Editor's note: GeoEx CEO Brady Binstadt recently returned from two weeks in the Balkans. During that time, he was able to explore most of the territory covered in our new The Balkans Revealed itinerary, beginning his journey in Serbia and moving on to Bosnia and Herzegovina before ending in Montenegro. I spoke with him shortly after his return about the highlights and surprises of his trip. Here is our conversation.  

Where did you go on your Balkans journey?  

I was lucky enough to trace almost the entirety of our new Group trip – following roughly the first 10 days.  I started in Belgrade, Serbia, and then went overland into Bosnia and Herzegovina and eventually down to Montenegro.  Our travelers will be lucky enough to also venture into Albania – and I hope to do the same on a return trip very soon. 

What were the three greatest highlights for you? 

It’s tough to narrow it to three!  If forced to do so, I’d say my favorite moments were:

 (1) a dusty-road, wide-open-view, big-sky day of driving to Lukomir, the highest and most remote town in Bosnia – with some amazingly fresh blueberry juice to boot; 

(2) the melting pot of cultures and religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, Sarajevo, particularly in the bustling bazaar;

and (3) the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro – stunning blue waters, mountain backdrops, and the whole place dotted with medieval villages. 

What was the biggest surprise?   

Without question, it was the warmth of the people. Given the region’s tumultuous history, the positivity and warmth I experienced was a very welcome surprise. It felt like everyone was excited to showcase their home and appreciative of my visit.  Of course, I felt that from my guide, the staff at the hotels where I stayed, etc., but I also felt it consistently in quicker interactions – with shop owners, passing locals on the street, and more. 

What was your most memorable encounter? 

I’d have to say it was my lunch in Pocitelj, Bosnia – a small village steeped in history and overflowing with gorgeous architecture and charm.  The lunch was in the gorgeous courtyard of a private home – a garden-to-table lunch in the truest sense, with many of the ingredients growing in plain sight: pomegranates, lemons, grapes, and so much more.  

And the chef who opened her home for this memorable lunch is about as talented and endearing as they come – I’m so fortunate that we get the pleasure of “working” with people like her. 

How was the food?  

I had quite a few excellent meals and was never hungry!  There’s a heavy focus on meats, sausages, potatoes, and pies, in Bosnia in particular.  There are lots of great seafood opportunities too – especially in Serbia (I had some delicious fresh fish at a place on the Danube River in Zemun) and throughout the coast in Montenegro.   

How were the accommodations?  

I’d say they were perfectly appropriate for the destinations, and the quality speaks to the fact that this part of the world is in the midst of its first real surge of tourism. All of the places we stay on our group trip are the best available, clean and comfortable and chosen for their special location – the leafy bustling neighborhood right out the front door of the hotel in Belgrade, the misty mountain views from our hotel in Wooden Town, the sublime comfort of the marina in the Bay of Kotor, with dozens of great restaurants all within a few blocks.   

What did you learn about the Balkans?  

Well, that’s a whole novel!  Our guide, Marko, studied history at the university level and is one of those passionate people who you can tell just brushes up on the facts and stories of the region for fun whenever he has free time.  He is so excited to share the political/religious/cultural history of the whole region.  And I’m really excited that our travelers will get to dive deep into any topics they want to with him – he doesn’t shy away from interspersing his own experiences with the region’s history, which makes it so relatable.   

Were there any unexpected Wow moments?  

There were quite a few memorable moments. Here are two that immediately come to mind.  

The first was the sunrise in a village called Wooden Town – a blanket of fog sitting almost at the valley floor made it all the more serene.  

The second was something I had never done before, and a sentence I never thought I’d write: I took a speed boat on the Adriatic Sea to a tiny island to meet with a monk who has lived there for several decades all by himself.  I’ll hold the details on that so as not to spoil the experience for others – but it was very special. 

What should travelers know before they go?  

The roads are great (almost always), the food is plentiful, everything operates more or less as planned – so it’s not a rough-around-the-edges destination per se like some other places GeoEx operates. At the same time, it’s a corner of the world that most people haven’t had a chance to explore much, and now feels like the perfect time to check it out.  I also hope that travelers on our group trip will take advantage of the greater region to explore even more on pre- or post-trip extensions to Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, even Istanbul. There are so many layers of richness to explore in this region!

Why should travelers visit the Balkans?  

It’s the right time. I think the secret is starting to get out that this is the place to go if you want to be a little ahead of the curve. The infrastructure is there, and while there are certainly other tourists, it’s far less visited and discovered than the other countries in the greater region. For now.   

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Thank you for joining us on this conversational journey! If you have a question for Brady about his travels to the Balkans, or a special memory from your own adventures there, please share it in the comments section below. Thank you!

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To find out more about exploring the Balkans with GeoEx, inquire online or call our travel experts at 888-570-7108.