Walking in Bosnia & Herzegovina

The trip begins late afternoon in Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

After a main briefing with your leader, we enjoy a welcome dinner in a local winery in the hills above the town. Stay: Hotel Leotar (or similar) (D).

In the morning, we transfer to Sutjeska National Park (approximately 1hr 30min). Before we reach our hotel in the Tjentiste Valley, we will hike from Papin Do Hut to Jagodino Lake. From the lake, we continue over open mountainous terrain to the summit of Kuk (5,960ft/1,817m), right on the border with Montenegro, for panoramic views of the Zelengora mountain and the rockface wall of Volujak.

We descend partially the same way down, a bit more than an hour, with the Lebrsnik and Volujak slopes as constant companions on the horizon. After the lunch break close to the hut, we take a transfer to the Park Valley, through the Sutjeska River canyon, down to the hotel for a well-deserved dinner (approximately 30 minutes).

In the afternoon, before dinner, we take a 10 to 15-minute stroll from the hotel to visit the Partisan Memorial of Sutjeska. This giant, angular sculpture pays tribute to the thousands of Partisan soldiers who died during the Battle of Sutjeska in the Second World War. Stay: Hotel Mladost (or similar) (B/L/D).

Today is particularly special as we transfer to Lokva Derneciste (approximately one hour) and join the Via Dinarica, a 1,245mi (2,000km) long hiking route connecting all six republics of the former Yugoslavia.

Our local team played a key role in bringing it to existence, including mapping ideal routes for sections of the trail and assisting local NGOs with securing funding, and it has since been named one of the best hiking trails in Europe by National Geographic. Our route takes us to the summit of Maglić, the highest mountain in Bosnia at 9,304ft (2,386m), a journey of approximately three to four hours over fairly well-maintained trails passing steep cliffs.

This is, by far, the most demanding part of today's trek but each step takes us further above the surrounding peaks until we reach the top. The summit provides an ideal spot for our picnic lunch with stretching views over Montenegro and the emerald-green waters of Trnovacko Lake, our next stop. After descending to the waters in the afternoon, we head for Prijevor where we meet our transfer to our hotel (approximately 50 minutes). Stay: Hotel Mladost (or similar) (B/L/D).

We transfer to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo (approximately two hours), at the heart of the Balkan Peninsula.

On arrival, we take a tour of the major historic, cultural and war sites in the city, helping us to piece together its complex and intriguing past. The afternoon is then free to explore this varied and beautiful capital city. Stay: Hotel Hecco (or similar) (B/D).

Today we explore Trebevic, another Olympic mountain and a great area so close to city hustle & bustle and yet so far away from daily life in Sarajevo. We take the back road to Jahorina via Vraca to Brus, where after a 20-minute drive we park our vehicle and start our 650-meter ascent to the peak of Trebević (5,344ft/1,629m). Our walk takes us along a long and winding mountain trail. Although we will be hiking partially through pine and spruce-covered forests, enjoying the complete silence, you will be treated occasionally to beautiful views of Sarajevo below us and the mountains we visit the day after.

We arrive at the top where you will stand and see Sarajevo, as you had no chance before. Having been soaked in the sights we descend via an alternative, somewhat shorter trail down the western ridge. We will make a break and celebration drink at one of the local mountain huts nearby with magnificent views. We end the day with a visit to the concrete remains of the Sarajevo Olympic bobsled track, today fully covered with graffiti of local artists. We then have a short transfer back to Sarajevo (approximately 15 to 20 minutes). Stay: Hotel Hecco (or similar) (B/L).

Today we take a transfer in the morning (approximately one hour) and have a full-day walk in the Bjelasnica Mountains, home of the 1984 Winter Olympics, ascending Obalj peak (6,220ft/1,896m) and visiting Lukomir, the highest village in Bosnia & Herzegovina at 4,820ft (1,469m). From the traditional Bosnian Mosque in the village of Umoljani, we walk to Gradina, a village used for centuries as a base for summer pastures. From here, we start ascending toward Obalj ridge and slowly we rise above Studeni potok (Studeni stream) with views opening in front of us. With mountains to the south, Treskavica and Visocica offer us fantastic scenes. Once we reach the slopes of Obalj, we slowly continue to the summit. From here, we see Lukomir village below, home to ancient stecci (medieval tombstones), and where villagers still follow a traditional agricultural life. On the edge of the village, there is a fabulous view of Rakitnica canyon, Obalj and Visocica.

After a simple but tasty homemade late lunch, we transfer back to the hotel in Sarajevo (approximately 1hr 30min). Stay: Hotel Hecco (or similar) (B/L).

Today we transfer to Konjic (approximately one hour) where we have the option to go rafting deep into the Neretva Canyon or walk a beautiful ridge overlooking the Neretva and Rakitnica Canyon. The Neretva River is the jewel of Herzegovina, flowing more than 124mi (200km) to the Adriatic Sea. Better yet, the upper canyon hosts some of the most beautiful rafting opportunities in Europe.

The water is usually calm from spring to autumn, and the trip provides ample opportunity to enjoy the canyon and the unique flora and fauna. Depending on the season, we can tackle Class II to IV rapids. The trip lasts for three to four hours and costs approximately €45 per person (paid locally). If you prefer to keep on trekking, we continue to the isolated hills around Kasici village for a magical canyon walk above the same river.

After crossing a suspension bridge, we descend to meet the spectacular river itself where the rapids rush into the mouth of the relatively unexplored Rakitnica Canyon. The scenery here is truly breath-taking. After crossing another bridge at the mouth of the canyon, we can rest either in one of the caves or on the numerous beaches. We return via Konjic to meet with those who opted for the rafting. At the end of the day, we continue our journey to Mostar (approximately one hour). Stay: Hotel Kapetanovina (or similar) (B/L).

We spend the morning exploring Mostar, including a visit to the Old Bridge, which was rebuilt after it collapsed during the conflict of the early 1990s. This city on the Neretva River was regularly in the news during this period and we can still see the scars of war. These days, however, Mostar is once again a warm and bustling place with a fascinating history and architecture. We leave the city in the afternoon and head for Dubrovnik, Croatia, our final destination and a great way to end a week of trekking. The transfer takes approximately 2hr 30min.

On arrival at around 5pm, we have free time to explore. The perfectly preserved old town is a Unesco World Heritage site with fortresses, palaces and city walls to admire. Stay: Hotel Komodor (or similar) (B).

The trip ends this morning after breakfast. If you wish to spend more time in this beautiful Croatian city, please ask your sales representative about post-tour nights. The transfer to the airport takes approximately 30 minutes (B).