Solo Hiking 192 km on the Peaks of the Balkans Trail

// h i k i n g g u i d e
I developed my own in-depth, no-nonsense hiking guide of the Peaks of the Balkans Trail! Find it here: floordenil.com...
// w a n t t o h i k e t h i s t r a i l i n g r o u p ?
You can hike this trail with others, if you want! Travelbase offers these holidays: I know them, and trust them a lot.
Dutch speaking option: thebalkantrail...
French speaking option: thebalkantrail...
German speaking option: thebalkantrail...
// m u s i c i n t h i s v i d e o b y
Bandler Ching ('You Call It', 'Smooch', 'Dag Na Naamdag')
Mahina ('Think I Like You')
UMM ('Sun', 'Rubberband', 'Come Undone')
Rosa Butsi ('Avia')
(check out their music, they're my friends and they make beautiful stuff!!)
// o t h e r m u s i c i n t h i s v i d e o b y
Epidemic Sound
// F A Q
// What did you take with you and how do I hike this trail?
A gear list and 'things you should know before hiking the POTB and Skye Trail' is coming up, give me some time! :)
// How did you film/edit this video?
I filmed this video on a Sony A6400 with a Røde microphone and used Premiere Pro and Garageband for editing.
// Why do you hike solo?
I made a video about this subject because I get this question often!
• Why I prefer to hike a...
// Do you have other hiking plans coming up?
Right now I don't have any hikes planned, but if life allows it, I'll be back on trail next summer!
// Where can I contact you for business inquiries?
The easiest way is to email me at [e-mail]. Thank you!

[@floordenil]

Girls and guys and theys! Just want to give a quick (but thorough) shoutout to the makers of the music used in this video: Bandler Ching, UMM, Mahina and Rosa Butsi. I’m very proud to be able to call them my friends and I would absolutely love it if you would check them out if you loved them in this video. They deserve every bit of recognition they can get. Enjoy!! See you on the next hike xxx

[@LennartSchoors]

I always make music discoveries in your videos - thanks! Bandler Ching is great.

[@deleted_handle]

theys??? bruhh

[@rileye546]

VERY cool that you use your friends music!! I was thinking about that listening to your videos, the music is so cool, I wonder if she made it? Or maybe some local artists from where you are? So cool to see that is the case! Thanks for sharing them, wouldn't have found music in Dutch like that otherwise :)

[@JS2Tango]

Another fantastic video, Floor! Your filming is excellent, and as usual your choice of music too - such good vibes! I'm already looking forward to your next adventure!

[@ewik939]

To anyone hiking with a Garmin Inreach on your shoulder strap: turns out they are only water resistant- not waterproof. Look up Taylor the Nahamsha hiker and her inreach failing on the AT recently. Might be worth at least keeping it in a shoulder strap pocket or something, where it gets damp at most, not soaked :) Thank you for an awesome video as always, Floor!

[@floordenil]

Oh that’s a good one, wasn’t aware! Kept it in my fanny pack on my last trip when it started raining. Thank you! 🌸

[@sherryflavour3791]

The quality of this video is insanely well done. There are too many silent hiking videos, and it's just so awesome to see your amazing character shine. Well done! Hopefully, you can do the Highlands in fall (much better, less flies, fewer people, and beautiful brown-ish landscapes with snowy peaks).

[@elreyrubio7179]

Hello Floor, this is Nadine's brother! Thank you for being so nice to my sister and making her coffee! She enjoyed the break and the whole trip! Keep hiking ;)

[@floordenil]

Oh my god that’s amazing!! Well, equally as many thanks to her, it was a highlight of my day to meet her at the top, and my pleasure to make a coffee for her :). I hope her wrist has fully healed in the meantime, give her many hugs from my end! 🌸

[@elreyrubio7179]

Yes has fully recovered and is planning to finish the trail this fall :) @@floordenil

[@floordenil]

That’s great to hear! Apparently the trail is beautiful with the fall colours, so definitely interesting to see the trail in such different seasons, I think!

[@jonstacchio]

That brightened up my day no end, Floor! Amazing scenery, but I think you must have walked an extra 50kms setting up your camera for all those shots. Look forward to seeing your next adventure.

