Hiking / Via Dinarica / Bosnia

Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the place where the east meets the west. The city is surrounded by mountains, and the most important mountains around Sarajevo are: Jahorina, Bjelašnica, Igman and Trebević, while the river Miljacka flows through it.
Sarajevo is also known as the city where the heir to the throne of the Austro-hungarian monarchy Franc Ferdinand and his wife Sofia Hohenberg were assassinated, which was the immediate reason for the beginning of the First World War.

This was followed by the period of Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1919-1941), then the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945) and socialist Yugoslavia (1945-1991).
The crown of socialist Yugoslavia was the XIV Winter Olympic Games in 1984.

The whole city rose to its feet and everyone helped to keep Sarajevo up to the task.

Eight years after the Olympics, the eyes of the whole world were again in Sarajevo. The city was under siege for a full 1425 days.

The city defiantly rose from the ashes, defending the title of European Jerusalem with dignity. Sarajevo is a magnificent city not only because it survived all the atrocities, but also because it preserved its principles.

Today you will arrive at Sarajevo Airport. There you will be welcomed by the Meet Bosnia guide.

Hotel check-in and free time in Sarajevo.

This is one of the best ways to get to know our beautiful capital – Sarajevo.

We will see the Old Orthodox Church, one of the oldest religious objects in Sarajevo. Above all, the most recognizable landmark of Sarajevo is Sebilj, a wooden fountain located on Baščaršija Square. The legend says that drinking water from here means that you will certainly come back to this city in the future. Also, you will find the oldest streets of Sarajevo – Kazandziluk Street and walk through Baščaršija, the liveliest part of the city.

You will visit old Caravan Saray, the famous Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque. Nearby, you will see a unique clock tower famous for showing a very unusual time for the modern world. Furthermore, we will walk nearby the oldest shopping centre of Sarajevo, the “Bezistan” – old bazaar from the Ottoman period.

After the old town walking through the Old part of the city, we wil see modern streets of Sarajevo. The Sarajevo City Hall is the most recognizable Austro-hungarian building in Bosnia. Since 1949 it served as the National and University Library, and now it is the seat of the city council once again.

You will hear the story of the Sarajevo Jewish community existing for almost five centuries. Today it is an important museum related to Balkan Jewish traditions and customs.
After the spot that says “Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures” continues westward.
Ferhadija street is related to the arrival of the Habsburg monarchy. You will see one of the iconic buildings on Ferhadija street, Catholic Cathedral nearby which you will see the statue of Pope John Paul II. Also, we will talk about Sarajevo Roses and famous people that lived here.

Later we will proceed to Sarajevo War tour.

In the last hundred years, three times Sarajevo was the centre of the world. The first time in 1914 when the Assassination that caused the First World War happened here. The second time was in 1984 when Sarajevo hosted XIV Winter Olympic Games in communist Yugoslavia, and the third time was siege of Sarajevo.

Sarajevo siege tour speaks about the longest Siege in the History of Modern Warfare
On this Sarajevo siege tour, you will hear the stories of survival in the war zone.

The tours start from the old town we are heading to the Yellow Fortress, and it is a perfect place for that since there is a beautiful panoramic view of Sarajevo from there.
This War Tour will show you some of the more meaningful ruins. You will see the Markale market – a place where happened terrible massacre, Memorial for the children killed in Sarajevo and other important monuments.

Later on, we are going to visit Olympic Complex – Olympic Hall and Olympic Stadium. We will talk about the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Nearby the complex, you will see destroyed hospitals from the war, Defender’s Cemetery, graves of Romeo and Juliet of Sarajevo, St. Vitus' heroes Chapel and others.

On the way to the Tunnel of Hope, we will take you through the street once known as the Sniper Alley – the most dangerous street in Sarajevo during the siege. One of the attractions you will see on that street is the Hotel Holiday Inn where all the international journalists used to stay during the war, and you will see Old Yugoslav Military Barracks.

The most important site on Sarajevo Siege Tour is the War Tunnel (Tunnel of Hope) Museum where the original war videos made during the Sarajevo Siege are being displayed. You will learn how important the Tunnel was for people who were living in Sarajevo during the siege.
After all, you will visit the famous Bob Sleigh Track located on the Olympic Mountain Trebević. From there you will see the places from which the attacks on Sarajevo were carried out.
 
In this tour you will enjoy in the traditional Bosnian dinner with local people

This day, we are going to the Bjelašnica mountain to explore village Lukomir and Umoljani.

