Road Trip Croatia: Working, swimming, living

In June, I took myself - and Balkancampers's Skadar - on my very first (working) trip without a plan. No fixed route, no list of “must-sees,” no reservations waiting for me. Just me, the van, the road and a feeling that I can go anywhere the day pulled me. I went alone, driving a van for the first time - a little scared, but equally excited. I didn’t know what to expect, but oh boy… this trip turned out to be a thousand times better than I could have ever imagined.

I started in Ljubljana, drived to Rijeka and then slowly followed the Croatian coast down the legendary “Jadranska magistrala.” Sometimes I stopped in places just because they looked nice from the road. There was something incredibly freeing in not knowing where I’d sleep that night - and even more freeing in realizing I didn’t need to know.

The road took me via Rijeka to Senj. I stopped in between for random swims and beautiful views. I was in no rush and I finally felt what it truly means to be mindful in every sense of the word. Balancing work and life seemed effortless and I was more productive than I ever imagined I could be. It’s amazing how much can change when you take ownership and responsibility for your daily life while still delivering great results in your professional career.

I spent the night near Senj and quickly found out what a truly windy night feels like. :) Still, the van handled it perfectly. I rolled up the awning, climbed into the bed above, and enjoyed the view through the screen openings. When the wind got too strong, I simply closed everything up and drifted off into a comfortable sleep.

The van made everything easy. It was comfortable, fully equipped and basically a small, rolling apartment with a better view than any Airbnb could give me. Working remotely from it was effortless. I could park anywhere I wanted, open the laptop and my office for the day was ready. Most days I've set up right in front of the sea which was the best desktop wallpaper in the background – the one you can't just simply download.

My days found their own rhythm. I’d wake up early, open the awning and take a quiet swim in the sea before the world woke up. Then I’d make breakfast, work for a few hours, and when the midday heat arrived, I’d either go for another swim or drive further down the coast. From Senj, I kept following the road towards Primošten. The combination of music and the coastline stretching out in front of me slowly pulled me deeper into my own thoughts. Driving alone has a way of clearing out the noise - it’s just you, your favorite songs the van and the views. My mind finally had the space to wander without being interrupted. I thought about where I’ve been, the choices I’ve made and where I'm going. With every turn I felt less pressure to find immediate answers and was more at ease in just letting the thoughts flow.

When I found next perfect spot I'd spend my time cooking, which is really simple to do in Skadar. Everything you need is right there. I'd enjoy slow dinners with stunning views and sound of the sea in the background.

Remember the notion when I said I never drived a van before? :) Well.. I've managed to overcome my fears, Skadar was really great to drive. Parking and leveling the van was really easy thanks to the leveling system which helped tremendously. I never once woke up sliding to one side in my sleep (if you’ve ever camped without good leveling, you know that’s a real luxury). When I parked I'd always set up the hammock, just lying there watching the sunset shift into night. Reading a book or solving crossword puzzles. Even tho I was alone, I found peace and serenity in it. There’s a reason why studies have shown that being near the sea (or even just looking at it) can lower stress levels and help you feel calmer :).

From Primošten I went to Split and before I knew it, I was already boarding the ferry to Brač. On the island, I switched camps a couple of times, still keeping my “no plan” approach. Everything was calm, easy, and unhurried - the beauty of June travel is that it’s warm, but still off-season, so you get the best of both worlds. The camps are half full, so you don't need to worry you won't get a spot.

Brač itself took me by surprise. One day, I even went hiking. Of course, waking up at 5 in the morning wasn’t easy, but the view made it more than worth it. In summer, you should never start a hike too late because the sun won’t forgive you and your body will feel it. I was back before the workday had even fully started and the whole day felt more fulfilling because of it.

Slowly, the day of return was approaching. I decided to do the entire trip back in one go. Around 7–8 hours of driving (with a ferry in between) passed without any problem. By then the comfort of driving Skadar had completely won me over and I knew I’d be doing trips like this more often.

The whole experience was made even better by Balkan Campers. They were professional, straightforward and everything was perfectly in order from the start. No stress, no complications - just me, the van, and the road. And somewhere along the way, without even noticing it, this trip made me a better person, a better mother, and a better worker. I’d recommend it to anyone - whether you’re planning every detail or, like me, finally letting go of plans altogether.