Bosnia & Beyond

Name: Bosnia & Beyond
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (56 reviews)

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11 Days from

USD 2,879

incl. Taxes

4.7/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

6 - 18

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AVB

Experience the cultural variety and rugged natural beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro

Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro have for centuries been at the crossroads of ancient civilisations, with a magical mixture of European and Near Eastern culture. The diversity is very clear, from the vibrant cities to the tiny traditional villages. Here we find a unique fusion of traditions, religions and architecture. Outside the towns and cities, the raw natural beauty is breathtaking, with ancient forests, rugged peaks and the beautiful Adriatic coastline where we explore the magnificent Bay of Kotor before making our final stop in the wonderful Croatian city of Dubrovnik.

Highlights

Discover a stunning mix of Balkan countries with beautiful scenery and fascinating cultures
Explore the cosmopolitan and historic Bosnian capital – Sarajevo
Visit enchanting Mostar with its iconic bridge
Admire the beauty of the sparkling Adriatic in Kotor, Montenegro
Walk the pristine marble streets and city walls of Dubrovnik
Enjoy gentle walking in the stunning Durmitor National Park

Key Information

10 nights hotels and pensions, all rooms en suite
Group normally 6 to 18, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
Travel by air-conditioned private minibus

Countries visited: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro

What's Included

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
All accommodation
Free group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas & vaccinations
Single supplement

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
The itinerary includes lunches with local families at Zabljak, Durmitor Park (Cetkovic family) in Montenegro & Lukomir mountain village (Maslesa family) in Bosnia. This provides great culture sharing opportunities.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites. We visit Kotor which is on UNESCOs list of natural and cultural heritage sites.
We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Our local partners are the founders and active supporters of Eko Akcija, an environmental NGO set up to add to the conservation of protected areas, and to get local communities involved in participating in environmental protection issues.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

We start in Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia before transferring (approx. 3 hours) to the beautiful sea-faring town of Kotor. Neatly tucked away in one of South East Europe's largest fjords, Kotor is a cultural treasure dating from the 12th Century and still retains the Mediterranean ambience of the region.
Hotel Porto In or similar

Meals Included: Dinner

Today we visit Kotor's 4.5km long fortification walls and its many churches and palaces. These are the main reasons why in 1979 Kotor was included on UNESCO's list of natural and cultural heritage sites. Our approx. 2 hour walk will take you through some of Kotor's spacious squares, lined with grand townhouses, known locally as palaces, and various impressive religious buildings. After our tour, we take a short transfer to Perast, a town once owned by the Venetians, a fact which explains the distinctly Italian feel. The panorama of Perast is dominated by the 17th Century church of St Nikola, protected by a Venetian fortress and surrounded by beautiful palaces and gardens once built by the famous sea captains of the Adriatic. Here we have lunch overlooking the bay. Following lunch, we take a boat ride to the 'Lady of the Rocks' island and visit the chapel. The views of towering cliffs of the Dinaric Alps from the boat are truly impressive, giving us a different perspective of the Montenegrin coastline. We transfer back to our hotel by boat, the best way to really enjoy this fabulous setting. In the evening we will visit Budva, one of the oldest settlements on the Montenegrin coast with perhaps the best nightlife of the entire area.
Hotel Porto In or similar

We transfer (approx. 2 hour) to Cetinje for a city tour. The town of Cetinje lies at the foot of Lovcen Mountain and was the ancient capital of Montenegro. Since 1485 Cetinje has been the sacred centre of Montenegro, and as a result, the city houses more museums and cultural heritage sites than any other city in Montenegro. Our tour will take us to some of the main sites in this lonely cultural oasis in the Cetinjsko fields.

From Cetinje, we set off towards Montenegro's mountainous interior, en route visiting the holy shrine of St.Vasilije high up in the shady Ostrog Mountains. Few people expect to witness such a marvellous spectacle when they arrive. Intricately carved into the rising rock face, the Ostrog Monastery is considered by many to be the most inspiring Orthodox sacred place in the former Yugoslavia. The monastery has become the largest religious pilgrimage site in the country, with many Orthodox Christians and even Catholics and Muslims paying homage to St. Vasilije, the founder of the 17th Century monastery. The day culminates with a drive (approx. 3 hours) through isolated villages and high mountain passes to the small ski resort of Zabljak. Zabljak sits neatly on a plateau at 1500m, surrounded by beautiful pinewood forests, high alpine mountains, and the deep Tara Canyon.
Hotel Zabljak or similar

