Damian Lin

Thanks everyone. I'm very touched by the fact that so many people offered such great suggestions. [As for the entrance permit, I intend to apply for it in the Serbian embassy in Budapest. I called and it seems it can go smoothly, although I'll just keep my fingers crossed ] Below I have an updated iti. (I cut Croatia so that I can avoid (a) its high prices and ( the need to enter BiH twice -- visa problem.) Hopefully this one looks reasonable. I also have doubts over certain issues: 1. I tried several bus/train websites (thanks everyone!), although even with Google Translation I still can't manage to use the websites to yield results that I understand. Maybe I can go directly to bus stations or information centers for schedule info? 2. I tried to make sure I can stay in certain towns for 2 to 3 days. However, I still wonder whether I should cut certain places, such as: *Nis [mainly famous for "Cela Kula," and I have seen the more interesting skeleton church in Kutna Hora, Czech. Otherwise the fortress of Nis is open 24 hours a day] *Zlatibor *Drvengrad/Mokra Gora (isn't it just an especially built ethno village, or it has very unique significance?) *Lovcen National Park or other national parks (not enough time?) *Podgorica: too many days? 3. Rafting: I'll see if I can do it in Zabljak, or from Sarajevo. If it's still too troublesome or expensive, I probably need to give up. 4. I think I'll be in the following countries in August and September. I'll try to surf couches as often as possible, but for the parts where I can't, should I book hostels one or two months in advance? By the way, are there good booking websites for these countires? (I found very few listings on websites like hostelworld, hostel.com, or hostelclub) Day 1 From Hungary to Subotica, Serbia Day 2 to Novi Sad Day 3 Novi Sad + daytrip to to Fruska Gora and Sremski Karlovci Day 4 to Belgrade, Serbia Day 5 Belgrade, Serbia Day 6 Belgrade, Serbia Day 7 to Despotovac + taxi or 40min walk to Monastery Manasija + then to Niš Day 8 (leave Nis at 10.30 or 13.30 to) Novi Pazar Day 9 Novi Pazar + daytrip (via Uzice to) Studenica Monastery Day 10 Novi Pazar to Zlatibor (= Kraljeve Vode) + tour? to Drvengrad (Mokra Gora) Day 11 via Užice to Visegrad, + to Sarajevo, BiH Day 12 Sarajevo, BiH Day 13 Sarajevo, BiH Day 14 to Travnik + to Jajce, BiH Day 15 Mostar, BiH Day 16 Mostar + tour to Blagaj, Pocitelj, Medugorje, Kravice Waterfalls, BiH Day 17 Mostar + Trebinje (sleepover in Trebinje? or do Trebinje as a daytrip from Mostar?) Day 18 to Herceg-Novi, Montenegro Day 19 to Kotor, Montenegro Day 20 Kotor, Montenegro Day 21 to Budva + daytrip to Sveti Stefan, Montenegro Day 22 to Cetinje + daytrip to Lovcen National Park [sleepover in Cetinje? or night bus to Podgorica?] Day 23 to Podgorica + daytrip/tour (e.g. Lake Skadar) Day 24 Podgorica + daytrip to Stari Bar and even Lake Skadar Day 25 Podgorica + daytrip to Ostrog Monastery Day 26 (from Podgorica to) Durmitor National Park (@Zabljak); sleepover. Hiking and maybe no rafting. Day 27 to Podgorica Day 28 to Pec/ Peja, Kosovo *Rugova gorge Day 29 to Dečani Monastery, + to Prizren, Kosovo Day 30 to Pristina + daytrip to Gracanica Monastery Day 31 Pristina, Kosovo Day 32 to Skopje, Macedonia Day 33 Skopje + Matka Canyon daytrip Day 34 (Skopje to) Prilep Day 35 Prilpe + Treskavec Monastery +Zrze Monastery Day 36 to Bitola + daytrip to Krusevo Day 37 Bitola Day 38 Ohrid Day 39 Ohrid + how to visit Galicica National Park? Day 40 via Sveti Naum to Tirana or Berat?, Albania Day 41 Berat Day 42 Berat Day 43 to Drymades for Llogaraja Pass National Park? sleep in Drymades? Day 44 to Gjirokasttra Day 45 to Sanranda for Butrint National Park Day 46 Saranda for tour to Blue Eye Spring? Day 47 to Tirana + daytrip to Shkodra for Rozafa Fortress Day 48 Tirana + daytrip (maybe via Fushe Kruje) to Kruja; returns by 3pm? Day 49 Tirana. Flight for Colombia

