About Undiscovered Balkans

Undiscovered Balkans is the UK's go-to specialist for small group activity holidays and adventure tours in the West Balkans. Our British founders have been leading small group adventures to this region since 2008, on a mission to open-up its hidden gems to travellers seeking under-the-radar holiday destinations in Europe with ....more

About Undiscovered Balkans Responsible Tourism Social Responsibility Economic Impact Environmental Sustainability What We Offer Reviews FAQ Videos Tours

Reasons to tour with Undiscovered Balkans

Experienced, specialist UK tour operator whose British founders have been bringing groups of travellers to the West Balkans on adventure tours for more than a decade

Unique multi-day adventure holidays curated and operated using our extensive 'global-local' knowledge, network and experience

Pioneers of sustainable travel in the West Balkans, with a strong track record of operating holidays and tours designed to positively impact low GDP destinations like Albania, Bosnia & Hercegovina and Montenegro

Book to Give Back scheme - a proportion of every tour goes to supporting handpicked local conservation and community projects

Our tours actively avoid the obviously touristy places to follow less travelled paths rich in outstanding nature and cultural heritage

5 star review rating from our 10+ years of guests

Responsible Tourism

At Undiscovered Balkans, responsible tourism has been the backbone of our business since we started up in Montenegro in 2008. As the first tour operator in the region dedicated 100% to ‘sustainable travel’, our focus has always been creating small group adventures over longer stays, offering activities which are low ....more

Accreditations and Associations

Undiscovered Balkans is a proud member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. The ATTA is a community of adventure travel believers. We believe travel, when done responsibly, safely and respectfully, can be a catalyst for positive change for communities, the environment, wildlife, and culture. The Adventure Travel Trade Association ....more

Social Responsibility

Book to Give Back – every booking sparks a donation to our chosen local environmental and community causes!

Supporting pelican & bird conservation: The rare Dalmatian Pelican is the emblem of Lake Skadar National Park, where we began our business, but it is a bird in peril. We donate a proportion of our company profits each year to the NGOs helping its vulnerable colony flourish, which means every tour booked with us helps the pelicans. Our funds helped the Skadar Lake Dalmatian Pelican Conservation Project to conduct essential repairs to artificial nesting rafts ahead of the 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons and complete a project to replace old solar units for video monitoring. In 2023, our donation will support CZIP, the Montenegrin NGO leading pelican conservation as well as the fight for many other critical species.

Save Skadar Lake campaign
As part of the Save Skadar Lake campaign, we helped publicise and promote a petition and social media campaign to fight the construction of two large luxury resorts in an untouched area of Skadar Lake National Park. As a result of this campaign, in December 2019, the Bern Convention, Europe’s nature watchdog opened a case file to ensure that instead of building, the site concerned is conserved as a top level nature protection zone. The file remains open, but for now, the diggers are halted and Lake Skadar, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and candidate ‘Emerald’ site for Europe, is protected for its wildlife and future generations.

Zero Waste Montenegro
Developing countries are doing their best but still have some way to go when it comes to waste management and awareness levels on recycling and reducing disposable plastics. As such, we are proud to be sponsors of a new and much-needed campaign called Zero Waste Montenegro. Current projects include campaigning for a ban on plastic bags, raising awareness of recycling centres and bringing to market the first reusable bags made of recycled materials for Montenegrin consumers. ....less

Economic Impact

Supporting the community: When tourism involves the community, everyone benefits. Unlike many tour operators who are focused on profit for themselves, we are committed to boosting local economies where we run tours. ‘Going local’ is how we achieve this: employing and training local guides, choosing local partners for accommodation and ....more

Environmental Sustainability

Climate Emergency: In January 2020 we signed an industry-wide declaration of a climate emergency, TourismDeclares, and committed to five positive actions: (1) Develop a ‘Climate Emergency Plan’, (2) Share commitment and progress publicly, (3) Cut carbon emissions, (4) Work together with our industry, and (5) Advocate for change. We have ....more

What We Offer

We might have mentioned this a couple of times, but we lived in the Western Balkans for more than 20 years. That does kind of mean we know what we’re talking about. Each of our adventures has been meticulously crafted and tested by us with the help of our local ....more

Sustainability

At Undiscovered Balkans, sustainable tourism has been the backbone of our business since we started up in Montenegro in 2008. As the first tour operator in the region dedicated 100% to ‘responsible travel’, our focus has always been creating small group adventures over longer stays, offering activities which are low impact on the environment – like hiking and kayaking – but high impact in experience and cultural connection!

The Balkans’ stunning national parks are fragile and endangered treasures in countries that are developing faster than they can legislate to protect their natural assets. Together with you, our guests, we are able to pioneer a better way of doing tourism, boosting rural economies through ‘slow travel’, spending days not hours in a single destination, and encouraging local people towards more sustainable tourism practices which are low or no carbon, support nature and tradition and celebrate locally-made food and products such as wine and honey. As such, we are proud to be the founder member of the Responsible Travel movement in Montenegro, as well as members of Adventure Travel Trade Association and on our way to becoming Travelife certified for sustainability best practice.

Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency: In January 2020, we joined leaders in our industry in signing a declaration of a climate emergency and committing to five actions to work towards carbon neutral tourism. Scroll down to read more about Tourism Declares and our climate actions.

Our Responsible Business Pledge: Undiscovered Balkans is committed to operating high quality adventures in which our guests have a positive impact on the places and communities they visit. We proactively support local conservation, tradition, culture and people. It is up to us to lead by example, demonstrating that a responsible travel model makes good business sense, creates better experiences for tourists and locals and offers a sustainable future for tourism in national parks across the Balkans.

Book to Give Back – every booking sparks a donation to our chosen local environmental and community causes! ....less

Our Story

We're a UK registered tour operator founded in 2008 by British husband and wife team and Balkans aficionados, Emma and Ben Heywood.

Between us, we have travelled to over 50 countries worldwide. We like to think that when it comes to taking the road less travelled in search of untouched, natural ....more

Undiscovered Balkans Reviews

lauradds

Fabulous 11 days in Montenegro

29-Jun-2019

We’ve just returned from a 10 day trip with UM and have only good things to say. We spent 7 days at the villa next to owners Ben and Emma’s home overlooking Lake Skadar and 4 days travelling around northern Montenegro with Bojana as our guide. Ben and Emma are wonderful hosts and the villa is absolutely beautiful and very comfortable. The pool was especially appreciated! Guided trips included hiking, kayaking and a raucous wine tour. We had 2 days given over to our own devices and Ben and Emma were very helpful advising of options and arranging taxis etc if required. Much as we loved our week at Villa Miela, the highlight of our trip was definitely our time in the north, in particular the days we spent in Durmitor National Park. The wild beauty of the scenery was just incredible and Bojana was a brilliant and informative guide. We did 2 awesome hikes, a rafting trip on the river Tara and an excellent canyoning expedition.

346Sue

Even my 18 year old thought it was Awesome!

02-Oct-2022

Everything about our trip was perfection. Ben and Emma are such congenial hosts that it truly felt like visiting family yet their knowledge and the way they’ve integrated themselves into Montenegro made it also feel like we were staying with locals. I was travelling with my 18 year old son and we stayed in Villa Meila with a family of 4 with similar aged children and two solo travellers. Choosing this type of activity holiday meant we automatically had a lot in common and we got on brilliantly; we ate out or cooked all together at the villa and spent our non-activity days hiking and heading to the coast. Ben and Emma were always happy to advise on the best beaches, hiking trails or restaurants. The villa is gorgeous and we made good use of the yoga deck. I’d hired a car which was nice to have but not a necessity as Virpazar is a 10-15min walk - albeit down a steep hill! All the activities were brilliant - a hiking and sightseeing tour, a boat trip on the lake, a kayak safari and a walk to a waterfall. These would have been excellent on their own but throw in wild swimming in a mountain stream, visiting caves, a Montenegrin buffet on the boat, sampling water chestnuts fresh from the lake, monastery visits, diving into rivers, swimming behind the waterfall and a full-on feast at Tania’s home (a local friend of Emma’s) and we truly discovered the undiscovered Montenegro that was promised! If you’re tempted, just book it as you won’t regret it!

Robert D

Walking in the mountains

26-Jun-2022

A week's walking holiday in the Mountains of Montenegro at the beginning of June was a fantastic experience. The contest between the heat of Podgorica and the alpine climate of the mountains was just a starter. Our guide, Nenad was a great person to spend a week with, informative and passionate about the potential his country has and flexible with the itinerary when the weather curtailed some of our planned walks. It was a great holiday and an incentive to visit the country again.

lambert_susan

Adventure and relaxation in Montenegro and Albania

25-Jul-2015

We discovered Undiscovered Montenegro whilst searching for a holiday to meet our requirements of adventures in the great outdoors with relaxation too. We found that in Undiscovered Montengro. We spent our first week at the Villa Miela hosted by Ben and Emma. The countryside and scenery around the villa can only be described as mix of Africa, China and Austria rolled into one. Whilst we were not out adventuring, the villa's terrace provided us somewhere to relax and eat our evening meals with our fellow guests. Virpazar was a short walk if we wanted to go out and eat rather than cook for ourselves. Ben and Emma alternatively lead us on hiking and kayaking trips with a couple of free days for us to choose our own activities and discover Montenegro. Both Ben and Emma are knowledgable guides and took us to places that we would not have found on our own. From the first week our favourite activities were the Walnut Valley walk led by Emma and kayaking, on the beautiful and peaceful Lake Skadar, led by Ben. The walk was fantastic with refreshing stops for swimming in natural pools. The wildlife was exceptional with an abundance of colourful butterflies and dragonflies. The hike was topped off by a delicious lunch prepared by a local lady, Tanya. The meal deserved 5 stars and it felt as if the courses were never ending. Just as we thought we had finished dessert Tanya brought out homemade delicious ice cream, a welcome treat. We loved kayaking on the pure and tranquil waters of Lake Skadar. Before setting off Ben took us all through how to paddle. After this we set out across the lake which other than the wildlife we had to ourselves. A couple of hours of paddling, with a few stops for swimming, saw us landing on an island with a monastery where Ben explained its history. We then picnicked, admiring the expansive views across the lake, before paddling on to our another island housing a convent. Here we were welcomed with opened arms by the nuns and served delicious home made pomegranate juice. We were keen to have a two week break and took Ben up on his offer to extend the holiday with a three night stay discovering Albania. Crossing over into Albanian we were greeted by our fantastic guide for the next three days, George, an Albanian with exceptional English. George took great care of us driving over the mountains to a traditional Albanian village. Here we stayed on our first night in a chalet and were served a traditional meal cooked by owner's family. The next morning we were up early to hike to the next village, led by the elder son of the family. This involved a 1400 meters ascent over a ridge to the next village. Our guide, that day, having grown up on the mountain knew it like the back of his hand and paced the hike to suit us, providing interesting facts along the way and taking great care of us whenever we came to any challenging or slippery parts. Again, our guide's English was excellent. Whilst it took us about 6 hours to reach our destination, it took George 8 hours to drive around the mountain with our luggage. Our final day was spent in Shkoder, one of Albanian largest cities. Here we experienced city life, a real contrast from that of the countryside, and not disimilar to many large European cities, other than the fact that British tourists were few and far between. A fantastic holiday, where we felt privileged to have explored what must be some of Europe's best kept natural secrets.

