FAQ

Got a question about one of our holidays or travel in the Balkans? Find the answers you’re looking for below or get in touch by phone, email or WhatsApp using the contact details at the bottom of this page.

On this page:

Booking and pre-departure
Payment
While you’re there
Other FAQs

Booking and pre-departure

What does “Undiscovered” actually mean?

On our guided holidays, you will visit places and do things that you would never have found as an independent holiday-maker. Hikes of exceptional beauty, paddling rivers and lakes where few others go and meeting local people are the cornerstones of our trips. Yes, you will occasionally stay in more populated cities and coastal resorts, but we try and make sure that if you do, you stay in accommodations that make it feel special and get a real local’s insight with our professional, dual-language Tour Leaders.

Do you book flights?

We don’t currently book flights, so you will need to make your own travel arrangements to the start point of the trip. From there, our friendly guide will collect you from the airport or bus/train station.

Do we need a car?

Nope. All transport is taken care of by us so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

Do I need to bring any specialist gear?

For most of our holidays, you will need comfortable shoes for walking in and clothes suitable for getting active outdoors. Think lightweight, sweat wicking layers and waterproofs in case it rains.

We provide a full kit list after you book but if you think of something you’re not sure about, feel free to get in touch.

You can also see our sample packing lists for an idea.

Are your holidays suitable for young children?

Absolutely! Active families love our holidays. You can read what guests with children have to say about us on Google, Responsible Travel and Tripadvisor.

The minimum age for most of our holidays is 7 years old but we can make exceptions for kids as young as 5 if they’re active, adventurous, can swim, and have experience of hiking for at least 5 km including some uphill stretches. That said, our hiking holidays would be too much for anybody under the age of 14.

Please refer to the activity level and minimum age provided on each holiday page and find out more about our activity ratings. If you’re unsure, get in touch, we would be happy to advise you.

Browse our most popular family-friendly holidays.

How big are your tour groups?

Our groups are a minimum of two* people and a maximum of eight people (with the exception of Villa Miela holidays where we can accommodate more).

*Note – we don’t always go ahead with trips with only two people on them. If this is the case, we will get in touch and offer the opportunity to either wait for more takers, cancel for a full refund, or pay a surcharge of £500 to guarantee the departure.

Do you have adult-only groups?

We cater to families, couples and solo travellers alike which means each group is different. We don’t offer adult-only trips, particularly during the school holidays.

If you want to avoid being on a group tour with kids, your best bet is to book in shoulder season. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us and ask if there’s a group without any kids booked in, we might be able to work something out.

Is a stay of less than one week possible?

Generally speaking, no. As an advocate of sustainable travel, we don’t offer any trips shorter than one week because we believe in making the carbon emissions from flying to your destination worth it.

Can you offer tailor-made trips?

Want to combine certain elements of two or more tours? We can provide a custom-made trip for any group of 4px or over. Get in touch and ask away!

How can I book?

You can book by speaking to us directly via phone or email, or online by clicking ‘Book Now’ on your selected holiday page.

Payment

Can I pay for my holiday using my credit card?

Yes. Just follow the online booking instructions on your holiday page.

Can I pay for my holiday in a different currency?

Yes. Payment for our holidays is generally made in GBP so if you’re happy with that, follow the instructions as usual when paying online.

Prefer to pay in Euros and USD? We have accounts in those currencies too, so email us directly to arrange payment in those currencies instead.

Can I pay in instalments?

Of course. You will need to pay 30% of the total upon booking and the final balance is due six weeks before departure.

While you’re there

What type of accommodation will we be staying in?

Unless there’s a camping element to your holiday, you will be staying in our handpicked guest houses which are all clean, comfortable, characterful and locally owned. They perfectly balance local charm with modern amenities, so rest assured you will have a great place to relax after a day of adventures.

You can view your accommodation under the ‘Accommodation’ tab on individual holiday pages.

Do you accommodate solo travellers?

Yes, we welcome solo travellers.

If you’re travelling alone, you will be put in a room with another solo traveller of the same gender. If there aren’t any other solo travellers on your tour, you will most likely get the room to yourself.

