Visit Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cultural Discovery in Depth (8 Days)

Destination:Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation(Optional):Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar

Arrival Note:Upon your arrival and depending on your arrival time and hotel’s check-in policy, you may not be able to access your room immediately. You can conveniently store your luggage at the hotel’s reception desk or at our Funky Tours office until check-in time.

Accommodation we use in Sarajevo are amazing hotels, which usually offer cafe or bar services, ideal for refreshment after your arrival. Among other perks, all rooms are air-conditioned and always equipped with private bathrooms, minibar, satellite TV and wireless internet. On the other hand, if you prefer booking your own accommodation, please feel free to reach out to our team for some tips and suggestions.

Morning/Afternoon:As soon as you arrive in Sarajevo, your Funky Tours Host will welcome you at the airport holding a sign with your name. We will assist you with the 30min transfer to your accommodation in Sarajevo.

After you settle in your room, your host will brief you on suggested activities for the rest of the day. In the afternoon you can feel free to take a stroll through Sarajevo old town and city centre, while visiting popular squares, cafes, shops and local markets.

Dinner:On your own. Bosnian traditional cuisine is simply amazing. We will happily give you all the necessary information on where to find some of the finest Bosnian food.

You should definitely look for the restaurants serving traditional Bosnian cuisine and decide to try Klepe (a kind of Italian ravioli, but Bosnian style ones stuffed with cheese, meat or spinach) or Bosanski Lonac (slowly cooked in a clay made pot mix of meat and vegetables). If needed, we are happy to arrange reservations at certain restaurants where needed.

Evening:Enjoy Some ‘Me Time,’ or Let Funky Tours Enhance Your Evening: If you’re in the mood for a leisurely evening to adjust to the time difference, that’s absolutely fine. However, if you’re up for some excitement, our state-of-the-art support is here to suggest and organize interesting evening activities. Your Funky Tours host will be delighted to recommend engaging options for a relaxed evening.

Destination:Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation (Optional):Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar
Meals Included:B

Activity Note:Today’s itinerary will involve walking on uneven terrain, including visits to historical ruins. It’s important to carry water with you and stay attentive to the current weather forecast to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Breakfast:Our well chosen range of hotels in Sarajevo start serving buffet-style breakfast around 7 AM, featuring Bosnian and International options.

Morning:The morning portion of our day begins at 10 AM with a captivating walking tour of Sarajevo’s historic old town and city center. Over the course of 2.5 to 3 hours, we’ll delve into the origins of Sarajevo and its medieval Bosnian Kingdom. Our journey will take us through both the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian quarters of Sarajevo, each adorned with stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches, and synagogues, offering a glimpse into the essence of the ‘European Jerusalem.

We’ll pay a visit to the iconic Latin Bridge, where the spark of World War I ignited, right in the heart of Sarajevo. This immersive experience promises to unravel the city’s multifaceted history and its role on the global stage.

Lunch:Get ready to try the most famous dish of the Balkans, at the most important stop of the Balkans – the glorious Sarajevo’s Ćevapi or Ćevapčići. In Sarajevo, Ćevapi are made of pure beef with basic spices and are hardly to be found of such a quality anywhere in the rest of the Balkans. For vegetarians we have alternatives available where we suggest trying traditional Bosnia “pita” (eng. pie) with cheese, spinach or potatoes. In the Balkans generally this food is referred to as “burek”, but in Sarajevo if you order burek, you will be served with meat pita.

Afternoon:Your afternoon session is fully reserved for the important story of Siege of Sarajevo, the story of the impossible survival and story of the worst Genocide in Europe since the WWII. Funky Tours Top Experiences aims to deliver a clear and unbiased understanding of the topics we consider important for better overall understanding of the Balkans.

Your host for the afternoon session will be local, an ex Bosnian army soldier who was directly involved in the resistance organised by the local people of Sarajevo during the 1990s. When joint force of Yugoslavian National Army, Serbian Paramilitaries and local Bosnian Serbs initiated general attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina with goal of taking the control of Bosnian capital, only a few people “got their heads” together and started organising resistance. Resistance which later proved crucial for defending Bosnian independence and saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

Places in focus will be Sarajevo’s infamous Sniper Alley and Hotel Holiday Inn, Sarajevo War Tunnel, Sarajevo Olympic Bobsled and Olympic mountain of Trebević, Jewish cemetery and numerous other locations scattered throughout the Bosnian capital, today serving as the memory of the 1990ies bloody years.

