Finding accommodation is one of the most important parts of planning the Peaks of the Balkans. Unlike some of Europe’s better-known long-distance trails, this route passes through remote mountain valleys and small villages where the choice of places to stay can be limited.

The good news is that you don’t need to carry a tent to hike the entire route. The trail has a network of family-run guesthouses, traditional mountain homes, and mountain huts that allow you to walk from one overnight stop to the next.

The challenge is working out which places fit your itinerary, how far you’ll need to walk each day, and whether your preferred accommodation will be available when you arrive.

This guide explains what to expect from accommodation on the Peaks of the Balkans, where you’ll find overnight options, when to book, and how to plan your itinerary around the places you want to stay.

What Types of Accommodation Are Available?

Most hikers complete the Peaks of the Balkans using a combination of guesthouses and mountain homes. Camping is another option for those who prefer more flexibility and are comfortable carrying additional equipment.

Guesthouses and Traditional Mountain Homes

Family-run guesthouses are the backbone of accommodation on the Peaks of the Balkans.

These are often small, locally owned properties in mountain villages or remote settlements. Staying in them is an important part of the experience: you’ll have the opportunity to meet local families, enjoy traditional food, and learn more about life in the mountains.

Facilities vary considerably. Some guesthouses offer private rooms and bathrooms, while others have shared bedrooms and basic facilities.

All provide dinner and breakfast, and some can prepare a packed lunch for the following day if arranged in advance.

Don’t expect every property to operate like a hotel. Confirm what is included in your reservation, especially meals, bathroom arrangements, payment methods, and arrival times.

Mountain Huts and Simple Lodges

Some overnight stops are more rustic, particularly in remote mountain areas.

Facilities may be basic, and the level of comfort can vary from one location to another. These places can be an essential part of an itinerary where there are few alternatives nearby.

If you prefer private rooms, private bathrooms, or a particular level of comfort, check the details before booking rather than assuming every accommodation offers the same facilities.

Camping

Camping can give you more flexibility over where you spend the night and how you divide the route.

However, it also means carrying a tent, sleeping system, cooking equipment, and enough food for the sections between resupply points. You’ll need to consider water availability and local rules about where camping is permitted.

Most guesthouses allow hikers to pitch a tent on their property for a fee, often with access to showers and meals. Ask the property directly rather than assuming this is available everywhere.

For many hikers, guesthouses offer the simplest way to experience the trail without carrying a full camping setup.

Peaks of the Balkans Accommodation Directory

The traditional itinerary passes through a series of villages and mountain settlements, but the accommodation options are not evenly distributed. Some stops have several guesthouses, while others have much more limited capacity.

The following Peaks of the Balkans accommodation directory follows the traditional route starting in Theth.

Theth

The Albanian village of Theth (also written as Thethi) is where most hikers will begin their Peaks of the Balkans journey. With easy transport from Tirana and good services, Theth is a lovely place to spend the night before you begin.

Additional recommended options in Theth include:

• Shpella Guesthouse
• Bujtina Tinari
• Thethi Villas
• Gurra Family Guesthouse
• Guest House Flodisa

Valbona

The next village you’ll come to on the Peaks of the Balkans is Valbona. Less a traditional village and more a long stretch of road with accommodation dotted along it, Valbona isn’t the most charming of settlements on the route.

However, there is ample accommodation available here and the surrounding mountains are simply spectacular.

Additional recommend options in Valbona include:

• Guesthouse Rama
• Hotel Valbor
• MIK Hotel Valbona
• Bujtina Izet Selimaj
• Bujtina Arturi
• Villas Jezerca

Çerem

Çerem is a tiny hamlet deep within the Albanian mountains and you’ll only find a few guesthouses here. As such, you’ll want to get your accommodation here booked as early as you can as options are often fully booked during the peak summer months.

More options in Çerem include:

• Alpin Zeneli Chalet
• Guesthouse Kujtim Gocaj
• Guesthouse Afrimi
• Relax Guesthouse

Dobërdol

The next stop along the Peaks of the Balkans Trail is Dobërdol. This remote mountain settlement is only inhabited during the warmer summer months and you’ll find accommodation is more rustic here than other stops along the trail. However, this is an incredible place to spend the night in the high mountains and all of the guesthouses are lovely.