Louise and Richard

Wonderful week's hiking

03-Aug-2019

What a fantastic week! Wonderful walking in a great variety of beautiful mountainous regions. Bojana is an incredible guide and a wonderful person who worked tirelessly to make our holiday superb - from fantastic food and accommodation to unique experiences, such as an unforgettable lunch with mountain shepherds. We cannot praise Bojana highly enough - she is warm, knowledgeable and totally focused on keeping everyone happy and making every day special.

Rebecca H

Kayaking in Spectacular Montenegro

10-Aug-2020

What an amazing experience! Peacefully kayaking through winding waterways and glassy lakes, surrounded by weeping willows, flanked by water chestnuts and the flash of turquoise from the elusive Kingfishers and multicoloured Bee Eaters. The scenery was breathtaking and Bens local historical knowledge added to the mystery of the scattered villages and island monasteries. Discovering cooling fresh water springs, rope swings into the river and learning bushcraft skills combined to make our first trip to Montenegro an unforgettable experience. Thanks Ben!

Clare R

Unforgettable week

18-Aug-2022

With my two teens we were lucky enough to experience the Family activity week staying in Villa Miela with Ben and Emma in August. We had an absolutely amazing week.. We saw parts of the country we would never have seen without our guides and we all did things out of our comfort zones. For me that was jumping off rocks, for the kids, taking the plunge into icy water (and loving it!). The week was a perfect balance of activities and rest days on which we could enjoy the view from the terrace and the pool at Villa Miela. Travelling on my own with two teenagers, it was very reassuring to have local experts on hand who speak fluent Montenegrin and who seem to know everyone in the area. I cannot recommend this week enough, it was everything we had hoped for and more, and have recommended it to all my friends. We hope to travel again with Ben and Emma, maybe branching out into a different part of the Balkans next year with their new tours. Thank you for such an awesome holiday 😊

Jaclyn C

Brilliant adventure holiday in stunning surroundings!

29-Aug-2022

The ultimate adventure holiday in Montenegro was by far the best holiday we have been on! My active 14 and 16 year olds enjoyed every single day. We did Kayaking, Canyoning, hiking, water rafting and mountain biking in the most beautiful surroundings. From turquoise green rivers and warm tranquil lakes to stunning mountain views, we were never disappointed. The accommodations just kept getting better as the week went on too, every time we arrived at the next place there was always a wow factor! Camp grab was definitely our favourite though right on the river with its chocolate box wooden cabins. The food on the trip was great too, the amazing intimate farmhouse lunch and dinners in Virpazar were very authentic, generous and tasty. The food in Camp Grab was an excellent standard for a camp site. I would definitely recommend this holiday for any family who has an adventurous spirit!

Hilary S

So good we did it twice!

11-May-2022

Seven years ago we enjoyed a fabulous week in August with Ben and Emma at Villa Miela. They were so enthusiastic about Lake Skadar, Montenegro and the Balkans in general, and told us about the delights of visiting in spring when pelicans can be seen in large numbers on the lake. We decided then that we had to return - but it turned out to be a bit later than planned what with the birth of two grandchildren and a pandemic in the intervening years! This time Ben and Emma devised an individual itinerary for us to include a pelican spotting trip on Lake Skadar, and also a six day cultural and gastronomical tour of Albania. The tour was excellent value, with a highly knowledgeable guide taking us everywhere and all accommodation and meals included. Albania is a fascinating country - beautiful scenery, interesting history and amazing food. Villa Miela itself was even better than before - now boasting a swimming pool and yoga deck. And some very friendly pets (missing you already, Coco!). The views from the veranda are just stunning and you are forever surrounded by birdsong. The pelican trip did not disappoint - even though numbers are down this year sadly as a result of poachers and bird flu. And we saw loads of other birds too. Ben and Emma are legends! They make you feel so welcome and special, and though they have led the various activities on offer so often, they are unfailingly passionate and inspiring. The Walnut Valley hike was an absolute delight - led by Emma, who pointed out lots of spring flowers and herbs such as orchids, wild asparagus, sage and rose garlic. Lunch with Tanya was epic! A second brilliant holiday in the Balkans thanks to Undiscovered Montenegro.