The story you will follow will be firsthand experiences of local Sarajevo Siege survivors, backed up with ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) verdicts and official judgements.

Dinner/Evening:Enjoy a traditional Bosnian dinner and spend the evening at your leisure. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor traditional Bosnian brandy (Šljivovica) and the exquisite wines of Herzegovina (Žilavka and Blatina).

Destination:Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation (Optional):Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar
Meals Included:B

Morning:In the morning, our scenic ride will traverse the captivating landscapes of central Bosnia, offering glimpses of Visoko town and the intriguing valley of the Bosnian Pyramids. Our journey will follow the meandering paths of the Bosna and Lasva rivers, with highlights including the picturesque flow and canyon of Vrbas. After nearly three hours on the road, we’ll arrive in the enchanting town of Jajce.

Once in Jajce, the first thing we we shall witness is one of the World’s most beautiful waterfalls, and the only one in the World placed in the city center, famous Pliva Waterfalls. Spot where Pliva river ends its flow and meets Vrbas is simply breathtaking.

After we bless our eyes and soul we are good for a walking tour through Jajce. We will visit Jajce Citadel (Fortress), the Museum of the Second Session of the National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ), Medvjed Kula, the Tower of St. Luke, famous Catacombs – underground church, one of the World’s very few mosques named after woman – Mosque of Esma Sultanija, and much more. Jajce Citadel is an amazingly interesting place giving us great opportunity to see whole area around us and Jajce itself.

Lunch:After savoring the charm of Jajce for approximately 2.30 hours, our journey continues to the nearby Pliva Lakes. Nestled on the Pliva River, just five kilometers away, we’ll explore the Large and Small Pliva Lakes.

A fascinating aspect of the Pliva Lakes is the presence of the Mills at Small Pliva Lake, affectionately known as ‘Mlinčići.’ These mills were once the main attraction for postcards and a testament to the tourist allure of the Great Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Our itinerary includes a stop at this historical site, adding depth to our Pliva Lakes experience.

Afternoon:After we finish exploring Jajce town, Pliva lakes and mills, we move towards our next destination, Travnik.

Ottoman time vizier’s town, later Nobel prize winner birthplace with stunning Plava Voda spring, Coloured mosque and old Ottoman fortress are places definitely worth stopping by.

Travnik is also famous for tasty Ćevapi or Travnik white cheese, so why not make this stop not only interesting, but also tastily-interesting.

Doing a break at Plava Voda with some good Bosnian coffee is also a must.

Evening:On your own. Arrival to Sarajevo is expected at 7 PM. However, having in mind we are always pushing our limits and going above and beyond in order to keep up with the outstanding quality of each of our trips, the day can be even longer.

Destination: East Bosnia, Bosnia & Herzegovina & West Serbia, Serbia
Accommodation(Optional): Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar
Meals Included: B

Activity Note:The tour is adapted to all ages and is not physically demanding. It will be a slightly longer but an amazing day.

Morning:We will set out on a scenic 45-minute journey from Sarajevo to Rogatica, where our first destination is the Borak Stećci necropolis near Burati village. Tucked away in the misty forests of East Bosnia and recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this hidden gem is a must-see. Here, we’ll delve into the unique history of the Medieval Bosnian Kingdom and explore the scattered limestone blocks that dot the landscape. Be prepared for a bit of hiking to reach them.

Next, we’ll make our way to Višegrad, known for its UNESCO-protected Ottoman bridge, a masterpiece constructed in 1577 by Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasa Sokolović. This bridge is renowned for its exceptional elegance and monumental architecture, as well as its prominent role in the novel ‘Bridge Over Drina’ by Nobel Prize-winning author Ivo Andrić. We recommend reading the novel before joining us on this tour to fully appreciate the historical significance of the region.