There are only a handful of other possibilities in Dobërdol, including:

• Guesthouse Bashkimi
• Bilbil Vatnika Guesthouse

If you plan on splitting this stage into two days you can also stop before reaching Dobërdol and stay at Guest House Balçina.

Milishevc

After crossing into Kosovo the next stopping point for hikers on the Peaks of the Balkans is the small settlement of Milishevc and the surrounding countryside. You’ll find a few great options for accommodation here, but again, choices are limited so be sure to book early.

You’ll have a few other possibilities in and around Milishevc in addition to Kulla Guesthouse:

• Chalet Rrusta Guesthouse
• Bujtina Lojza (a short distance before Milishevc)
• Guesthouse Roshkodoli (located before Milishevc in Roshkodol)

Rekë e Allagës is an important overnight area in the traditional itinerary.

As with other small mountain settlements, check your options and confirm your booking before setting off. The location of your accommodation can influence how much distance and climbing you cover that day.

Rekë e Allagës (and Rugova Camp)

As the trail pushes deeper into Kosovo you’ll head towards Rekë e Allagës, a remote village that is spread out deep within the mountains. En route you’ll have the option to detour down to Rugova Camp, which is a small cluster of accommodation options set on the main highway that runs through the area.

There are several other options in Rekë e Allagës, all fairly close together:

• Bujtina Ariu
• Pushimore Leo
• Pushimorja Hajla

As mentioned above, for those interested in stopping a bit earlier at Rugova Camp, here are your options for overnight accommodation:

• Villas Gryka
• Hotel Gryka
• Rugova Camp

Drelaj & Te Liqeni

The next stage of the Peaks of the Balkans presents hikers with a few options to consider with consequences on where they’ll look for accommodation. Many opt for a short day, finishing in the village of Drelaj before taking a car transfer to Te Liqeni the following morning and hiking onwards from there. This let’s you avoid many kms of unpleasant road walking and spend the night in the friendly village of Drelaj.

However, some hikers will opt to complete the road walking and push all the way to Te Liqeni where you’ll find a few good accommodation options as well.

Our advice? Stop in Drelaj. You’ll enjoy a shorter day and avoid the unpleasant (and sometimes dangerous) section of road walking.

We’ve got recommendations for both options below:

Other accommodation options in Drelaj include:

• Guesthouse Konaku i Malesorit
• Bujtina Kaçaku
• Peace House

If you’re planning to continue all the way to Te Liqeni on this stage and spend the night there, here are your options:

• Guri i Kuq Hotel
• Villa Te Ibra
• Hotel Te Liqeni

Confirm the location of your accommodation and how it fits your route before booking. This is particularly important if you’re adjusting the traditional itinerary or using an alternative overnight stop on the preceding stage.

Babino Polje

After several days in Kosovo the Peaks of the Balkans crosses into Montenegro and most hikers will stop in Babino Polje. This isn’t a full village but rather a series of accommodations clustered along the road that runs through a long valley.

There are plenty of additional options in Babino Polje including:

• Isov Ranch
• Gago’s Wooden House
• Hrid Eco Lodge
• Triangle Woodhouse

You can also opt to push further up the trail beyond Babino Polje and stay at Samel’s Cottage. This is our preferred option if you have the energy as the views are simply outstanding!

Plav

After leaving Babino Polje the Peaks of the Balkans trail heads into Plav. This is the only proper city that the trail visits so it is the place to restock on any needed supplies, find onward transportation, and anything other major services you may need.

You’ll also find plentiful accommodation in Plav with our favorite listed below.

You’ll find many other option in Plav including:

• Bear Hug Hostel
• Apartmani Ambiente
• Cattleya Hotel
• Elan Apartments & Rooms
• Apartments & Rooms Brijest
• Camping Lakeview

Vusanje

The final night for most Peaks of the Balkans itineraries will be spent in the Montenegrin village of Vusanje. This is one of the most beautiful stops on the entire trail, so enjoy your final night!

