7 weeks in the Balkans

[JoJo]

Any one have any do not miss locations in the Balkans?  I'll be there is fall.  I've done quite a bit of research but have a few days free. 

[Hoppe]

What countries are you visiting, JoJo? Croatian coast is a must-see imo. Especially places like Dubrovnik.

[JoJo]

It's a whirlwind trip... planning to hit a highlight or few in each country.  This is the tentative plan:

Sept 14-18 Budapest & Eger, Hungary
Sept 19-23 A couple stops in northern Serbia & Belgrade
Sept 24-27 Saravejo & Bosnia villages
Sept 28-Oct 1 Slovenia
Oct 2-3  Plivice, Croatia
Oct 4 Zadar
Oct 5 Split
Oct 6-12  Cruise  (one of those yachts with 30 people or so)
Oct 13 Split
Oct 14-16 Mostar, tour around Herz
Oct 17 -18 Dubrovnik
Oct 19-20 Kotor, Montenegro
Oct 21-23 - Down to Albania for 2 nights to do the Komani Lake ferry
Oct 24 Bar to Uzice, Serbia Train
Oct 25  Get driver to visit UVAC and Studenica Monastery stay
Oct 26 Novi Pasa
Oct 27-29 Kosovo
Oct 30-31 Skopje, Macedonia
Nov 1-3 Sofia, Bulgaria

This is a load of countries but the area is fairly small.  I want to get a taste of each and eventually go back and slow travel around. 

[Hirondelle]

That's quite a bit of a flashtrip indeed! For Slovenia I'd recommend Bled and surroundings. Ljubljana was also a nice place, but rather small for a capital city. Haven't been to any of the other destinations you've listed so can't say anything about those. Sounds like a fab trip tho!

[JoJo]

That's quite a bit of a flashtrip indeed! For Slovenia I'd recommend Bled and surroundings. Ljubljana was also a nice place, but rather small for a capital city. Haven't been to any of the other destinations you've listed so can't say anything about those. Sounds like a fab trip tho!

Yep, was planning to base out of Bled.  I totally want to do this tour.  It's a little pricey but get up to the Alps, a famous pass, and the Soca river:  https://www.3glav.com/adventures/emerald-river-adventure-bled/

I might reach out to a couple companies and try to get a media discount for my fledgling travel blog (thehotflashpacker.com)   So far I haven't had a lot of luck - got one free admission, and a couple more offered but only after I had returned home. 

[JoJo]

If anyone has any do not miss activities along the route above, please add your suggestion.  I really haven't locked down any plans in any of the cities.  No tours booked, etc.

[monstermonster]

If you can get out to KRK in Croatia it is beautiful. Zagreb is also amazing and unlike everywhere else in the Balkans I feel

[MasterStache]

Sarajevo is nice. I've also visited Zenica, Doboj, Srebrenica, and spent a good deal of time in Tuzla (was deployed there). Each city is unique and still has obvious remnants of the war. Some of the stories the locals can tell you are gut wrenching. Just be aware Bosnia itself and certain cities are still full of unfound mines.

[JoJo]

If you can get out to KRK in Croatia it is beautiful. Zagreb is also amazing and unlike everywhere else in the Balkans I feel

Interesting.  I was just planning to buzz through Zagreb.