[@adrianbell4597]

Peaks of the Balkans trek as a consolation! The weather could have been less cruel for you, but what trek. Well done again Floor.

[@klang180]

Yeah think it's probably a bit of an upgrade in truth. It would have been just as rainy in Scotland and midges too

[@strawanza2502]

Great Video as always. I admire how you always manage to show all these emotion that you go through during a long distance hike. Having this Trail on my list for a while now and probably gonna do it in September and thanks to your Video the motivation went up again =) All the best Floor!

[@hellesylt9770]

Your so funny I love it 🥰 great views!

[@juliascheumer6700]

JUHUUUUU!!! Floor as a breakfast company 🤩 Thanks for another amazing video filled with so much energy!!!

[@BigBellyEd]

Beautiful video.

[@ruicastro9388]

Another Nice video, always like to see them. Great landscapes and your funny Sense of humor. Looking forward the Next. Have fun and enjoy.

[@kargara09]

Thank you Floor for another beautiful video of your adventures. You are truly an Inspiration. 🙏🏼 I‘ll will start on the Kungsleden tomorrow after I have seen your video of it last year. 😁 Keep hiking!

[@ciaranwakefield6942]

Thank you so much for all oats, chocolate bars and ready meals! We really needed those calories later on. It was a pleasure to meet you on top of the Albania mountains! - Ciaran (one of the seven)

[@markcummings6856]

Wow, a superb video and beautiful hike. Love your joyful and positive personality. Your work on this video is clearly top-shelf quality. Thanks for sharing. Definitely subscribed and looking forward to following along for more journeys. Happy Trails

[@Mafteer]

I had so much fun watching your video! you're so funny and energetic, i hope we will meet somewhere in the trails.

[@raktoda707]

Some exquisite shots of wildlife,the mountains.Glad you were able to try this trail

[@immiimmiimmiimmiimmiimmiimmi]

your energy is fantastic. the video puts you in a good mood. Thanks for sharing ✨😊

[@jacquesbasson]

Always great to see a new vid

[@lihicohen2792]

Yayyy floor!!! Another trail❤ Really happy to watch the video, thank you for sharing😊

[@martinforrester8249]

Since I subscribed to your channel Floor, I've been entertained so much by the fun you project in your stories. I love everything about the positivity you project. Your photography gives a vivid display and a real insite of the country you are travelling through. Sorry for all this mush, but you are the best travel vologger, and so much fun to follow. There, that's all.

[@StrategicGrowthKitchen]

Ha Floor, wow impressive om zoveel KM te hiken hier, ik vond de Peaks of the Balkans, 75KM in 5 dagen tijdens een hittegolf (lees 40+ graden celcius) al intens, maar een zeer verslavende ervaring! Cool te zien dat jij net na de sneeuwperiode bent gegaan. Ik heb je account net ontdekt en je inspireert mij om mijn leven om te gaan gooien en nog meer hikes te maken. Cheers, Carly

[@paullindberg6219]

Thanks for a wonderful, funny and great film!

[@jelleb7236]

Wow Floor! ik geniet super erg van jouw hiking video's💚 Keep up the good work en de groetjes uit Overijssel, Nederland ☺

[@SukariaSemesta]

Woww amazing beautiful View 😇

[@Kranebitter81]

Great hike, great lady, thank you Floor.

[@aaronkent1741]

I know that feeling when you get the blues because the trail is over. Looks like you had an amazing time though. Love the videos as always. Hope you have better luck when you try and visit Scotland next time and look forwsrd to see the video. Also... Just want to say thanks for showing me the Massiv trail. Just got back from it and it was so beautiful

[@alexanderlawson1649]

I love you, I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOUE, I CANT GET ANY LOUDER.

[@griechland]

Looks like a nice hike indeed.

[@NERODIA3]

U R AMAZING!!!

[@sarahhollingde9323]

Thank you for the videos. Helped me plan by POB hike. I had the best time!

[@floordenil]

Ahhh I love that! Happy you enjoyed it 😍🤸🏼‍♀️

[@stervisindezee]

Weer een mooie wandel video. Bedankt

[@floordenil]

Hey everybody! In the meantime, I created my own in-depth, no-nonsense hiking guide of the POTB. You can find it here: floordenil.com/en/product/peaks-of-the-balkans-set/ Have a looooovely trip! 🌼

[@michele8472]

Hi Floor, nice video! Can you show us what do you bring whit you in your backpack? Thanks! Michele from Italy

[@floordenil]

Hey Michele! Yes, I just filmed a gear list :). Will try to put it up within the next weeks!

