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, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia.

We pride ourselves on being a small business. We personally handle all enquiries and bookings, so when you get in touch, you’re not speaking to a salesperson or a receptionist but directly with us.

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!


Connect with us

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Adventurous and pioneering women of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria and Croatia still fight for gender equality, not just on #InternationalWomensDay on #March8 but every day and for generations. Meet some local heroes from down the centuries.Do suggest more women of the Balkans whose work we should know about in the comments below 👇#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #WomensDay #March8 #8March #WomenOfTheWorld #EqualityForAll #EachForEqual #EmbraceEquity #ŽeneBiH #Womenintravel See MoreSee Less
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The Guardian has featured our new Family Albania and Montenegro hiking holiday in a big article out today – a wonderful surprise! 🎉 Travel writer Holly Tuppen joined us with her family last summer to experience a part of Europe that still feels wild. For families who love hiking, the Peaks of the Balkans trail through the Accursed Mountains is a brilliant alternative to Mont Blanc or the Dolomites. ⛰️Wild swims, hikes with blueberries to forage, friendly shepherds, fascinating history from Ottoman times to communism, and a border crossing on foot along a high mountain trail – there’s almost too much to write about. But Holly captures it beautifully with her talented words. An example:“The descent into the sprawling village of Theth feels a world away. Hot pine forests tumble down steep yellow cliff faces, lizards dart between fallen rocks, and caves offer shady water stops. In the valley below, dry riverbeds carve ashen-grey scars across dense forest as far as the eye can see.”Huge thanks to Holly and The Guardian for shining a light on these remarkable borderlands, to our brilliant guide Aurora, and kudos to the kids for taking on this epic adventure! We hope the article inspires more families to explore this extraordinary region and support the rural communities who call these mountains home.This trip is available to book for this summer. 👉 Link to the full article in the comments.📸 Photos by our co-founder Emma, who tagged along for a few days.#undiscoveredbalkans See MoreSee Less
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Happy World Book Day! If the Balkans is on your travel radar we've got a reading list for you. From potted history to travel memoirs and novels that capture the spirit of the region, these books will transport you to the Balkans– whether you're planning a trip or simply dreaming from home.📖✈️👉 Discover the full list at the link below.🔗 undiscoveredbalkans.com/best-books-about-the-balkans/Which books are you adding to your travel list? Let us know in the comm#WorldBookDayr#bookstagramo#travelreadsr#balkansbooksl#undiscoveredbalkansredBalkans See MoreSee Less
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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s hiking trails are Europe’s best-kept secret. 🇧🇦 Join us to explore alpine peaks, emerald river canyons and primeval rainforests – from day hikes near Sarajevo and Mostar to challenging treks along the Via Dinarica trail.🥾 Come see Bosnia and Herzegovina on foot.👉 Read our lowdown on the best hikes in Bosnia. undiscoveredbalkans.com/the-best-hiking-trails-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/#bosniaandherzegovina 🎧 Bijelo Dugme – Hajdemo u planine (Let's go to the mountains) See MoreSee Less
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North Macedonia has entered the chat ☀️Our brand-new activity holiday in this small but vibrant Balkan country is here at last! Join us to sail on Lake Ohrid, spot pelicans on Lake Prespa, kayak river canyons, ride horses and learn how to keep bees. 🍯 Macedonia isn’t on most itineraries, and that’s exactly why we’re going.Link below for the details and to join us as a holiday tester on our inaugural trip.undiscoveredbalkans.com/tours/north-macedonia-activity-holiday/🎧Plavi Orkestar – Sačuvaj zadnji ples za mene See MoreSee Less
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Holidays

Montenegro family activity holiday

7 Day Villa Activity Holiday Montenegro

Our original Lake Skadar adventure loved by everyone! Kayak, hike
Single centre
Moderate
albania activity holiday

7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Albania

Discover Albania’s lakes, mountains & sea on this multi-active adventure!
Multi-centre
Moderate
Kosovo activity holiday

7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Kosovo

Discover the beauty of Europe’s newest and most fascinating country!
Two centre
Moderate
£100pp off!

7 Day Winter Activity Holiday in Montenegro

Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing on the alpine slopes of Montenegro!
Single centre
Moderate