Upon arrival in Višegrad, we’ll enjoy a river cruise along the vibrant green Drina River and explore the stone town of Andrićgrad, a recently constructed settlement dedicated to Ivo Andrić. This site also offers insights into the history of Yugoslavian cinematography through the lens of the acclaimed local director, Emir Kusturica.

Continuing our journey east towards the Bosnian border, our next stop is the Dobrun Monastery, one of the most significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. Originally built in 1343, it boasts well-preserved frescoes that provide a glimpse into local history, all while surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.

Lunch:Later on, time to cross the Bosnia to Serbia border and as soon as we do, we will enter amazing area of nature park of “Šargan-Mokra Gora”. We will make a lunch break in ethno village of Drvengrad (eng.Timber Town) also know as Küstendorf and Mećavnik. Village-town designed by the movie director Emir Kusturica for his movie “Life is Miracle” and the design which won the “Philippe Rotthier European Architecture Award” from the Brussels Foundation for Architecture.

Afternoon:After lunch at Drvengrad we are about to take a train ride, but not just any train ride, we will do the famous “Šargan Eight”.

The Šargan Eight is a narrow gauge (760mm) steam railway originally built in 1925., famously called Ćira (Chira). Once it used to connect Sarajevo and Belgrade, and the name “eight” origins from the pure shape of the track which if looked at from the sky look like the number 8.

It was made famous for the impressive engineering which enabled it to rapidly climb height of 300m over the short distance 3.500m where total length is of the railway today is 15.440m. Stunningly, all of that was achieved by passing through 22 tunnels and 5 bridges. Quite amazing stuff even on the global scale of rail and train engineering at the time, but the most amazing for us is that we are going to experience this story. Today the train, after it was closed in 1974, is again reopen for primarily tourist reasons, but as well for true lovers of old school steam train engineering. Simply interesting and stunning.

As soon as we end amazing train ride we’ll continue, and on the way we will stop to explore amazing region of one of the most beautiful National Parks in Serbia – National Park Tara.

National Park Tara (declared in 1981.) with its biological diversity is one of the most amazing areas in whole of Serbia, offering great nature experiences, stunning views, hiking and trekking opportunities, unique Picea Omorica, vast animal diversity, and many other ways to fully enjoy life.

One of the most important stops will be stunning viewpoint of “Banjska Stena” which offers an amazing panorama of Perućac Lake on Drina river, which naturally borders Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.

Evening:Return to Sarajevo is planned in the very late evening, around 8-9 PM.

Destination:Lukomir, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation(Optional):Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar
Meals Included:B – L

Activity Note:The tour is adapted to all ages and is medium demanding. Due to the distance of the location, we use vehicles during the tour to reach the starting hiking point and the rest of the tour is on foot through breathtaking natural surroundings.

Morning:To start our journey, we’ll enjoy a 1.15-hour transfer from Sarajevo to Umoljani village, passing through the scenic Bjelašnica Olympic Mountain. Your guide, an adventurous enthusiast, is here to introduce you to the wonders of Bjelašnica and ensure that all your questions are addressed, so feel free to share your thoughts and opinions at any time.

At Umoljani village we shall leave our car and explore the village most important sites such as: Studeni Potok (Cold Creek), Stoned Dragon – Ažbaha – the legend of birth of Umoljani. We will shortly visit Umoljani Mosque and learn story of Sarajevo Haggadah.

First part of the Umoljani to Lukomir village trail will be 3.30 hour long hike. Trail will take us from starting point of roughly 1275 meters (Umoljani) across peak of Obalj at around 1896 metres.

On the way we will pass by old Gradina settlement, believed to date from Illyrian period. During the ascent you will enjoy amazing scenery, especially the Studeni Potok (Cold Creek) panorama.

At the top of Obalj, Rakitnica Canyon and mountains of Treskavica, Visocica and peak of Bjelašnica mountain with numerous small villages in distance will be simply stunning.

After some rest and full time body and spirit enjoyment we are ready to hike down to Lukomir village at altitude of 1500 which will be “one of a kind” story as well.

