Last updated: October 6, 2026
Peaks of the Balkans Guide (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates peaksofthebalkanshike.com (the “Website”).
We respect your privacy and are committed to being transparent about how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit our Website, use our trail planner, create an account, or otherwise interact with our services.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we may share it, and the choices you have regarding your information.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect information in several ways depending on how you use the Website.
Information You Provide Directly
You may provide information to us when you:
- Create an account
- Use our trail planner
- Build or save an itinerary
- Subscribe to an email list
- Contact us
- Submit a question, comment, or other information
- Purchase a product or service, if applicable
- Sign up for notifications or other features
Depending on the feature, this information may include your name, email address, account information, itinerary information, travel dates, accommodation selections, and other information you choose to provide.
You should avoid submitting sensitive personal information unless it is specifically requested and necessary for a particular service.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Website, certain information may be collected automatically, including:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages visited
- Referring website
- Approximate geographic location
- Date and time of visits
- Information about how you interact with the Website
- Technical information about your device and connection
We use this information primarily to operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Website and to understand how visitors use our services.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may use cookies, pixels, local storage, and similar technologies to:
- Keep you signed in
- Remember preferences
- Save or support planner functionality
- Understand how visitors use the Website
- Measure traffic and performance
- Improve our services
- Support affiliate and referral tracking
- Provide relevant functionality and, where applicable, advertising
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of portions of the Website.
2. Information Collected Through the Trail Planner
Our trail planner may allow you to create and save hiking itineraries.
Depending on the features you use, information associated with your planner activity may include:
- Start and end points
- Planned hiking dates
- Daily stages
- Overnight locations
- Accommodation selections
- Route selections
- Custom itinerary information
- GPX or other route-related information
- Account information associated with your saved itinerary
We use this information to provide the planner functionality, save and display your itineraries, generate route files, provide requested services, and improve the planner.
Your itinerary information is intended to help you plan your trip. You should not use the planner as a substitute for current official trail information, local conditions, weather information, professional navigation judgment, or emergency services.
3. How We Use Information
We may use information we collect to:
- Provide and operate the Website and trail planner
- Create and manage user accounts
- Save and display itineraries
- Generate GPX or other route files
- Provide requested services and features
- Respond to questions and support requests
- Send emails or other communications you have requested
- Send newsletters or marketing communications where permitted
- Analyze Website usage and improve our content and tools
- Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, security issues, and technical problems
- Maintain the security and integrity of our systems
- Comply with legal obligations
- Protect our rights and the rights of our users
We do not use your information for purposes materially different from those described in this Privacy Policy without providing additional notice where required by law.
4. Email Communications
If you subscribe to an email list, we may use your email address to send newsletters, trail updates, planning information, or other communications related to Peaks of the Balkans Guide.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in the email.
Even if you unsubscribe from marketing communications, we may still send transactional or service-related communications when necessary, such as account notices, requested information, or important changes to our services.
5. Third-Party Services
We may use third-party companies and services to help operate the Website. These may include providers for:
- Website hosting
- Database and account management
- Analytics
- Email delivery
- Payment processing
- Map and mapping services
- GPX or route processing
- Affiliate tracking
- Website security
- Customer support
- Other technical services necessary to operate the Website
These providers may process information on our behalf and may have their own privacy policies.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party services when you interact with their websites or services.
6. Affiliate Links
Some articles and pages on the Website may contain affiliate links.
If you click an affiliate link and subsequently make a purchase or booking, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Our affiliate relationships may include accommodation providers, booking services, travel companies, outdoor retailers, software services, or other third-party businesses.
Affiliate relationships do not necessarily determine which products, services, accommodations, or companies we recommend. We aim to provide useful and honest recommendations based on our experience and the needs of hikers.
Affiliate disclosures may also appear directly within relevant articles or near affiliate links.
7. Third-Party Websites and Services
The Website may contain links to websites operated by third parties, including accommodation providers, booking platforms, transportation providers, outdoor retailers, mapping services, and other travel-related businesses.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites.
Once you leave our Website and visit another website, that website’s privacy policy and terms will apply.
8. Payments
If we offer paid products, subscriptions, or other services, payments may be processed by a third-party payment processor.
We generally do not receive or store your complete payment card number. Payment information is handled by the applicable payment processor according to its own privacy policy and security practices.
9. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide our services, maintain accounts, fulfill legitimate business purposes, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
The length of time information is retained may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.
10. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
However, no website, database, or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of information transmitted to or stored by us.
11. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights regarding your personal information, which may include the right to:
- Access personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Request deletion of personal information
- Obtain a copy of certain information
- Opt out of certain forms of data processing
- Opt out of targeted advertising or certain forms of profiling, where applicable
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
For example, the Colorado Privacy Act provides certain Colorado residents with rights to access, correct, delete, and obtain their personal data, as well as certain opt-out rights. Whether a particular right applies depends on the circumstances and whether the Website is subject to the applicable law.
To request access, correction, deletion, or other privacy assistance, contact us using the information below.
We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.
12. Children’s Privacy
Our Website is intended for a general audience and is not directed toward children.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information improperly, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.
13. International Visitors
Peaks of the Balkans is an international hiking trail, and visitors to our Website may be located in countries around the world.
If you access the Website from outside the United States, your information may be processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers operate.
Privacy laws in those countries may differ from the laws in your country of residence.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, technology, legal requirements, or privacy practices.
When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.
Your continued use of the Website after an updated Privacy Policy is posted means that you acknowledge the updated policy.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or would like to exercise an applicable privacy right, please contact us at:
Email: info@peaksofthebalkans.com
Website: peaksofthebalkanshike.com
