A hiker in the Prenj Mountains, aka the Bosnian Himalayas

If you’re in the northern hemisphere, it’s here again: the inviting warmth of summer. For many, synonymous with summer is a chance to step out of routine, unshoulder work-a-day burdens and let new energies flow. It’s holiday time!

However, we know that summer 2009 isn’t quite as carefree as those of recent past. With travel costs on the rise and incomes in decline, choosing where to go isn’t easy.

So we’d like to help you. We’ve found a trio of neighbouring Balkan destinations – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro – that haven’t routinely been most travellers’ top choices.

If you’re not a fan of crowds, that alone should be reason to consider them. Add to that their affordability, accessibility and natural beauty… and how could you get any better?

Well you can. They’re all also places where the people we know show special care for their destination, both through their own actions and the unique experiences they share with you.

Take advantage of the times to open your eyes to new country and your heart to new feelings. With whl.travel, let yourself go local.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

ALBANIA  DISCOVERED

Once a well-kept secret, Albania is on the verge of being ‘discovered’ by tourists. Until 1992 closed off to the rest of the world, Albania has only recently seen greater numbers of foreign travellers. Quaint mountain villages indifferent to modern development give rise to incredible travel experiences rare elsewhere in Europe. MORE…

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A VISIT TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

The ghost of violent times still haunts the region. The mere mention of Sarajevo and Mostar conjures up memories of devastation. But the last decade or so has seen major improvements to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tourism infrastructure. Intrepid travellers discover an incredible country of stunning and pristine nature. MORE…

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KEEPING MONTENEGRO PRISTINE

For such a Lilliputian nation, Montenegro has outsized celebrity. Once an attractive vacation retreat, Montenegro fell off the radar. But Montenegro is at last reaching new travel audiences and one pair of tourism organisations has set its sights on the rich natural endowment of the country’s little-visited and under-serviced north. MORE…

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MORE INFORMATION

Eager to read more about experiences in the Balkans? Try some of these leads:

• Adventures Outside the Schengen Zone, from Make Travel Fair
• Bosnia & Herzegovina Tourism – a travel blog by www.tourism-in-bosnia.com
• BikeAbout-the Mediterranean – an educational bicycle tour in the Mediterranean that travelled through Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring countries