LunchLukomir – on the language of locals “harbour of peace”, is the village which dates at least 600 years ago, and where most of the century old traditions have been kept alive until today.It is the only remaining semi-nomadic traditional mountain village in Bosnia and Herzegovina

As soon as we arrive to the village we will have locally prepared lunch, meet some of the local people, learn about their customs and enjoy the best Bosnian coffee. After the tasty lunch we will visit the village mosque, see more Stećci tombstones, climb the Vijenac peak and admire the stunning 800 m deep Rakitnica canyon. Here, mother nature is at its best.

Afternoon:After exploring Lukomir village, return hike will mainly be pleasant 2.30h hours flat hike to Umoljani village through Canyon of Rakitnica river.

Rakitnica canyon is the probably European most remote and unexplored canyon. With length of 26km it separates massif of Bjelašnica and Visočica, and without doubt it is longest canyon in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Firstly explored in 1956, until today very few people have walked the full length of it, as in some parts it can be over 800 meters high and only 1 meter wide, making it very hardly accessible.

The trail we will take will be on the upper edge of the canyon, so you can see and feel the “magnificience” of this place.

Return to Umoljani should be around 5 pm, and arrival to Sarajevo around 6.15 pm.

Destination:Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation(Optional):Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar
Meals Included:B – L

Morning:We will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast and head towards Srebrenica. During the, roughly, 3hrs of drive, we will pass along some picturesque villages and stunning sceneries of the remote parts of East Bosnia known for its fertile vast fields embraced by the high mountain peaks.

Along the way we will discuss the ex-Yugoslavia, from its rise to its fall, from the reasons to consequences and slowly introduce you to the story of the largest massacre in Europe ever since WWII.

During the drive, we will pass the remote places of Sokolac, Vlasenica with the notorious Sušica Concentration Camp, Milići, Kravica warehouse, the place of mass mass execution of nearly 1200 man in Kravica warehouse and Bratunac, place where Srebrenica Genocide victims were held first before the executions.

Once we reach Potocari, we will visit the Memorial Centre complex with the cemetery and the former Dutch UN base where you’ll get a chance to see Museum of “Srebrenica Genocide – failure of international community”, the Memorial Room, documentary movies, chronological photo exhibitions, graffiti remains and listen to the testimonies of the genocide survivors.

Most importantly, you will have a chance to meet the local survivor who will guide you through the Memorial and share some of his/her personal stories and experiences.

Lunch:It is impossible to decide what will be the highlight of today’s day as each moment will be absolutely overwhelming, but if we must choose a highlight, we will always go with supporting the local community and intense work on reconciliation.

After the Memorial Center we will meet with our hosts at their home and, over the tasty home-cooked lunch, we will discuss further on the past, present and future of Srebrenica. The home-hosted full-course lunch you will be served is always made from scratch with organically grown ingredients from local farms of resilient Srebrenica Genocide survivors. Joining us for this lunch means you are treating your taste buds with once-in-a-lifetime flavors and helping us support the small local community in striving towards a better and sustainable future.

Afternoon/Evening:Last part of a day will be some nice and easy walks in the Srebrenica town and admiring the sunset from the viewpoint towering the mosque, catholic & orthodox church nestled in less than 200 m distance. We shall return to Sarajevo around 6 PM and let you have some free time to relax and explore the city on your own.

Destination:Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Accommodation(Optional):Hotel Colors inn 4* or similar
Meals Included:B

Morning:Morning drive will take us south-west towards Konjic.

We will explore Konjic’s charming old town, graced by the turquoise Neretva River and a historic Ottoman-era bridge. Nearby lies one of Yugoslavia’s best-kept secrets, Tito’s Bunker, a $4.7 billion Cold War relic, perfectly preserved and showcasing Yugoslavia’s past. This unique site also hosts modern art displays of global significance. Though we will not have time to explore its premises, we will make sure to introduce you to all of the intriguing stories surounding the Tito’s bunker.

Continuing our journey, we’ll travel a picturesque route along Jablanica Lake and through the Neretva River canyon, arriving in Jablanica town. Here, we’ll uncover the WWII history of the Neretva battle. Tito’s strategic brilliance during this battle, depicted in the Oscar-nominated film, earned him the title of Marshal and the battle’s reputation as the ‘World’s most humane battle.

