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10 Reasons to Visit the Balkans with KE

10 Reasons to Visit the Balkans with KE

10 Reasons to visit The Balkans with KE.This melting pot of cultures in Southeast Europe is made up of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croa... Read more

30 Jul 2024 81 minute read

Filed under Blog

By Alasdair

10 Reasons to visit The Balkans with KE.

This melting pot of cultures in Southeast Europe is made up of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.

We run 19 trips in the region from walking and trekking to snowshoeing and cycling.

1. Quieter trails than Western Europe.

Although we’ve been running trekking holidays in The Balkans for over 20 years, it’s still classed as ‘adventure travel’ to visit some of these fascinating but overlooked countries. We know first-hand that this means you’ll often find quite trails and the mountains all to yourself.

2. Tick off the country’s highest peak.

Many of the highest mountains here top out between 2,500 – 2,900m which is great challenge if you’re a keen walker. Our itineraries are paced correctly so you can enjoy getting to the summit. These are the country's highest peaks you can climb with KE:

1. Musala (2,925m) in Bulgaria

2. Triglav (2,864m) in Slovenia

3. Korab (2,751m) in Albania

4. Gjeravica (2,656m) in Kosovo

5. Moldoveanu (2,544m) in Romania

6. Zla Kolata (2,534m) in Montenegro

7. Maglic (2,386m) in Bosnia

3. Flights from all across the UK make it easy to get there.

As demand for visiting this region has increase, so have the vast amount of flights from regional UK airports.

However, if time is on your side, start and end your trip with an epic cross Europe rail and bus adventure.

4. Multi-Country Trips.

We maximize your adventure travel by crossing the borders into multiple countries during many of our Balkan trips, meaning you can experience a variety of cultures, history and languages in just one week.

5. First-hand knowledge from your KE local leader.

Spending your week with a local, professional leader is invaluable. You’ll learn so much about the places you’re visiting and you’ll be putting money back to the local economy.

Our local Balkan leaders receive fantastic feedback from our travellers, just check out the reviews at the bottom of this page.

6. Walk or bike in a fantastic climate.

From May to October there is low rain fall and the region is blooming with flowers and fruits.

Both the cooler mountains and the Mediterranean sea breeze make this a perfect destination for walking and cycling throughout the summer months.

7. A perfect day, after day.

A typical day on trek will include waking up amongst rugged limestone peaks before descending through fields of wildflowers, then into lush valleys growing huge varieties of produce, and finishing with dinner in pretty ottoman towns.

We have handled all your logistics, so all you have do is walk.

8. So much history, ancient Greeks to the cold war.

From Alexander the Great hailing from the then Greek Kingdom of Macedonia to the vast Roman and Ottoman Empires to secretive state of Albania, all eras have left their mark and you really do step through ancient and modern history throughout your trip.

Pictured right are the floating, Orthodox monasteries of Meteora which you'll visit on our Sacred Summits of Olympus tour in Greece.

9. Your money goes further.

The cost of living across the Balkans is lower than Western Europe with food, accommodation and transport generally cheaper, making a week’s adventure fantastic value.

Prices vary by country with some currencies using or matching the Euro and some still with developing economies.

10. There's something for you in our huge range of Balkan adventures.

From snowshoeing in Bulgaria's Rila Mountains to sweeping down smooth switch backs on your road bike in Albania - we run 17 small group guided, and two self-guided adventures in The Balkans.

You can book group trips as Private Adventures if you have friends and family you want to travel with or take advantage of cheaper flights travelling mid-week on our self-guided trips. Here's our full range:

Recent Reviews For Our Balkan Holidays

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bosnia and Herzegovina

I have done numerous trips and the service has always been excellent. Sead was very knowledgeable and he was able to interact with the group in a friendly relaxed manner. I enjoyed his company immensely and if I had choice of going on a trip and choo...

By Mike from bideford | September 21, 2023

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Undiscovered Balkans

This was my 3rd KE trip and I've enjoyed them all. Saudin did an incredible job of looking after our group of 12. We all had varying abilities, preferences and even some dietery requirements, Saudin coped with them all. Saudin also adjusted our sched...

