Season 2027: Breathe in Travel Opens the Balkans to Travelers

The Balkans, a Travel Promise

There are regions you pass through and others that hold you in. The Balkans belong to the latter category.

Here, a day can begin at the edge of Lake Ohrid, as the mist lifts over Byzantine churches, and end in a Prizren courtyard, around a Turkish coffee served in the shade of a minaret. One moves from a turquoise pebble beach to a mountain pass within a few hours of driving. One shares an improvised meal with a local, with farm cheese, grilled peppers, a glass of raki, and hospitality that cannot be negotiated.

It is this intensity that travellers notice first. The Balkans concentrate, on a compact territory, a diversity of landscapes, cultures, religions, and flavors that is rarely found elsewhere in Europe. And they remain, for many, a destination to be discovered.

Each country has its own character, and it is by combining them that the region reveals itself in full.

Albania astonishes with its contrasts: the Ionian Riviera and its coves, but also the Albanian Alps, the Theth and Valbona valleys, and the museum towns of Berat and Gjirokastër. The Kosovo, a young country with infectious energy, offers the Rugova Gorges, UNESCO-listed medieval monasteries, and the buzz of Pristina’s cafés.

North Macedonia entices with Lake Ohrid, the Tikveš vineyards, and mountain villages. Montenegro packs the Bay of Kotor and the Durmitor peaks into a few kilometers. Bosnia and Herzegovina narrates the continent’s history, from the old Mostar Bridge to the streets of Sarajevo.

Further north, Croatia and Slovenia unveil Istria, the Kvarner islands, and Plitvice and Lake Bled. To the east, Romania and Bulgaria open the doors to Transylvania, Orthodox monasteries, and the Rila Mountains.

Nine countries, as many atmospheres, and an infinite number of possible itineraries.

Since 2018, Breathe in Travel has established itself as one of the specialists in tailor-made travel in the Balkans. Founded by two passionate Bretons, Quentin Billon and Alan Huet, the French-speaking tour operator and DMC has grown in step with its destinations, staying true to a simple idea: you only sell well what you truly know.

With offices in Pristina, Tirana, Zagreb and Bucharest, and on-site teams, Breathe in Travel designs its journeys from the ground up. Every accommodation, every guide, every table, and every activity is chosen by the team, which roams the region year-round to discover new addresses and new itineraries.

The Tirana office operates its own fleet of rental cars, reserved exclusively for Breathe in Travel clients. A real advantage for self-drive trips in Albania: well-maintained vehicles, check-in and return organized by the team, and a local contact if needed on the road.

For agencies and tour operators, this proximity is a guarantee: a single French-speaking point of contact, clear quotes, quick responses, and traveler support throughout the journey.

It is with great enthusiasm that Breathe in Travel opens its 2027 season. The past years have been marked by a significant rise in the number of travelers welcomed, new partnerships with European agencies, and the expansion of offerings to new destinations.

For 2027, the team seized the autumn to enrich its program: new charming accommodations, more intimate itineraries, novel local experiences, and cross-border combinations made easier. The programming spans tailor-made individual journeys, self-drives, chauffeur- or French-speaking-guided tours, group stays, and MICE projects.

A few experiences to weave into your clients’ 2027 itineraries :

– a night in a guesthouse in the Theth valley, at the foot of the Albanian Alps ;

– a tasting at a family winery in Tikveš, North Macedonia ;

– a morning at Prizren markets, followed by a silver filigree workshop ;

– a dawn boat crossing in the Bay of Kotor ;

– a hike in the Rugova gorges, followed by lunch with a shepherd ;

– an evening in a konoba in Istria, among truffles and local wines.

And the season still holds a few surprises. Breathe in Travel is preparing a Croatia-related novelty, to be unveiled in the coming weeks. Agency partners will be the first to know.

“We start 2027 with a lot of energy and pride. The Balkans are our home, and we are happy to see more and more travelers fall under their charm. Our role is to let them experience the region as we love it: with authenticity, time for meaningful encounters, and the assurance of being guided by people on the ground. The Balkans still have so much to offer, and we look forward to showing it to our partners,” says Alan Huet, co-founder of Breathe in Travel.

The 2027 program is now available on request from the Breathe in Travel teams.