Packed spectacular mountain scenery and a whirlwind of culture, the Balkans are the perfect destinations for the curious traveller - which is probably why just so many of our team have visited this fascinating part of the world. From Lisa, our Product Manager who lived in Slovenia for 13 years, to Hugh's journey to the sacred summits of Olympus, here are their stories and tales around the Balkans.
LISA SPRATLING, FORMER BALKANS PRODUCT MANAGER
Living in the Julian Alps
The spectacular Julian Alps were my home for 13 years and even today, are an undiscovered Balkan gem. For a true mountain journey there is no greater adventure than Across the Julian Alps to Mount Triglav, the highest peak in the country. Here you’ll head off the beaten track and experience traditional mountain huts nestled in the Triglav National Park. I’ll never forget my first ascent of Triglav and as I stood on the summit with a panorama which included not only Slovenia’s incredible mountains, but Italy’s Dolomites and Austria’s Alps too, I was blown away and emotional. We’d trekked for 5 days to reach this summit on a hut to hut adventure which included alpine lakes, dramatic peaks, some superb scrambling and day after day of breath-taking scenery. However the Julian Alps are not only for people looking for a challenging hut to hut trek. The mountains offer a fantastic variety of easier daily walks just a short drive away from the beautiful lake of Bled. Here you'll experience cascading waterfalls, pretty alpine pastures and hiking trails which take you along the Slovenian-Austrian border.>> EXPLORE THE JULIAN ALPS
Trekking the Transylvanian Alps
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on my first visit to Romania. I’d heard numerous stories about Count Dracula and the country’s filled cabbage rolls but heard very little about its trekking. What I quickly realised is the true beauty of Romania’s Transylvanian Alps is due to a lack of mountain accommodation, meaning the chance of bumping into another group is a rarity. I can honestly say I was blown away by the wonderful feeling of isolation as we reached a mountain hut nestled in an alpine amphitheatre. I also learnt that light backpacking isn’t something to worry about, as our fantastic leaders were a wealth of knowledge in what was “necessary” and what was “a bit of a heavy luxury.” Unlike other companies, and in true KE style, we include Moldoveanu, the highest peak in the country, which this turns this trekking holiday into a magical mountain journey. The Transylvanian Alps are Romania’s best-kept secret –however just make sure you keep that to yourself.>> MORE ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE
Exploring Croatia
I first travelled to Croatia in 1997 and heard a lot of “are you sure it’s safe?” “Isn’t it part of Former Yugoslavia?” Even now I often get asked, “have they rebuilt it after the war?” The only Croatian concern I have now is the fear of knowing I’m going to overeat! Home to one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, Croatia is not all sun worshippers and all-inclusive hotels. It's a culinary delight alongside spectacular scenery. Paklenica National Park is bursting with dramatic mountains which fall into a sea dotted with archipelago islands. On our Croatia Coast and Islands holiday, you’ll ferry hop to three of these island gems as you discover them on foot. Alongside walking, you’ll also get to explore the Mediterranean jewel of Dubrovnik. However, if mountains, islands and trekking is what you’re looking for, KE’s Walking Croatia’s Coast and Mountains is perfect. A two-day trek takes you up into Paklenica National Park where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping sea views and a wonderful spot of mountain hospitality. If you're a lover of great food then Croatia is a foodie feast, but the ultimate region for food lovers is Istria. Home to indulgent truffles, fragrant olive oils and delicious wines - you'll experience all this and more on our Footpaths and Flavours of Croatia.>> MORE ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE
EMILY STILES, DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
Trekking the High Peaks of the Balkans
Wild and very remote, I absolutely loved my time trekking in Albania and criss-crossing it's once impenetrable borders with Macedonia and Montenegro. This is a holiday that challenged my peak bagging ambitions (during the week I got to summit the highest peaks in four countries) and made me genuinely feel like I was in an area few tourists have yet explored. This couldn’t have been more evident than the night we were due to stay in a shepherd’s hut. Unbeknownst to the shepherd owner, he had double booked his small dwelling with another group of 10 trekkers. Earlier that day as we stopped for lunch we said 'guten tag' to a group of 10 German trekkers who were following a similar route to us. That evening we bumped into them again as we all walked to the same front and it became apparent that we would be sharing our bunks that night! However, the whole village came together to find us all accommodation and this was without a doubt one of the best nights of the trip.