Late 2023 I decided to go backpacking with a friend. 26 days, 6 countries all under 380€.
📍Croatia 🇭🇷
📍Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦
📍Montenegro 🇲🇪
📍Albania 🇦🇱
📍North Macedonia 🇲🇰
📍Serbia 🇷🇸
Ever since finishing university 3 years ago, I have been full time travelling and volunteering for conservation projects. I absolutely love my lifestyle however can't lie tight budget is one of the downsides. Instead of giving up my travel dreams I just decided to become resourceful and find the perfect itineraries that still fit my tight budget and let me explore the world. Before every trip, I spend weeks planning and researching and it's one of my favourite parts of the adventure. However, I know it can be overwhelming and tedious at times so I decided to share my research and my itinerary with you. All places mentioned here are places where I have been/stayed/eaten myself and can give you an honest review.
In this guide, you'll find an itinerary through the Balkans meant to take you through 6 countries throughout 26 days following my footsteps. I'll share with you my recommendations of where to stay and what to do as well as a detailed outline of the full cost (accommodation and transport). You'll also find links to the accommodations I stayed in and all the bus/train companies I used. You'll also find a spreadsheet so you can adjust the itinerary to your own needs.
What you'll get in this guide
✔️Itinerary through Balkans for 26 days
✔️Budget for the whole trip for accommodation and transport (updated November 23)
✔️Recommendations of budget accommodation in each location
✔️Recommendations of activities in each location
✔️Researched public transport connections between each location
✔️Ideas of day trips from the location (with budget expectations)
✔️Tips on how to get discounts on booking.com and flixbus (including a discount code)
What you won't find in this guide
✖️Detailed day-to-day plan
✖️Budget for food during the trip as they will vary vastly depending on your personal preferences
✖️Food and restaurant recommendations
*I did the trip with a friend so the itinerary is mostly applicable for 2 people because accommodations recommendations are double/twin rooms. But if you're traveling with different number of people of course you can still use the guide you just need to find a different accomodation