“Look up! Pelicans! Dead Ahead...” "Oh yeah? Wow!" 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 that holidaying with us has helped fund urgent Dalmatian Pelican conservation work? Thanks to our Book to Give Back scheme, we have been able to make the biggest donation in our company’s history to help one of the world’s most threatened waterbirds continue to thrive in Montenegro at a time of crisis. We donated €3,000 to our charity partner CZIP, Montenegro’s equivalent of the RSPB, in April last year, and as a direct result, works completed in December to give vital new protection to the colony at Lake Skadar. A new nesting site they adopted last year is now safeguarded with buoys and signs to keep people at a safe distance and help these magnificent birds to breed undisturbed. The protection measures come just in time for winter breeding season — ornithologists counted 49 nests on the island in last week's winter count — and we’re all hoping to see lots of healthy chicks come March. On the brink The Dalmatian Pelican is the world’s largest pelican and heaviest flying freshwater bird, weighing in at 9.5kg respectively with a wingspan of up to 3 metres. They can be found in wetlands across southeast Europe, including a population of 71 breeding pairs at Lake Skadar, which is shared by Montenegro and Albania (Albanian name, Shkodra Lake). Sizeable colonies are also at Romania's Danube-Delta, Albania's Divjakë-Karavasta, and on Lake Prespa, shared by Albania and Greece. Sadly, the species is endangered. Irresponsible tourism and poaching near nesting sites are two of the greatest human threats, next to construction near their habitats and natural threats such as bird flu and extreme
“Look up! Pelicans! Dead Ahead…” “Oh yeah? Wow!” 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 that holidaying with us has helped fund urgent Dalmatian Pelican conservation work? Thanks to our Book to Give Back scheme, we have
Planning a trip to the Balkans and wondering what kinds of wildlife you might encounter? With vast swathes of undisturbed forests and wetlands, the peninsula is teeming with animals which are rare, if not extinct, in the UK. Despite being popular for the beaches, Albania is actually two-thirds forests and mountains. Across the border in Montenegro, Europe's most mountainous country, lots of nature hotspots are under environmental protection. They include Lake Skadar National Park which is on its way to becoming a UNESCO biosphere and joining the Amazon of Europe. Serbia, Kosovo and Croatia equally boast their fair share of natural habitats. So, in short, the Balkans is the place to visit for wildlife sightings in Europe. Sadly though, there’s a way to go before proper protection is in place for many of the species listed below, meaning they’re at threat of dying out due to human activity (read: damming, deforestation and pollution). That’s why we’re on a mission as a travel company to support vital conservation efforts in the region by donating to our chosen local NGOs through our Book to Give Back scheme and touring responsibly. So, without further adieu, here are just some of the fantastic wild animals you could see (or hear) in the Balkans. 1. Dalmatian Pelican It’s the world’s largest member of the pelican family with a wingspan of three metres and weighing around 9.5 kg respectfully, the Dalmatian Pelican is also the world’s largest flying freshwater bird. A lot of work is being done to protect these remarkable creatures in Montenegro and Albania, particularly in Lake Skadar National Park (where we run Villa Miela), which has a sizeable population of roughly 300 pelicans. You’ll also find them in large numbers on Lake Prespa, shared by Albania and Greece, which you can visit on
Planning a trip to the Balkans and wondering what kinds of wildlife you might encounter? With vast swathes of undisturbed forests and wetlands, the peninsula is teeming with animals which are rare, if not extinct, in the UK. Despite being popular for the beaches, Albania is actually two-thirds forests and mountains. Across the border in
Booking your September sun holiday in Europe and not sure where to go? Behold: 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, some of our most active holidays are best enjoyed at this time of year when it’s slightly cooler. If you’re not tied to the school holidays, travelling during quieter periods not only has its advantages for you, it’s better for the local community and environment as you don’t contribute to over-tourism (of course, you don’t need to worry about that too much on our trips as we’re all about taking you off the beaten path). With the kids back in school, this is the best time to book if you want a more mature crowd on your trip too - especially as September is wine making season and we're known to linger longer at the wineries for tastings with no children around. If you want to leave it even later for your holiday, there's the opportunity to make rakija and forage for wild pomegranates during our hikes in October. In terms of temperatures, the sea is at its warmest in September having been heated up throughout the summer - the perfect time for some wild swimming. Read on for our roundup of holiday suggestions and what weather to expect from Balkan holidays in September. Croatia in September Ever been island hopping in Croatia? We bet you’ve never done it like this. Choose between two action-packed adventures in Southern Dalmatia in which you’ll kayak to some of Croatia’s best kept secrets and have a chance to see Dubrovnik with far fewer people clogging up its cobbled streets. Based in Ston, our seven-day Multi-Activity Holiday in Southern Dalmatia takes