Nicola D

Was it a dream....? So good it feels almost unreal!

14-Sep-2022

The multi activity holiday based at Villa Miela in Virpazar was amazing! From the moment we arrived at Villa Miela, we felt like we were home from home. Ben and Emma somehow manage to create a week of adventure where you feel incredibly relaxed whilst also being very active: hiking, cliff jumping, kayaking, monastery bell ringing, cycling, canyoning, swimming, swimming and more swimming to name but a few of the activities on offer. Their obvious love and pride for their home and the beautiful area in which they live is infectious. I especially liked being driven from one secret spot to another, often with no other tourists in sight, so you manage to swim in rock pools, explore caves, hike through the forest, eat a delicious meal at a local guest house, ride on the top of a jeep and climb up to a fortress to admire the view all in one day and be home in time for tea! We shared the villa with a lovely group of people. I really believe that this sort of holiday tends to attract people of a similar mindset and this holiday was no exception. Both my 9 year old daughter and I made great friends, we hung out together on "rest" days, ate together in the evening, shared stories and numbers and hopefully meet up again in the real world.... because that's what it feels like now I'm home, almost as if it was a dream.

Janette S

Wonderful fun activity holiday, expertly run

01-Sep-2021

Phew, what a fabulous Family Multi- Activity holiday! Kayaking, wild swimming, hiking and even wine tasting, all in the most magical settings! We were lucky enough to meet some really lovely people and eat some really gorgeous home-cooked food. The holiday was expertly run by Ben and Emma (as well and the super-knowledgeable Freddy and ever-enthusiastic Coco) who made it all look effortless and fun although it must be very hard work keeping everyone happy. Their local knowledge of off-the-beaten-track locations and their established relationships with local providers made the whole experience really special. Thoroughly recommend this holiday for families of all ages who are seeking a bit of adventure!

Katie B

Magical Memories

09-Aug-2022

Undiscovered Montenegro has changed holidays forever! 6 of us made up our own group (2 mums, 4 kids - x2 11 year olds and x2 7 year olds) We booked the Family Mountains Multi Activity adventure week. We flew from Manchester (easy three hour flight) and were met at Tivat airport for the 90 minute private transfer to Virpazar. The week is made up of 3 locations and different accommodation. Day 1-3, 2 nights Virpazar Activities - boat trip (in a thunder storm) and kayaking on Lake Skadar, canyoning in Stari Bar Accommodation - 2 amazing nights in a small guest house, we were split over 2 rooms, both had balconies, kitchenettes and AC. Host very welcoming and a great cook (total feeder!) Highlights - first taste of priganice, lilly pad hats, the thrill of canyoning, rope swing into Lake Skadar. The kids were inspired by Lauren and her cycling trip Tips - it’s useful to know kids height and weight for wetsuits. Day 3 afternoon is a scenic drive 3.5/4 hours to next location Day 4-5, 2 nights Camp Grab Activities - white water rafting and star gazing Accommodation - 2 nights at Camp Grab, meals are eaten next to the beautiful Tara River. Accommodation is basic - 6 of us in 1 room with no AC Highlights - white water rafting, clear drinkable water and stunning scenery. Drinks and snacks on the Bosnia shores. Chilled afternoon playing on the riverside beach and dosing in a hammock. With no light pollution the star grazing is breathtaking Tips - Meal times are later than U.K. so worth getting snacks for little tums before arriving (9am breakfast, 2pm lunch and 9pm dinner) Day 6-8, 3 nights Zabljak Activities - boat trip on Lake Piva, drive through Durmitor National Park and seeing the peaks of Sedlo and Prutas, hikes, wild swimming in glacier lakes and zip wire Accommodation - our final 3 nights were spent in a lovely, new brand self catering 3 bedroom house in the traditional hut style. Complete with washing machine! Highlights - paddle boarding on Lake Piva (gorgeous blue water and quaint town), ice cream stop with the dinky, bitey donkey! Car disco. Black Lake high ropes course and seeing the Tara River dragon from the zip wire! Tips - take water filtration bottle on day 6 hike to Yablan Lake, it’s the only day it’s required but useful Day 8 Return travel to airport is about a 3 hour drive, we extended our trip for 3 days R&R staying at Ethno Village St George in Njegusi. Booking the trip was easy and communication from Ben was superb. Our guide Matija was excellent and brilliant with the kids. He was knowledgeable, has an interesting life story and most of all fun, we miss our car discos. Thank you Undiscovered Montenegro for the magical memories and holiday we will never forget

Tayor M

A tour company that puts you in the adventurer’s seat! 100% recommend!

