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East Bosnia and West Serbia, two regions enriched with numerous cultural, historical and nature wonders, are simply not to miss when passing near or travelling around these regions.
This amazing UNESCO off the beaten path tour is created with a focus on absolutely beautiful yet remote parts of East Bosnia and West Serbia which will easily make this trip a highlight of your travels.
By far, per listed itinerary (7 stops), this is the most diverse connecting day tour between Sarajevo and Belgrade. Having tons of beautiful stops and outbound costs, always aiming at great travellers experiences, this tour in comparison to other means of travel, is the best optimised cost-benefit service you can get on the market. We guarantee it.
Among other outbound costs mentioned, such as Šargan Eight train ride or visit to Drvengrad village, we can’t pass by and skip beautiful Drina river cruise or visit National Park Tara.
Simply, perception of grandiosity of the UNESCO site of Mehmed Paša Sokolović bridge, can’t be experienced by just walking across it, and taking few photos from a side. You must go under it. In the same time, at Višegrad, we enjoy to help local boat businesses thrive.
National Park Tara’s most beautiful viewpoint is not accessible by asphalt road, part of it is macadam. We don’t mind detouring several tens of kilometre, and putting bit more amortization on our vehicles and gas costs, for our guests, to probably once in the lifetime, enjoy the amazing views from Banjska Stena.
If you ever get into situation where you are comparing products on the market, please don’t judge them by the price only, take a deeper look into what you get in return, aka: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Guide
English speaking local-expert guide and driver. Guide in different language available on request.
Free pickup
We shall pick you up at your address either in Sarajevo or Belgrade and drop you off at your address too.
All Transfers
All tour transfers are provided by Funky Tours.
Entrance Fees, Taxes & Flexible Cancellation Policy
Drina river boat ride (winter time usually not available), Šargan Eight train (winter time usually not available), Drvengrad ticket. No hidden costs. VAT 17% included in the price. Cancel 1 day prior for full refund or change dates anytime.
Availability
Tour is available throughout the year.
Group Discounts
For bigger group bookings, discounts are available.
Insurance
Travel insurance is not included. Please buy it at home country.
Guide Tipping
Tips are not included in the tour costs. If you receive excellent service, please consider tipping.
Private Tour
All tours are shared, unless specifically booked as private.
Food
Lunch break is planned at Drvengrad, and food costs are paid at the spot directly to the restaurant. Typical lunch cost is around 8-10 EUR per person.
Logistics
After departing Sarajevo in the morning 7.45 AM we’ll take approx. 45min ride to reach Rogatica and first stop of the day, Borak Stećci necropolis near the Burati village. This hidden gem deep in the misty forests of East Bosnia just recently inscribed as UNESCO World heritage, so we surely make a visit there. We will discover unique history of Medieval Bosnian Kingdom and figure out why these block of limestone are scattered all around Bosnia and Herzegovina. The necropolis is bit hidden in the forest so bit of hiking is required to find them.
Later, we ride for one more hour, through mountain parts of Bosnia before we meet up with turquoise Drina river canyon, and arrive to Višegrad.
Višegrad is home to UNESCO heritage too, an Ottoman time bridge built in 1577. by the Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasa Sokolović. The UNESCO summary: “The unique elegance of proportion and monumental nobility of the property as a whole bear witness to the greatness of this style of architecture.” is definitely reason to visit such a beautiful place.
The book: “Bridge Over Drina” by Bosnian and Travnik born, World famous Nobel Prize winner, Yugoslav writer Ivo Andrić ,has given most of the glory to this amazing place and we surely recommend you to read this novel before coming to this region and for this tour. This way you can better understand historical importance of this area in regard to a local but as well to a global aspect.
As soon as we see the Bridge and take the river cruise through amazingly green Drina river, we’ll explore stone town of Andrićgrad (eng.Andrić town). Small, stone made town, recently built, named and dedicated after novelist Ivo Andrić. Site also interpreting story of once glorious and very successful Yugoslavian cinematography from perspective of one of the best local directors – Emir Kusturica.
As soon as we finish story of Višegrad, we’ll continue driving towards east Bosnian border and on the way will pay visit to one of the most important Serbian Orthodox monasteries, Dobrun Monastery. Originally built in 1343 with frescoes preserved until today is ideal stop to learn more about local history and enjoy the amazing nature surrounding it.
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”.
First stop (for lunch possibly) will be 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.
Why the place looks out of this world? Why it won one of the most prestigious awards in world of the architecture? The best is to come with us and see it for yourself.
After lunch at Drvengrad we are about to take train ride, but not just any train ride, we will do the famous “Šargan Eight”.
The Šargan Eight is 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 from the sky looks like 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.
Read more about Bosnian Gauge also known “Bosnaspur” or “Bosnische Spurweite”.
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.
Return to Sarajevo is planned in the very late evening, around 8-9 PM.
What Do I Need to Bring?
Definitely the best tour you can take from Sarajevo
Bosnia es un país realmente realmente hermoso. Luego de unos días en Sarajevo, teníamos de conocer algo más de Bosnia y Herzegovina y, si fuese posible, de Serbia, previo seguir camino a Mostar.
Encontramos este tour con la agencia Sarajevo Funky Tour puesto que ya habíamos hecho otro tour con ellos, altamente recomendados por mi prima que había estado en Sarajevo antes.
Y entonces, sin dudar nos contactamos con la agencia.
La agencia es perfecta, amabilidad, servicio, rapidez en contestar, los tours que ofrecen son impresionantes, los guías buenísimos.
Pero este tour en particular merece una review específica porque realmente no recuerdo haber hecho un tour tan completo, con tantas cosas distintas para conocer, tantas cosas para aprender. El chofer y guía han sido realmente impresionantes, la dedicación puesta a nosotros ha sido increíble.