The 50 kilometre road trip to Lukomir in the Dinaric Alps from Sarajevo takes about one and a half hours.

Lukomir is a village that is unique in many ways, especially in stone houses over 200 years old. Lukomir is known for its traditional clothing, and women still wear, knitted garments as they were worn centuries ago.

Lukomir is Bosnia's highest village at 1,469 meters, with its ancient tombstones, so called "stećci" where villagers stick to the "old way" of doing things.

On the edge of the village, you will be treated with a rare view of Rakitnica, Obalj, and Visocica. You have arrived at the end of the world.

With arrival to Umoljani Highland village we will first be introduced to local hospitality having a tasty traditional lunch. After the meal we will take a short walk through the village, before we reach the traditional style Bosnian Mosque in the village of Umoljani.
We will go to the Seven waterfalls and their beautiful water source used for centuries as an energy to grind wheat into flour.

Umoljani proudly guards Studeni Potok, an oasis of peace and nature, which, according to legend, was created when a dragon tried to swallow the village and its inhabitants.

According to the legend, the dragon crossed the valley hidden among the hills towards Umoljani.
With her body she left a winding trail in a green valley that today is filled with crystal clear water. The locals fled to a nearby hill, from where they asked God to save them from the monsters. Their pleas were granted, and the dragon remained petrified on the hill above the valley.
Today, Studeni potok is a scene that leaves many hikers and nature lovers breathless, who find rest and silence there, which is interrupted only by the gentle murmur of water and the chirping of birds.

Visocica, a mountain with one of the most beautiful mountain ridges in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located south of Bjelašnica and west of Treskavica, and the highest peak is the Mosque with 1967 m. In the northern part there are mostly mountain pastures, while the southern part is overgrown with dense forest.
Visocica Mountain forms a natural border between central Bosnia and Upper Herzegovina and due to its beauty is a favorite destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By the way, Visočica got it because of its numerous high peaks, among which the Mosque (1967 m), Veliki Ljeljen (1963 m) and the destination I chose for this report, Vito (1960 m) stand out.

One of the highest peaks which we will visit is the Vito. From Vito there is an extraordinary view of the peaks of Bjelašnica. In the east there is view towards Zelengora and Lelija. In the south you can see Crvanj and Velež, and in the southwest the view reaches to the peaks of Prenj.

The village of Lukomir and the Rakitnica canyon are also in sight.

The view from the top is beautiful, and accommodation on this evening is in the mountain lodge.

On this day we have a rest, and we continue with tours in our country. We are heading south. Region known as Herzegovina.

The first stop will be in Konjic – a small, charming town located on the banks of river Neretva. It is famous for its Old Stone Bridge, which is built in 1682, the Old Bridge is considered the point where Herzegovina merges with Bosnia. Built of stone, with a total of six arches, it is one of the most beautiful bridges from the Ottoman period in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Then we continue through some really amazing parts of the Neretva river canyon, which runs through Herzegovina.

Then we will proceed to Blagaj, a haven of peace and natural harmony.
The Blagaj Tekke is situated by the spring of the river Buna, surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is one of the largest sources of drink water in Europe. Next to the source, is a 16th century Dervish house – Tekke, still one of the most mystical places as well as one of the most important cultural and historical monuments in all of Bosnia&Herzegovina.
The place is still used for dervish gatherings, but it is also a museum. While being there you will see a beautiful piece of nature, and you can feel the spiritual power of this place.
The next destination is Kravice, a waterfall on the Trebižat River. It’s a small version of Niagara Falls, hidden in the Balkans. For its amazing beauty and untouched nature, it’s protected by Bosnia and Herzegovina as a natural treasure. The Kravice waterfalls is roughly 25 meters high and separated into 20 falls, with the lake below being about 120 meters in radius. It is this small size of the fall that makes it so accessible, unlike most large waterfalls.

The mediaeval town of Počitelj was first mentioned in historical sources on 19 February 1444. It was built on a steep stone cliff on the left bank of the Neretva.
After the Turkish occupation, Počitelj, due to its strategic importance, became even stronger and in the next 450 years of occupation it gained an oriental "trick".
A rare combination of the Oriental East and the mediaeval West in Europe attracts the eyes of all passers-by. The tower that still "guards" the narrow passage along the Neretva River on the way from the sea to the interior has been the guardian of the history of this region and its people for five hundred and fifty years.

Getting acquainted with the history of Počitelj, we also get acquainted with a part of the history of Herceg's country.