04-Sep-2022

Where should I even start? On a last minute whim, I decided to come to Montenegro for the entire summer and Undiscovered Montenegro was singlehandedly responsible for making me FALL IN LOVE with the country. My tour guide Matija was the absolute best I’ve ever had - super knowledgeable about the history and terrain! It felt like he was super proud of the country and that was truly infectious! I 100% recommend him as a guide, but im sure every guide on staff is great. I even chatted with Ben, the owner, over the phone and he was super kind. A+ team in my opinion! After taking the prison kayak tour, I came back and did two more tours. I’m not usually a tour kind of person, but this company has taken the time to curate some amazing experiences that really submerse you in the local culture. The kayak tour to the prison featured a home cooked fish feast in a small village of just about 12 people and it was delicious from top to bottom. The route for the kayak trip was also super private, making you feel like you had the entire lake to yourself. Skadar is only summed up in one word: breathtaking. You won’t be disappointed. I also took the kayak tour to the island monasteries. History buffs will get a massive kick out of this one. You’ll visit the nuns on the island and they are super sweet and knowledgeable. They even fed us fresh juice and date cookies while we asked a ton of questions and chatted about their life on the island. Unforgettable experience and beautiful views. Finally, I took a hiking tour that featured several swimming holes and THE MOST DELICIOUS home cooked meal I had in my entire two month stay in Montenegro. After a full day of swimming and hiking, the stuffed bell peppers with a rich tomato sauce, homemade cheese, crisp salad, and many other plates were food for the soul. The mint tea and berry cake were binge worthy to say the least. We even bought homemade honey and walnut liquor from the farm owners. YUM. All in all, I’ve traveled the world and dealt with many tour companies that were nowhere near the quality that Undiscovered Montenegro brings to the table. If you’re on the fence, get off it and book a tour. You won’t regret it! 🤠

Moso06

Family Activity Tour Albania

25-Jul-2022

We did a 7-day activity tour of Albania and we loved it. Albania is a beautiful country and the itinerary on this tour definitely gave us an opportunity to see many beautiful places and enjoy many fun activities. We started at Lake Shkodra at the fantastic campsite on the lake. Our 10-year-old daughter loved jumping in. We did a lovely sup on the lake and visited the castle with amazing views. A real highlight was the short hike to the Blue Eye. And visit to Theth. The journey across the Accursed Mountains had fabulous views. Our visit to Rhapsodia and the tasting menu was fantastic. The food, the restaurant and the staff were all fantastic. Then to Berat where the highlight was the hike in Mount Tomorr with a 4 x 4 journey and the opportunity for our daughter to ride a mile and the most picturesque picnic. The trip had many highlights Albania is beautiful. We are so glad we did the trip.

Richard S

Family Multi-Activity - A Fantastic experience

24-Aug-2021

Well, where to start! Ben, Emma and the team at Undiscovered Montenegro have created some wonderful tours and the Family multi activity certainly did not disappoint. We have two teenage daughters and our week was spent canyoning in Rikavac Canyon, canoeing across Piva Lake, swimming in Black Lake, white water rafting down the Tara River, hiking in Durmitor National Park, zip-lining across Tara Canyon and climbing Uvita Greda by via ferrata. All against the backdrop of the stunning scenery Montenegro has to offer. Vuk, our guide for the week was excellent and shared his knowledge about Montenegrin history with passion and enthusiasm. The food was plentiful and Vuk's recommendations for local/traditional fare always went down very well! We would thoroughly recommend this tour to any family seeking an active week. It has enough down time to recharge batteries and get ready for the next exciting adventure.

Kerstin

First week in may 2019, a week to remember!

23-May-2019

Some time has passes since the week we spent in Montenegro but I still carry it with me. To discover the birdlife in Montenegro and the country itself together with "Undiscovered Montenegro" was a fantastic and very special experience. With the beautiful Villa Miela as a base we made some fantastic tours through out Montenegro to discover the birdlife as well as the beautiful countryside. The pelicans were spectacular of course but they were just a part of the numerous birdlife you can find in Montenegro. With the excellent guides Andrej and Mihailo we did not only learn about birds but also about the country itself and we had the opportunity to see a large part of the beautiful country Montenegro. I really hope to be back soon!

Karen B

Most phenomenal week this year!!

31-Aug-2022

It will take a lot to top this holiday. We miss it already. It wasn't just a holiday; it was an incredible experience we will never forget! The tour size was perfect, and the ease from start to finish and wrap-around care was faultless. I love their integrity and passion for this area of the world. Our hosts were so knowledgeable. We learned loads. We loved the blend of tours with activities and invitations with local people that gave a real insight into Montenegro's history and culture and the whole experience is a far cry from token gesture tourism more interested in your wallet. This holiday was exceptional. I am so grateful for the friends, the ease and joy it brought us, and we really cannot wait to take another adventure with them. Utterly brilliant!!!!

