26 July 2024.
As one of the best and most affordable long-distance hiking trails in Europe, this guide breaks down all the day-to-day Peaks of the Balkans costs to expect.
The Peaks of the Balkans is a spectacular multi-day hiking trail that can be enjoyed without having to break the bank.
Despite a boom in popularity in recent years, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo remain as affordable hiking destinations, especially when compared with other outdoor adventure hotspots in Europe such as the Dolomites, Alps or Pyrenees.
Our expenses for the entire hiking trip averaged around €40 per person per day for a comfortable, mid-range experience with plenty of little ‘treat yo’self’ moments along the way.
This short guide covers a complete breakdown of our Peaks of the Balkans costs for our 14-day itinerary, including all accommodation and meals, transport to the trail and along the route, national park fees, border permit fees, trail snacks and a few cheeky mountain coffees.
Pssst… there are no ATMs along the Peaks of the Balkans trail except for in Plav so having a solid idea of what your trip will cost in advance is essential so you can be sure to carry enough cash with you to last the entire trek. Don’t miss this post for more practical PoB tips.
// The costs outlined in this breakdown are for two people (my sister joined me for the hike). If you’re visiting solo, many of the per person accommodation and meal costs will remain the same as these are individually priced. Unfortunately, taxis will be more expensive for those hiking solo unless you can find others to split the cost with.
// Our trip was 14 days, including the official 10-day Peaks of the Balkans circuit and 3 additional nights – one night in Dobërdol to hike up Gjeravica and two nights in the Grebaje Valley to hike up Talijanka in Prokletije National Park. For those sticking to the 10-day route, I’ve also included the total price for this itinerary in the breakdown below.
// Prices are based on travel during July 2024 with all accommodation booked about 3 months in advance. You can expect to find slightly lower prices outside of the peak summer months (July and August), however due to dangerous snow across the passes, I would only recommend attempting the trek during the main trekking season (June to October).
Total Cost // €1,151
Days | 14 (13 days hiking, 1 day travel)
Average Daily Spend | €82 (€41 pp)
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Accommodation + Meals | 84% // €963
Transport | 9% // €103
Trail Snacks + Drinks | 4% // €47
Other | 3% // €38
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Total Cost for 10-day circuit // €932
Days | 11 (10 days hiking, 1 day travel)
Average Daily Spend | €84 (€42 pp)
Accommodation + Meals // €963
As expected, accommodation and meals were by far the biggest expense of the trip.
Overall, the quality of the Peaks of the Balkans accommodation represented excellent value, ranging from basic bungalows to luxe mountain chalets, all serving up exceptional food.
Meals (breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner) were most often included as a full-board package, or provided for a small additional fee, so these costs have been compiled together.
This total covers 13 nights of accommodation which were mostly around €35 but ranged between €30 and €45 per person, per night including all meals. Our bungalow in the fabulous Grebaje Valley was just €47 per night, however this didn’t include food so we stocked up on groceries for breakfast and lunch and ate at the nearby restaurant for dinner.
This total also includes a wonderful lunch enjoyed in the Rugova Valley where we decided to forgo the lunch packet for the day and treat ourselves to a grilled trout freshly caught beside the river (€10 pp with salad and drinks).
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For those on a tighter budget, there are definitely ways to do the trip for less, such as opting for hostels or cheaper guesthouses in bigger towns like Plav, Theth and Valbona, camping at guesthouses with access to the wonderful home-cooked meals, or wild camping which is a possibility along much of the trek (except for Montenegro).
At the other end of the scale, these larger towns also offer the opportunity to enjoy a more luxurious experience at some of the modern guesthouses that have sprung up in recent years and include the extra comforts that you won’t find in the tiny remote villages.
Transport // €103
We began our trek in Montenegro which involved taking the bus from Podgorica to Plav (€13 pp) to reach the start of the trail and returning from Plav to Podgorica at the end of the trek. If you’d prefer the comfort of a direct taxi, expect to pay around €100.
If you’re beginning your trek in Albania or Kosovo, the transport prices are similar, costing:
Albania | Bus Tirana to Shkodra (€5) and bus Shkodra to Theth (€10) = €15 pp
Kosovo | Bus Prishtina to Peja (€5) and bus Peja to Rugova (€5) = €10 pp
Along the Kosovo section, we also opted to skip 13 km of road walking by taking a transfer from our guesthouse in Drelaj to the trailhead above Restaurant Te Liqeni (€10 pp or €15 per pair).
Though not on the official circuit, we headed straight to the stunning Grebaje Valley after arriving in Plav at the end of our trek for an additional two-night stay. This required a bus from Plav to Gusinje (€1.50 pp), and a taxi from Gusinje to Grebaje (€15) and back again. Alternatively, a direct taxi from Plav to Grebaje Valley will cost around €30.
Trail Snacks + Drinks // €47
Trail snacks are an essential part of the Peaks of the Balkans experience.
Despite eating an obscene amount of food for both breakfast and lunch, after a long day on trail you’d be surprised at just how hungry you can get in the hours between arriving at your guesthouse and dinner.
On shorter days, the wait can feel like an eternity. Enter the all important snacks.
Before beginning the trek, we stocked up on nuts, sweet treats and some fruit in Podgorica to last us the first few days of hiking, as well before heading into the Grabaje Valley.
We stopped for several coffees and one homemade yoghurt with local honey from the many tiny mountain cafes scattered along the route (€1 to €3 each) and also enjoyed the odd beer or soft drink at the guesthouses (€2 to €4).
Many iced coffees were also consumed as a celebration for finishing the hike in Plav and to stave off the stifling summer heat post-hike in Grabaje Valley while waiting for our transfer.
Other // €28
This category includes the Prokletije National Park fees, the border permit fee for Montenegro and restaurant tips.
There’s an entrance fee of €3 per person, per day for Prokletije National Park in Montenegro, or you can purchase an annual pass that covers all of Montenegro’s National Parks for €13.50 per person. If you intend to visit Durmitor National Park or spend additional time in Prokletije after your hike, it’s likely worth going for the annual pass.
You’ll need to pay the park fee on the stages between Plav and Vusanje, and Vusanje and Theth, and as we added on an extra stop in the Grebaje Valley which also falls in Prokletije, this added up to €9 pp.
As we applied for the Peaks of the Balkans border permits independently, this cost just €10 for two of us, however if you’re going through an agency, expect to pay at least €43.
The remainder went towards service tips for the few times when eating out at restaurants and cafes, mostly at the start and end of the trek.
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