Shkodër is a North Albanian city beside Lake Shkodra, Southern Europe’s largest lake which Albania shares with Montenegro (where it’s called Skadar). It’s around two hours’ drive from Tirana and considered the gateway to the Albanian Alps. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do in Shkodër, including a couple of hidden
Cold water swimming may be the latest wellness trend but here at Undiscovered Balkans, we were doing it long before it became mainstream. When you live near some of Europe’s cleanest rivers and lakes, it’s impossible to resist. While our friends in the Nordic countries are credited with promoting the health benefits of cold water
Packing for an adventure holiday can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time. With so many activities to prepare for, it’s easy to overdo it. But actually, you need far less than you think. We’re on a mission to liberate travellers from their overstuffed suitcases by helping them to pack lighter and smarter. And
To say that the Theth valley in the Albanian Alps is stunningly beautiful is an understatement, so there’s no wondering why it’s becoming increasingly popular with hikers. The Accursed Mountains, as they’re also known, could easily be mistaken for the Peruvian Andes. On the Valbona pass, karst limestone topography carpeted by beech forests stretch as
Like many Balkan states, Serbia is in its infancy as a tourism destination but it’s slowly making its way onto more people’s radar. In 2023, it saw its biggest growth in tourism yet, helped in part by budget flights to Belgrade, the capital. With that being said, we thought we’d help you get to know
When Carly joined us in Serbia this month, she was a complete newbie to adventure travel having only ever taken beach holidays and city breaks. For those considering their first adventure holiday or joining an organised tour as a solo traveller, we asked her to guest blog for us this week and share her experience.
The Balkans, a region rich in history, cultural diversity and natural beauty, is an increasingly popular destination for adventure travel seekers. With hundreds of mountains to hike, rivers to raft on and ancient cities to explore, who can blame them? As a relative newcomer to the adventure travel space, there are some things to bear
Often considered Montenegro’s answer to Lake Como, the glorious Lake Skadar in the south has no shortage of epic views, stunning wildlife and intrepid adventures to experience. That’s why so many of our holidays are based there. We caught up with co-founder Ben who first designed this one-of-a-kind kayaking holiday in 2018. “These kinds of
Albania may have seas as dreamy as the Maldives, beaches like Croatia and even some similarities to Greece, but there are several things that set it apart from its Balkan neighbours and everywhere else. From vast swathes of landscapes completely untouched by humans to its folklore traditions, Albania is a holiday destination like no other.
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
