Penguin Travel. Small-Group Adventure Tours to the Balkans, Central Asia & the Caucasus
Penguin Travel: Small-Group Adventures to the World's Most Extraordinary Corners
Some journeys stay with you long after the suitcases are unpacked. Since 1989, Penguin Travel has been crafting exactly that kind of journey — small-group adventures to the places most operators overlook. From the Silk Road cities of Central Asia to the monastery-crowned mountains of the Caucasus and the tangled, beautiful patchwork of the Balkans, we specialise in destinations that reward the curious traveller.
With Scandinavian roots and offices serving Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Bulgaria, we welcome adventurous souls from every corner of the globe. As a proud member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association and rated “Great” by our travellers on Trustpilot, we have built our reputation on one simple belief: the world's most rewarding places are rarely the easiest to reach — and they are always worth it.
Travel Beyond the Ordinary
At Penguin Travel, we design tours for people who want more than a postcard. Our itineraries lead you across borders and centuries, weaving together ancient history, living culture, dramatic landscapes and the kind of genuine human encounters that turn a holiday into a story. We keep our groups small and our pace refreshingly human, so there is always time to linger in a bustling bazaar, share a meal with a local family, or simply stand still and take in a view that leaves you speechless.
We go where the guidebooks trail off - but we never leave you to figure it out alone. Every Penguin Travel journey comes with:
- An experienced Penguin Travel tour leader accompanying the group and handling the logistics, so you can focus entirely on the experience.
- Knowledgeable local English-speaking guides who bring each destination's history, cuisine and traditions vividly to life.
- Carefully chosen accommodation, comfortable transport and meals woven into a thoughtfully paced, well-organised itinerary.
- Access to genuinely off-the-beaten-track destinations, expertly arranged in regions that can be daunting to explore independently.
Below are three of our most cherished best-sellers — journeys that capture everything Penguin Travel stands for.
Our Best-Selling Journeys
Balkan Kaleidoscope - Eight Countries in Fourteen Days
The Balkans are Europe's most colourful mosaic, and our Balkan Kaleidoscope tour brings the whole picture into focus. Over fourteen unforgettable days, you will travel overland through eight countries — Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria — in a single, seamless loop.
Wander the Ottoman lanes and moving history of Sarajevo, stand on Mostar's iconic old bridge, and feel the salt air along the ramparts of Dubrovnik. Sail into the fjord-like beauty of Kotor Bay, discover the medieval treasures of Kosovo, and lose yourself in lakeside Ohrid, a UNESCO-listed gem. Belgrade, Prizren, Skopje and the wild Matka Canyon all wait along the way. It is a whirlwind of cultures, cuisines, faiths and landscapes — living proof that some of Europe's richest experiences lie just beyond its best-known borders.
The 5 Stans - Follow in the Footsteps of Genghis Khan
This is the grand overland adventure of a lifetime. Our 5 Stans journey traces the legendary Silk Road across all five Central Asian republics — Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan — over three epic weeks, from the leafy capital of Bishkek to the marble boulevards of Ashgabat.
Along the way you will follow the paths of ancient traders, conquering armies and wandering philosophers. Marvel at the turquoise domes of Samarkand's Registan Square, the timeless old town of Bukhara and the walled desert city of Khiva. Stand at the edge of Turkmenistan's blazing Darvaza gas crater - the fabled “Gates to Hell” — spend a night beneath the stars in a lakeside yurt camp on the shores of Issyk Kul, and gaze across Kazakhstan's Charyn Canyon and the jewel-like waters of Iskanderkul in Tajikistan. Few journeys pack so much wonder, history and raw natural beauty into a single, unforgettable route.
Caucasus Explorer - Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
Where Europe meets Asia lies one of the world's most captivating and least-explored regions. Our Caucasus Explorer tour unites three remarkable countries - Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan — a land of dramatic mountains, thousand-year-old churches, heartfelt hospitality and the oldest winemaking tradition on Earth.
Raise a glass of local vintage in family cellars in Georgia and Armenia, then journey from the cosmopolitan skyline of Baku - often dubbed the “Dubai of the Caucasus” - to the cliff-top Gergeti Holy Trinity church beneath the peaks of the Greater Caucasus. Contemplate history at Armenia's Khor Virap Monastery, framed by the snows of Mount Ararat; wander the ancient Georgian capital of Mtskheta; and stand before the eternal flames of Azerbaijan's Yanar Dag. It is a soul-stirring blend of faith, fire, feasting and breathtaking scenery.
Why Travellers Choose Penguin Travel
- Three decades of expertise. Since 1989, we have perfected the art of exploring the world's more challenging and rewarding corners.
- Small groups, authentic experiences. Fewer travellers means deeper connections, greater flexibility and a more personal journey.
- Off-the-beaten-track by design. We seek out the destinations others skip — and make them wonderfully accessible.
- Trusted and recommended. An ATTA member, rated “Great” on Trustpilot by the travellers who know us best.
Your Next Great Adventure Starts Here
Whether you dream of Balkan mosaics, Silk Road legends or Caucasian mountain monasteries, Penguin Travel is your trusted companion for the road less travelled. A passion for the extraordinary and a genuine love of discovery go into every single departure we run.
Explore our full range of small-group tours across the globe and let us show you a world beyond the ordinary. The adventure of a lifetime is waiting — come and discover it with Penguin Travel.
