Experience Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo, Mostar, & Travnik - 8 Days

Day 1: Sightseeing in Sarajevo

Welcome to Bosnia and Herzegovina! Once you land in Sarajevo and settle in, you can begin your sightseeing tour of Bosnia's multicultural capital. One of our local guides will take you on a brief walking tour of the city and take you through the Museum of Sarajevo, which was built on the site where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, the event that initiated WWI. After the museum, you'll have the rest of the day to explore Sarajevo on your own.

Suggested activities include:

• Take a tour of the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum, which offers insight into life during the Bosnian War and the Siege of Sarajevo.

• Hop on a cable car up to Trebevic, where you can take in panoramic views of the city, wander through a lush pine forest, and see the 1984 Olympic bobsled track.

• Settle in at an outdoor cafe, where you can try dishes like cevapi, a local specialty of spicy sausages served in a warm flatbread.

Day 2: Experience the Mountain Villages of Lukomir and Umoljani

Take a trip into Bosnia's past and traditional life as we take you to Lukomir, Bosnia's most remote village, which is nestled high in the Bjelašnica Mountains. If you're interested in hiking in this area, you can choose to take a breathtaking walk along the Rakitnica Canyon. It's an easy hike but make sure to bring good walking shoes if picking this option.

Enjoy a hearty lunch in the mountain village of Lukomir, where residents still wear traditional hand-knit costumes. You will learn about life in the mountains and the ways in which the inhabitants of Lukomir (less than 20 total) live in this beautiful yet sometimes harsh environment.

After lunch, you will continue on to the nearby village of Umoljani, which is known for its eight watermills, beautiful landscape and waterfalls, and the "Dragon of Umoljani," a stone which, according to local legend, holds the petrified remains of a dragon, who once terrorized the village.

You will spend the night at a rustic and cozy bed and breakfast in Umoljani.

Day 3: A Medieval Journey to Kraljeva Sutjeska - Travnik - Jajce

Enjoy breakfast in the mountains before our driver takes you to the village of Kraljeva Sutjeska, which is home to several important historical sites. You can visit the medieval ruins of the old Bosnian court as well as the 14th-century Franciscan Monastery, which houses a library filled with thousands of rare historical documents. Head to the Mehmed II Fatih Mosque, which was built in the 15th century and is the oldest mosque in the country.

You can then continue on to Travnik, a historic town that was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire and was known as the "European Istanbul." Travnik is located in the very picturesque Lasva River valley and you can enjoy some local sheep's cheese from the region as you explore the beautiful Travnik Fortress.

After spending a few hours in Travnik, you will go on to Jajce to spend the night.

Day 4: Explore Mostar - Herzegovina's Former Trading Capital

Spend the morning checking out the highlights of Jajce, such as the Pliva Waterfall and ruins of St. Luke's Church.

You will then go on to Mostar, where you can embark on a tour of Herzegovina's cultural capital. The most well-known site is Stari Most, also called the Mostar Bridge, which was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years before its destruction but was rebuilt in 2004 to connect the city across the Neretva River.

You will get the chance to visit a farmer's co-op, where you can sample local delicacies such as prosciutto and Livno cheese.

In the afternoon, you will travel to Blagaj, a beautiful village located at the spring of the Buna River. There, you'll be able to see the stunning tekke, a 15th Century Dervish monastery, which sits at the foot of a 200-meter cliff.

You will return to Mostar, where you can take in the city at night and try even more unforgettable regional dishes.

Day 5: Discover the History of the Ottoman Empire

After breakfast, you will be taken to Pocitelj, a historic village, and open-air museum. This old Ottoman border town had significant strategic importance in Bosnian history, which you can learn about as you wander its narrow, cobblestoned streets.

Later, you can go on to Mogorjelo to see the 4th century CE ruins of a Roman villa rustica, or country house. Following this, you will make your way to Herceg Ethno Village, where you can experience the traditional ways of Herzegovinian life and enjoy a delicious meal of local ingredients.

You can then go see the impressive Kravica Waterfall on the Trebižat River before making your way back to Mostar.

Day 6: Relive Ancient History at Radimlja - Vjetrenica Cave - Tvrdoš

You'll get to travel through history today as you begin the day at Radimlja, site of a stećak necropolis, which dates back to the 15th century CE. Stećak refers to a medieval tombstone and there are an estimated 60,000 of these monuments around Bosnia and Herzegovina.

You'll then move even further back in time as you visit the Vjetrenica Cave, famous for its cave drawings, which are estimated to be over 10,000 years old.

Finally, you will get the chance to visit Tvrdoš, a 15th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery. This beautiful monastery is known for wine production as well as the 17th-century frescoes, which adorn its interior walls.

End the day in Trebinje, where you will spend the night and be able to enjoy a lively night out in this southernmost city of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Day 7: Soak in the Natural Beauty of Sutjeska National Park

Take in a hearty breakfast before embarking on a two-hour transfer, which will take you through the majestic countryside of eastern Bosnia.

You will spend the day at Sutjeska National Park, which is home to the highest mountain peak in the country and was the site of the Battle of Sutjeska, one of the toughest battles fought by the Yugoslav partisans during World War II. Other sites in the park include the Tito World War II Heritage Monument and the crystal clear Donje Bare Lake.

You can take a 30-minute walk, which will offer you stunning views of the Sutjeska canyon, as well as the Bosnian mountains surrounding the area. After this day of natural wonder and exploration, you will be transferred back to Tjentiste for the night.

Day 8: Rafting on the Tara River - Return to Sarajevo

You'll get to enjoy a day of adventure and beauty on the Tara River as you embark on a half-day rafting tour. The Tara River is one of four whitewater rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Our skippers are certified by the International Rafting Federation and can take people of all levels down the river. If you've never gone rafting before, don't worry—no experience is necessary for this trip. 

Take in the unforgettable landscape of rushing waters and verdant mountains as you raft down the Tara River, which is home to the longest canyon in Europe and second-longest in the world, following only the Grand Canyon. The river follows along the border of Montenegro and is a site of all sorts of activities for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. 

You will spend three to four hours rafting and working up an appetite, before we take you to a homemade lunch. Following lunch, we will transfer you back to Sarajevo, where you will spend the night before heading back home or to your next destination.