Jewels of the Balkans: Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro (8 Days)

Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel Colors Inn 4* or similar

>Sarajevo is great place to start your amazing Bosnian and Montenegrin adventure. Being very well connected via WizzAir with many European cities it is the most convenient place to start and end your Balkan journey.

Arrival Note: Depending on your arrival time and hotel check-in policy, you might not be able to check into your room immediately after arrival. Of course, you are welcome to store your luggage at the reception desk of your hotel, or if easier, at our Funky Tours office until check-in time. Your Funky Tours Host upon your airport arrival and pickup, will inform you about all check-in details and will brief you on the rest of the day activities.

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 your 30min transfer to your conveniently and centrally located hotel in Sarajevo. Accommodation we use in Sarajevo are amazing 4* 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.

After you settle in your room, your Funky Tours 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. Your Funky Tours Host will happily give you all the necessary information on where to find some of the finest Bosnian food. Perhaps you should 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: This is time on your own. However, Funky Tours state of the art support is more than happy to suggest and organise interesting evening activities. Unless you decide to have an easy evening and adjust yourself to the time difference, your Funky Tours host will suggest interesting activities for an evening chill.

Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel Colors Inn 4* or similar
Meals Included: B – L – D (home-hosted Bosnian style dinner)

>Sarajevo War Tunnel – dug in 1993 during the Siege of Sarajevo, with purpose to supply city with arms during the 4 year siege.

Activity Note: Today’s itinerary includes walking on uneven terrain, while visiting some of the ruins during our Sarajevo Siege tour. Make sure to have some water with you, and always take attention to the present day weather forecast.

Breakfast: Our well chosen range of 4* hotels in Sarajevo start serving buffet-style breakfast around 7 AM, featuring Bosnian and International options.

Morning: The morning part of the day will start at 9 AM when we plan to set out for the walking tour of the old part and city centre of Sarajevo. Our 2.5 hour tour will cover the stories of origins of Sarajevo and the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. We shall visit the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian parts of Sarajevo, which both with its stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches and synagogues will reveal the true nature of the real European Jerusalem. We’ll make sure to visit the Latin Bridge and learn the story about how WWI was triggered right here, in the heart of Sarajevo. Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics and life during the Siege of Sarajevo will surely be part of our story today.

Around 11.30 PM, you will have some free time to further explore the centre of Sarajevo on your own. You might stay in the Ottoman part of Sarajevo delving into hidden cobblestone streets, discovering the breath of Sarajevo’s mystical past, or alternatively visit Austria-Hungarian part and understand why Sarajevo is a city located on the crossroad of cultures.

>Sarajevo old town – Bačšaršija coppersmith street, famously called Kazandžiluk is the oldest originally preserved street in Sarajevo.

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 (starting at 2 PM) 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 Sarajevan, an ex Bosnian army soldier who during the 1990ies was directly involved in the resistance organised by the local people of Sarajevo. 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.

>Sarajevo Olympic Bobsled Track at Trebević mountain built for Sarajevo Winter Olympics 1984. Unfortunately it was destroyed during the Siege of Sarajevo and today serves as great reminder of Sarajevo’s Olympic glory and perfect spot for graffiti art.

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. The Balkans today are place where wars have ended in military way, but wars of denial, especially denial of Genocide and wars of relativisation are still going on. Making sure that the unbiased facts of the 1990ies conflicts are well documented and shared is an imperative.

Dinner: Evening time is reserved for traditional locally-hosted Bosnian dinner. Try traditional Bosnian food while chatting about Bosnian culture of living and present day challenges of life. Traditional Bosnian brandy (Šljivovica) and tasty wines of Herzegovina (Žilavka and Blatina) are a must try. Keep in mind that Bosnian food is widely based on meat, but Funky Tours will make sure we have available options equally for vegetarians and vegans.

Evening: Following dinner, we shall drop you off at your hotel, where the remainder of the night is free for you to explore on your own. However, if you feel motivated to explore Sarajevo’s nightlife we have some good places to recommend.

Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel Colors Inn 4* or similar in Sarajevo
Meals Included: B – L

Activity Note: Use the Funky Tours benefits of your optional day and decide what kind of activity you would like to engage with on Day 3. As we completely understand that a bit of flexibility during the travels is quite an important thing, we love when we can, to give our guests the option to choose what kind of travel style they prefer.

Tour Options: Lukomir Nomad Village | Srebrenica Genocide | Jajce and Travnik

Option 1: If you are interested in discovering the lifestyle of Bosnian nomads, then the Lukomir village hiking tour is the best way to experience the life of Bosnian nomads at Bjelašnica mountain. Opt for easy or medium demanding hiking experience and meet the locals, try the local food and learn the local traditions, at one of the most beautiful places in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Option 2: If you prefer to learn more about breakup of Yugoslavia and story of the largest Genocide in Europe since WW2, then Srebrenica Genocide study tour and home-hosted lunch with local Srebrenica Genocide survivors is very interesting way to acquire this experience.

Option 3: Central Bosnian regions are extremely interesting regions, so a day tour to the medieval Bosnian capital of Jajce and Viziers town of Travnik, while learning about the foundations of Yugoslavia and visiting Pliva river lakes and waterfalls could be one of very interesting choices.

If some of these tours look a bit demanding or maybe you prefer an alternative, then stroll through our wide range of Sarajevo’s tours and experiences and let us know what kind of alternative activity you prefer to do, and we shall organise it.

In this itinerary we focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, but if you feel you would love to peek into Serbia and visit some West Serbian regions, then an amazing way to do it is to opt for our East Bosnia and West Serbia Unesco off the beaten path day tour.

Regardless of which tour option you opt for, the day will include breakfast and lunch. Return to Sarajevo usually is in the afternoon hours, so you will have a free evening to explore the city on your own.

Destination: Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Accommodation: Hotel Eden 4* or similar
Meals Included: B

>Mostar old town with Old Bridge that was built in 1566. The bridge was destroyed in 1993 and today, fully restored to its original design.

Activity Note: Today’s itinerary includes walking on uneven terrain, while visiting central Herzegovina, especially the old part of Mostar. Make sure to have 1l of water with you, as the Herzegovina region has a Mediterranean climate and temperatures during the summer months are regularly above 35 °C.

Breakfast: Our well chosen range of 4* hotels in Sarajevo start serving buffet-style breakfast around 7 AM, featuring Bosnian and International options.

Morning: As soon as we finish our delicious breakfast we leave Sarajevo at 8 AM. The road will take us south-west towards Konjic, where we plan to visit the Konjic old town and famous Tito’s Bunker.

The old town of Konjic is dominated by the beautiful turquoise Neretva river and Konjic old bridge, dating from the period of the Ottoman era. At the very vicinity of the Konjic, there is probably the best kept and one of the most expensive Yugoslavian secrets – the famous Tito’s Bunker. Built during the period of 26 years (1953 – 1979), at the peak of the Cold War, Tito’s Bunker cost $4,7bln, and was meant to hide top Yugoslavian leadership in case of nuclear invasion. Since the Bunker was never used, and was protected from destruction intended by escaping Yugoslavian Army soldiers in 1992, today it is perfectly preserved as originally built, and offers great insight into the Yugoslavian past. At the same time, by hosting permanent modern art displays, it serves as a modern art space of global importance.

After we leave Konjic, we shall take an amazingly scenic road passing by the Jablanica lake and via the Neretva river canyon, we’ll arrive at Jablanica town.

Jablanica town is home to the famous WWII story of the Neretva battle, tasty roasted lamb and stunningly beautiful natural surroundings. At a location called “Bridge over Neretva”, we shall give insight into one of Tito’s most famous military maneuvers during WWII.

During the winter of 1943, under a combined attack by Axis powers’ enemies, Tito’s brilliant strategic maneuvers made partisans “win” the battle, which in the upcoming years, proved Tito worthy the title of Marshall. Nationwide, the battle was referred to as the “World’s most humane battle”, according to which, the Oscar nominated movie was filmed in 1969.