Booking your September sun holiday in Europe and not sure where to go? Behold: 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, some of our most active holidays are best enjoyed at this time
International Women's Day is HUGE in the Balkans. It's traditional for children to give roses to their female teachers as a token of their appreciation, while women swap messages of love and appreciation for each other. And so, we want to take this opportunity to spread the love too. You'll know if you've travelled with us that the Balkans boasts some truly breathtaking wild spaces. It's also home to vulnerable and endangered species - like our friend the Dalmatian Pelican at Lake Skadar - and some of Europe's few remaining free-flowing, wild rivers. One of the biggest threats to these ecosystems are hydropower projects which have devastating impacts on both people and nature, from blocking fish migration to destroying natural flood defences. There are some brilliant individuals and organisations out there defending these precious places and today we’re showing our appreciation for some of the fierce females standing up for nature in the Balkans. ‘The fight is on for these last truly wild spaces in Europe,’ says co-founder Emma, who herself has gotten behind some of the environmental campaigning in the Balkans. 'These women are doing some incredible, brave work to protect the nature and communities around them. They deserve our thanks, recognition and support.’ Jelena Popović: Montenegro If you joined us on our super active adventure in Montenegro, you may have experienced the beauty of Nevidio Canyon (aka the ‘Unseen Canyon’) for yourself. What you won't know is that the river running through it, the sky-coloured Komarnica, is threatened by a hydropower development that, if built, would devastate its entire ecosystem - one tipped by UNESCO for the heritage list due to its outstanding value. Ecologist Jelena Popović is one Montenegrin taking a giant stand to stop this, working tirelessly with other activists to protect the river. She's one of
International Women’s Day is HUGE in the Balkans. It’s traditional for children to give roses to their female teachers as a token of their appreciation, while women swap messages of love and appreciation for each other. And so, we want to take this opportunity to spread the love too. You’ll know if you’ve travelled with
The Balkans can be a bit behind when it comes to sustainability. For instance, you’ll see single-use plastic bags being handed out willy-nilly in Serbia or Montenegro, and a lack of understanding around how human activities can impact wildlife (ATV tours in protected areas are still not illegal here). Without coming across all preachy, it’s important we as visitors don’t contribute to the problem. By choosing to holiday with us, you’ve already made a positive impact by employing local people, creating meaningful cultural exchanges, and funding important environmental projects through our Book to Give Back scheme - amazing! But there are a few things you can do during your trip to help even more. Here are 10 ways to be a responsible traveller in the Balkans. 1. Go flight-free Planes chomp through the fuel - a return flight from London to Tirana releases nearly as much CO2 per passenger as travelling from London to Singapore by train. Why not make the journey part of the holiday and hit the rails instead? There are some stunning train routes across Europe and you can reach Montenegro within two days from London. In fact, the train from Belgrade to Bar is one of National Geographic’s top 10 European rail trips. Rome2Rio and The Man in Seat 61 are both great websites for help planning your route. Alternatively, you could take a coach. FlixBus is one of the largest bus operators in Europe and it offers routes from the UK. This is the best option if you’re travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina as there have been no cross-border trains there since the 1990s war. 2. Pack light, lower emissions The lighter the load, the less energy is consumed to carry it, says co-founder Emma. '[Packing light] lowers emissions for air travel and also means the
The Balkans can be a bit behind when it comes to sustainability. For instance, you’ll see single-use plastic bags being handed out willy-nilly in Serbia or Montenegro, and a lack of understanding around how human activities can impact wildlife (ATV tours in protected areas are still not illegal here). Without coming across all preachy, it’s
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