Hiking the Balkans: Via Dinarica
Hiking the Balkans: Via Dinarica
Hiking the Balkans: Via Dinarica
11 Days Starting in Split and ending in Tirana
Visiting: Split, Blidinje Nature Park, Sarajevo, Umoljani, Durmitor National Park, Durmitor National Park / Prokletije Mountains, Prokletije Mountains, Theth, Valbona / Accursed Mountains, Tirana
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZMXH
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Trip Styles:
Tour Overview
Get your heart racing on a hiking trip across four countries, showcasing the best of the Western Balkans. The Dinaric Alps stretch over 2000 km from Italy through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania – and you’ll discover some of the best bits of this breathtaking mountain range. Start in the port-side hub of Split, Croatia and head out for an evening hike in Blidinje Nature Park. Discover Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then trek through Durmitor National Park in Montenegro, known for its glacial lakes. In Albania, stay in Theth before tackling the Valbona-Theth hike, and end the trip with a scenic ferry ride to Koman. With history, culture, nature and adventure combined, this is a journey through the Dinaric Alps you won’t want to miss.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Split
Location: Split
Accommodation: Hotel
Zdravo! Welcome to Croatia. This Mediterranean paradise might be best-known for its island-dotted coastline, but it’s also filled with historic streets and leafy green mountains. Your trip starts in the port hub of Split, lapped by the Adriatic Sea, with local produce stalls, cobblestone lanes and ancient buildings. You’ll kick off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening, where you’ll get to know your new travel companions and local leader. If you arrive early, maybe wander along the waterfront, grab a fresh gelato and soak up the Mediterranean sun. Or, head to the Old Town, which has ancient Roman architecture juxtaposed against modern museums, shops, and homes.
Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Blidinje Nature Park
Location: Blidinje Nature Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
The morning is yours to spend as you wish – maybe ask your leader for some good lunch spots before you hit the road to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Stop off at Blidinje, where you’ll have some free time to explore before the hiking begins in the late afternoon. This nature park is in the heart of the Dinaric Alps, so you’re sure to find many like-minded hikers enjoying the green space. Start your trek at the Vitlenica point and hike through to Hajducka Vrata (Outlaw’s Gate). A certified mountain guide and your leader will be there to guide you along the path as the sun sets, to a scenic platea on Cvrsnica Mountain where you can take a break. One of the highlights of this trek is that night begins to fall just as you finish the walk – giving you a special opportunity to stargaze from the Alps! Make sure you pack a head lamp (and spare batteries) and walking poles for extra support.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Sarajevo
Location: Sarajevo
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Relax with a free morning in Blidinje before you travel to Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. The city gained global attention with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife, which sparked World War I. Then, in the early 90s, it was held under siege for almost four years during the Balkan War. You’ll have the day to explore the city at your own pace, so consider diving into its history at the Sarajevo Museum or the National Museum. Or, if you want to get back into nature, you can visit Ilidza Park and Springs – this spot has been known for its tranquility since the Ottoman period. You might also like to explore the Old Town, sip a local Bosnian coffee, walk across the famous Latin Bridge, or look for the Sarajevo roses (memorials made from the marks on the pavement where mortar shells exploded during the 90s).
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Day 4: Umoljani
Location: Umoljani
Accommodation: Pension
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
You’ll be up bright and early this morning to hit the road toward the village of Umoljani where our next hike, in Bjelašnica Mountain area, will kick off. With more than 40km of ski slopes in this area, Bjelašnica Mountain hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984 which were deemed ‘the best in history’ by the International Olympic Committee. So, it’s safe to say today’s terrain is the kind of take-your-breath-away alpine scenery you could only dream of. Your hike will be along a loop trail that crosses through the highest and most remote village in Bosnia – Lukomir. You’ll get the opportunity to hang out with the locals here; you’ll share lunch, laughs, local cheese and, of course, Bosnian coffee. Coffee-lovers assemble; the rich (exceptionally strong), chocolatey brew is rather addictive and to make things even sweeter – it's often served with a portion of Turkish Delight. This village is particularly charming; at 1,500m above sea level, it’s unique for its centuries old stone houses and traditional dress. You’ll discover fascinating history, culture and architecture during your pitstop here. After some time learning more about local life, you’ll hike to our overnight location at Umoljani village.
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Day 5: Durmitor National Park
Location: Durmitor National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Soak up the beauty of Umoljani at breakfast, as you’ll drive even higher up today, towards your next temporary home – Zabljak, the main town within Durmitor National Park. Located on the mountain of Durmitor, Zabljak is the highest city in the Balkans, with an altitude of 1456 m – just think of that view! The rest of the day is yours to settle in as you wish. Maybe get your bearings with a leisurely walk or swim in the glacial lakes. Make sure you ask your local leader for any restaurant recommendations for dinner.
