Complete Peaks of the Balkans packing list

backpack (25-35L): Osprey Tempest 30 (women’s) / Osprey Talon 33 (men’s)

Since most hikers stay in guesthouses (and it truly is one of the best parts of the experience), you can keep your pack surprisingly small and light on Peaks of the Balkans. I’d recommend something in the 25–35L range, which is more than enough for your hiking layers, sleep clothes, toiletries, snacks, and water for the day.

I actually carried my Arc’teryx Alpha FL, which is crazy lightweight and very comfortable for smaller loads, but I definitely missed having a proper hip belt and side pockets for a water bottle— if I did this trail again, I’d bring my Osprey Tempest instead! This is what James carried and it worked perfectly for him.

👉🏼 Need more advice on choosing a backpack? Check out this post: How to choose the best hiking backpack for every outdoor adventure

raincover: REI Co-op Duck’s Back Pack Rain Cover

Afternoon thunderstorms are fairly common in the Balkans, and although we only pulled out our pack covers ONCE during the entire 12-day trek (extreme luck!), they’re well worth carrying to keep all your dry clothes and personal bits protected if the weather does turn.

hiking boots: adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX

Even following my 12-day adventure route with additional summits and side-trips, Peaks of the Balkans predominantly follows dirt trail and rocky footpaths, so I’d recommend prioritising comfort over technical, mountaineering-style footwear.

I wore my lightweight adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX boots, which struck the perfect balance between comfort, waterproofing, support, and traction. James wore his La Sportiva Prodigio trail runners and felt like they weren’t quite waterproof enough for the considerable snow we had in early June, but that they would have been perfect in drier conditions. In fact, the vast majority of hikers we met on the trail were wearing trail runners rather than hiking boots!

👉🏼 Need more advice on choosing the right boot? Read my outdoor footwear guide

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

I’m a huge proponent of trekking poles in general, and I’d consider them pretty essential on Peaks of the Balkans. Between the huge amount of up and down, rocky trails, and (for those hiking early in the season) lingering snow, they provide a massive amount of extra stability and take a lot of stress off your knees.

microspikes: Kahtoola Microspikes

For hikers travelling early in the season, it’s also worth considering traction devices. We encountered significant snow on several high passes and summits in June 2026, and our microspikes proved invaluable on steep snow slopes where a slip could have had serious consequences.

If you’re following my 12-day adventure route with seven additional summits, I’d consider trekking poles (year-round) and microspikes (early season) totally essential!

>>> Read more about snow conditions on Peaks of the Balkans

2x water bottles: Nalgene Wide Mouth

I personally don’t like bladders on overnight trips since they can be especially challenging to fill (and the consequences of leakage can be particularly uncomfortable), so instead I like to pack 1-2 standard Nalgene bottles. This is a matter of personal preference, but make sure you have a reliable way to carry 2-3L of water, depending on your own consumption.

water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter

Water is incredibly easy to find along the trail almost every day on Peaks of the Balkans (and available to refill at every guesthouse), and we actually didn’t filter our water once during the entire hike. Still, if you’d prefer a little extra peace of mind (or find yourself topping up from lower streams rather than mountain springs), a lightweight filter is a worthwhile addition.

Note: Many guidebooks recommend avoiding the water in Dobërdol, but we personally drank the spring water there without any issues. Some even suggest that filtering isn’t enough and that you should buy bottled water instead, which honestly seems a little absurd— I’ve tested this filter pretty extensively and it’s more than enough to purify anything in the water in the Balkans!

PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 2

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and I NEVER go hiking without my Garmin InReach Mini, which allows me to send messages, get weather updates, track location, and place an SOS call in an emergency, even without phone service.

It does require a subscription (starting at $12/month), but it’s worth every cent and has literally saved both of my parents’ lives in the backcountry!

>>> Garmin has just released a new version of the inReach Mini 3 with a touchscreen

GPS: CalTopo app on mobile

The absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, low-cost GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service.

My go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.

🗺️ I built a custom Peaks of the Balkans GPS map with daily tracks based on my custom adventure itinerary, hundreds of waypoints, and other essential navigational information to help you stay on track.

