Overview
The trip at a glance
A two-family, two-car loop through the southern Balkans in high summer. Stone Ottoman towns, the Albanian Riviera, the alps at Theth, Mostar's bridge, and the Bay of Kotor.
| Days 1–2 | Arrive in the region; pick up rental cars |
| Days 3–4 | Gjirokastër — the stone city, castle & Blue Eye |
| Days 5–6 | Sarandë — Ionian coast, Butrint & Ksamil |
| Day 7 | Dhërmi — Riviera beaches |
| Days 8–10 | Shkodër — Berat, Komani Lake & Theth |
| Day 11 | Mostar, Bosnia — Stari Most & Kravica |
| Days 12–14 | Bay of Kotor — Kotor, Lovćen & the bay by boat |
| Day 15 | Depart from Podgorica |
Day by day
The route
Trip map
The overall loop, south to north and up into Montenegro. Every stop inside the itinerary also links straight to Google Maps directions.
Albania
Bosnia
Montenegro
Tip: open any day in the itinerary and tap a place name to launch turn-by-turn directions to it.
Real prices
What it cost
We log expenses live as we travel — real prices for meals, entries, fuel and boats, for our group of eight. Divide by eight for a rough per-person figure.
Loading cost log…
Total logged
€0
0 entries · group of 8
Per person
€0
total ÷ 8
Albania
€0
Days 3–10
Bosnia
€0
Day 11
Montenegro
€0
Days 12–15
Filter:
| Day | Food | Entry | Transport | Other | Total |
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Costs are what our group actually paid. Prices in the region are in Albanian lek, Bosnian marka and euro; we've shown everything in euro for comparison.
Good to know
Before you go
🚗 Driving & borders
- A self-drive trip; the longest days are Day 8 (Dhërmi→Shkodër, ~409 km) and Day 11 (Shkodër→Mostar, which crosses Montenegro and Bosnia).
- Confirm your rental is cleared for cross-border travel into Bosnia & Montenegro before you leave the desk.
- Download offline maps for all three countries; mountain coverage is patchy (Theth pass, southern Albania).
- Keep passports and car papers within reach on the cross-border days.
🥗 Eating well (vegetarian-friendly)
- Southern Albanian and Montenegrin Konoba menus are rich in dairy, produce and rice — vegetarians eat very well.
- For garden and farm-to-table dinners, call ahead to confirm group size and dietary needs.
- Carry cash: many rural spots and boat operators are cash-only. Euro is widely accepted; Albania uses the lek, Bosnia the marka.
☀️ July / August in the Balkans
- Most beaches are pebbles, not sand — pack water shoes.
- Beat heat & crowds: reach Butrint, Kotor Old Town and mountain summits at opening.
- Pack repellent (Butrint), grippy shoes (thermal baths, Gjipe, Theth) and a light layer (Lipa Cave sits at 8–12°C).
- Sunsets run ~8:00–8:10 PM — the hilltop castle dinners are timed for golden hour.