Page 46 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

Montenegro
Like Albania, Montenegro has a mixture of
mountain and coastal flying. The inland sites

can feel remote and you can find yourself
alone, but they do offer good cross-country
flying. However, it’s a small country, with a
population of only 600,000, and it’s easy to
reach the border in flight – which you can’t
legally cross.
On the coast the most famous site is
Brajići, near Budva. It is flyable all year but
is best flown in spring and autumn. In the
summer beach landing isn’t possible and the
only landing available is small and reserved
for tandems. The mountain ridge runs south

to the Albanian border and can be followed
for 40km to the city of Bar, from where you
can turn round and fly back.
Another coastal highlight is flying
down from Lovćen into Kotor Bay with its
spectacular limestone cliffs and a picture-
postcard fortified city.
montenegrofly@hotmail.co.uk
Photo: Ant Green

Greece

Greece continues the theme of inland
mountain flying and coastal soaring. The
west of the country boasts over 250 sunny
days a year. The regular westerly winds are
perfect for flying the mountain chains that
run south-north and face the Ionian Sea.
The lovely village of Empesos with its friendly
inhabitants is a place for laid-back living. The
mountains (right) in the area reach 2,500m

and offer flying all year round. The Greek
Championships have often been held here with
fast flights in the region’s convergence.
The biggest natural lake in Greece is Lake
Trichonis. The site near the town of Agrinio
offers mild conditions for cross-country
flying as well as SIV training, with landing by
the lakeside.

For a true alternative, take a trip to the small
island of Aetoliko which is connected to the
mainland by two ancient stone bridges. Here
the coastal flying is suitable for all abilities.
noborders.gr
Photo: Joachim Skondras

46 CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 BALKANS