In the summer of 2023, I set off for an adventure built on the nostalgia of a study abroad years prior and a lust for exploring unknowns. Having little experience backpacking, I knew it was an ambitious goal but one with amazing rewards. This is a three-part series, detailing the difficulty to the triumph of extraordinary scenes. Here, I do my best to capture the experience through storytelling and photography, showing the harrowing terrain and unimaginable beauty alike.
The Via Dinarica is a multi-national backpacking and cycling trail that stretches across the Balkans from Slovenia to Albania. Totaling 1,400 km, you cross several different countries and cultures. In my attempt, I chose a 350-400 km long section stretching from Sutjeska, Bosnia to Valbona, Albania. Going solo and unsupported may not have been the most ideal way, but it lead to the greatest reward.