MandC

Fantastic family adventure in Montenegro

12-Aug-2019

We have just spent a week's 'super active' holiday with Undiscovered Montenegro travelling as a family with 2 teenagers (aged 17 and 15) and our 8 year old. It was one of the best holidays we had and this was down to the spectacular country and people of Montenegro but also to the attentiveness, patience and enthusiasm of our guide, Vukoman (Vuk) Sekulic. We had booked a 'super active' holiday which included a boat trip, kayaking, zip-lining, hiking and canyoning which Vuk tailored specifically so that we could all enjoy our time (from our 8 year old up to the teens and parents). Vuk was so knowledgeable and a super ambassador for his beautiful country and we felt very safe despite some of the challenging activities. Highlights for us were definitely rafting down the Tara Canyon, ziplining across a massive gorge and canyoning near Bar. All meals were included and very plentiful and even on our day off, Vuk arranged a great trip to the seaside for us all. Accommodation was clean and comfortable - we would definitely recommend the Lake View Apartments in Virpazar who were wonderful hosts. We would definitely recommend this to any family that wants to experience an adventure in some untouched countryside while also gaining some appreciation into its culture from a guide and agency that is ecologically responsible.

Sam W

Fun, sun, thrills & fine wine

28-Sep-2019

Spent a really enjoyable week with Ben & Emma, they offered a wonderful environment from which to explore the area around Lake Skadar. A busy week with lots of organised activities but also the opportunity to spend time doing things independently. The group dynamic worked well and I really enjoyed spending time with the other members of the group. Highlights, too many to mention but jumping off a bridge into the river was something I don't do often. Many thanks for a wonderful holiday, best wishes Sam

BowensBandB

Amazing holiday

11-Sep-2018

Agree with everything the previous recent reviewers have said! We were looking for something a bit different than our usual villa and beach holiday that would suit teenage boys and older members of the extended family (there were nine of us from 12-60 years). We definitely found it in Montenegro! Loved the hikes and wild water swimming, kayaking, boat trip and 4x4 safari. All great fun and the other guests were good company. Ben and Emma are excellent hosts and go out of their way to make your stay memorable. We had the entire Villa Miele and loved it. Pool, garden and terrace were fantastic. Would highly recommend.

Sara D

Fantastic

24-Aug-2022

Our stay at Villa Miela with hiking, wild swimming, kayaking, boat tour and optional wine tasting was absolutely fantastic. We travelled as a couple but shared the villa with a fantastic bunch of people. Our hosts, Ben and Emma, were lovely and extremely knowledgeable about the culture and history of the area and seemed to be known by everyone. Their ability to speak the language was reassuring as they were able to help make arrangements for us, and their commitment to a more sustainable way to see the country was really important to us. Some of our highlights were meals cooked by local families, stunning scenery, swimming in mountain pools, exploring caves, kayaking amongst the lily pads with regular sightings of kingfishers and so many more...We highly recommend this holiday!

Anna Robinson

Everything was brilliant

25-Aug-2019

If you like to get off the beaten track , meet people and and see the real Montenegro, this is for you. Ben and Emma live next door to the 3 bed Villa Miela-where you stay and meet others on the holiday and largely self cater, although we often ate together as a group in a local home stay, which was far more fun and better food as local shop is limited, as are restaurants. The trips out to do wild swimming, wine tasting , kayaking are great, ideally bring footwear that you can walk and cross rivers in. Remember your reusable water bottle as it is hot and you need loads of water. Excellent mountain bikes at the Villa but almost too hot to use safely in August. We also did our own boat trip on the lake, on our free day, up through the water lilies to Kom monastery, great fun. Another family took the train to Bar to go and see the old town of Stari Bar. Villa Miela itself has a lovely small pool, great terrace to lounge on and fabulous views. Would recommend this holiday, next time thinking of exploring Albania

Cat W

Magical mountains of Montenegro

14-Jun-2022

Spent a week on a mountain walking holiday mainly in northern Montenegro. So many amazing experiences - climbing scary peaks, seeing stunning canyons and waterfalls and lakes, meeting really interesting people, emerging from cabin to vast jagged peaks with snow glittering on them, seeing the fog rolling in over the mountains...We stayed in interesting places and found out so much about a country that really I had known little about when booking. Excellent, informative guide, great organisation. It is a testimony to how good the holiday was that even though bad weather put paid to quite a lot of our walking itinerary, it was still one of the best holidays I have ever had.

susannagreen2015

7 day multi activity holiday

09-Oct-2018

When we booked this, we were advised that the villa Miela was full and we had a choice of staying in alternative local accommodation.... a bit apprehensive, we still booked the holiday and glad we did. This was an amazing and exciting experience. Staying in alternative accommodation did detach us from the group a little, but we experienced an authentic living style, which at Banj village rooms, included the optional breakfast - a good move! as staying in Villa Miela is self-catering to a degree. everything about this trip is as you read on every review - JUST BOOK IT... you will not regret....oh and don't worry about being the oldest or the most unfit, this is all encompassing with an ethos of making sure everyone is looked after and enjoys the experience. The locals make sure you experience the Montenegrin way of life. Thank you to Ben and Emma

pFallowfield

Majestic Montenegro

11-Aug-2019

A family of four, two teenage boys, decided to do something a bit different. We opted for the full week of "super active" and we found it - great activities (kayak, hike, raft, canyoning, etc.), beautiful country, beautiful food and hospitality and a guide that was engaging, fun, humorous, knowledgable and passionate about Montenegro. No fast food, poor wi-fi and no computer games for a week and our two boys said it was one of the best holidays yet and are already asking when we will return. Special thanks and a should out to Vuk, our guide, he made the experience so much more fun - thank you again. (our other holiday companions were pretty good too!!)A family of four, two teenage boys, decided to do something a bit different. We opted for the full week of "super active" and we found it - great activities (kayak, hike, raft, canyoning, etc.), beautiful country, beautiful food and hospitality and a guide that was engaging, fun, humorous, knowledgable and passionate about Montenegro. No fast food, poor wi-fi and no computer games for a week and our two boys said it was one of the best holidays yet and are already asking when we will return. Special thanks and a should out to Vuk, our guide, he made the experience so much more fun - thank you again. (our other holiday companions were pretty good too!!)

