9 unique places to stay along the Balkan Trail

Do you want to hike the Balkan Trail without a guide and are you looking for unique places to stay? That’s absolutely possible! The Balkan Trail is a beautiful hiking route through Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. These countries are still quite unknown to many travellers. Along the way, you pass through the stunning mountains of the Dinaric Alps. On the trail, you’ll find lovely guesthouses where they prepare delicious local dishes. This allows you to discover the culture and traditions of the people who live there. We’ll show you how to hike the Balkan Trail independently, starting in Albania. You will also find suggestions for overnight stays along the way.

Route & itinerary of the Balkan Trail with accommodations (starting from Montenegro)

I’m starting this blog with our itinerary, because it makes the guesthouses and hotels we stayed at more logical. Of course, you can also start from Albania, although we personally began our journey from Montenegro. I found this more practical in terms of travel time.

The Albanian Alps are the highest mountains of the Dinaric Alps. They are also known as the Prokletije. You’ll find them in the northern part of Albania. These mountains are still relatively undiscovered by many Europeans, which makes hiking here extra special. The region offers high peaks, vast forests, crystal-clear rivers and charming villages.

Don’t be discouraged by expensive travel organisations. We already wrote about this in our blog ‘Hiking the Balkan Trail without a guide‘.

Day	Accommodation	Country/Countries	Hike	Border Crossing
1	Travel day: From Amsterdam to Podgorica; from Podgorica to Plav	Netherlands > Montenegro
2	Vusanje	Montenegro	21km, 1200 elevation m, 8:10 hours
3	Theth	Montenegro > Albania	21km, 1000 elevation m, 8:00 hours	Border crossing Mont > Alb
4	Valbona	Albania	17km, 1100 elevation m, 7:00 hours
5	Ceremi	Albania	14km, 1200 elevation m, 6:20 hours	Border crossing Alb > Mont and Mont > Alb
6	Doberdol	Albania	15km, 1000 elevation m, 6:20 hours	Border crossing Alb > Mont and Mont > Alb
7	Milishvec	Albania > Kosovo	18km, 900 elevation m, 6:50 hours	Border crossing Alb > Mont > Kos
8	Babino Polje	Kosovo > Montenegro	14km, 600 elevation m, 5:00 hours	Border crossing Kos > Mont
9	Plav	Montenegro	21km, 572 elevation m, 7:00
10	Travel day: from Plav to Podgorica; from Podgorica to Amsterdam	Montenegro > Netherlands

9 unique overnight stays along the Balkan Trail

These were my choices along the Balkan Trail. Below you’ll first find a map with all my accommodations. Of course, you can also book an alternative nearby. Under the map, you’ll find more details about why each of these is a unique place to stay along the trail. Buy the guide & GPX files to complete your Balkan experience!

Name	Why stay here?	Location
Salerno Camp	Plav: Start your adventure here! The perfect place to prepare for the trail. Stock up here on breakfast, lunch, dried fruits, nuts and energy bars.	Plav, Montenegro
Riverside Guesthouse	Vusanje: Relax by the river! After a challenging hike from Plav, you’ll be welcomed with a great meal and a peaceful atmosphere.	Vusanje, Montenegro
Guesthouse Prrockaj Theth	Theth: Experience true hospitality! After a long climb and hike from Vusanje, this is the ideal place to relax. Theth even has a small supermarket.	Theth, Albania
Hyrmet Demushi	Valbona: Enjoy the excellent cuisine! After the popular route from Theth, you’ll be treated to delicious food and warm hospitality.	Valbona, Albania
Vita Guesthouse	Çerem: Enjoy home cooking! After a walk through forests and dirt tracks, a fantastic host awaits with a delicious meal.	Çerem, Albania
Bilbil Vita Guesthouse	Dobërdoll: Experience an adventurous night! This remote mountain village offers a unique stay. Be prepared for a primitive setting and cold nights.	Dobërdoll, Albania
Chalet Rrusta	Milishevc: Meet the sweetest people! After a tough climb over Mount Tromeda, you’ll be warmly welcomed by an elderly couple who cook wonderful meals. The dormitory is new and relatively comfortable.	Milishevc, Kosovo
Samel’s Cottage	Babino Polje: Sleep in a unique cabin! After a day full of hills and beautiful landscapes, you can stay in small, triangle-shaped huts. Let the self-sufficient owners surprise you with their stories.	Babino Polje, Montenegro
The Lake Breeze Bay apartment	Plav: End your journey in comfort! Enjoy the view over Lake Plav and let the hosts prepare a homemade dinner. A perfect finish to an unforgettable trip.	Plav, Montenegro

Plan your trip too. Download the Balkan Trail guide!

The overnight stays listed above were selected based on the journey I made through the Balkans. In our convenient travel guide, you’ll find all the routes, useful GPX files and of course all hotels and guesthouses once again. You can easily buy it online below!