About us
Hello and welcome (or should we say dobrodošli!) to Undiscovered Balkans, your go-to activity holiday specialist in the Balkans.
We’re Ben and Emma Heywood, the adventure-loving husband and wife behind this operation, and we’re thrilled to have you here with us in Europe’s most unexplored corner.
When we landed in Montenegro in 2008 as frivolous travellers without kids, this beautiful country stopped us in our tracks. Its jagged mountains footed by blue and green lakes could easily be mistaken for the Canadian Rockies while miles of unspoiled wilderness resemble an African game reserve.
Having visited more than 50 countries worldwide we’re not easy to impress, so you can trust we’ve selected only the most breathtaking locations for our holiday activities, with the help of our expert local guides.
You won’t find big, brash resorts and double decker tour buses on our trips. We do small group travel, community tourism and family-run establishments – including our very own Villa Miela, where it all began. Sitting at the heart of Lake Skadar National Park, it’s the base for several of our holidays, from yoga retreats to kayak safaris.
Like our family, our holiday offering has expanded. We now run tours in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and Serbia.
We pride ourselves on being a small business and we personally handle all bookings, so rest assured you will never be on hold to an operator when you get in touch.
When you travel with us, you’re officially part of our ever expanding Balkan family and as a family, we take care of one another. That’s why a percentage of our takings go back to the communities we work with. You can learn more about that here.
We look forward to seeing you in the Balkans soon!
A seasoned backpacker, Emma’s itchy feet have taken her across Africa, America, Asia and Australia in search of adventure and new experiences. She worked as a conservationist in Zambia, a press officer for the British Government, and for the US oil industry before deciding her future lay in sustainable tourism in the Balkans. Inspired by this region’s incredible, ever-changing scenery, Emma is able to indulge her love of travel, yoga,
art and photography to the full organising adventures in Montenegro. In her spare time, Emma volunteers her publicity skills to local conservation projects and initiatives and enjoys strong Turkish coffee. She speaks English, Serbian/Montenegrin and French.
EmmaCo-Founder 
Born in Scotland and raised in Venezuela, Germany, the UAE and the UK, Ben speaks English, German, French and Serbian/Montenegrin, and is a BCU qualified kayak coach. Prior to setting up Undiscovered Montenegro and Undiscovered Balkans with Emma, he spent 15 years in international publishing, Following a round-the-world backpacking trip with Emma, Ben ditched his desk job for Lake Skadar’s incredible backdrop where he can indulge in his passions for snowboarding,
kayaking, occasional carpentry, and organic home-cooking (in between organising adventures for others).
BenCo-Founder 
Vera is one of the most respected hiking guides in the country. Like us, she loves being outdoors. In fact, the more remote the area, the higher the chances of spotting Vera. She’s particularly passionate about her roots in the north of Montenegro. Popular with parents and children alike, Vera speaks excellent English as well as Montenegrin/Serbian.
Vera Adventure Leader, Montenegro 
Aldo’s enthusiasm for Albania is infectious! A former military officer, he has been working as a licenced guide in Albania since 2015, specialising in hiking, trekking, climbing & mountain biking. Outdoor adventure is his passion, and it shows with every guest! Aldo speaks fluent English.
AldoAdventure Leader, Albania 
Nenad is an outdoor adventurer whose ambition is to visit every corner of this spectacular country – he is happiest when biking, hiking or kayaking, making him a natural fit for Undiscovered Montenegro! He speaks excellent English and of course Montenegrin/Serbian.
Nenad Adventure Leader, Montenegro 
Nikola is a native of Podgorica, nature enthusiast and all-round nice-guy! He leads our adventure days for guests based at our own Villa Miela in Virpazar, and particularly enjoys paddling and biking. He speaks excellent English and of course Montenegrin/Serbian.
