27.8 km alternative section.
Key facts
| Length | 305 km |
| Days | 6-7 |
| Total climb | 8,900 m |
| Maximum gradient | 35% |
| Highest point | 2,162 m |
| Lowest point | 665 m |
| Start and finish | loop; the GPX track starts and ends at 42.956, 19.587 |
| Alternative | a 27.8 km section in the GPX file |
| Marking | signposts along the route, plus the GPX track for navigation |
| Grade | challenging |
The route
The places on the way are Mokra mountain, Ćafa Murgaš, Turjak, Šiško lake, Vragodo, Rožaje, Trpezi, Lubnice, Berane, the spring of the Ibar and Mojkovac. Šiško jezero is a small lake in the high pastures of Bjelasica; Hajla is the mountain above Rožaje; Berane lies on the Lim, and Mojkovac on the Tara and the Bar-Belgrade railway. A signpost on the loop reads Biogradsko jezero 10.6 km, Mojkovac railway station 0.9 km: destination and distance, which is the marking style along the route.
Climbing and gradients
8,900 m of ascent over 305 km: six days means stages of about 51 km with roughly 1,480 m of climbing each, seven days about 44 km and 1,270 m. The figure to plan the gearing and the luggage around is the maximum gradient of 35%; with a loaded bike the steepest ramps are pushed. The 27.8 km alternative in the GPX file is a second line for part of the loop, worth comparing with the main track before the day it concerns.
When to ride
Cycling in Montenegro is possible all year, but a loop that never drops below 665 m and crosses 2,162 m is for the summer and autumn months. The high section is the one to look at before the day it falls on.
Signposts, brochure and GPX
Signposts mark the route along its whole length. Ride with the GPX track loaded as well: it is the reference line of the route and the way to check position on remote sections, and the stages are best planned from it. The brochure (English, PDF) carries the elevation profile with the places on the way, the route description and the kit list. The route was traced by Tane Minić, the texts are by Jovan Eraković, and the publisher is the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, with the Austrian Development Agency and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.
Getting to the start
The GPX track starts and ends at 42.956, 19.587. The loop passes within 0.9 km of Mojkovac railway station on the Bar-Belgrade railway, so the train is a way in with a bike; Berane and Rožaje are the towns on the loop and Kolašin the nearest larger town up the Tara from Mojkovac.
Safety
Gradients reach 35%. Ride in a group on the remote sections and carry a map and compass or a GPS, a phone, a torch, basic tools and a spare tyre. The emergency number is 112.
Rest days and nearby
The loop crosses Bjelasica, whose heart is Biogradska gora National Park with Biogradsko jezero; the park has its own 63 km bike loop, "Dvije glave i pet jezera", of 8 to 9 hours. Hajla rises above Rožaje, and the Ibar has its spring on the loop.
The five Top Trails
The national Top Trails are five signposted multi-day routes with a brochure and a GPX track each, all on the cycling hub.
| Route | Length |
|---|---|
| Salty and Sweet (Top Trail 1) | 626 km |
| North Discoveries (Top Trail 2) | 390 km |
| Magic East (Top Trail 3) (this page) | 305 km |
| Endless Landscapes (Top Trail 4) | 415 km |
| The Stories by the Water (Top Trail 5) | 236 km |
Questions
How long is Top Trail 3?
305 km, in 6 to 7 days.
How steep is it?
The maximum gradient is 35% and the total climbing 8,900 m; the loop stays between 665 m and 2,162 m.
Where does it start?
The GPX track starts and ends at 42.956, 19.587 and passes within 0.9 km of Mojkovac railway station; it also carries a 27.8 km alternative section.
Is it marked?
Yes, with signposts giving destination and distance; the GPX track is the second navigation aid and the one to rely on in remote sections.
Highlights
- 305 km loop through the east in 6-7 days
- 8,900 m of climbing, gradients up to 35%
- Between 665 m and 2,162 m: Bjelasica, Rožaje, Berane, Mojkovac
- Signposted; NTO GPX with a 27.8 km alternative
