Free Walking Tours
Ljubljanahttp://www.ljubljanafreetour.com/
Quite a huge crowd during my day.
Sarajevo
1. http://www.sarajevowalkingtours.com/
2. http://www.sarajevoinsider.com/
3. https://tooricotours.com/tours-and-booking/free-walking-tour/
The above No.1 is the most popular one, but since the timing was not matching with my schedule, I joined the above No.3. No.2 is conducted by a big travel agent in Sarajevo.
The tour I joined, shockingly, I was the only participant.
So it was like a private guided tour.
The guide worked alone himself, a young but fat and a bit like a nerd (sorry...), saying several times that I could cancel the tour if I wanted ...
But he was quite informative and well prepared the materials.
We finally didn't finish the tour due to heavy rain just before the last spot.
Appreciate him still continue the tour even I was the only participant.
Mostar
http://mostarfreetour.com/
I did make reservation but finally didn't show up since I had no time due to my hostel host talked too long.
Tirana
http://www.tiranafreetour.com/
Quite nice and informative, with 24 yo young guide.
In the website, I thought they were a really organized company, during the free walking tour in the morning, then selling their other tours in the afternoon, since as per their website, many other tours were scheduled in the afternoon, but when I asked the guide about the tour I wanted to join in the afternoon, he said he didn't anything about it, and asked me to call another guy instead.
Skopje
There were 2 companies/groups:
1. http://www.freeskopjewalkingtours.com/
2. http://www.skopjewalks.com/
I was thinking to join the first one, went to Macedonian Square before 10AM, but couldn't find the tour guide with the blue umbrella as mentioned in the website and brochure.
Instead, near the meeting point, there was an old guy holding the standing poster for the second company. I asked him about the tour, and he informed me the meeting point for the second company at Mother Teresa Memorial House.
The guide was 50 years old guy, differs from other free walking tours in other cities I joined, mostly young guides.
He was good and professional, I think, but he might be a bit cynical and paranoia, like he always counted the number of people in the group, many times afraid that some people left the group without telling him (without leaving a tip, I guess).
The tour was about 3 hours, but I left the group before they went climbing the fortress since I had to catch bus to Ohrid.
Sofia
http://www.freesofiatour.com/
Organized, full of energy and young guides.
Around 3 hours walking tour.
The day I joined, I saw around 100 participants, the biggest crowd I have ever seen in a free walking tour.
They said it was because RyanAir started flew in Sofia that many folks got in.
We were divided into 3 groups, they were well prepared that 3 guides were there.
I was with the funny guy named Dino, a student of film directing.
I think they are the best walking tour organization in Balkan.
Plovdiv
http://www.freeplovdivtour.com/
The same organization with the one in Sofia.
Contrary to the crowded situation in Sofia, this time we were only 2 in the beginning, then another couple joined us later.
This was also a good tour by a young guy, named Stefan, he was accompanied by his friend.
Day Trip Tour to North Montenegro from Kotor by 360 Monte
http://360monte.me/the-best-of-north-monte--durmitor-&-elseI like to do day trip during my backpacking, but this trip was the worst day trip I could remember.
- the travel agent
I chose 360 Monte travel (http://360monte.me/) in Kotor, located just opposite Old Town Hostel (maybe the same management), because it looked professional and experienced, judging from its website and office, rather than Montenegro Hostel travel (http://www.montenegrohostel.com/en/montenegro-hostel-travel-agency).
However, it was not what I expected.
The meeting point was in Old Town Hostel lobby at 07:30 in the morning, and we were informed we needed to arrive by 07:20.
Many participants arrived in time to find the hostel was still locked, and the night shift staff was too sleepy reluctantly opening the door for the guests, then back to sofa to sleep again.
The guide, a very young guy name Ognon, he was a sweet and lovely boy, but he came late and acted unprofessional, telling us that he was just sleeping at 03:00 doing the pub crawl and almost wake up late. The guy was sleeping the same Old Town Hostel dormitory room
The guide was also not experienced and could not tell more stories and information as other professional guide.
He skipped several stop points just because of us sleeping in the car.
Moreover, I know it was understandable, but a bit annoying seeing he was flirting with young girl guests.
I costed EUR 49, only for the transportation and guide.
- the weather
Was raining all day. Fortunately not raining when we stopped in our main points.
- the itinerary
I put too much expectation on Durmitor National Park, but the stop was only to visit the Black Lake for one hour.
I chose "North Montenegro" tour because of Durmitor, but maybe the other itinerary tour, "Great Montenegro" was better.
Moreover, another highlight point, the Ostrog Monastry, there was a very huge crowd, that we were not able to enter. The local travel agent should have got the info in prior.
Day Trip Tour to Rila Monastry
I joined the day trip to the famous Rila Monastery by Hostel Mostel.Below is quoted explanation from the hostel staff email about the tour:
After (or before depending on weather conditions) visiting the
monastery itself we go higher in the mountains and in about 20 minutes
of hike we reach a little chapel by the cave where it is said Saint Joan
of Rila lived the last years of his life. We visit the chapel, go
through the cave and go even further higher to enjoy views over the
river valley and then we go back.
Normally we leave at 09:30 from Hostel Mostel and return latest 5pm to the hostel.
Price is 40 Leva (20 euro) per person.
We did the hiking before visiting the monastery, but we didn't go higher to enjoy views over the river valley :(We were four participants (2 students from Germany, and 1 young girl from US).
The driver also did as a guide, took us to the hiking and gave some stories.
But basically you paid only for the transportation.
Hiking at Triglav National Park
Triglav Hikinghttps://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-eastern-europe-the-caucasus/slovenia/help-with-hiking-route-for-triglav-national-park-d0922387-8bda-4116-8647-f5438adb5304?page=1
I couldn't appreciate more the help from "love2hike" and "rtt0921" in above Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum. Especially "rtt0921", patiently gave me suggestion and information to decide my route.
Originally, I planned to do two days trek, but finally, on the day of trekking, we decided to do one day trip, so that we could use the other day to drive to Soca Valley through Vrsic Pass.
Below was my original 2 days 1 night trip plan.
Day 1: Exactly the same with "love2hike" route.
Starting at Savica waterfall.
Since I read the Komarca route is quite dangerous, (there was a hiker fell down and dead as per hribi.net), I will take the Komna route.
Thinking of stay overnight at Koča Pri Triglavskih Jezerih or Zasavska koca na Prehodavcih.
Day 2:
Starting at Zasavska koca na Prehodavcih or Koča Pri Triglavskih Jezerih, going down to Stara Fuzina.
But finally, we followed the day trip go and back at the same route from Blato Valley to the Triglav Lakes Mountain Hut.
http://www.pirancafe.com/2015/10/01/slovenia-day-trips-triglav-lakes-valley-hike/
The route detailed in above link, was quite easy and enjoyable, except one part, on the way back, we decided to try different route through Štapce pass was quite steep and dangerous, especially since I missed to see the stairs climbing to the correct route, I took the wrong route climbing up through almost-straight mountain wall.
We passed three mountain huts and had a break and meal at Koča na Planini pri Jezeru and Triglav Lakes Mountain Hut (Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih).
