At the end of July 2017, we set off on our biggest trip yet – a three-week road trip through the Balkans. Our route took us through seven countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, and Austria. Our blue Ford Tourneo Custom was packed with a tent, storage boxes, and the whole family of six.
Albania, the main goal of the trip, turned out to be a real discovery – wild nature, hot springs, turquoise beaches, and wonderful hospitality. Add castles in Bosnia, mountain passes of Montenegro, Croatian waterfalls, and giant pandas at the Vienna Zoo. Three weeks of adventures, about 5,000 km, and a lifetime of memories.
Route
Poland — Czech Republic (transit) — Hungary (Balaton) — Bosnia and Herzegovina (Jajce, Sarajevo) — Montenegro (transit) — Albania (Rodonit, Durres, Berat, Langarica, Gjirokaster, Blue Eye, Ksamil, Butrint, Llogara, Kavaja) — Montenegro (Lovcen, Kotor) — Bosnia and Herzegovina (Kravica) — Croatia (Trogir, Krka, Plitvice Lakes, near Zagreb) — Austria (Vienna) — Czech Republic (transit) — Poland
Detailed plan
Day 1 – July 28
- Balkan road trip 2017 ahead of us – packing and getting ready
Day 2 – July 29
- Fairy Tales Garden, Miedzygorze – a stop in the Polish mountains
Day 3 – July 30
- Szigliget Castle, Hungary – castle ruins with a view over Lake Balaton
Day 4 – July 31
- Jajce – Bosnia and Herzegovina, a waterfall in the town center and old mills
Day 5 – August 1
- Sarajevo – the capital of Bosnia, history and contrasts
Day 6 – August 2
- To Albania through Montenegro – driving through the mountains, first taste of Albania
Day 7 – August 3
- Rodonit peninsula – castle ruins on the Adriatic coast
Day 8 – August 4
- Amphitheater and archaeological museum in Durres – Roman amphitheater and ancient finds
- Wild camp on the beach in Albania – camping right on the shore
Day 9 – August 5
- Berat – the city of a thousand windows, castle and old town
Day 10 – August 7
- Hot springs in the Langarica river canyon – bathing in natural hot springs
- Gjirokaster – the stone city and a castle with valley views
Day 11 – August 8
- Blue Eye / Syri i Kalter – a mesmerizing karst spring
- Ksamil – turquoise beaches of the Albanian riviera
Day 12 – August 9
- Butrint – ancient ruins on the UNESCO list
- Llogara pass – a scenic drive along the coast
Day 13 – August 10
- Kavaja, Pa Emer camping – rest by the sea
Day 15 – August 12
- Niegosz Mausoleum, Lovcen Pass and Kotor – Montenegro, a mountain road and the Bay of Kotor
Day 17 – August 13
- Kravica Waterfalls – cooling off in the heart of scorching Bosnia
Day 18 – August 14
- Trogir – a UNESCO old town and an unexpected reunion
Day 19 – August 15
- Krka National Park – waterfalls and boardwalks
Day 20 – August 16
- Plitvice Lakes – the turquoise jewel of Croatia
Day 21 – August 17
- Camp Zagreb – kayaking on an artificial lake
Day 24 – August 20
- Vienna with Kids: Giant Pandas at the Zoo – the Vienna Zoo and the long road home