Last stop is in Mostar where we will enjoy magnificent views of famous bridge which is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mostar is the most famous city in our country. We will have lovely walking tour of the old town, and we will stay overnight in Mostar.

Mostar is a place where East meets West, and you can find mosques, churches as well as oriental mixed with western. It is very beautiful and even though tourism has kept increasing, there is still the same charm of the city.

The Old Bridge was originally built during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. It was destroyed in the Balkan war but was later reconstructed in the same appearance as the original 16th- century bridge.
You will see this unique bridge, and after that you will also see Kriva Ćuprija, the oldest arch bridge in Mostar, which is built 1558. We will visit Hamam – which an authentic cultural monument, which takes visitors back to the distant past and witnesses the most beautiful stories of the former way of living.

The Hamam where museum was located, built in the late 16th and early 17th century, and today is the only preserved hamam in Mostar. It was built in the classical Ottoman style.
After that, we are going to visit Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, the second-biggest mosque in Mostar. The views from the minaret are gorgeous, although be prepared to share that view with plenty of other gawping visitors. The courtyards are free to explore and well worth doing so, especially during the heat of the summer — the drinking water and shade is a godsend.
We also pass through Kujundžiluk – Old Bazzar that winds along a small, pretty, cobbled street, dating back to the middle of the 16th century.


Herzegovina is the land of sun and rocks, and its glades and vales are covered with shrubs and trees such as thorn-bush, oak, ash, juniper and pine trees. To each passer-by this ambiance offers unforgettable scenes and atmosphere pleasing both the eyes and the soul.
Herzegovina has a perfect environment for growing grapes and producing top-quality wines. The sheer quantity and quality of grapes from the two indigenous varieties, Žilavka and Blatina, which have long ago acclimated to this region, is unparalleled anywhere else in our country.
Wine tasting is obviously an essential part of the day, but on this tour, we want you to understand the history, the traditions of Herzegovinian wine, and to fall in love with our country and its wines the way we have.

Land of Herzegovina region is set to be the only home for Žilavka (white wine) and Blatina (red wine).

Žilavka, which name symbolizes fine veins, visible in the period of the full maturity of grapes in the berry, through its thick but transparent skin. Wines. It bears the impression of Herzegovina.

Blatina has a functional female flower, and for that reason it is always cultivated in plantations with other varieties such as Allicante Bouschet (Kambuša), Merlot, and Trnjak, which at the same time pollinate Blatina.

As we make our way south of Mostar, you will enjoy in the views through the vineyards, which date back to the Austro-Hungarian times when the golden age of our viticulture began.
The first wine station was positioned in Gnojnice village near Mostar, and was established in 1886. After numerous analyses, their educated people made selection and decided it was necessary to give absolute precedence to the local, native assortment. The Vienna Hofburg started with the production of those miraculous drinks ‘for own needs’, so the people named wine station ‘Imperial vineyards’.

You will enjoy in the view and in the taste of wine !

Čvrsnica is the highest mountain in the western part of the central part of the Dinaric Alps with the peak Pločno of 2228 m above sea level - on the entire NW Dinaric route all the way to the Soča. It is located in the northern part of Herzegovina, on the right bank of the Neretva in the Blidinje Nature Park. On the northwest side is the fault valley Dugo polje, which separates Čvrsnica from the mountain Vran. The foot of the mountain is at some 200 m above sea level. And rises sharply to about 2000 m above sea level. And further towards the highest peak of 2228 m.

It is one of the largest mountains in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 15 peaks above 2,000 meters. The highest peak is Pločno with an impressive 2228 meters above sea level. The Neretva borders it from the east, as do its tributaries Doljanka from the north and Drežanka from the south. About 1,500 meters deep canyon Diva Grabovica stretches from the center of the mountain towards the Neretva in the length of 6.2 kilometers.

The biggest attraction of Čvrsnica is Hajdučka vrata, a natural geomorphological phenomenon located at 2000 meters above sea level.
This is a natural phenomenon located above the Diva Grabovica canyon in the eastern part of Čvrsnica.
It is a stone ring (opening) in the rock, about 5 meters in diameter, formed by the action of various climatic and geomorphological factors.
Since 1985, Hajdučka vrata has been declared a protected natural monument in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Of course, there is also a legend according to which the renegade boys, during the Ottoman Empire, were declared bandits. This mountain ring is also known as Mijat's passage, after the hajduk Mijat Tomić.

After this experience, we will go back to the Sarajevo.

Today is our last day in Bosnia, so you will have a free time.
After that, we will be heading to Sarajevo Airport