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Discover the Balkans by motorhome, from the hand of the instagrammers @on_y_van. A trip that will make you fall in love through the travel story to the place of European contrasts of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We're definitely huge fans of the @on_y_van family . Isaac, the amazing photographer, Finny, the dreamer of the family, and their two adorable little ones are some of our favorite Instagrammers in the caravanning and campervan world. Although, to be honest, we're not just fans; they're great friends, partners in adventure, laughter, and games. They describe themselves as a family in the process of discovering the world. But the truth is, they've already explored more than half the globe. Insatiable travelers, great adventurers, and with a distinctive sense of humor, this family is taking us on a journey through their incredible travels. And if you enjoy learning French, don't miss their Instagram profile, where they not only write in Spanish but also translate everything into French.
With their publications they help to plan and decide routes and trips. For me they are one of those instagramers who undoubtedly add value with their publications, so do not hesitate to follow them! What are you waiting for?
In this post @on_y_van shares the route and the best destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro by motorhome. Route that @on_y_van also tells you in detail on his instagram profile.
A month-long camper van trip through the Balkans where they discovered Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Here they explain their favorite destinations in the Balkans . They won't talk about Croatia or Slovenia, destinations they consider more touristy and typical, but instead they'll tell you about two small, less common countries that are much more culturally groundbreaking:
Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina in a motorhome or campervan awaits you!
But also if you want to discover well all the destinations of this trip that they made in 2019, discover their YouTube channel and watch their videos.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BY MOTORHOME
Before going on to relate the trip, you should know the minimum of Bosnía by motorhome.
Overnight in Bosnia in a motorhome
Roads, gasoline and GPS
The roads, without being horrible, are not good either, except for a piece of highway that takes you from Sarajevo to the vicinity of Visoko, the site of the Bosnian pyramids.
You have to scrupulously keep the posted speed limits because there are police on the hunt and capture those who get lost and step a couple of miles on the accelerator.
Finally, to keep in mind is that the GPS mapping in the country is not very good.
Diesel is cheap. What you should be aware of is that sometimes you cannot pay by card.
Currency, prices and card payment
The euro is accepted in all tourist places without problem, although the official currency is the mark.
In some places you can pay with a card, but in others you cannot, and you have to anticipate it.
There are ATMs in many places, but the fees are very high.
Food and restaurants are quite cheap.
You have to be very careful with pickpockets, especially on public transport.
Culture
It is inhabited by Muslims, Croats, Serbs, Orthodox Christians and Gypsies, and some Ladino Jews, from those who fled when the Catholic Monarchs expelled them and were
settled here.
The buildings are not as deteriorated by the ravages of the war as it is said, although evidently there are still vestiges of the war. And be careful, because it is the most mined European country and you have to be careful.
Political geography
Bosnia is divided into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic SRPSKA. This was established in the 1995 Dayton treaty. Bosnia is divided into cantons and the
SRPSKA, in provinces. Both have Sarajevo as their capital but, unofficially, the Republic favors Banja Luka.
MOSTAR, OUR FAVORITE DESTINATION OF THE TRIP TO BOSNIA BY MOTORHOME
That tickling in the stomach, you travelers know what we are talking about, that we have missed for so long, we find it again in Mostar.
And it is that gradually enlarging the comfort zone makes that sensation increasingly difficult to feel. Feel the adventure of discovering, learning from other cultures, empathizing with a world that you do not know but that is also yours. So setting foot in a city that we found different made us rethink our next trips.
Get to know Mostar
Life in Mostar revolves around its bridge , a symbol of the city and the origin of its name; "Most" means bridge. That's why, during the Balkan War, it was targeted by the Yugoslav People's Army, which destroyed it along with hundreds of other historical treasures, not to mention the human cost.
The traces of war are still present in the city, but they are hidden by a present full of life.
Tourism fills its streets and the pockets of the locals. Its art, gastronomy, music festivals … we believe there are a thousand reasons to visit. We loved Mostar; it's a city where contrast thrives . Thongs and burkinis mingle on the banks of the Neretva River, and Maluma's music, blaring from the bars' speakers, pauses to make way for the call to prayer, only to resume his reggaeton when the faithful have been warned.
The city has the unique atmosphere of places that have one foot between East and West ; Ottoman buildings take you to a remote past, while buildings riddled with holes transport you to a more recent one whose scars are still very visible.