[@roeydaz]

I’m so glad you got yourself a map and a compass! I was horrified to see you tramping across the Scottish highlands on your Cape Wrath trip without one and traversing pathless! Smart move. Now go do a short map reading and land navigation course to up the ante on your new found skills! Love your video’s!

[@emeliehammarstrom15]

Great, as usual!

[@BopToTRythmOfTRadio]

Wauw zo cool dat je een Aeropress meenam! En zelfs een koffiemolen..? Zalig ^^

[@SuperMeiMei]

come across this vid, love the energy! new sub

[@CarlosSanchezdeSantiago]

Nice to see you're back on the trail

[@MrCyberiad1]

Aeropress and 1zpresso Q2? I love that your videos mix my two favorite things! Coffee and mountains! Looking forward to seeing the gear video, you always make them entertaining!

[@floordenil]

Haha thanks! I have to disappoint you though, the grinder isn’t as fancy as a 1zspresso Q2, it’s a cheap thing I bought online. Does the job for filter coffee, though!!

[@Birkenstein]

Missed your videos! Cheers from norway!!

[@demmad]

Echt respect dat je de beklimming vanuit Theth naar Vusanje gedaan hebt, vond die een paar dagen geleden echt al heeeel pittig om te dalen!!! Groetjes vanuit een guesthouse in Milishevc :))

[@floordenil]

Hahahaha zwaar afgezien, inderdaad. Moest je er nog zijn: veel plezier!!

[@kevinw1129]

Looks like a great hike!

[@davidhildebrandt4891]

Hey Floor, not sure if you can remember but we (me and my friend) met you on that trail when you were coming over the mountain pass at guri y kuq where there was a lot of ❄️ you almost did not see us, becaus we were consealed in our rain ponchos hahaha We were supposed to meet again but somehow did not see you along the way. Really excited to see this video now and look at the trail from your perspective Greetings, David :)

[@floordenil]

DAVID!!!!! Omg I was so much on the lookout for you guys but we did indeed miss each other 🥺 I was really bummed by that. I hope you had a great trail that didn’t involve too many rain ponchos, and maaaaaaaybe soooooomeday we might have another rain-poncho-meeting on another trail. I’m manifesting it 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@davidhildebrandt4891]

​@@floordenil Hahah yeah, in hindsight I think we were quite lucky with the weather, seeing your video. Really hope to bump into you randomly on some trail haha and get pushed by your energy :))) And also - now that I have seen the video, I've got to say, youre so gifted. Your storytelling is so beautiful and I loved the music choices. Really brought back a lot of the memories of the trail. Thank you so much for that!!! :)

[@floordenil]

Aw thank you so much for your kind words, that touches me dearly :). If you’re ever in Brussels, hit me up through Instagram, I’d love to meet up and get jealous about ✨ the wonderful weather you had on the trail ✨ aaaaaaargh!!!!! 😂

[@freeman.walking]

Great footage definitely on my list to do

[@markcummings6856]

You are a brave Soul going into Kosovo. 😮

[@dougieranger]

Great to see you back and on an amazing trail. The WHW will be there when you’re ready. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇧🇪

[@JonnoDoesStuff]

Floor's done the WHW before iirc

[@dougieranger]

@@JonnoDoesStuff I remember, tears and haggis.

[@JonnoDoesStuff]

@@dougieranger Much like my WHW adventure

[@dougieranger]

@@JonnoDoesStuff Mine too. Blisters, chafing, two toenails lifted off, snow, torrential rain, 45mph winds but no tears. 😂

[@floordenil]

😂😂😂😂😂 I love how everyone’s experience on the WHW is somehow similar hahahaha

[@menkemeijer8698]

Definitely similar to British Columbia in Canada! but then if you go more east it's the great plains- very flat. XD It starts to get bumpy again from Ontario all the way to the Maritimes.

[@crappyvideoswithrob4150]

This was awesome!

