Although we’re craving the warmer months, let’s just sing the praises of long winter nights for a moment. The Balkans has some of Europe’s most spectacular dark skies for star gazing and these are at their best in winter and spring. It’s no wonder given areas of natural beauty are still so remote and untouched by light pollution. Think of star gazing here as the Balkans equivalent of watching the Northern lights!
Hunting for the best dark sky spots – or planning a trip around the chance to see metro showers – is just another reason to go on an outdoors adventure holiday. You can always find us heading up into the mountains, away from the glare of coastal hotels. On a recent Montenegro Family Adventure, guest Katie Baker said the star gazing at our zero light pollution rafting base in Montenegro’s Durmitor mountains was “breathtaking.”
Here we give you a sneak peak into some of the places we go on our adventures where you can see the best starry skies. From night hiking on our winter holiday at Kolašin, to our bushcraft camp at Lake Skadar, to our very own Villa Miela which is the perfect place to watch the Perseids meteor shower.
Best Dark Sky locations in Albania
Prokletije (the Accursed Mountains) in Albania & Montenegro
The Prokletije live up to their name with wild landscapes that demand fitness but reward hikers with pure night skies. Also known as the Albanian Alps, or Theth-Valbona National Park, they offer some of Europe’s darkest skies, with hiking trails and homely hospitality in small guesthouses that don’t have the hotel glare. Remote valleys and high passes mean there is almost no light pollution. Our day hikes from Theth to Valbona on the Peaks of the Balkans trail take you deep into Prokletije’s heart; but we’ve found that some of the best dark sky spots are hidden away – you’ll have to join us on one of our Albania holidays to find out more!
Join us on our Albania holidays where we trek to the best star gazing spots among mountain peaks and lakes.
Best dark sky spots in Montenegro
Durmitor: Montenegro’s star bowl
Durmitor National Park is already a classic for hikers, canyoneers and rafters. Add astrophiles to that list. Here, limestone peaks, deep canyons and glacial lakes combine with very low light pollution to make night skies spectacular year-round.
Black Lake (Crno Jezero) serves as a perfect frame. By day, its dark waters mirror dramatic peaks; by night, those same peaks seem to outline the heavens.
On our Montenegro super-active holiday, we spend two days and nights in Durmitor. It’s a wonderfully peaceful experience with epic views of the skies.
Our family adventure in Tara canyon
Our rafting base near the Bosnian border is on a stretch of the Tara river so clear and magical that you can combine star gazing with spotting fireflies as night falls. Check it out on Day 6 of our super active Montenegro holiday, where we cross into Bosnia on the Tara river.
Lake Skadar
Our very own Villa Miella is a wonderful place to watch the moon rising above the still lake, or catch the perseid meteor showers when they come around. Our founder Emma said: “I’ll never forget the time we were watching the Perseid meteor shower from Villa Miela’s terrace and a star seemed to shoot so close to earth that it made us gasp out loud. We must have seen more than 20 shooting stars that night!”
Best star gazing spots in Croatia
The island of Hvar might be known for vineyards and buzzing nightlife, but the area around coastal town Jelsa holds a rare distinction: it’s the first International Dark Sky Community in Southern Europe. This is a big deal in a region where the glow from coastal hotels often blots out the stars.
Our top tip: You can catch the best star watching inland from Jelsa, on the island’s mountainous ridge, in the abandoned hamlet of Humac. Its old stone cottages have been designated an ethnographic monument and it’s a fascinating look at how agricultural life once functioned without electricity. There is a candlelit restaurant here, otherwise, it is completely unlit with artificial light. The Croatian islands are great for star lovers: you can cycle vineyard slopes at sunset, swim in hidden coves, and as night falls, find a remote hilltop to watch the Milky Way emerge.
Combine star-gazing with Croatian island life on our 7-day South Dalmatia Activity holiday.
Best Dark Sky places in Serbia
If Serbia is your base, head to Eastern Serbia – a legendary zone among local stargazers for long dark nights with low light pollution. The valleys of the Stara Planina make excellent side quests after forest hikes or river canoeing trips. Finish the day at a lodge or camp and witness a dark sky like few in Europe. Find out more on our 7-day East Serbia Hiking holiday.
Where else to look for star gazing in the Balkans
All over the Balkans you’ll find untouched nature, high mountain villages with little electrical light and wonderful unspoiled lakes or secret coastal coves. We also love the Shar mountains in North Macedonia – keep your eyes peeled for our new Macedonia holiday – coming very soon!
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