Today we explore the Zabljak Plateau with its numerous lakes and traditional villages. We start with a walk around the area's largest lake, a beautiful spot with crystal clear waters reflecting the surrounding peaks. Around lunchtime we transfer to the village of Podgora. The village has recently become part of a regional ecovillage network helping to promote tourism in rural communities. A local family provides us with a tasty lunch of traditional Montenegrin mountain food. We will also visit and enjoy views from one of the numerous viewpoints above Tara Canyon, which is considered to be the deepest European Canyon and as such is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

We then transfer back to Zabljak and have the afternoon free to explore, enjoy a scenic walk, go for an invigorating dip in the lake, or perhaps drink a glass of local wine or beer in one of Zabljak's cafés.
Hotel Zabljak or similar

Transfer (approx. 2-3 hours) to the border between Montenegro and Bosnia, via Durmitor's interior with its impressive peaks, isolated mountain lakes and deep canyons. The mountain roads are narrow and we will meet the occasional shepherd with his sheep moving up to the higher grassy pastures of Durmitor. This seasonal migration has taken place for centuries and is very much part of Montenegrin culture and tradition, even today.

We wind our way out of the Piva Gorge down to Scepan Polje, the border crossing into Bosnia & Herzegovina, stopping where possible to enjoy the views in this wild and uninhabited part of Bosnia. Before lunch, we take a walk along the Piva River to an old suspension bridge, which for a long time was the only connection between the two river banks. The water here is wonderfully pure and offers a great setting for a photo. After lunch above the Piva River, we continue through an empty and mountainous part of east Bosnia & Herzegovina to Sarajevo.
Hotel Cosmopolit or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we have a full day exploring Sarajevo on foot and by bus. One of the most culturally diverse cities in Europe, Sarajevo spent over 400 years under Turkish governorship until the Austro-Hungarians arrived in the late 19th Century. Forty years later, the empire collapsed when Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated here, hastening the outbreak of the First World War. The late 20th Century saw Sarajevo host the Winter Olympics in 1984, and the long siege of the city during the recent conflict. Our tour of the major historical, cultural and war sites in the city will help you to piece together its complex history.

Our day involves a walking tour of the main sites, and a visit to the famous Sarajevo Tunnel Museum. The tunnel provided the citizens of Sarajevo with a lifeline during Sarajevo's 1400 days of isolation and was the only reliable way of supplying goods and electricity to the city as all other supply lines were cut off by the Serbian Army. This is a sobering and fascinating visit.
Hotel Cosmopolit or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We transfer (approx. 2 hours) to Lukomir, Bosnia's highest village at 1469 metres, with its ancient 'stecci' (mediaeval tombstones). Here we get an insight into the traditional way of life. Customary dress and the occasional turban and fez are still worn, going hand in hand with the more contemporary features of everyday life such as electricity and running water. The village houses here are a powerful image of a simpler time. We then take a walk down towards the Rakitnica Canyon nearby and find some excellent viewpoints to admire this majestic scenery. The scale of the mountains coupled with the canyon far below are sights that will live long in the memory. Lunch is taken in the village prepared by one of the main families still living there and will be traditional and filling. We return to Sarajevo at the end of the day.
Hotel Cosmopolit or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We transfer (approx. 2.5 hours) to Mostar where we have a whole day to visit this beautiful Herzegovinian city. Mostar was founded in the 15th Century and the architecture is a precious combination of Turkish ingenuity and Herzegovinian and Dalmatian workmanship. We spend the morning and afternoon exploring Mostar, a city that was famously split during the conflict of the early 1990s. You will still see the scars of war, but these days Mostar is once again a warm and bustling place with an intriguing history. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.
Hotel Kapetanovina or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our first stop today will be Pocitelj. This oriental style town has recently been added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites and also hosts the longest operating art colony in southeast Europe. The most striking object in Pocitelj is the Sahat Kula, a silo-shaped fort that dominates the skyline from a hill above the town. It used to house watchmen and military guarding against possible invasion from the Neretva Valley. Our next stop will be Kravica Waterfall, a wonderful green oasis in the rocky Herzegovinian landscape. After a short walk and perhaps even a cooling swim we head off for lunch to Blagaj.

Blagaj's highlights are the Buna Spring and the adjacent Ottoman house/monastery. The spring here is amazing. It flows out of a 200m cliff wall and single-handedly creates the Buna River. Unsurprisingly, the Ottoman sultan was impressed and ordered a Tekija to be built right next to it. This 16th Century house/monastery was built for the Dervish cults and is still one of the most mystical places in all of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Blagaj's Old Town is worth taking a walk through. This lazy Herzegovinan town moves at a slow pace and many of its old structures are reminiscent of Ottoman days. In the vicinity are also old flour mills that the strong Buna River used to power. We spend the late afternoon and evening in Mostar.
Hotel Kapetanovina or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our journey now takes us back to Dubrovnik via Radimlja with its numerous beautiful mediaeval Christian tombstones, and Trebinje – the southernmost city in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Trebinje has a rich history that dates back to the Middle Ages. Here we will visit a family-owned winery and get a taste of life in old Herzegovina. Here we will venture into the cellars for an intimate taste of the rich, earthy, bold tastes of the red wines.

