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!


Connect with us

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3 days ago

Our first ever South Albania tour has just wrapped up, and what an adventure it was! 💦 Rafting the mighty Vjosa and soaking in Përmet’s thermal baths? Tick.🥾 Hiking to a hidden waterfall in the remote Zagoria valley? Stunning.🏛️ Wandering the cobbled charm of Gjirokastër? Loved it. 🛶 Kayaking on the UNESCO-protected Lake Ohrid? Just magic.From the Ionian Sea to canyons, mountains and onto the glassy lakes that collide with Greece, this week’s journey has been all about uncovering Albania's soul. The food’s been incredible, the hospitality overwhelming, and our guide Alfie? An absolute star.Once again, we've been blessed with a fabulous group of guests. If this looks like your kind of adventure too, get in touch to book our last-remaining spots for this summer, or your autumn escape. Full details at the link in the comments.#undiscoveredbalkans #undiscoveredalbania See MoreSee Less
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2 weeks ago

It’s here! 🎉 Our brand new South Albania adventure has officially launched this week, kicking off with a fab group of returning guests and travel writer Laura Sanders. 😄Yesterday’s hike took us through olive groves and sage-covered hills with spectacular views of the Albanian Riviera 🌿🌊. We even dipped our toes in the sparkling Ionian Sea before sunset and dinner in the tumbledown charm of Upper Qeparo. As for today? Kayaking calls… 😎 📲 Stay tuned for more stories and photos from our week – and don’t miss out!Want to join us in this beautiful spot? Tap the link in the comments or message us for details!#undiscoveredbalkans #undiscoveredbalkans See MoreSee Less
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3 weeks ago

Coming to the Balkans and wondering what on earth you’ve signed up for?You're not alone. Half the fun of travelling to countries like Albania and Montenegro is the mystery – and it’s not just the wild mountains, secret swimming spots and place names that could have stepped out of a Harry Potter novel. It's also more mundane questions like:💦 Can I drink the tap water? 📶 Should I get an eSIM?💶 What currency will I need?Luckily, we’ve written a blog that answers all those practical questions so you can stop Googling and start packing.👉 f.mtr.cool/ylvagkggxf#undiscoveredbalkans See MoreSee Less
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3 weeks ago

We missed posting for Earth Day yesterday… because we were out exploring the wild wonders of Lake Skadar with our latest group in Montenegro. 🌿But when you live and work in Europe’s wildest corner, every day feels like Earth Day.For 15 years, we’ve kept things as sustainable as we can: only offering small groups, longer stays and adventures with low or no environmental impact, like hiking, kayaking and wild swimming.The wildlife in these photos? All spotted on tour this month. But the habitats these animals depend on, that also act as carbon stores, are under threat – from logging and quarrying, to development for things like mass tourism or hydropower.That’s why we've made it our mission to champion nature — supporting local conservationists through our Book to Give Back scheme, and educating our team and guests about these fragile ecosystems. 💚Visit the comments to find out how we do responsible travel, the Undiscovered Balkans way. We wish we could do more. #UndiscoveredBalkans #EarthDay #ResponsibleTravel #naturelovers See MoreSee Less
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4 weeks ago

Happy Easter to everyone celebrating today! 🐣Here’s how the long weekend's gone with our guests in Montenegro:🥚 Good Friday – a chocolate egg hunt in Villa Miela’s hillside garden 👋 Saturday – time to say goodbye to our school holiday guests and welcome a new group (all couples this time!), with a dip in the pool and al fresco dining on the terrace 🛶 Easter Sunday – onto Lake Skadar in our kayaks, with a bit of bridge-jumping fun thrown in for good measure!☀️ Easter Monday – chasing waterfalls, spectacular views, and some caving actionThe photos are all from this past week’s lake adventures with a truly lovely bunch. Big thanks to everyone who joined us – it was a pleasure to host you!Fancy joining us at Lake Skadar or on one of our other Balkan adventures? Check the link in the comments or drop us a message. #undiscoveredbalkans #undiscoveredmontenegro See MoreSee Less
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Holidays

Man on an activity holiday swimming in a crystal clear, bright blue rock pool near Lake Skadar
£200pp off!

7 Day Activity Holiday at Lake Skadar

Our original adventure loved by everyone! Kayaking, hiking & wild-swimming…
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A girl sitting on a mule while trekking on Mount Tomorr in Albania
£200pp off!

7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Albania

Discover Albania’s lakes, mountains & sea on this multi-active adventure!
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Moderate

7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Kosovo

Discover the beauty of Europe’s newest and most fascinating country!
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7 Day Winter Activity Holiday in Montenegro

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