[@fmkbtls]

The video we didn't know we needed, danku Floor!! 🥹🥹🥹

[@ShanSubedi]

Finally a hiking video where you are not crying 😜 Well doen, Groetjes

[@Letsgooutsidee]

I like!

[@wimhuisken2784]

Floor, respect mooie tocht en vaak hilarisch, trouwens niet een keer gehuild??😃

[@paddymalley8077]

Well, that was nice .... a good bit greener and more varied in habitat than Scotland (which has it's own type of 'je ne sais a Quoi') ... and it undoubtedly saved you from being eaten alive by the Scottish midge! ... :)

[@johnclements6614]

I have been to Macedonia. The mountains there look equally impressive.

[@paulgallagher6544]

Thats a very wild trail.. The mountains are really good. You were probably a bit early there in the year. While waiting for the video i was worried something mught have happened to you.. I olan tmb next year, then nz in 2025 with a return to gr20:,possible if fitness snd weight loss continues . Down 16 kg 23 lg to go.

[@chrishiking8818]

Really enjoyed your video, like to do this trail in future too got same book . Did the book facts help ? Take care

[@JanisToday]

Hello! Great video, thank you for filming for us :) Are there any bears or shepherd dogs on the trail? Thank you:)

[@floordenil]

Hey Janis! There are bears, although they are brown bears so chances are really small you’ll encounter one on trail. Shepherd dogs are there sometimes, although I don’t think they walk loosely without the shepherd around :)

[@Fizzle738]

OMG, you video is so nice!! I impressed your editing and the way of fliming. I would like to ask your major. Is it related with making movie?😮

[@kevinw1129]

You missed out on Scotland. Good weather this May and June. Another time.

[@megalicious7757]

Dude, June 2023 I did the TMB (because of your TMB video) I watched a couple of years ago!! So inspiring you are! This one looks .... hard? :)

[@floordenil]

Aaaaaah I love that!!! Hope you enjoyed it :). I’d say this one isn’t necessarily harder than the TMB, I just went too early. If the snow is cleared and the weather is fine, I think it’s quite the same in terms of difficulty :).

[@johanhardin570]

Hi Floor, super mooie video top. hoeveel liter is je Atom backpack?

[@crose1002]

I've just stumbled upon you, Floor. What entertaining videos!! Super filming, editing, music...How do you charge your devices on those long hikes?

[@krzkud]

Hi Floor. I'm going to hike this trek in May. Though to start in Theth but the transport from Podgorica isn't great. And then I saw your video - of course, it can start from Plav. Thank you. Tell me, where did you buy a camp gas? Regards, Kris

[@Elcput]

Hoi Floor Wat is jouw advies: Is TPOTB doenbaar met trailrunners? Ik ga hem wandelen begin september, dus ik reken op minder sneeuw 🙈. In de Alpen al veel tochten gedaan met trailrunners en daar zal ik niet snel terug schakelen naar mijn zware botten, maar Balkan is ongekend terrein voor mij. Bedankt trouwens voor de zalige reisverslagen. Grote fan hier! Groetjes!

[@floordenil]

Hey! Als je ze gewend bent, en je bent fan: niet twijfelen, trailrunners is the way to go :). Veel plezier!

[@AlpineTrails]

Been looking to do this hike before Covid and we kept postponing. It's so beautiful. I think is time to finally go for it. How did you find the border crossing? I heard you have to stick with the days you choose. Is that true?

[@emil1507]

Thanks for the video! which time of the year you did this trek?

[@stephanjoris4698]

Hallo Floor, mooie video! Wat moet je doen om het papierwerk in orde te brengen voor de drie grensovergangen op de trail ?

[@floordenil]

Hey Stephan! Dankjewel. De makkelijkste manier is om de hulp van Zbulo (reisorganisatie in Albanië) in te schakelen - zij nemen zelf contact op met de plaatselijke autoriteiten om het nodige in orde te brengen. Bespaart je veel gedoe, want de andere optie is om zelf naar de politiekantoren te bellen, wat niet altijd even simpel is als je de plaatselijke taal niet spreekt... :)

[@davidconley4726]

Welcome back Floor. Remember, God is good!