Day 6: Durmitor National Park / Prokletije Mountains
Location: Durmitor National Park / Prokletije Mountains
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Fuel up on a hearty breakfast this morning, as you'll hit the mountains today! Strap on your boots and start the hike from the main entrance of Durmitor National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the national park is made up of mountains traversed by rivers and dotted with glacial lakes. Since Durmitor National Park is so vast and beautiful, there are plenty of trail options for today’s hike. Your leader will take you on one that caters to the group’s personal tastes and fitness levels – they'll expertly mix and match the trails to create an epic day of hiking that everyone enjoys. One thing is certain – lakes, pine forests and alpine air are guaranteed for any trail combination. Your final climb of the day will get your heart rate up and lead you to one of the best viewpoints overlooking Tara Canyon. Once you reach the top, rest, relax and soak up those views – you've earned it! After the hike, take some rest, pack and head towards your next destination – Gusinje - a small village on the border of Montenegro and Albania.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Prokletije Mountains
Location: Prokletije Mountains
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Today start after the breakfast and hike towards Karanflii peaks which stand proudly over Grbaja Valley below. You’ll walk along the ridge of the mountains and while the distance isn’t as far as previous days, the elevation gain is significant – pack your walking poles to help you out! The trail winds around Prokletije Mountain and includes Popadija and Talijanka peaks with a front row view of the towering Karanfili peaks in the distance. Sit down to a packed lunch with your fellow adventurers and enjoy the view before heading to your accommodation in Gusinje in the afternoon.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Theth
Location: Theth
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Another day, another country to explore. You’ll cross the border into Albania today – the fourth and final country on this Balkan hiking adventure. Stop in Theth – one of the wonders in the Albanian Alps, declared a Protected Historic Center by the Albanian Government. With narrow country roads, cows and horses in wooden fenced fields and small stone buildings, Theth is like a fairytale. As this village is your home for the night, settle in and explore your surroundings – maybe even swim in the Blue Eye of Theth or Grunasi Waterfall if the sun is out!
Day 9: Valbona / Accursed Mountains
Location: Valbona / Accursed Mountains
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
After a relaxing day in Theth yesterday, it’s time to lace up your walking shoes for your final hike – this time on the Valbona-Theth trail. This is a signature hike in the region – recognised for the rewarding vistas that sprawl far across the pine-dotted valley below and snow-capped Albanian Alps above. After a day on your feet, retire to your guesthouse in Valbona Valley where you’ll be treated to an authentic Albanian dinner with your group. Put your feet up and reflect on all the hiking you’ve achieved in the last week.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Tirana
Location: Tirana
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Head on a scenic private boat ride to Koman after breakfast. Surrounded by mountains that seem to dive directly into the turquoise water of the lake, the cruise will be just as much about the journey as the destination. It’s a nice opportunity to rest your legs and sit back to enjoy one of Mother Nature’s best shows. Halfway through, your boat will stop for some refreshments and an opportunity to swim. Once the boat docks in Koman, you’ll be taken to Tirana by minibus. When you arrive, your leader will take you on a short orientation walk around the country’s capital. You’ll have the evening at your leisure – you might like to head to a local restaurant to enjoy one final dinner with your newfound travel friends. Be sure to ask your leader for the best recommendations.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Tirana
Location: Tirana
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your Balkan hiking adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you would like to extend your stay in Tirana, just get in touch with your booking agent to organise additional accommodation ahead of time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Guesthouse (1 night), Pension (1 night) -
Blidinje Nature Park: Hajducka Vrata guided night hike
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Blidinje Nature Park: guided stargazing on Cvrsnica Mountain
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Blidinje Nature Park - hiking with wild horses
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Bjelasnica mountains guided hike
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Lukomir village visit
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Lunch with local Bosnian family
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Durmitor National Park - Lake Trail guided hike
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Prokletije Mountains guided hike: Karanfili peaks
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Albanian Alps: Theth to Valbona guided hike
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Fierza to Koman picturesque ferry trip
Transport
TRANSPORT IN EUROPEHalf the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.PRIVATE VEHICLESAll sections of this trip are travelled by private transport. Our vehicles are locally sourced, comfortable and mostly air conditioned, which makes travelling enjoyable. On some days we will be covering long distances, which will make these days feel longer, however spectacular views and interesting stops along the way make up for it.
Accommodation
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONThe style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.TWIN SHARE BASISAccommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.CHECK-IN TIMEThroughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATIONIf you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.FACILITIESYour accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Important Information
1. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 01 in Split.2. This trip ends on Day 11 after breakfast in Tirana, and you are free to leave at any time.3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
TRANSPORT IN EUROPEHalf the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.PRIVATE VEHICLESAll sections of this trip are travelled by private transport. Our vehicles are locally sourced, comfortable and mostly air conditioned, which makes travelling enjoyable. On some days we will be covering long distances, which will make these days feel longer, however spectacular views and interesting stops along the way make up for it.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This is a hiking trip, so a good level of fitness is essential. Expect long days (up to 8-9 hours) and hikes of up to 20 kms a day, with over 1000 m of elevation gain. Be prepared for remote mountain regions and unpredictable weather.
You’ll be covering four countries, so there will be quite a bit of driving. Make sure you’re comfortable with up to 4 hours in the seat each day.
Some hikes are point-to-point with no shortcuts, so review the descriptions carefully to ensure you’re comfortable with the time, distance, and terrain.
Pack lightly as you’ll need to carry your own bag. Although you won’t walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), aim to keep it under 15 kg / 33 lb. Smaller bags with wheels can be handy, but carry straps are recommended for cobbled streets and uneven surfaces. You’ll also need a daypack/small bag for water and personal items during daytrips. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
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