Our journey continues through the mesmerizing Neretva River canyon with a next stop in Počitelj, perched above the Neretva River. An uphill walk through this charming town, accompanied by tales of its long written history and a visit to key landmarks like Hajji Alija Mosque, the Clock Tower, and Gavrankapetanovic Tower, is a must for anyone exploring the Herzegovina region.

As we conclude our walk, you’ll have the opportunity to savor locally grown fresh lemonade or opt for a cup of traditional Bosnian coffee.

Some 20 km from Pocitelj, Trebižat River plummets in a 28 m-high arc, creating a mesmerizing natural and 120-meter-wide water amphitheater known as Kravice Waterfall. These captivating waterfalls trapped in lush greenery are a perfect setting for everyone looking for an escape into intact nature.

For those of you who are into swimming and pedaling or simply enjoying one of the most photogenic Disney-like settings, which have its charm no matter the season of the year you are visiting, Kravica Waterfall is an absolute must additional stop.

Lunch:We will reach Blagaj at the time of lunch. Due to the amazingly clean Buna river, the most important thing to taste in Blagaj today is local trout. That is why we don’t leave the place before we offer our guests to try locally prepared trout on “Blagaj Way”, enjoying the amazing scenery of Buna River spring and Dervish House next to it. Vegetarians, don’t worry, we have solutions for you as well

Afternoon:Blagaj town is home to Buna river spring – Europe’s most beautiful, most powerful, clean and drinkable karst river spring, settled beneath few hundred meters high rock. Water comes out of quite large but stunningly deep cave, which springs amazing 43 cubic meters of water per second. Can you imagine this?

Just next to the spring, under the rock, is home to Blagaj Tekke – Dervish house, dating most likely pre or early Ottoman era from early 16th century, as unique sacral-residential example of Islamic architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visiting this complex and learning more about Dervish life in Herzegovina as important part of our history is, MUST DO.

Next, just a 15-minute drive away, we arrive in Mostar, the crown jewel of our ‘Herzegovina Necklace’ day trip. Our Mostar experience begins with a captivating walking tour that encompasses the city’s key attractions.

We’ll focus on Mostar’s Old Bridge, Old Bazaar, and Old Town, all while sharing stories that highlight the city’s historical and cultural diversity. Our narrative delves into the rise and fall of the Old Bridge, its triumphant resurrection, and the Siege of Mostar. You’ll gain insight into why it’s called Mostar and learn about its resilient residents, the ‘Mostarians.’ Together, we’ll bring Mostar’s history to life, creating a mesmerizing journey through time.

During our visit to Mostar, we offer our guests the option to explore independently, as we believe in providing flexibility and freedom.

Our preference to arrive in Mostar during the late afternoon allows us to enjoy the city when most other day tours and large groups have departed, providing a more intimate and dreamy experience.Next, just a 15-minute drive away, we arrive in Mostar, the crown jewel of our ‘Herzegovina Necklace’ day trip. Our Mostar experience begins with a captivating walking tour that encompasses the city’s key attractions.

We’ll focus on Mostar’s Old Bridge, Old Bazaar, and Old Town, all while sharing stories that highlight the city’s historical and cultural diversity. Our narrative delves into the rise and fall of the Old Bridge, its triumphant resurrection, and the Siege of Mostar. You’ll gain insight into why it’s called Mostar and learn about its resilient residents, the ‘Mostarians.’ Together, we’ll bring Mostar’s history to life, creating a mesmerizing journey through time.

During our visit to Mostar, we offer our guests the option to explore independently, as we believe in providing flexibility and freedom.

After our time in Mostar, we’ll embark on the journey back to Sarajevo, which will take approximately two hours.

Destination:Sarajevo (alternatively Dubrovnik – Split – Zagreb)
Accommodation:Not included in package price
Meals Included:B

Activity Note: Free time in Sarajevo until airport transfer for your departure.

In case your transfer is in the later afternoon, we can combine it with some half day tours in Sarajevo and explore a little bit more.