A 7-Day Nature Itinerary for the Balkans

1. Day 1: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
   2 hours 40 minutes (137.2 km) from Zagreb

   Discover the stunning cascading lakes and waterfalls while hiking in the verdant forest of Croatia's most popular park.

2. Day 2: Skadar Lake National Park, Montenegro
   5 hours 5 minutes (292.1 km) from Plitvice Lakes National Park

   A kayaking adventure in the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula offers spectacular views of craggy mountains and abundant wildlife.

3. Day 3: Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
   3 hours 30 minutes (214.9 km) from Skadar Lake National Park

   This serene lake, deemed one of the oldest in Europe, features crystal-clear waters and prehistoric scuba-diving activities.

4. Day 4: Belgrade Fortress, Serbia
   4 hours 17 minutes (304.0 km) from Lake Ohrid

   Take a walk around one of the city's most historic landmarks, also known as Kalemegdan Fortress, for a captivating sunset view over the Danube river.

5. Day 5: Durmitor National Park, Montenegro
   5 hours 47 minutes (383.6 km) from Belgrade Fortress

   This national park boasts of spectacular hiking trails, stunning glacial lakes, and some of the highest peaks in the Balkans.

6. Day 6: Tara River Canyon, Montenegro
   1 hour 54 minutes (107.4 km) from Durmitor National Park

   Zip line across the deepest canyon in Europe, with amazing views of turquoise waters and towering cliffs.

7. Day 7: Sarajevo's Olympic Bobsled Track, Bosnia and Herzegovina
   3 hours 30 minutes (213.1 km) from Tara River Canyon

   Hike into a graffiti-filled bobsled track, home to the 1984 Winter Olympics, for a hauntingly stunning view of the city and beyond.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Plitvice Lakes National Park (1 full day, £25)
• Skadar Lake National Park (1 full day, £15)
• Lake Ohrid (1 full day, £10)
• Belgrade Fortress (1 full day, Free)
• Durmitor National Park (1 full day, £5)
• Tara River Canyon (1 full day, £40)
• Sarajevo's Olympic Bobsled Track (1 full day, Free)
• Total Estimated Costs: £95

Useful tips

This itinerary is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers. For more time, add a visit to the Blue Cave in Croatia or Sandzak's Novi Pazar in Serbia. For a shorter trip, subtract a stop in Ohrid or the Bobsled track in Sarajevo.