Es un tour largo porque se recorre una gran distancia pero todo lo que se recorre es distinto y hermoso y lo que se aprende no tiene comparación con nada. Viajas super cómodo en una van y vas parando en distintos lugares y compartiendo tanto con el guía y los otros pasajeros que terminas siendo un grupo de amigos tomando un rico café y almorzando juntos.
Si disponen de un día entero y tienen interés en conocer, esta es LA excursión. Tienen todo solucionado y perfectamente organizado por la agencia. Te pasen a buscar por el hotel, te dejan en el hotel, se fijan que estés cómodo en todo momento. Te explican todo lo que quieras saber.
Me gustaría recordar el nombre del guía, porque ha sido increíble todo lo que nos ha transmitido acerca de la historia y el presente de la región y realmente quisiera agradecerle de nuevo toda la paciencia, amabilidad y dedicación.
Los lugares naturales que verán, por ejemplo Visegrad o el Tara National Park en Park, realmente son impresionantes.
No voy a entrar en detalles porque sería muy extenso, pero me quedo a disposición para cualquier consulta puntual. Hice el tour hasta bastante tiempo pero me quedó tan grabado todo y me siento tan agradecida con las personas que lo posibilitaron que me sentía en deuda con este review.
No duden en realizarlo, no lo olvidarán jamás! verán lugares realmente hermosos! y aprenderán tanto!
Muchas gracias Sarajevo Funky Tours!!!!!
The best way to travel from Sarajevo to Belgrade
I had originally purchased an airline ticket from Sarajevo to Belgrade. Once I was in Sarajevo and experienced two amazing tours operated by Sarajevo Funky Tours, I changed my travel plans and booked the company’s one-way transfer via West Bosnia and East Serbia. I am so glad that I opted for the transfer because the tour–led by Damir as our guide and Adnan Hadzi as our driver–was incredible and reasonably priced given the number of site visits. Hotel pickup was around 7:00 a.m. (there was miscommunication on my part about the time), as an early start was necessary to cover the long distance, visit all the places on the itinerary, and arrive in Belgrade at around 8:00 p.m.
There was plenty of space in the van to securely store luggage. My favorite stops were at Rogatica where we visited the Borak Stećci necropolis, Tara National Park which has the most breathtaking view at Banjska Stena (that view alone made the tour worthwhile!), and the Gate of Podrinje at sunset.
Damir was knowledgeable and provided background information on each site. Adnan made sure we arrived at our destinations safely and on time, and he even gave us a mini tour of Belgrade as we were driving through the city and recommended restaurants and places to visit. Both Damir and Adnan were friendly, approachable, and professional, and they made the transfer fun and enjoyable.
My first visit to Sarajevo was fulfilling and memorable thanks to the wonderful staff at Funky Tours. Special thanks to Ema and Nadina who patiently answered my questions and made arrangements both before and during my trip.
It would be a pleasure to visit Sarajevo again in the near future so I can join some other tours!
The best way to travel from Sarajevo to Belgrade
I had originally purchased an airline ticket from Sarajevo to Belgrade. Once I was in Sarajevo and experienced two amazing tours operated by Sarajevo Funky Tours, I changed my travel plans and booked the company’s one-way transfer via West Bosnia and East Serbia. I am so glad that I opted for the transfer because the tour–led by Damir as our guide and Adnan Hadzi as our driver–was incredible and reasonably priced given the number of site visits. Hotel pickup was around 7:00 a.m. (there was miscommunication on my part about the time), as an early start was necessary to cover the long distance, visit all the places on the itinerary, and arrive in Belgrade at around 8:00 p.m.
There was plenty of space in the van to securely store luggage. My favorite stops were at Rogatica where we visited the Borak Stećci necropolis, Tara National Park which has the most breathtaking view at Banjska Stena (that view alone made the tour worthwhile!), and the Gate of Podrinje at sunset.
Damir was knowledgeable and provided background information on each site. Adnan made sure we arrived at our destinations safely and on time, and he even gave us a mini tour of Belgrade as we were driving through the city and recommended restaurants and places to visit. Both Damir and Adnan were friendly, approachable, and professional, and they made the transfer fun and enjoyable.
My first visit to Sarajevo was fulfilling and memorable thanks to the wonderful staff at Funky Tours. Special thanks to Ema and Nadina who patiently answered my questions and made arrangements both before and during my trip.
It would be a pleasure to visit Sarajevo again in the near future so I can join some other tours!
Bosnia a great country to visit. And Sarajevo Funky tours an execellent way to help on that. A great great time
Great tour company
Great tour company!
My communication with company started in trying to get booked on a transfer/tour from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo.
Company came through and got me booked even though there wasn’t a full group and I was traveling solo. Picked up an Australian couple and took them to first stop on tour where they were met by another guide and ventured of onto different route. Ended up with private tour rest of the way to Sarajevo. Well planned stops plus made extra stop at a highly recommended lamb restaurant for me to pick up a dinner platter for later that evening. Delivered me directly to my AirBNB.
Next morning I did the free Sarajevo walking tour. Nice mix of food/drink stops included with stops at cultural sights and city spots. Really good intro to the city and its people and it’s food.
War siege tour later that afternoon took me to the war tunnel, bobsled track, Jewish cemetery, and yellow bastion.
I also did the Eastern Bosnia and Western Serbia tour. Great way to see some UNESCO sites in both countries. I was moving slow with a broken toe but guide made sure I made it up to all the viewpoints without slowing down rest of group too much. Information on all stops was very thorough.
All staff and guides were super friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable. Always felt safe in vehicles with drivers. This group of people are al, eager to share their country with you.
