If you’re in Albania, Montenegro or Croatia in July, your first question may be, "is it always this hot?" The answer is—well, yes. Welcome to a Balkan summer. ☀️ But unlike what some of the British media headlines might suggest, this is no freak heatwave. For those of us who live in the Balkans—and love nothing better than jumping into rivers or the sea, or kayaking to hidden beaches—this is just normal. It’s supposed to be hot in Southern Europe. That’s the point—and you just need to embrace it. Yes, temperatures can reach the high 30s, but this isn’t the sticky, airless heat of a terraced house in August. It’s dry, breezy and delightfully swimmable. The Mediterranean sun sets the pace here—and if you follow its rhythm, you’ll not only cope, you’ll thrive. Here’s how we—and our guests—stay cool, while loving every sweaty second of our adventure holidays. So, how hot is the Balkans in summer? Along the coast and inland valleys, daytime temperatures tend to hover around 35°C from late June to July and August, sometimes a little more. In higher areas, it can be 10-15 degrees cooler – another reason to love the mountains this region is famous for. The heat is dry, not humid. That means shade and water go a long way, and evenings are often breezy and a bit fresher. British guests sometimes find it a shock at first – but that’s mostly a matter of expectations. If you’re coming from 18C and drizzle, of course it’ll feel intense. But this isn’t dangerous heat, as long as you follow these top tips. Related: When’s the best time to visit the Balkans? How to pack light for an adventure holiday in the Balkans From eSIMs to currency: Preparing to travel in the Balkans Where to find
If you’re in Albania, Montenegro or Croatia in July, your first question may be, “is it always this hot?” The answer is—well, yes. Welcome to a Balkan summer. ☀️ But unlike what some of the British media headlines might suggest, this is no freak heatwave. For those of us who live in the Balkans—and love
Let’s get one thing straight: many of us who love outdoor adventures as adults weren’t sporty kids at school. I certainly wasn’t. I was a chunky tween who dreaded Sports Day and usually came last. In fact, it took until my twenties to discover I even liked the outdoors. My first real adventure? A three-day trek in Madagascar with Ben and two French backpackers we'd just met. I had no clue what I was doing, no fitness plan, and no appropriate gear. Just youthful stubbornness and a rucksack. I was so red-faced and out of breath, our local guide called me "Vaza Tomate" – the foreign tomato. But I made it. Fast-forward a fair few years and I co-run active holidays in the Balkans, where I regularly hike steep rocky inclines and kayak 12km. But I’ve still had my setbacks. In 2021, I ruptured my ACL skiing. I had reconstructive knee surgery in Dubrovnik, and just four months later, I was back on the trail, guiding hikes for guests at my villa in Montenegro. How? Determination, muscle memory, and the help of my brilliant physio Aleks, who let me train in a private gym bedecked with Balkan muscleman posters. Motivating, if a bit intimidating! So when guests ask me how fit do you need to be for an active holiday, or whether they'll need to train to go mountain hiking, the answer is: it depends. If you’re joining us for one of our standard activity weeks and you're in reasonable shape, you’ll be fine. But if you’re joining one of our multi-day hikes or super-active adventures, which take place in proper mountainous terrain, training is a really good idea – and might just transform your holiday. Are You Mountain-Ready? Take Our Balkan Fitness Test If you can comfortably tick off
Let’s get one thing straight: many of us who love outdoor adventures as adults weren’t sporty kids at school. I certainly wasn’t. I was a chunky tween who dreaded Sports Day and usually came last. In fact, it took until my twenties to discover I even liked the outdoors. My first real adventure? A three-day
Planning to visit the Balkans this year but not sure when to go? We’ve got you. Whether you’re looking for the best month to visit Albania for sun, when to hike the Peaks of the Balkans trail or the best time to book a holiday in Croatia to avoid the crowds (hint: you’ll always dodge the crowds with us), keep reading. Balkans climate Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, southern Bosnia and southern Bulgaria generally have a Mediterranean climate, meaning hot, dry summers and mild winters. Like anywhere, the weather is generally cooler and less predictable in the mountains in these destinations, where there can be snow during winter and early spring. The more northerly locations such as Serbia, northern Bosnia around Sarajevo, and parts of Montenegro have a milder, more continental climate. Balkans weather by month See the average daytime high temperatures by month in Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and other popular holiday destinations in the Balkans below. But bear in mind it depends on where you go. Mostar in Bosnia is more like 25-40℃ in August due to humidity. Best time to visit the Balkans for sun A Balkan summer is like no other — long sunny days and a culture that celebrates leaping into refreshing pools of water, whether it's the Adriatic Sea or a brilliant blue river. Balkan summers see temperatures generally hovering between 27℃ and 31℃, occasionally climbing to the high 30s, depending how far south you go. During these months, you will see little rainfall and lots of clear, sunny skies – perfect for water activities like kayaking, rafting and wild swimming. If that’s a little too hot for you, consider visiting in April or May for daytime temperatures in the low to mid 20s. Bear in mind that the weather is less predictable in shoulder season and
Planning to visit the Balkans this year but not sure when to go? We’ve got you. Whether you’re looking for the best month to visit Albania for sun, when to hike the Peaks of the Balkans trail or the best time to book a holiday in Croatia to avoid the crowds (hint: you’ll always dodge
"Adventures needn’t stop because you’ve had children," says Emma Heywood, co-founder of Undiscovered Balkans and mother of three. If you’re keen to make your family travel more adventurous and leave the hotel resorts behind, Emma has revealed her top tips for smooth sailing. From the types of activity holidays to choose for your family to ways to motivate kids on a hike (rule #1 - never call it a hike), Emma’s advice comes tried and tested on her own family's travels in the Balkans, and years hosting families at her villa in the wilds of Montenegro. And so, over to Emma for her key to making family activity holidays a roaring success. 1. Look for water activities "Kids of all ages love water. Find a holiday with plenty of opportunities for water-based fun whether it’s jumping into waterfalls, river hiking or whitewater rafting (make sure the rapids are mostly grade 2)." Check out some of our wet and wild adventures 2. Get them excited about the trip "Some of our guests involve their kids in choosing the holiday. We’re less democratic with our three, but we talk about the trip ahead and show them visually exciting content like photos and videos of things they’ll be doing. The social media accounts of your holiday company should have a ready supply of motivational materials. Exhibit A: our Instagram page. "While adventures are all about trying something new, make sure it’s within the realms of your children’s interests and abilities by choosing activities you know they’ll like, that are fun. Ours, for example, love being in the water so we’ll always make sure there's a chance to get wet when booking a holiday." 3. Book a guided group holiday aimed at active families "Guided trips are best if your budget can stretch to
“Adventures needn’t stop because you’ve had children,” says Emma Heywood, co-founder of Undiscovered Balkans and mother of three. If you’re keen to make your family travel more adventurous and leave the hotel resorts behind, Emma has revealed her top tips for smooth sailing. From the types of activity holidays to choose for your family to
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 in mind when planning a trip to this part of the world. Having been on the ground here since 2008, we’ve gotten to know and love all of this region’s quirks and some of the most common mistakes made by people planning a trip. Read on to avoid making them yourself and have the best possible experience. 1. Not preparing for the weather The Balkan Peninsula is known for having unpredictable weather. Generally, the region gets gloriously hot summers with temperatures climbing to the high 20s and low 30s in July and August. But even in the height of summer, you can get caught out by torrential rainstorms and it’s not unheard of to still see snow on the mountains in June. We advise packing lightweight, breathable layers of various lengths, closed shoes for rainy weather, and a decent waterproof jacket in case the heavens open. If it has some windproof properties, that's a bonus. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than trying to carry on with a hike when you’re cold and wet. On the other hand, heat stroke can be a risk in summer, especially in cities like Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or when out kayaking for the day. Pace yourself with your plans and make sure you pack a reusable water bottle* to keep hydrated. It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: keep slathering on that high SPF sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses. *Tap water is generally safe to
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
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