By Kelly from isle of lewis | August 20, 2024

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Undiscovered Balkans

Consistently great quality, value for money. Sustainability and eco-conscious providers, who are mostly local. Saudin has been beautifully enthusiastic, energetic and professional throughout. Moreover, his attention to each and every one of the gr...

By Hanna from watford | August 13, 2024

Balkan Trilogy Road Cycle Tour

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Excellent

The trip was excellent from start to finish! The support was good. The food was great! The accommodations exceeded expectations! Overall the adventure was excellent! The climbs were a little harder than expected coming from a very flat part of the...

By Herbert from winnipeg, canada | October 29, 2024

Walking the Coastal South of Albania

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Self-Guided Walking South Albania

Very good service. Everything went smoothly....

By Sue from bournemouth | April 16, 2024

High Peaks of the Balkans

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

High Peaks of the Balkans

The holiday was so good mainly due to our guide Besi (Besnik) who was friendly, helpful, resourceful and looked after each of us like his own. The group of ten of us was the best group I ever had - like minded people who made all decisions together a...

By Priya from reading | August 28, 2024

High Peaks of the Balkans

★ ★ ★ ★

High Peaks of the Balkans

Excellent itinerary with some superb trekking days, a first rate team leader, ending with a beautiful ferry ride. Besnik was very informative, helpful and energetic. Highly competent on the trail and with a obvious passion for the region and the envi...

By Martin from brighton | August 29, 2024

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

This was an unusual trek that would be hard to put together as an individual, so KE definitely added value. Niti was a real character who seemed to embody the history of his people. I learned far more from him than any guide book about how it was to ...

By James from bath | July 30, 2024

10 Reasons to Visit the Balkans with KE

10 Reasons to visit The Balkans with KE.

1. Quieter trails than Western Europe.

2. Tick off the country’s highest peak.

3. Flights from all across the UK make it easy to get there.

4. Multi-Country Trips.

5. First-hand knowledge from your KE local leader.

6. Walk or bike in a fantastic climate.

7. A perfect day, after day.

8. So much history, ancient Greeks to the cold war.

9. Your money goes further.

10. There's something for you in our huge range of Balkan adventures.

Recent Reviews For Our Balkan Holidays

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Balkan Trilogy Road Cycle Tour

Walking the Coastal South of Albania

High Peaks of the Balkans

High Peaks of the Balkans

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

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KE 1980 Online Reviews

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10 Reasons to Visit the Balkans with KE

10 Reasons to visit The Balkans with KE.

1. Quieter trails than Western Europe.

2. Tick off the country’s highest peak.

3. Flights from all across the UK make it easy to get there.

4. Multi-Country Trips.

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

Through the Heart of the Balkans

Balkan Trilogy Road Cycle Tour

5. First-hand knowledge from your KE local leader.

6. Walk or bike in a fantastic climate.

7. A perfect day, after day.

8. So much history, ancient Greeks to the cold war.

9. Your money goes further.

10. There's something for you in our huge range of Balkan adventures.

High Peaks of the Balkans

Tastes and Trails of North Macedonia

Trekking The Transylvanian Alps

Rural Romania and Backroads of Bulgaria

Through the Heart of the Balkans

Walking the Coastal South of Albania

Ultimate Albania Cycling Tour

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Balkan Trilogy Road Cycle Tour

Bulgarian Snowshoe Adventure

Walking Croatia's Coast & Mountains

Trekking the Ridges & Summits of Bulgaria

Sacred Summits of Olympus and Meteora

Across the Julian Alps to Triglav

Walking Slovenia's Lakes and Mountains

Walking Dubrovnik and The Dalmatian Coast

Walking Croatia's Islands

Walking the Albanian Alps

Recent Reviews For Our Balkan Holidays

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Undiscovered Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Balkan Trilogy Road Cycle Tour

Walking the Coastal South of Albania

High Peaks of the Balkans

High Peaks of the Balkans

Walking in the Balkan Borderlands

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KE 1980 Online Reviews

96%

Your Wishlist

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