Thanks everyone! I'm soooo moved. I'll soon reply to you with specific points, and I'll soon post an updated itinerary; hopefully I can get more insights from anyone here. About Croatia: I'll drop it entirely because of the raging prices. (Also, as a consequence I won't need a multiple-entry visa for BiH.) One big question: is it essential or highly-recommended that I go rafting or kayaking somewhere in Balkan area? (Note that: I'll do one in southern Poland, I can do the same things in Taiwan (a very very very mountainous country with amazing gorges), and I'll visit South America after Balkan.) My concerns are: * I probably need to book them in advance? * or will I need to wait for long to get a group or something? * Is it true that I'll need to spend MORE DAYS at these spots for such activities? * I'm VERY distinctly concerned whether it's going to be expensive and whether it's worth it. * Also, I don't know whether I can find cheap(er) lodging in these areas (mostly in mountains?). I don't mind sleeping in very simple places, but I don't have a tent, and I probably do need a safe place to keep my things and re-charge batteries, stuff like that. ** if rafting is a "must-do" for a certain place, and I either don't have the time or don't have the money for that, then I probably should just skip that place? These also directly determine how many days I may need for this area, since I'll need to book my round-the-world flight ticket soon, and such an estimate is sorely needed Thanks again everyone! My gratitude is more than I can describe.

Hey everyone. I'm Damian from Taipei, TAIWAN. I'm a fit 31yr-old male. I'll quit my job this summer for a 10-month round-the-world trip. I'd like to ask for your insights about the Balkan part of my itineraries. (I'll visit the several Balkan countries after three Baltic countries, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Then I'll fly from Tirana, Albania to South America for several countries.) [i cut Croatia since (a) it's expensive in August, and ( otherwise I'll need a multiple-entry visa from BiH.] It's most likely I'll arrive in the Balkan part in August or late July. This is a tight-budget trip. I'll rely on public transportation and try to couch-surf or get hostel bunk beds. I love arts, architectures, music, museums, and foods. I enjoy hiking and lots of walking, and if activities like rafting tour aren't too expensive, I'd like to try them from time to time too. Some major questions/problems: 1) Are there good websites for bus/train info? Info is hard to find and can be contradicting; 2) Should I cut down the number of days? [if there're sights too samey in qualities] (Originally I planned for only 6 weeks); 3) Maybe some cities can be used as centers from which I can visit other cities as daytrips? Any advice is welcome, especially regarding whether the iti makes sense, or whether it's too tight or too loose. As I said, I'm really not sure about certain parts of the transportation Thanks in advance!! ======================= Day 0 Hungary Day 1 to Subotica, Serbia Day 2 to Novi Sad Day 3 Novi Sad + daytrip to Fruska Gora + Sremski Karlovci Day 4 N.S. to Belgrade, Serbia Day 5 Belgrade Day 6 Belgrade Day 7 bus to Despotovac, + taxi? to Monastery Manasija, + then how to go to Niš (for "Ćele Kula") Day 8 Nis bus to Novi Pazar Day 9 to Zlatibor (Zlatibor = Kraljeve Vode?) (too expensive to visit/stay?) + tour? to Drvengrad (Mokra Gora) Day 10 Zlatibor + daytrip (via Uzice to) Studenica Monastery Day 11 (bus to?) Višegrad, BiH + then to Sarajevo Day 12 Sarajevo, BiH Day 13 2hr bus to Travnik + 1.5hr to Jajce, BiH Day 14 to Trebinje + Mostar, BiH Day 15 Mostar, BiH Day 16 Mostar + tour to Blagaj, Pocitelj, Medugorje, Kravice Waterfalls Day 17 Herceg-Novi, Montenegro Day 18 Kotor, Montenegro Day 19 Kotor Day 20 to Cetinje + daytrip to Lovcen National Park Day 21 (Cetinje to) Budva + daytrip to Sveti Stefan (or should I do Sveti Stefan as a Podgorica daytrip instead?) Day 22 (Budva? to) Stari Bar + to Podgorica? Day 23 Podgorica + daytrip/tour? to Lake Skadar? Day 24 Podgorica + daytrip to Ostrog Monastery (how to get there?)? Day 25 (from Podgorica?) Durmitor National Park (@Zabljak?). And back? [not sure about rafting] Day 26 (backtrack to Podgorica to? go to) Peć/ Peja, Day 27 Dečani Monastery+ Prizren Day 28 Prizen+ Gračanica Monastery [is it safe to visit? Will there be visa problem for me?] Day 29 Pristina Day 30 (how to get to?) Skopje, Macedonia Day 31 Skopje Day 32 Skopje Day 33 (2¼ hours to) Prilep Day 34 Prilep + daytrips to Treskavec Monastery and Zrze Monastery Day 35 to Bitola + daytrip to Krusevo Day 36 Bitola Day 37 Ohrid Day 38 Ohrid + daytrip: how to visit Galicnik National Park? Day 39 Ohrid bus to Sveti Naum + then to Tirana or Berat, Albania?" Day 40 Berat Day 41 Berat Day 42 how to go to Drymades for Llogaraja Pass National Park? sleep in Drymades? Day 43 to Saranda for Butrint National Park Day 44 Saranda for tour to Blue Eye Spring? Day 45 to Gjirokasttra Day 46 to Shkodra for Rozafa Fortress? Day 47 Tirana + daytrips Day 48 Tirana + Kruja + flight to Bogota, Colombia