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
This week we share a recipe for a cheese pie called Gibanica, popular across the Balkans, especially on feast days like St Tryphon’s on February 14. Gibanica is faintly similar to the famous burek, but has a few important nuances you need to know before you cook it. Who is St Tryphon? The paton saint
Given that Undiscovered Balkans started life in Montenegro, it feels only right to introduce you to the woman leading the way on our Montenegro family adventure. Meet Ana; a true local, and the kind of companion who knows every bend in the road, hidden trail and story worth telling. We chat with Ana in winter
Wine, like rakia, is woven into any Balkan adventure. It is poured generously at guesthouse tables, shared after long hikes, and produced in vineyards that cling to steep hillsides, river valleys and sunbaked plains. This week, we sat down with Dušan Jelić of @winesofserbia to talk Balkan wine regions and wines. Dušan has worked in
If taking on a marathon, triathlon or other sporting challenge is in your New Year’s resolutions, why not tag a holiday onto it? Apparently it’s a thing: the ‘race-cation’ (when you complete some sort of outdoor challenge either side of a holiday) is rising in popularity and we’re here for it—what a great excuse to
In need of a warm and sunny escape to Europe in spring? Look no further than the Balkans. Being in southern Europe, you can expect mild to warm weather in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania from April onwards while the UK is still thawing out. Not only that, but it’s one of the most beautiful times
The best hikes in Europe are the ‘best’ for a reason—be it the scenery, local culture, history, or physical challenge. But the downside is that hikes such as the Tour du Mont Blanc or West Highland Way attract a huge footfall each year, meaning you won’t get the views to yourself and they’re susceptible to
Cultural heritage isn’t kept behind museum glass in the Balkans—it’s lived, breathed, eaten, sung, crafted and danced. From Ottoman cities like Berat and Mostar to natural wonders such as Durmitor National Park, Albanian folk singing to lacemaking in Croatia, UNESCO World Heritage in the Balkans is a multi-sensory tapestry of the region’s diverse natural and
Booking your September sun holiday in Europe and not sure where to go? Look no further than the Balkans. Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina all remain hot and sunny well into October (which is why lots of our trips run until then). In fact, our active holidays such as hiking and kayaking trips
Podgorica isn’t many people’s first thought when it comes to a city break, but as our guests are discovering, it’s worth a couple of nights there—especially as you’re likely to be flying into it anyway. So we thought we’d give you some pointers on what to see and do there, with recommendations from UB co-founders
