The Trans Euro Trail (TET) organization has just announced the release of a new dual sport trail system that circumnavigates the European continent — a 34,000 km (21,000 mi) route that covers the Straits of Gibraltar to the Greek Archipelago, all the way north to the Arctic Circle in Norway.

The TET travels primarily on dirt roads and leads riders through some of Europe’s most remote regions, far away from the crowded tourist sites. So far away in fact that some nights you need to keep a fire lit to ward off bears and wolves! It’s also a journey through history with stops at prehistoric sites, ancient castles, medieval towns, WWII monuments and relics of the cold war. It’s a chance to see the full range of Europe’s natural treasures with captivating views of sweeping coastlines, pristine forests, grassy plains, desert sands and maybe even a topless beach or two. Yet it’s also a unique cultural experience with ever-changing customs, languages and cuisines as you travel through a total of 27 European countries.

TET – Sweden

TET – Montenegro

The trails cover every type of terrain from gravel, mud, sand, river crossings and rocks. Some trails are wide enough for a car but many are single track. The route is aimed at small- to medium-displacement dual sport machines like the WR250R, XT660Z Tenere, CCM GP450, KTM 690 Enduro R and DRZ400S. However, more experienced off-road riders can complete the journey on larger Adventure Bikes. Soft luggage and lightweight packing are recommend for the best trail experience. Travelers can choose to camp along the way or use local hostels, B&B’s or even 5-star hotels depending on your budget. Check the TET forum on ADV Rider where fellow travelers offer recommendations on where to stay.

TET – Greece

TET – Portugal

TET – Romania

TET – Serbia

Best of all, the TET GPS routes and maps can all be downloaded free! The whole thing is run by passionate trail riding volunteers that just want to share their experience of traveling through Europe with other fellow riders. Europe is notorious for being highly-restricted when it comes to dirt road travel, so creating a route of such immense proportions was a huge feat which wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the community and European Adventure Motorcycle E-Tailer Adventure Spec. Everything you need to complete the journey such as the maps, GPX files, trail descriptions, best times to travel, where to stay, gas stops, points of interest, alternate routes and trail closures can all be found on the TET website. With help from the community, the route will continue to be updated as more rider feedback is received.

How Long Will It Take?

The Trans Euro Trail is a dual sport route of truly epic proportions that dwarfs the USA’s Trans America Trail (TAT) at 5,000 miles and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) at 3,000 miles. For those wanting to complete the entire journey in one shot, it could take months depending on your speed. With so many kilometers to cover, many riders will do the TET one country or region at a time. But why hurry when there’s so much to see!

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.