First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker

All the usual essentials:
• a mix of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• a small selection of stomach meds (like Imodium or Pepto tabs)
• a roll of KT tape (insanely versatile for everything from blisters to rolled ankles)
• alcohol wipes, antiseptic, a few large gauze pads, and blister plasters like Compeed

headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

If everything goes according to plan, you’ll probably never need your headlamp— but it’s still one of those safety essentials I’d never leave behind on a multi-day hike!

powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

Although it’s possible to charge electronic devices at every single guesthouse in the Balkans, I’d recommend keeping a topped-up powerbank in your pack for emergency power to your phone GPS, Garmin InReach, and headlamp.

sports bra + underwear

I usually wear an assortment of small, Lululemon crop tops on hiking trips, and on many days this was the only layer I needed for the sweaty climb up to a high pass!

It’s usually possible to wash small items like bras and underwear in the sink at your guesthouse (and a few places even offer laundry for a small fee), so I’d recommend packing enough for around six days, with the expectation that you’ll do a quick wash midway through the trek.

hiking shirt: Arc’teryx Taema Crew Shirt (women’s) / Cormac Crew Shirt (men’s)

I’d suggest bringing just 1-2 shirts for the hike, prioritising quick-dry material that will wick sweat away from your body. I personally didn’t bring any shirts, opting instead to wear a long-sleeve OR one of the aforementioned Lululemon crop tops.

sun shirt: Arc’teryx Taema Hoody (women’s) / Cormac Hoody (men’s)

Breathable, quick-drying, and UPF-rated to protect against the intense mountain sun, James wore his sun hoody every single day (and by the end of the trek, it definitely smelled like it).

It’s made from the same lightweight material as the t-shirt above, and based on your own preferences, I’d simply choose some combination of 2 shirts that suits you.

lightweight fleece: Arc’teryx Rho Zip-Neck (women’s) / (men’s)

This lightweight fleece is perfect for chilly mornings, windy passes, and cool summit breaks, and you’ll notice my 15-year-old bright orange Rho Zip-Neck in plenty of the photos throughout this guide!

It’s been a favourite alpine layer for many years, adding just enough warmth without feeling bulky or causing me to overheat once I get moving again.

synthetic insulation: Arc’teryx Atom Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

My Arc’teryx Atom Hoody gets a workout on every single hike, and it’s definitely the layer I reached for most in the Balkans! It packs down small but delivers serious warmth, performs well even when damp, and is perfect for the ever-changing weather you’ll encounter in the Accursed Mountains.

I kept mine handy every single day, throwing it on for summit stops, lunch breaks, and whenever the wind picked up (it’s the bright yellow jacket you’ll spot in many of the photos throughout this guide).

shell jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket (women’s) / (men’s)

We were exceptionally lucky to use our rain shells for a grand total of 30min on the entire 12-day trek, but that’s certainly not something I’d count on! Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Accursed Mountains, so a good waterproof shell is an absolute non-negotiable.

hiking shorts: Lululemon Align shorts

I rotated between 2 pairs of shorts for the entire Peaks of the Balkans trek, and this was perfectly comfortable in the pleasant June weather.

I love the Lululemon Align shorts because they’re incredibly lightweight, pack down to almost nothing, dry quickly after washing, and offer complete freedom of movement for scrambling over rocky terrain!

soft shell pants: Arc’teryx Gamma Pants (women’s) / (men’s)

Although I didn’t personally bring any hiking pants on Peaks of the Balkans, James wore his Gamma Pants every single day, so this really comes down to preference.

If you prefer hiking in trousers, these are an excellent choice— lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, and weather-resistant, while still being durable enough to handle plenty of rocky scrambling.

neck gaiter: Buff Original

Lightweight and versatile, a Buff is essential for protecting against daily sun, sweat, dust, and wind. Whatever conditions you encounter on the trail, a Buff will keep you warmer, dryer, and generally more protected!

lightweight hiking gloves: Outdoor Research Trail Mix Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)

A lightweight pair of gloves is essential for cool mornings or windy summits. Keep these handy in the top pocket of your pack!