From the banks of the river the show is put on by the jumpers who wait to have their caps full of coins to jump off the bridge. What is now nothing more than tourist entertainment was once the ritual with which the boys of the city turned into men.
Overnight in Mostar in a motorhome
For overnight stays in Mostar with your campervan , we recommend the Jusovina motorhome area . It's not cheap or spectacular, but the service is very good, and in addition to very clean bathrooms and showers, you can enjoy spectacular views from its terrace. It's also a 5-minute walk from the city.
MONTENEGRO BY MOTORHOME
First of all, you should know that Montenegro is a country without many problems for motorhomes or camper vans.
It is a country that has cost much more to come back after the war than its neighbors in Croatia or Slovenia, so you will see many contrasts.
Overnight Montenegro in motorhome
In Montenegro, both spending the night in a motorhome and parking are not prohibited, but free camping is. There are many places where you can park and spend the night without problems. But in big cities, watch out for the danger of theft.
Also, there are many campsites in Montenegro and they are actually cheaper than the European average. For € 20 uros you can sleep in a very good camping being 4.
Montenegro currency in motorhome
You should know that Montenegro is not from the European Union, although it is from the European economic union, so they work with Euro and you will not have more complications.
KOTOR IN MOTORHOME
We realized how little we knew about Montenegro the moment we set foot in it.
In our heads came images of communist countries that were part of the former Yugoslavia, with little tourism, but no, nothing to see.
There's nothing like traveling to experience reality! Because we're often filled with prejudices and have a distorted view of the world.
Our first stop in Montenegro, Kotor . Nestled in the Bay of Boças, on the shores of the incredible fjord , Kotor is so breathtaking that it was declared a World Heritage Site.
The city sits on an ancient, destroyed crater and is completely walled.
Throughout its history it has passed from hand to hand, but Venetians and Austro-Hungarians were the empires that most influenced it.
In modern times, Kotor was part of Yugoslavia until finally becoming part of Montenegro in 2006. It's arguably Montenegro's most popular tourist destination, along with Budva , so be prepared for crowds if you're not visiting during peak season.
BUDVA IN MOTORHOME
Here Cadmus found refuge, loved Harmony and achieved the tranquility lost in Thebes.
Budva is as old as its legends . Although when you see its silhouette against the beach, the first thing that comes to mind is its Venetian heritage.
Today its old town is a maze of narrow streets and squares used as restaurants and shops, a beautiful shopping center for the thousands of tourists who flood its beaches and its modern area.
In high season it's packed and the traffic is crazy, so be prepared to be patient and take the opportunity to try the Balkan specialty, burek, whether it's made with spinach, cheese or meat.
LAKE SKADAR IN MOTORHOME
This is where we found the most authentic Montenegro and where we were able to gather advice from the locals for a future visit to the country, which we will definitely make.
The shores of Lake Skadar are divided between Montenegro and Albania; it is the third largest lake in Europe and has curious formations called "Oko" (eyes) that reach a depth of 112 m.
Skadar is a large protected national park , home to hundreds of species, some of them endangered, that share and have shared this incredible enclave with humans for millennia.
The lake has some small islands where scribes, monks who were dedicated to copying books in the Middle Ages, lived in monasteries next to the water.
We entered the lake through the town of Virpazar, known for its resistance against the Nazis in World War II.
From there you can choose the excursion that best suits you, including the language, from any of the stalls that flank the main street. In our case, we hired one in which as an extra surprise they gave us wine and homemade sweets from the area, they even let us jump from the boat. You cannot imagine the sensation of swimming in it, the little ones still remember it!
Let us know that if when you think of the Balkans, only the Croatian beaches and the mountains of Slovenia come to your mind, knowing that there is still much to discover. We will continue to do so!
Good!!!! We are 5 friends who want to travel from Croatia to Albania in a camper or similar and we can't find one that we can pick up in one city and return it in another from different countries... could you help us please?
We don't know of any companies there, check here https://www.yescapa.es/#ae301 . Private sellers are undoubtedly all over Europe and might have something. Let us know how it goes, what an amazing trip!
Well, I'll be able to explain if you want to buy a SIM card to be able to have internet in each country.
Or is there a card that serves all these countries?
Gràcies
Hello, we are going to buy in the country, you will have the option of esim if you have a compatible smartphone and shipping everything prepared from home, thank you