Month long campervan trip through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montengro...?
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Jul 18, 2012 2:27 PM Last Post By: everbrite
jump to
Month long campervan trip through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montengro...?
We're a young couple going on a (mostly, not exclusively, it will be peppered with some homestay/ B&Bs) campervan trip starting in Switzerland, through Northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, maybe Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania. We have one month (August). We're looking for suggestions of things to visit/ things to try. We have enough budget, it is not a trip where we will be counting the money.We like cities, outdoors/ nature, food, horses, wild swimming (lakes, rivers), history, literature. Most of all though we tend to remember the people we met and their stories! :)
Previous trips in eastern Europe include visiting Romania (we loved it) and Kosovo (also a great trip, the people really made it, everyone was so welcoming). My boyfriend has also spent some time in Russia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. He also went to Croatia and said it was overly touristy so we are not planning spending too much time there. We would also be interested in going to Serbia but since we have the Kosovo stamp I think it is easier to avoid.
Will we need to book places to stay? What about wild camping? Our campervan is pretty discrete, just a converted car. Are we likely to have any problems?
Also what about border crossings? I expect it should be quite easy?
1
Sorry but this whole area, not just Croatia but the entire coastal region from Italy to Albania will be very touristy during the summer month of August.You won't need to book places to stay. You should see lots of signs offering room/sobe/zimmer and if you don't, then just head for the nearest bus station or ferry port or information office and you will find folks offering rooms.
Wild camping is possible in some places.
No problems with border crossings.
Will you need to return to your starting point in Switzerland? It would help to know in suggesting an itinerary.
Ruth
2
I didn't want to hear that, though expected it would be the case. I suspect going inland will be our best bet to avoid the tourists. Bosnia & Hercegovina seems the least touristy. Unfortunately this year we have no other option but to go away in August due to work inflexibility... What we really liked about Romania and Kosovo was the lack of tourists! So I'm hoping we will find some more secluded spots.Yes, we have to go back to Switzerland afterwards.
Any more info re: wild camping?
3
Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania away from the coast will be less touristy.Bigger problem will be that you will have to return pretty much the same route as you are heading to a peniinsula. Because of that you probably can't really travel all that far into the Balkans. While you can enter Serbia with a Kosovo stamp, you can't enter Kosovo and exit through Serbia as that would be considered by the Serbs as an illegal entry to Serbia.
Wild camping is generally not permitted and often not tolerated in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. The "everyman's right" law by which you can basically camp anywhere (including on somebody's private land) under the condition you clean up after yourself, don't light fires and don't camp to close the the house of the person, etc. is illegal in this part of the world and in some of these countries there are high fines.
In Bosnia it definitely isn't a good idea, even hiking except with a guide or on well marked paths is not advisable because of landmines.
Ruth
4
One idea we did have was to take the campervan on a boat but I'm not sure if there are any fast boats from Italy to Croatia for example which would cut out a chunk of the route. Do you think that might be an option?I actually meant wild camping as in with the campervan rather than tent camping (although I do enjoy that too, since we're taking the campervan on this trip, might as well make the most of it!). So what about just parking somewhere in the campervan and possibly having a BBQ? Is it a big no-no?
And what about the landmined areas in Bosnia, is there a map, or is it best to assume we don't go anywhere off a path?
Thanks for your suggestions! Serbia we will most likely visit another time, have a good friend who's gone back recently so it would be good to visit with him. Same for Albania, we might end up going with Albanian friends on another occasion.
5
There are ferries from Ancona to Zadar, from Ancona to Split and from Bari to Dubrovnik. Check Jadrolinija.com as they are the ferry company.Doesn't matter whether you pitch a tent or park someplace. You can't spend the night just anywhere. Nor can you simply have a barbecue just anywhere. But there are plenty of campgrounds where you can stay in your camper van and where you can build a fire.
Just avoid hiking in Bosnia except where there marked paths. Often there are red signs with a skull and cross bones warning of dangerous areas. Try google images for some pictures. There might be maps but the areas that have been cleared are always changing.
Ruth
6
If you end up in Croatia you should definitely see Plitvice Lakes National Park. It can get crowded, but you can compensate by hiking the longer, less traveled trails or doing the popular trails in reverse (to avoid starting out behind a big group). They have camping there.http://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/plitvicelakes/
7
I think we definitely won't take the ferry. Mostly something like: Switzerland - Verona - southern Slovenia - maybe Istrie - Zagreb - Bosnia...Thanks for the suggestion about the lakes ETracy. From what I've heard it's incredibly touristy though. We're really looking to go to places with less tourists. Do you have any suggestions for nearer Zagreb/ central Croatia?
8
Consider Zagreb to Osijek to Travnik to Jajce to Banja Luka to Bihac to Plitvice Lakes. If you think Plitvice will be crowded try Krka NP on the coast between Sibenik and Zadar.Ruth
9
Hello, I have a few more questions!Are there any particularly interesting spots on the route between Llubljana and Zagreb, maybe natural sites, we could visit?
And do you think it's worth visiting Durmitor in Montenegro, which would require a significant detour?
Many thanks!
10
Llubljana and Zagreb, maybe natural sites, we could visit?
Nothing comes to mind. You are only talking about a distance of about 140 km.And do you think it's worth visiting Durmitor in Montenegro, which would require a significant detour?
As I am unclear of your itinerary, your interests and your definition of significant detour, I can't comment on its value to you. Ruth
ADVERTISEMENT
In our shop
Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.