There is an option to pay extra to have your own room with single supplements. Get in touch to find out more.

Is there WiFi at our accommodation?

We have free WiFi throughout all of our other accommodations and WiFi is also widely available in public spaces in the Balkans, like parks, restaurants and shopping centres. However, please be aware that reception in remote areas can be sporadic.

If you want to stay connected during your trip (although we personally love the opportunity to go off-grid and leave that inbox alone), you can easily purchase an e-SIM upon arrival. This tends to be the best option for many of our guests as their networks don’t cover the non-EU destinations (i.e. the Balkans) under European data roaming passes.

Are any meals included?

For most of our holidays, almost all meals are included in the price. Please see the individual trip pages for details of what is and isn’t included.

Can you cater for vegetarians and other dietary requirements?

Within reason, yes. Depending on which country you’re visiting, your choices may be restricted, particularly in more remote areas like the ones we visit on our hiking and kayaking holidays and on Albania trips.

How expensive is eating out or buying food for self-catering?

Food and drink is very cheap in the Balkans. Expect to pay between €5-€10 for mains in local restaurants, such as kafanas in Serbia, and no more than € 3 for half a litre of local beer. It’s even cheaper in supermarkets if you’re self-catering or just want to pick up some snacks. The exception is Croatia where prices are more in line with other EU destinations.

How hot is it in the Balkans in summer?

Generally speaking, you can expect a mediterranean climate with highs of between 20-30℃ in the Balkans from May through to early September. Rainstorms and cold snaps can occur in more northern destinations like Serbia, northern Bosnia & Herzegovina and northern Albania in the spring/early summer and autumn months, so be prepared.

For exact temperatures, visit Weather2Travel.com.

Are there many mosquitos?

Like anywhere in the Adriatic and Mediterranean, mosquitos are around but there are never swarms of them. They’re generally more of a problem along the coast.

If you are prone to bites, it can’t hurt to pack your insect repellent as well as some antihistamines if you know you react badly (as these are hard to buy locally).

How much travelling is involved on your trips?

We firmly believe that holiday time in the car should be kept to a minimum. No single journey is ever longer than four hours, and most transfer times between centres are less than two hours. Check the itinerary of the individual holiday for more information.

How fit do I have to be to enjoy the activities?

In all cases, please refer to the activity level rating provided on each holiday page, and our Activity Levels Explained page for an elaboration on what each rating means.

As a rule of thumb, you don’t need to be a marathon runner or champion athlete to enjoy our holidays (those who regularly push themselves to their physical limits would find our trips “soft”), but you do need to be in good health and have a reasonable level of physical fitness.

Age isn’t a factor, we’ve had guests in their 80’s and under 5’s join us if they’ve been fit and capable enough. But if you are clinically obese, need a stick to walk or cannot swim, our holidays aren’t for you. If you have an injury, illness or disability, then please disclose this in your first enquiry as we will need to assess our ability to accommodate your needs within the group.

Our all-hiking holidays are for experienced, hardy walkers only.

If in doubt, get in touch, we’d be happy to advise.

Is any experience needed for activities like kayaking?

No prior experience is needed for any of our activities as you will have a qualified guide with you. The exception is our kayaking holidays; these are not recommended for people who have never kayaked before as they can be physically demanding if you’re new to the sport.

Other FAQs

Is Undiscovered Balkans a UK company?

Yes. We operate as Undiscovered Montenegro which is a fully registered UK company (no.06779866).

Are you insured for the activities you offer?

Yep. We have full liability insurance up to £5 million and all of our activity partners are registered and fully licensed and insured. Find out more about that here.

Can we view your standard terms and conditions?

Of course, please click the file below.

How do we contact you?

You can contact us by phone, email or on WhatsApp using the details below. We’re also on Instagram, Facebook and X (@undiscoveredbalkans).

Email: enquiries@undiscoveredbalkans.com
UK Tel: +44 (0)20 3287 0015
Montenegro Tel or WhatsApp: +382 (0)69 402 364

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