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

[/vc_column_text]

Facebook

2 days ago

Excited to be back in Serbia researching new trips! 🇷🇸 Back in May, we ran our first ever Serbia trip – a week during which Emma and our adventure testers picked up a serious rakija habit (at breakfast), hugged trees in Tara National Park, hung out with Griffon Vultures 🦅, dangled over gushing waterfalls, donned wetsuits to kayak the Drina, and narrowly escaped a much-feared phenomenon called Promaja thanks to a kind mountain ranger and his hairdryer (long story 😂)! This time we’re exploring closer to Belgrade on a trip hosted by Serbia’s Tourism Organisation. Stay tuned to follow our adventures in this wonderful country everyone should visit. Speaking of which, if the above sounds like your kind of adventure (and it’s family-friendly too), do book our Western Serbia holiday while our early bird special offer is still on – £100 off all 2025 trips confirmed this month! Visit the link in link below to find out more👇undiscoveredbalkans.com/tours/7-day-multi-activity-holiday-in-serbia/#undiscoveredbalkans #experienceserbia See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

4 days ago

🍂 Autumn vibes are in full swing on our Montenegro hiking holidays, with another group traversing the peaks this week! Last week’s adventures could not have been more colourful. From the dramatic peaks of Prokljetije, to the sweeping meadows of Bjelasica, and the bright blue Mrtvica river – it’s lifted our spirits just to see these photos from our lovely guests (thanks you good peeps!). 🤩Our mountain hiking adventures begin again in June, when the winter snows are gone. Book now for an amazing early bird special deal – £100 off all bookings confirmed by the end of this month!Visit the link below to reserve your spot or learn more.undiscoveredbalkans.com/tours/walking-holiday-montenegro/#undiscoveredbalkans #undiscoveredmontenegro See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

1 week ago

Meet Nebije, the owner of a women’s weaving co-op in North Albania keeping hand woven rugs alive.First introduced by the Ottomans, Albanian/Balkan rugs – known as ‘kilim’ – used to be a popular form of dowry in the region. They’re mostly bought up by tourists, hotels and Albanian diaspora as decoration now.Nebije has been weaving since the age of 10, all throughout the communist era and beyond. We love to visit Nebije, and her inspiring team of gals, on our North Albania holiday!Read her story and learn more about the significance of Albanian rugs on our blog this week.👉 undiscoveredbalkans.com/albanian-rug-traditions-nebija-qotaj/ 📷 @lauratruetravel #undiscoveredbalkans #albania #supportingtradition See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

2 weeks ago

"Fantastic Holiday with Undiscovered Balkans!"🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟"We did the Northern Albania Activity holiday and would highly recommend it. We were a party of 6 with 2 adults, 3 teenagers and a 10 year old. All the activities were really good fun and well organised and nothing was too much trouble for our guide – Aldo who really made the trip. The scenery was amazing and the accommodation/ food was perfect. 🏞️"This is our second holiday with Undiscovered Balkans and we would love to do another one." (How about Serbia next time? 🇷🇸)Thank you to our wonderful repeat guest, Anna. 💖 These words and photos on Google made our day, because it's what the hard work and passion we pour into our adventures is all about.If you love the outdoors and getting away from the beaten track, our trips are perfect for you. We welcome all ages and abilities (with basic fitness), so let's plan your 2025 Albania holiday! 🌍🚀Message us or visit the link below to start your journey!👉 undiscoveredbalkans.com/albania-holidays#UndiscoveredBalkans See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

2 weeks ago

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – never let a bad weather forecast put you off an outdoorsy holiday in the Balkans!Our plucky hikers in Montenegro last week were treated to breathtaking views of clouds embracing the mountains, stunning god light piercing through the dark sky, and even a perfect rainbow while climbing Lola Mountain. 🌈✨All you need are kagools, sturdy boots, and a spirit of adventure!Our hiking adventures run until the end of October, and we're offering £100 off to fill the last few spots on our 6th October departure in Montenegro. They’ll resume next June. Visit the link below to learn more and book your spot! 👉 undiscoveredbalkans.com/tours/walking-holiday-montenegro/All photos taken on tour and shared by our wonderful group leader Vera! 📸#undiscoveredbalkans #hikingadventures See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
[/vc_column][/vc_row]

Holidays

Man on an activity holiday swimming in a crystal clear, bright blue rock pool near Lake Skadar

7 Day Activity Holiday at Lake Skadar

Our original adventure loved by everyone! Kayaking, hiking & wild-swimming…
Single centre
Moderate
A girl sitting on a mule while trekking on Mount Tomorr in Albania

7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Albania

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

7 Day Multi-Activity Holiday in Kosovo

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

7 Day Winter Activity Holiday in Montenegro

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