NikolaAdventure Leader, Montenegro 
Eni is not just a qualified tourist guide with a deep love and knowledge of Albania’s history and culture – she’s an organisational mastermind and speaks fluent English and Italian! Her curiosity to learn about “almost everything” led her to leave behind a professional career in banking and become an expert in more authentic kinds of tourism. Her motto is “Trust your passions and you will never be bored.”
EniAdventure Leader, Albania 
Milija comes from a family of adventure enthusiasts who live and breathe the outdoors. Whether biking, hiking, kayaking or skiiing, you’re in good hands. Milija speaks fluent English and Montenegrin/Serbian.
Milija Adventure Leader, Montenegro 
Ana has over a decade’s worth of experience guiding tour groups around her country, and has earned her reputation as one of the funniest and most quotable tour guides in Montenegro! She speaks near-native English, has full tour guide qualifications and loves leading our family adventures!
AnaAdventure Leader, Montenegro 
Arben‘s enthusiasm for his country and all outdoor pursuits is infectious! As one of Albania’s most renowned licenced guides, he has stupendous historical knowledge and seems to have visited every corner of Albania! He lives in Tirana and speaks superb English.
ArbenAdventure Leader, Albania 
Dino is one of the most knowledgable and experienced guides in the country when it comes to the amazing Prokletije, straddling Montenegro and Albania. A native of Gusinje, he speaks excellent English, fluent Montenegrin and also Albanian.
DinoAdventure Leader, Montenegro/Albania 
is a native of Shkoder in North Albania who has over twenty years of experience guiding guests around her favourite places in the region. A qualified biologist, she is actively involved in many different wildlife conservation efforts and intimately knows the mountains of the Prokletije in both Albania and Montenegro. She speaks superb English, as well as her native Albanian.
AuroraAdventure Leader, Albania 
Skender has over a decade’s worth of experience guiding tour groups around his country, and has earned his reputation as one of the funniest and most quotable tour guides in Bosnia & Hercegovina! He speaks near-native English and has full tour guide qualifications.
SkenderAdventure Leader, Bosnia & Hercegovina 
Aleks and Philomena are a brilliant Serbian/Australian couple who have been leading groups around Serbia for years. We’ve now teamed up with them to offer you our first week-long activity holiday in Serbia, with more to follow! They speak fluent English and Serbian.
Aleks & PhilomenaAdventure Leaders, Serbia 
Ston native Robi has over 15 years’ worth of experience guiding around his country – but it’s the Pelješac peninsula that he considers his home. You could not be in more knowledgeable hands! Robi speaks fluent English and has full adventure guide qualifications.
RobiAdventure Leader, Croatia 
Fatos has over three decades of experience guiding guests around his native land. He is a qualified mountain guide, loves caving, canyoning and hiking and runs probably the most knowledgeable tour outfit in the whole country! He speaks superb English.
FatosAdventure Leader, Kosovo 
Will and Sophie are the amazing Adventure Hosts at our own Villa Miela in Virpazar. Funny, knowledgable and endlessly practical, they are the organisational dynamos behind our Lake Skadar Adventure holidays!