Herzegovina's wines are amongst the newest in the 'second world' wine category. This tradition, however, has been in existence since Roman times. Herzegovina's sunny Mediterranean climate and rich hinterland soils produce the finest wines in southern Europe.

After the lunch break we will travel south to our final destination Dubrovnik; a magnificent walled city that lies at the southernmost tip of Croatia. Formerly a prosperous trading centre, Dubrovnik is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its perfectly preserved Old Town and rich cultural life draw many visitors each year. We end the day with free time in Dubrovnik, so you might either go swimming in the warm Adriatic or explore the Old Town on your own and take a walk along the ancient walls of Dubrovnik.
Hotel Komodor or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

The trip ends this morning in Dubrovnik after breakfast. You may however wish to extend your stay in the Croatian capital to further explore its cobbled streets or enjoy the beautiful coastline. Should you wish to do so please ask a member of the sales team about our post-tour nights.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Bosnia and Herzegovina. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Croatia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Croatia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/croatia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/croatia
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/croatia/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Croatia.html

Montenegro

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Montenegro. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

Bosnia & Herzegovina

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and tuberculosis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Croatia

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Montenegro

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner are included.

Breakfast will usually be either hot and cold buffets or a choice of set meals.

Breakfast in Bosnia and across the Balkans usually consists of bread and pastries, dairy products such as yoghurt and cheese, cereal, eggs cooked in a variety of ways, smoked meats, honey, tea and coffee, milk and juices.

Typical Bosnian cuisine consists of ingredients such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms, spinach, courgette, beans and dairy products such as milk, cheese, pavlaka (sour cream) and Kajmak (similar to clotted cream). Meat dishes usually consist of beef and lamb and specialities include cevapi, burek, dolma (stuffed vegetables with meat) and goulash. Desserts often have an Eastern influence with baklava being very popular. The alcoholic drink rakija made from apples or plums is common in this region also.

Vegetarian and special diets can be catered for, but options are limited throughout Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro - please advise of any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.

Weather

Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro enjoy a similar climate to most of Central Europe - hot summers, cool springs and autumns and cold winters with considerable snowfall. We visit from July to August, when temperatures will be generally warm (25-30ºC). However these temperatures will be a little cooler in the mountains. It is here that we are right in the middle of the Central Dinaric Alps, a rough and unpredictable place where Mediterranean and Continental Alpine Climates vie for supremacy. The result is an extremely unstable climate even in summer. Rain can fall at any time of the year, although in mid-summer it is more likely to come as short, sharp thunderstorms.

Weather Charts

Sarajevo

Is this trip for you?

This trip is Activity Level 2- Leisurely/Moderate.

This is a cultural discovery trip with some walking. You don't need to be an experienced hill walker, just of average fitness. Walks are optional so the trip is still suitable for anyone. Travel is by private bus, generally on good roads.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Charlotte Reeve

Reviewed September 2022

Varied trip with stunning scenery and picturesque towns

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, which let us enjoy the highlights of Montenegro and Bosnia. There was quite a lot of driving, but it’s nearly all through stunning scenery, so it didn’t feel like a chore. The itinerary was very well put together to provide a real variety of experiences, from old towns, to nature, to modern cities with an interesting past. The included walks were enjoyable, and not too challenging (although the optional climb up the city walls in Kotor was hard work in the heat and humidity). The food throughout the trip was excellent – while meat and potatoes were the staples, there were always other options available when you wanted a bit more variety.

Most Inspirational Moment

The drive through Durmitor National Park was absolutely stunning. Although very busy and touristy, I also really liked the towns of Kotor and Mostar, and they contrasted well with the natural areas we visited.

Thoughts on Group Leader

This was my 20th group tour, and I have to say that Samra was probably the best guide I have had on any trip. She was very personable and felt like a friend to the group, and was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about everywhere we visited.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The roads are generally very twisty, so I was very grateful for my travel sickness tablets (although our driver, Big Sam, was excellent and his smooth driving certainly helped). The roads up to Lukomir were bumpy as well as twisty, so I'd recommend medicating that day if you suffer from motion sickness.

Sheila Shannon

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 2 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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