3x liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew + REI Co-op Silk Liner Crew Socks

I never go hiking without my favourite toe-sock liners under my boot socks to reduce friction and prevent blisters. They look a little funny, but I swear: once you go toe-sock, you’ll never go back!

3x boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

My go-to socks for backpacking— durable, padded, and still comfy after multiple days of trail grime. Since you’ll have the opportunity to do some washing along the way, I’d recommend packing 3 pairs of socks (including a clean pair to sleep in).

fleece sleep top: Arc’teryx Kyanite Zip Neck Top (women’s) / Rho Heavyweight Zip Neck Top (men’s)

This lightweight fleece is the perfect cozy layer for evenings in the guesthouse. Keeping a dedicated set of sleep clothes also means you always have something warm and dry to change into, even after a wet day on the trail!

fleece sleep bottoms: Arc’teryx Rho Base Layer Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

I also wore these comfortable fleece-lined tights as my lounge/sleep pants in the guesthouse. They’re super packable, while still being warm and comfortable for a good 12hrs of wear each night!

casual shoes: Teva Original

Hiking boots aren’t allowed inside the guesthouses, so you’ll want a comfortable pair of sandals or slippers to wear around the garden or to dinner after each day’s hike. Tevas are lightweight, packable, and they’ll layer nicely over socks on cold nights!

toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable for 12 days on the trail!

FYI: every guesthouse we stayed in provided soap and/or shampoo, but none had conditioner. I also found myself reaching for moisturiser far more than expected after all the sun and wind exposure, so I’d definitely throw a small bottle into your pack if your skin tends to dry out!

travel towel: Dry Fox Co. Pack Towel M

Every single guesthouse along the trail offers hot showers, but we found that only about 70% provided towels.

We didn’t pack one ourselves and simply dried off with a clean T-shirt on the occasional towel-less night, so it’s definitely not essential— but if you prefer having your own, a lightweight travel towel is worth the small amount of pack space.

charger for the hut: Type-C USB fast charger

Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo all use Type C two-prong plugs, and this little USB/USB-C charger made it easy to keep all of our electronics topped up throughout the trek.

Every private room we stayed in had at least one power outlet, so charging overnight was never an issue!

sunglasses: Julbo Vermont

From glacier travel to sunny scrambles in the Balkans, these are my favourite outdoor sunglasses and I wear them for every adventure!

sun safety

Sun exposure builds quickly when you’re spending hours outside every day, so be sure to pack SPF 50+ sunscreen, SPF lip balm, and whatever else you need to stay sun-safe on the trail!

electrolytes: Liquid IV

On any multi-day hiking route where you’re moving for hours every day, it’s important to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat and sustained physical exertion.

I’d recommend packing at least one sachet of electrolytes per day on Peaks of the Balkans, and Liquid IV is our absolute favourite. It’s a pricey but worthwhile luxury in the mountains!

snacks

All guesthouses offer packed lunch (some included as full-board and some for a modest 3-5€ extra), but this often amounts to little more than bread and cheese. On the longer hiking days, you’ll almost certainly appreciate having some additional snacks to keep your energy up between breakfast and dinner!

>>> For more information about food along Peaks of the Balkans, check out this post

Kula Cloth (for women)

This reusable antimicrobial pee cloth is designed specifically for backcountry female hygiene— it’s absorbent on one side, waterproof on the other, and treated with silver ions to resist bacteria growth and odour.

Kula Cloth is easy to wash, dries fast, snaps shut for discretion, and clips onto the outside of your pack so it’s always accessible. Not only is it WAY more hygienic than carrying used toilet paper in a ziplock, it also seriously reduces your trail waste, making it a no-brainer for sustainable hiking and women’s health on the go!

camera: Canon R6 M2 + 24-105mm lens

Every photo in this guide was taken with our trusty mirrorless Canon R6 M2!

For a complete run-down of ALL the camera gear we are currently using & loving, check out this post: Camera gear for travel photography: what we use as full-time travellers