Capturing the Balkans:
The Land of Blood & Honey

Global Leader in Socially Conscious Travel.

Tour Dates:

May 10- May 20, 2026

Optional Extension Tour: Albania
May 20-24, 2026

TOUR ITINERARY
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Price $6,690 USD per person*

*Prices are based on double occupancy. Single room supplements are available. 

Lumaria Workshops

This immersive Balkans experience blends MEJDI’s multi-narrative approach with the expertise of professional photographers and photojournalists. Designed for travelers passionate about visual storytelling, the journey offers rare opportunities to photograph daily life and engage with the people shaping the region today—survivors, peacebuilders, artists, religious leaders, activists, and local families.

More than a sightseeing trip, this program invites you to capture authentic stories through your lens while deepening your understanding of the Balkans’ complex histories and vibrant cultures—all alongside a community of fellow photography enthusiasts.

“MEJDI Exclusive” Socially Conscious Experiences:
Our socially conscious tours are built around the people and stories that bring each destination to life, creating meaningful connections that support local communities.
Explore Sarajevo with two guides offering diverse perspectives on the city's complex past and multiethnic present.
Hear firsthand accounts of those displaced during the Yugoslav Wars
Engage in a conversation about Sephardic Jewish heritage in Bosnia
Discover the role of spirituality and mysticism in Bosnian society through conversation with a local Sufi
Sample Bosnia’s diverse culinary heritage on a tour led by local foodies
Learn about the disastrous violence of 1995 through personal testimony
Gather a Croat perspective on conflict and reconciliation in Mostar
Explore the power of visual storytelling and conflict photography at War Photo LTD
Connect with local silversmiths and mosaic artists working to preserve Montenegro’s traditional crafts
Experience a lively, local dinner with traditional Balkan music
TRIP INCLUDES
10 nights’ accommodation at premium hotels per itinerary
1 MEJDI-Trained Tour Leader throughout the tour
Local city and excursion expert guides
10 days of private transportation, including private arrival and departure airport transfers
Domestic flight (Belgrade-Sarajevo)
Meals listed in the itinerary: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
A collaborative photo book will be created with the best photos of our adventures
A one-on-one photo review will be provided after the tour
Entrances, sites, and honorariums for speakers
Water on the bus throughout the tour
Dedicated pre-trip traveler services and 24/7 on-ground support
Starting at

$6,690

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Interested but not ready to deposit? Click the “Request Info” we can keep you updated on the tour status.
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TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
International Airfare
Travel Insurance-HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Arrival/departure airport transfers outside of group transfer
Single Supplement (+ $955)
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Customary tips for drivers, guides, and hotel staff
Anything not explicitly mentioned in the included section

About Your Group Leader

Andréa Johnson

Andréa Johnson is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker serving the adventure sports, travel, and food & wine industries. After graduating from Northwestern University with a BA in communications & concentration in film, art, and journalism, she worked as a photo producer and marketing director for various sports companies & travel publications. She lasted 5 years behind a desk before her wanderlust nature inspired her to begin a freelance career with a 14-month independent around the world trip.

Her diverse experience includes photographing grizzly bears in Alaska, a month-long Himalayan trek to Mt. Everest, and extensive forays into wineries & food markets throughout Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Africa, France and North America. She has received the prestigious Gold Award by the Society American Travel Writers (2008, 2014, 2017) three times for photo essays in Vietnam, Canadian Mountain Holidays, and Cuba judged by National Geographic editors and based on her storytelling ability in a photo essay.

Her work regularly appears in the top food, wine and travel magazines and major newspapers, including hundreds of photographs and two dozen feature stories for Wine Spectator magazine. She has also photographed four wine books: Passion for Pinot (2009), Essential Wines and Wineries of the Pacific Northwest, (2010), Spectacular Washington Wineries (2012) & Spectacular Oregon Wineries (2014).

She is an Oregon native, resides in Portland and is always ready for a photo adventure anywhere on the globe.

Robert Holmes

Bob’s remarkable career started in his native Britain in 1975 when he covered the successful British Everest Expedition for Paris Match and the London Daily Mail. The following year he visited California for the first time at the invitation of Ansel Adams and in 1979 he moved to Marin County, California where he still lives.

Bob has traveled extensively in Asia, Africa, Europe and North and South America for the world’s major travel magazines. His assignments have taken him searching for snow leopards in the remote valleys of western Nepal for National Geographic Magazine, journeying into the rain forests of Borneo with Penan tribesmen for Islands magazine and crossing the Great Indian Desert on camel for Departures.

Willie Landels, former editor of both Departures and Harpers and Queen, called Holmes “one of the most intelligent photographers I have worked with, who also has a wonderful sense of color and design.”

Bob has illustrated over 50 books, written 5 and he has regularly been one of the elite group of photojournalists invited to participate in the acclaimed “Day in the Life” series of books. He has won many awards and the Society of American Travel Writers named him Travel Photographer of the Year in 1990,1992, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017. He has been elected a Fellow of both the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society, and has won the international Wine Photographer of the year award from Errazuriz and Marks & Spencer.

Bob is also a gifted and enthusiastic teacher who truly enjoys sharing his experiences and expertise. Bob has led workshops and tours for many organizations including Geographic Expeditions, Wilderness Travel, the California Academy of Sciences, and UC Berkeley.

Before you Register​

Read through the Terms and Conditions.

These tours are guaranteed departures, and flight booking guidance will be provided once you register.

Travel insurance is highly recommended for all travelers. Click here for more information on recommended policies and purchasing timeframes:

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Gallery

MEJDI was one of the first global tour companies to earn B Corp Certification back in 2014, long before B Corp became widely recognized beyond sustainability circles. For us, this certification is a transparent way to demonstrate that we stand by our values: we ensure local vendors are paid fair wages, prioritize small, locally-owned businesses, and treat our partners and staff with dignity and respect. This deep commitment to social change drives MEJDI’s mission: “We exist to create a more peaceful and interconnected world through travel.”