Trans Euro Trail
Comprising over 38,000km of dirt road, the Trans Euro Trail is an epic motorcycle journey through some of Europe's most remote, diverse, and inspirational landscapes. Influenced by the pioneering Trans America Trail, the Trans Euro Trail encourages adventurous riders to travel light and experience the rich diversity of Europe's land and culture.
Powered by a team of enthusiastic volunteers called Linesmen, the Trans Euro Trail relies on its community to find and manage the evolving network of tracks that crisscross thirty countries. It is not a commercial entity, it is not a tour company, and it is not profit-driven. Everyone involved in the Trans Euro Trail has the same goal, to celebrate lightweight motorcycle adventure and the rich experience of exploring landscapes, cultures, and borders.
Unlike the very famous Trans America Trail, the TET is an ever-changing, collaborative effort of riders from all across Europe, uniting adventurers with one common goal. “We're hoping to make motorcycle backpacking adventure mainstream, an acceptable form of rural tourism that can be carried out sustainably”, - says John Ross, the mastermind behind the TET.
Where does the Trans Euro Trail go?
The TET has two arms, one East and one West. The Eastern route travels through Finland, the Baltic states, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria before looping to the Bosphorus in Turkey and then entering Greece and running up through the Balkans, across Italy, and into France where it joins the Western arm which has crossed Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Low Countries, the UK and France. After meeting in Southern France, the TET passes through Andorra, Spain, and Portugal to reach Tarifa on the Straits of Gibraltar. They hope to add Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia to the eastern route very soon.
How much of the journey is dirt?
As much as possible! The aim is to avoid bitumen but in our crowded continent, this is sometimes impossible. Where it does follow tar roads, they are minor and scenic.
What kind of bike is suitable?
The Trans Euro Trail is aimed at small and medium-capacity trail bikes - bikes such as Yamaha’s WR250R and XT600 and XT660Z Tenere, CCM’s GP450, KTM’s 690, and Suzuki’s DRZ400. Larger bikes can tackle it but riders need to be more experienced and competent. Soft luggage and traveling light are the ethos – leave those panniers and armchairs at home. This is overlanding in its purest form.
Who are the Linesmen?
The Trans Euro Trail can only exist with its Linesmen and Lineswomen. An undertaking as large as the Trans Euro Trail needs passionate and dedicated care.
As the Trans Euro Trail winds its way across Europe, through forests and medieval villages, across high mountain passes, open pastures and tundra, in the heat and cold, rain, wind and sun, each kilometer has been mapped, ridden and checked by volunteers and previous travelers. The tracks, comments, and amendments are then passed to the country’s Linesman or woman who coordinates the development and evolution of the Trans Euro Trail on his or her patch.
Once content with the next version of their section of the trail they pass it on to TET HQ for adding to the website as the definitive route. All Linesmen give up their time freely and willingly. All are riders and all have a passion to share their love of the trails and landscapes of their countries with others. Some assume the role for a year, some for longer. Linesmen are not paid but are rewarded with the sight of photos, ride reports, and videos, the submission of trail reports by users, and by the occasional e-mail of thanks!
Trans Euro Trail (TET) is Europe's Dirt Road Adventure. It is a cultural off-road adventure from deep within the Arctic Circle to the doorstep of Africa...