A Norris

Montenegro at it’s best

27-Aug-2022

We absolutely loved our Super Active week with Undiscovered Montenegro, with the lakes and mountains being our favourite part of our visit to Montenegro. The accommodation, activities, food and different locations were amazing. We were also incredibly fortunate to have been with such a great group of like minded people. A great way to explore the ‘undiscovered’ parts of Montenegro and see it on it’s untouched natural best, whilst also enjoying fabulous local food and exhilarating activities. We would highly recommend this company and trip for any active family/couple.

MaddyandMark

activity holiday off the beaten track

11-Nov-2019

Travelled as a couple for a week of exploring this country led by those in the know. Stayed in Villa Miela, which is well appointed, lovely views, 4 rooms in the Villa, self catering alongside others in the group. Met other like minded people, great fun, a mixture of couples and families with older children. Days out led by Ben or Emma, included hiking, wild swimming, kayaking on Lake Skadar and visiting the island monasteries, such incredible people and scenery. Few local restaurants so we often asked for a local cook to make us all an evening meal , Montenegrin home cooked food is incredible and comes in huge quantities, so beware, but Wild Boar ragout delicious! Also visited local vineyards. All in all a truly memorable holiday, would happily return to Montenegro. Flew into Dubrovnik but much easier to fly to Podgorica as then no borders to cross which takes time.

Nigel T

Great holiday enjoyed by the whole family

18-Aug-2019

We are a family with 4 teenagers. We had an amazing holiday of activities - hiking, swimming in rivers and lakes, kayaking on Lake Skadar, enjoying Montenegrin home cooking, wine tasting and visiting island monasteries & old forts & a bat cave - organised by our hosts Ben & Emma. Ben & Emma were friendly and knowledgeable hosts and also helped with organising transfers to and from Dubrovnik airport. A great range of activities and we couldn't possibly have found such beautiful places without them as our guides. Good fun to do it all as part of a larger group too.

Vicky

A perfect combination of action, thrills, relaxation, stunning scenery and delicious local cuisine.

09-Aug-2022

This holiday was perfect for us as an active, outdoorsy family. The activities were pitched perfectly to include our youngest (11 years) but were enough of a thrill for all of us at the same time (our 16 year old loved it). We really enjoyed staying at the three locations with each having its own character and aspects we liked. The rafting was a highlight but in all honesty all of the activities from the kayaking to the lake swimming were just divine. This was a fantastic trip. Vera, our guide, was superb! She struck the perfect balance of keeping us on schedule, being sociable and giving us space. Not easy actually but she made it look easy. The Montenegrin people made us all so welcome where ever we went. We dined at some excellent restaurants, hand picked by the tour company and sampled locally sourced / grown produce from fish to vegetables and home made red wine! My family cannot recommend this holiday enough! Go and enjoy :)

Cathy O

The perfect way to experience Magical Montenegro!

21-Aug-2020

Undiscovered Montenegro's Family Summer Multi-Activity Holiday is the perfect way to experience, and engage with, the natural beauty of the country. Each day held a new and exciting adventure, all impeccably organised, including the kids' (age 7 and 9) first experience of canyoning, white water rafting and canoeing - not to mention Europe's longest zipline! Ben, Emma and Vuk are all amazing hosts and guides - always thoughtful and accommodating and full of interesting snippets of information. The itinerary is very well-designed to include plenty of activities but also enough downtime so you never feel rushed. The accommodation has been carefully selected - simple but comfortable in some amazing locations with friendly staff and great food. As well as the Family Multi-Activity Holiday, we had heard such great reports of the Lake Skadar Monasteries Tour that we added it on and were not disappointed - a wonderful relaxing day on (and in!) the beautiful Lake Skadar with Ben as our knowledgable and thoughtful guide. As well as the stunning natural beauty of the lake itself, the monastery islands are steeped in history (and home to many friendly tortoises) and the nuns made us feel very welcome. We made plenty of stops on the lake for the kids to satisfy their almost insatiable appetite for jumping into water! We truly feel we have been shown some real gems of Montenegro, but with enough left to tempt us back for another trip! Huge thanks to the Undiscovered Montenegro team!

Show More Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Are any meals included?

For most of our holidays, all meals are included in the price. The most obvious exception is our Lake Multi-Activity holiday in Montenegro, but in all cases please see the individual trip pages for details.

Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

While we cannot say for certain who your travelling companions will be, many of our guests are from the UK and some holidays may be fully booked by a group of friends or family. We believe in creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all guests to share experiences and create lasting memories.

What documents will I receive before I travel?