Will & SophieAdventure Hosts, Villa Miela 
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Having been founded by an intrepid twosome, we’re proof that travel is not only good for the soul, it’s good for the soulmates. 👫![]()
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So, we’ve rounded up our best adventure holidays for couples.![]()
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From hiking the Peaks of the Balkans to a foodie tour of Albania, whatever your love language, we’ve got a holiday for that. Get inspired at the link in the comments.👇![]()
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#undiscoveredbalkans
Exciting news — our adventures in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been featured by Euronews! 🎉🌿 ![]()
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A huge thank you to writer Sarah Faith for speaking with our co-founder Emma about what makes Bosnia special. From embracing ‘ćejf’ — those small moments of pleasure — to rafting on the Neretva, hiking through Sutjeska’s wild beauty, or strolling the cobbled streets of Mostar, Bosnia is raw, real and breathtakingly beautiful. ![]()
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As the country marks 30 years since the end of the war, there’s no better time to experience its resilience, culture and sheer natural wonder. ![]()
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We've put a link to the full article in the comments, along with another to our Bosnia holidays. Take a look! 👇![]()
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#undiscoveredbalkans #bosniaandherzegovina
Is it possible to escape the crowds, in Croatia, in August?![]()
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It is, if you’re in the hands of our brilliant tour leader, Robi. But don't just take our word for it — here’s what our 2024 repeat guest Stephen has to say about his family’s week in Southern Dalmatia:![]()
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💬 “We had the most incredible experience in Ston, Croatia, thanks to our exceptional travel guide, Robi and the charming landscape and islands of Southern Dalmatia… What really stood out was his attentiveness to our preferences and abilities. Whether it was adjusting the kayaking route to explore more secluded spots, finding the perfect swimming coves, or creating cycling paths that matched our energy levels, he was constantly adapting the plan to maximise our enjoyment.![]()
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Not only were the activities well-organised, but Robi was also extremely knowledgeable about the local culture and history, making each excursion both adventurous and educational. He taught us many 'fun facts' that I will try and retain (for example, why we use carats when measuring the purity of gold). We never felt rushed, and he was always checking in to ensure that we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. His passion for sharing the beauty of Ston and its surrounding areas made us feel less like tourists and more like welcomed guests…. I can't recommend Robi and Undiscovered Balkans highly enough.”![]()
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Experience Dalmatia the locals' way — find out more about our Undiscovered Croatia holiday and book while we still have availability for this summer! Link in the comments. ⬇️![]()
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#undiscoveredbalkans #undiscoveredcroatia
Got itchy feet? You’re not alone! We're hearing from quite a few hikers dreaming of their next adventure this week – and we’ve got just the thing. NEW for 2025: our 7-day mountain hiking holiday in Bulgaria! 🇧🇬⛰️ ![]()
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If your idea of Bulgaria stops at budget beach resorts, think again. The Rila and Pirin Mountains are home to some of the most breathtaking alpine scenery in the Balkans – and we’re taking our groups right to the heart of it. Expect: ![]()
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✔️ Summit views from Mount Musala (2,925m) – the highest peak in the Balkans ![]()
✔️ A hike through the Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria’s most stunning natural wonder ![]()
✔️ Rugged ridges and glacial lakes in the Pirin massif, with a climb up Vihren (2,914m) ![]()
✔️ A visit to Rila Monastery, a cultural and historical treasure in the mountains ![]()
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Led by our expert local leader Atanas, this trip is for hikers who want more than just great trails – it’s an adventure into the real Bulgaria. ![]()
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Sound good? Get in touch! Visit the link in the comments for more details. 👣✨ ![]()
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#undiscoveredbalkans #undiscoveredbulgaria
Great news from Lake Skadar, where the Dalmatian pelicans have just begun nesting!![]()
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Catching a glimpse of these extraordinary birds is a highlight for so many guests on our kayaking trips at Lake Skadar, but did you know their species is still vulnerable if we don't act to protect them?![]()
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That’s where your holidays come in. Thanks to funds from our 2023 Book to Give Back scheme, we donated €3,000 to our charity partner CZIP so they could work with the National Park to safeguard a new nesting site the birds have adopted. 💚 ![]()
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Want to know the full story? Swipe through and read all about it on our blog — link in the comments! ![]()
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Centar za zaštitu i proučavanje ptica Crne Gore ![]()
Nacionalni parkovi Crne Gore / National parks of Montenegro ![]()
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#DalmatianPelican #NaturePositive #ResponsibleTravel #UndiscoveredMontenegro
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Holidays
£200pp off!
7 Day Activity Holiday at Lake Skadar
Our original adventure loved by everyone! Kayaking, hiking & wild-swimming…
7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Albania
Discover Albania’s lakes, mountains & sea on this multi-active adventure!
7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Kosovo
Discover the beauty of Europe’s newest and most fascinating country!
7 Day Winter Activity Holiday in Montenegro
Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing on the alpine slopes of Montenegro!