[@MrPianosmurf]

Hey Floor, welke tijd van het jaar heb je de route gelopen? En bekend met comboy coffee? Wil u het plezier van de Aeropress niet afnemen maar het zou weer wat gewicht schelen, en de koffie smaakt heerlijk

[@floordenil]

Hey Daan, ik wandelde deze eind mei/begin juni. Net iets te veel sneeuw - midden juni is meer aan te raden!

[@tomson842]

Zalig, zalig, zalig. Muziek keuze is toop! Had je micro spikes bij?

[@paulgallagher6544]

Up to day, 2, I have to do stuff so I'll return. Hope the trip was great for you, looks a bit dangerous but you must be okay so spoiler alert! I got 6 days to hike the Kerry way, coming up, not very high up but after GR20 nearly killed me (dehydration hour 2 to 9 of 11 hour day 2) I need an easier one definitly and some miles under my feet.

[@helenefuchs9135]

New Atom Pack 👀

[@nizzamudin]

Hi Floor! Thanks for your videos and your enthousiasm! What trek where you planning to do before discovering that your passport was expired?

[@evacoutdoors5867]

Hi Floor when was this and what were the temperatures like? Thanks

[@floordenil]

Hey! This was end of May/beginning of June. Temperatures didn’t rise above 12°C and there was still a lot of snow at the top of the mountains and on mountain passes

[@nouriafelder4228]

How did you get food and water?

[@Inaklamer]

love the video! Ik wilde zelf graag begin mei gaan. Wanneer ben jij gegaan, denk je dat het in mei te doen is? Ben benieuwd of de hutten dan open zijn. @floordenil

[@floordenil]

Hey Ina! Ik heb hem eind mei/begin juni gedaan. Best veel sneeuw, dus niet ideaal. De hutten waren wel open!

[@larsdost74]

Hoi Floor, ik ben ook van plan om deze hike te gaan lopen binnenkort. Ik weet alleen niet wat de beste manier is om van Tirana airport naar Theth te komen. Hoe heb jij dit gedaan?

[@floordenil]

Hey Lars! Er gaat elke ochtend (heel vroeg, rond 7 uur geloof ik) een minibusje van Tirana naar Theth. Is aan een rond punt, maar vraag je best nog eens als je daar bent :).

[@darkofighter1]

but how did you cross borders?

[@rubensack5903]

Jippie

[@carlosslim4916]

Do you remember what size and temperature is your quilt?

[@floordenil]

I used the Hyberg Loner Lite 450 for this trail (with a sleeping bag liner that add some degrees to it) :)!

[@carlosslim4916]

Ооо not your EE one? Thanks for getting back to me! I bought EE -6 degrees C and used it while summer camping in Scotland, the weather wouldn’t have been less than 10c at night, but any less and I would be not comfortable (used it with merino wool thermals!!)

[@markcummings6856]

@@carlosslim4916But, did you have a proper sleeping pad? Any rating of a quilt/sleeping bag is only proper if there is also a properly rated (r-value) sleeping pad for the season. ATB - Happy Trails

[@carlosslim4916]

Hey Mark, I used the thermarest lite matt, rated R2. It was my first time testing this sleeping set up, I did expect to be warmer. I saw some hikers online saying that to get a proper warm rating, you also need to layer up. It was a good experience, I am glad I tested it in the Scottish summer

[@floordenil]

Yes, your mattress is equally as important indeed! If you’re still too cold then, I could recommend a sleeping bag liner - I bought one on the trail in Norway and haven’t gotten rid of it since (bonus: it keeps your quilt-mattress clean!) :).

[@Milkkiboy]

Im sorry if I missed it but wht time of the year you did this?

[@floordenil]

This was at the end of May/beginning of June! I’d recommend not starting in May, too early with all the snow 🫠🫠

[@Milkkiboy]

@@floordenil ahhh shit, i was kinda hoping i could do it in the end of april 🤭

[@seb23outdoors]

Nice atom packs 🤗

[@donaldvanvliet9039]

Guy was riding a horse up a hill…checking his phone😂 cellphones really are an addiction eh.

[@TheTrailDancer]

[@davidbudzynski9290]

first!

[@alexsavin3173]

I'm glad you got to see Serbia

[@arturasf6740]

usually these kind of videos are boring, and i turn them off after few minutes. this one i watched all and it felt like 3 minutes, not 27