There are many additional possibilities for accommodation in Vusanje, including:

• Nature Guest House Vuthaj
• Guesthouse Dedushi
• Moonlight House
• Guest House Guri
• Guest House Ulaj
• Guest House Kollata

Should You Book Accommodation in Advance?

Yes, booking ahead is generally the safest approach, especially if you’re hiking during July or August.

The main issue is capacity. Remote settlements may have only a small number of guesthouses, and groups can reserve a substantial proportion of the available beds.

If you’re planning a trip during the busiest part of the season, start researching accommodation as soon as you have an approximate itinerary and travel dates.

Booking earlier gives you more choice and reduces the risk of having to make substantial changes to your route because your preferred overnight stop is full.

Shoulder-season hikers may find more flexibility, but availability and opening dates can vary. Don’t assume a guesthouse will be operating simply because it appears on a map or in an older guide.

When contacting a property, confirm:

• Your arrival date and number of guests
• Whether a room is available
• Whether dinner and breakfast are included
• Whether a packed lunch is available
• Whether you will have a private or shared room
• Bathroom arrangements
• The accepted payment method
• The cancellation policy
• The property’s exact location

Keep a record of your reservations and any confirmation messages.

How Much Does Accommodation Cost?

Accommodation prices vary depending on the country, property, room type, season, and meals included.

A simple mountain guesthouse with shared facilities may cost considerably less than a private room in a larger town. Some properties offer dinner and breakfast as part of a package, while others price meals separately.

When comparing options, look at the total cost of the overnight stay rather than the room price alone.

Ask whether the quoted price includes:

• Overnight accommodation
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Packed lunch
• Drinks
• Camping or use of facilities, if applicable

It’s also sensible to carry enough cash for accommodation and meals in remote areas. Payment options can be limited, and you shouldn’t assume every guesthouse accepts cards.

Because prices change, confirm current rates directly with the property before booking.

How to Plan Your Itinerary Around Accommodation

One of the most common planning mistakes is deciding how many days you want to hike and then dividing the total distance evenly between them.

That approach doesn’t always work well on the Peaks of the Balkans.

The route has substantial elevation changes, and overnight accommodation is concentrated in particular villages and mountain settlements. You may find that one day is relatively short while the next involves a long hike with considerable climbing.

Instead, work through your itinerary in this order:

1. Decide how many days you have available.
2. Choose your starting point and preferred direction.
3. Identify suitable overnight locations.
4. Check accommodation availability.
5. Calculate the distance and elevation between each overnight stop.
6. Adjust the itinerary if any day looks too demanding.

The traditional stages are a useful starting point, but you don’t have to follow them blindly. The best itinerary is one that fits your fitness, available time, accommodation options, and preferred pace.

Use the Interactive Peaks of the Balkans Planner

Our interactive planner is designed to make this process easier.

You can explore the trail, compare route options, build a day-by-day itinerary, and see how your overnight stops fit together. You can then adjust your plan rather than trying to make your trip fit a fixed itinerary.

The planner also helps you understand the distances and elevation involved in each day and generate a custom GPS file for your planned route.

Plan your overnight stops first, check the hiking days they create, and adjust the itinerary until the whole trip works.

Explore the Peaks of the Balkans interactive planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to camp on the Peaks of the Balkans?

No. Many hikers complete the trail by staying in guesthouses and mountain huts. Camping is an alternative for hikers who want more flexibility and are prepared to carry the necessary equipment.

Are meals included in guesthouse prices?

Many guesthouses offer dinner and breakfast, but arrangements vary. Confirm exactly what is included when you book, and ask in advance if you need a packed lunch or have dietary requirements.

How far in advance should you book?

For a summer trek, particularly in July and August, it’s sensible to begin arranging accommodation well in advance. The right lead time depends on your dates, group size, and itinerary, but remote overnight stops deserve particular attention.

Can you change the traditional stages?

Yes. The traditional stages are a useful framework, but your itinerary can vary depending on available accommodation and your preferred daily distances. Stage 6, for example, may end at Drelaj or Te Liqeni, with the traditional Stage 7 beginning at Te Liqeni.

Is accommodation available in every village?

No. Not every village or settlement has a wide choice of places to stay, and some remote overnight locations have limited capacity. Check availability before committing to a particular itinerary.