Where do you sleep on the Peaks of the Balkans? Guesthouses, huts and camping
Short answer
You sleep in family guesthouses (bujtina) in the villages and in simple shepherd huts on the high plateaus. Half board (bed, dinner and breakfast) costs about €30–50 per person per night in 2026, and a packed lunch is usually €5–10 extra. Book 1–3 months ahead for July and August. Camping is possible at or near many guesthouses for a small fee.
There are no mountain refuges in the Alpine sense on the Peaks of the Balkans. Instead, the trail was designed to pass through villages where families host hikers. That is a big part of its charm – and of the logistics.
Types of accommodation
| Type | Where | What you get | Price (2026, per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse (bujtina) | Theth, Valbonë, Plav, Vusanje, Drelaj… | Room or dorm, shared or private bathroom, dinner and breakfast | €30–50 half board |
| Shepherd hut / summer settlement | Dobërdol, Çerem, Milishevc | Simple beds or mattresses, home-cooked meals, basic toilets | €25–40 half board |
| Camping at a guesthouse | Most villages | Pitch for your tent, use of toilets and showers | €5–10 |
| Wild camping | Away from villages | Free, but rules differ per national park | – |
Prices are indicative and vary per house and season.
What half board means here
Dinner is usually a generous home-cooked meal: soup, bread, cheese, vegetables, often meat and homemade raki. Breakfast is bread, eggs, jam, honey and cheese. Vegetarians are generally catered for if you say so in advance.
How to book
- Phone or WhatsApp is how most guesthouses work; some are on booking platforms.
- Book 1–3 months ahead for July and August, especially in Theth, Valbonë and Vusanje.
- Confirm a few days before you arrive; plans and phone numbers change.
- Pay in cash. Euros are accepted everywhere; in Albania prices are often in lek.
Camping on the trail
If you carry a tent, many guesthouses let you camp in their garden or field for a small fee, with access to toilets, showers and meals. Wild camping is tolerated in many places, but check the rules of the national park you are in and never camp near livestock and their guard dogs.
Less hassle
Phoning ten guesthouses in three countries is part of the adventure for some people, and a chore for others. With The Balkan Trail, you camp on the grounds of family-run guesthouses with the pitches arranged, and you can rent the tent and sleeping bag instead of carrying your own from home.