You will receive a trip note with all the necessary information!

Is any experience necessary for any of the activities, for example the kayaking?

No experience is necessary for any of the activities – our kayaking, rafting and canyoning guides have BCU or equivalent qualifications and all our other guides are equally experienced and qualified in their fields. Full safety equipment is provided where necessary. The exception is our kayaking holidays; these are not recommended for novice paddlers.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

While it depends on the specific holiday and accommodations available, we always strive to meet the needs of our guests. If a guest requires a solo room for any reason, we will do our best to provide one, but if such accommodation is not available, it may be necessary to share a room with another solo traveller of the same gender.

Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Of course, ensuring that our guests have safe and comfortable accommodation is of utmost importance to us. All the accommodation included in our holidays meets local health and safety regulations and while it may be simple, it is always clean and equipped with all necessary basic features.

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

Restaurants are great value – mains are generally € 5-10 and you should never pay more than € 2 for half a litre of beer. At the supermarket it’s even cheaper of course – a loaf of bread is 80 cents, milk is 60 cents. The exception is Croatia, which can be as much as 50% more expensive all round.

Can I pay for my holiday in a different currency?

Yes, but as Lloyds Bank UK somehow still does not offer Euro or Dollar account internet banking we prefer to arrange alternative currency payments via Paypal, for which there is a 3% surcharge.

How long has the tour company been trading?

Undiscovered Balkans is part of Undiscovered Montenegro, a UK-registered adventure travel company founded in 2008 by British husband and wife team, Emma and Ben Heywood.

Can I join the tour once it has departed?

While we appreciate your interest in joining our tour, unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate guests who wish to join after the departure date. We highly recommend booking in advance to secure your spot and ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

At our tour company, we believe that responsible travel not only benefits the environment but also the local community, which is why we are committed to our "Book to Give Back" motto. By choosing to go on our tours, you are not only experiencing the best of what the destination has to offer, but you are also supporting the local economy through our "Going Local" initiative.

Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

How long has the tour company been trading?

How hot is it in summer?

April/May temperatures range from 20-30C. June/July – 25-35C. August – 30-35C. September – 20-30C. October – 15-25C. For the North of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo, knock off 10C!

Do I need to bring any specialist gear?

Yes, you will need hiking shoes or sandals, a hat suitable for outdoor activities, rain jackets just in case, a reusable water bottle and a fleece if you’re hiking or heading into the mountains. A head torch is also handy. If you book with us, we send you a list of appropriate clothing etc in a pre-arrival email a few weeks prior to your stay.

Is there WiFi at our accommodation?

We have free WiFi throughout all of our other accommodation options. Please be aware however, that in remote areas reception can be sporadic.

What documents will I receive before I travel?

Prior to your trip, you will receive a trip note with all the necessary information!

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

If it's early enough for us to update the chn

Are you insured for the activities you offer?

We have a full liability insurance up to £ 5 million.

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 4 hours, and most transfer times between centres are less than 2 hours.

How long has the tour company been trading?

Since 2008.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

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 the “activity levels explained” tab on the “About” menu. As a rule of thumb, you don’t need to be a marathon runner or champion athlete to enjoy most of 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 re

Are there many mosquitos?

Like anywhere in the Mediterranean, mosquitos are around but there are never swarms of them. If you’re worried about bites, bring some repellent and some antihistamine too if you know you react badly to them (hard to buy locally). They are not generally a problem away from the coast.

Is Undiscovered Balkans a UK company?

We operate as Undiscovered Montenegro, which is a fully registered UK company, registered company number 06779866. Our Montenegrin company, Miela d.o.o handles our logistical operations in Montenegro, and in other territories, we partner together only with fully licenced, family-run businesses. Payment for our holidays is generally made in Sterling.

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

We understand that sometimes plans change, and we will do our best to accommodate any requested changes to holiday dates. However, this will depend on the specific holiday and the availability of accommodations and activities on the requested new dates. If you need to change your holiday date, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will do our best to assist you.

Can you cater for vegetarians or other specialist diets?

Within reason, yes. Of course, your choices will be restricted if you don’t eat certain foods, but it ought not to prove problematic for our partners or us. Please note, however, that for our all-hiking, kayaking or Albanian you may have to put up with limited options.

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

If it's early enough for us to

Is a stay of less than one week possible?

For our multi-activity holidays, in July and August, our minimum stay is one week. At other times, we can occasionally offer shorter stays (3 nights, 2 activities minimum) at our discretion. We do not arrange accommodation only breaks – sorry.

Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

Do we need a car?

All transport is taken care of by us!

Are your holidays suitable for young children?

Active families love our holidays – you can read what guests with children have to say about us via reviews on Responsible Travel and Tripadvisor. The minimum age for most of our holidays is 7 years but we can make exceptions for kids as young as 5 years old if your child is active, adventurous, can swim and has experience of hiking for at least 7 miles including some uphill stretches. On the othe

How is accommodation arranged?

We have hand-selected comfortable, characterful guesthouses that perfectly balance local charm with modern amenities for all our holidays. We assume occupation of double/twin and family rooms unless otherwise specified. On each holiday page you will find an accommodation tab – get clicking and have a look!