Urška is someone who recharges through good company, solo adventures, and physical activity. After a serious injury a few years ago that kept her off her feet for months, she came to appreciate movement even more than before. Fitness remains a cornerstone of her daily life, and that same discipline and gratitude carry into her work, where no two days are the same and every trip she plans is a chance to make someone's experience truly special.
About Us
Happy travellers, unforgettable destinations, and holidays worth coming back for. Meet the leisure team behind it all.
Hey, I'm Urška, the manager of The Balkan Tours.
I've spent years in travel and tourism, and what keeps me here is simple: getting the details right makes all the difference to how a holiday feels.
I'm usually the first person you'll hear from, but behind me is a whole team of travel advisors and destination specialists who know our destinations inside and out.
How It All Started
We're based in Slovenia, a country that sits at the crossroads of some of Europe's most beautiful destinations. That's where the business started, and expanding outward from there felt like the obvious move.
The first itineraries were straightforward. But the questions that came back from travellers were specific, detailed, the kind that only get answered well by specialists. Which hotel is worth it. Which route works. What the logistics look like on the ground.
Answering those questions properly meant building a team around them. Destination specialists with firsthand knowledge. A support structure built for the specific places we operate in, not adapted from a generic template.
That's what this brand is today: a focused group of destinations, handled by people who know them properly.
From Slovenia outward, through the Balkans, across Europe, and beyond. Every destination we offer is rooted in real knowledge, built up over years of planning trips that actually deliver.
These aren't places we stumbled into. They're destinations we chose deliberately, got to know properly, and kept coming back to until we were confident we could do them justice.
Every itinerary has someone from this crew behind it. They're the ones who pick up your questions, sort out the details, and make sure everything feels taken care of. Before, during, and after your trip.
Meet the team!
Urška
Lead Travel Advisor
Ava
Lead Travel Advisor
Ava brings a genuine passion for travel and a sharp eye for what makes a trip truly memorable. She has a natural ability to connect with people and understand what they're looking for, turning even the most complex itineraries into seamless experiences. When she's not deep in trip planning, she's most likely daydreaming about her next destination, which, in this line of work, is never too far away.
Nika
Travel Advisor
Nika has always preferred hidden corners over tourist hotspots, and she genuinely believes the best travel moments are the ones nobody planned for. She loves spending time in nature, being around animals of all kinds, and enjoying a slow coffee with a view and her two dogs close by. For her, travel is about local stories, unexpected encounters, and the places most visitors walk straight past. That's exactly what she brings to every trip she puts together.
Ema
Travel Advisor
Ema is a nature lover at heart who travels light and notices every detail along the way. She combines a sharp eye for the small things with an adventurous spirit that keeps her constantly curious about the world. Outside of work, she's drawn to open landscapes and unhurried journeys. That same mix of care and enthusiasm goes into everything she does. Making sure every traveler feels prepared, looked after, and ready for something genuinely memorable.
Yuki
Booking Agent
Yuki is originally from Japan. She works as a booking agent and her mission is to make every activity happen exactly the way travelers dream it, even when it seems impossible at first. Outside of work, her mind is usually already on the next holiday destination. She loves baking, especially bread, and loves experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Backed by a Global Travel Network - World Discovery
While our leisure brands focus on exploring the world's most rewarding destinations, we're also proud to be part of something bigger – the World Discovery travel network, a global family of travel brands that has been creating extraordinary journeys since 2011.
Our leisure brands are part of a wider collection of travel brands founded within World Discovery, all shaped by a shared commitment to high-quality travel. Over time, each brand evolved to focus on its own specialty, from hiking and cycling adventures to cultural journeys and leisure escapes.
While each brand focuses on its own expertise, all remain rooted in the same values of quality, flexibility, and care.
With everything under one roof, we share knowledge, align high standards, and constantly improve our support before, during, and after your trip.
Why this matters:
Trusted Quality
With over 10,000 travelers joining us each year across the brands and an average guest rating of 4.7 out of 5, we’re proud to be trusted by cyclists, hikers, and curious explorers from around the world.
Value Through Innovation
Shared tools and smart travel tech let us streamline planning, improve communication, and handle logistics more efficiently—so you enjoy seamless experiences, faster support, and thoughtful extras, all without hidden costs.
Booking with Confidence
We are a financially protected company, operating under EU consumer protection laws, and offering secure, flexible payments.
Meet the World Discovery Executive Team
Our executive team is the core of the company. They provide leadership, direction, and support to every team—from hiking to holidays—ensuring that each group has the vision and resources to thrive.
Chief Product Development Officer
Matevž leads the product development of our hiking tours, turning exceptional trails into fully accessible experiences for our guests. His team researches routes, designs itineraries, and ensures each tour meets our standards for safety, logistics, and overall experience.
Chief Technology Officer
As our Chief Technology Officer, Lenart leads the development of systems that power both our guest experiences and in-house operations. From intuitive booking platforms to behind-the-scenes tools that support our team, he ensures technology enhances every part of the journey.
Ivana
Travel Operations Manager
As our Travel Operations Manager, Ivana oversees the day-to-day coordination that turns a planned itinerary into a seamless trip — managing suppliers, partnerships and logistics across all destinations, and ensuring everything runs exactly as it should. Behind every smooth tour is a lot of unseen work — that’s Ivana’s department.
Exceeding Your Expectations
Our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region cherry-picked only the best things to do in the Balkans, aimed at all sorts of travellers.
Expert Local Guides
Experienced and passionate local guides will make your trip run smoothly, going that extra mile for you.
100% Balkan
We are an international team from the Balkans and our tours have been carefully designed to ensure memorable travel.
Book with Confidence
We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.
Small Groups
Offering travel in private or small groups, so you can explore without rushing and have more time to immerse yourself in the local culture.