Lunch: Jablanica is additionally home to the famous Bosnian roasted lamb, which is one of the most popular local specialties. At one of the best local restaurants we shall make lunch break and taste local delicacies. Note that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, lamb is considered a sheep under 1 year of age. Prepared like that, lamb meat is quite typical-smell-free, tender with a totally different taste than the majority of people expect it to be. Lamb is served with traditionally baked potatoes – “ispod sača” (under the bell) and homemade bread.

Of course, for vegetarians we have available options as well.

Afternoon: After lunch, afternoon hours will bring us an additional set of interesting places to visit. The beautiful and scenic road towards Mostar, will gradually change from typical continental and mountainous scenery of central Bosnia, into very typical Mediterranean, dry and naked, rolling hills-kind-of Herzegovinian scenery. Our very next place of visit will be the mystical Blagaj Dervish house (Tekke). Located at the spring of Buna river at town of Blagaj, this Muslim holy place was founed 500+ years ago, and since then, stayed the key point of Dervish mystical teachings and practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Just next to the Dervish house is the Buna river spring. Being the 2nd strongest river spring in all of Europe, this karst emerald is a great add-on to the stunningly beautiful Herzegovina region.

Just across the Blagaj Tekke and Buna spring, is the location of several quality local restaurants. Those are ideal for afternoon Bosnian coffee and relaxing time by the river. Additionally, local restaurants offer great Herzegovinian specialties such as Blagaj’s way-prepared trout and smokvara (fig made cake).

>Blagaj Tekke (Dervish house), and beautiful Buna river spring – the 2nd largest in Europe.

Since the Herzegovina region is very rich with beautiful and clean rivers, sweet water fish, such as trout, is one the most famous specialties of Herzegovina. Trout prepared on Blagaj way – rolled into corn powder and grilled, while served with chard and boiled potatoes is a simply must have dish in central Herzegovina.

After “mystical” and tasty times at Blagaj, after a short ride we will arrive at Mostar. Immediately we’ll check into our centrally and conveniently located 4* accommodation, relax a bit and undertake an interesting walking tour of Mostar.

At Mostar, the focus of our attention will be the old town and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Built in 1566 the Mostar bridge has since been the main reason behind Mostar developing into the capital of the Herzegovina region. Unfortunately in November of 1993, during the Siege of Mostar, the bridge was destroyed. Reasons and judicial facts behind the destruction of the Mostar Old Bridge, we will thoroughly cover during our walking tour of Mostar.

Since the Bridge, since then there’s been a tradition of bridge diving. Today young and brave Mostar divers compete to earn a few euros by diving off the bridge in front of the tourists from all around the world. We guarantee that we have the best seats for that kind of experience.

Later afternoons are the best times to explore Mostar. When the morning to midday crowds are gone, the temperatures are getting lower, the sun is slowly setting in the west, our late afternoon and evening experience of Mostar completely highlights the day of our Herzegovina adventure.

Dinner: The dinner is planned at one of the local Mostar restaurants. As you have been in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a few days already, we are quite aware of your food preferences, so your Funky Tours Host will definitely suggest a variety of tasty options.

Evening: After the dinner, you have earned your free time in Mostar. You can opt to relax at your hotel, or use this amazing opportunity and explore Mostar in the late night. Mostar is a town divided on the east and west Mostar, where west Mostar is quite a popular nightlife destination.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria 4* or similar
Meals Included: B

Activity Note: Herzegovina is turquoise rivers paradise, so swimming at stunning Kravice falls is a must do option when travelling around. Make sure to bring swimsuits and towels. Additionally get ready to try some bestest and tastiest biodynamic wines of the Balkan region.

Breakfast: Our beautiful 4* hotel Eden, serves buffet style breakfast with a variety of local and international options available. Our approximate departure time is at 10 AM, and breakfast is served from 7 AM, which leaves you a few hours to explore the Mostar morning on your own.

Morning: After a bit later morning departure, the first stop of the day is the town of Počitelj. One of the most well preserved Ottoman towns, dating from the medieval Bosnian period, beautifully nested in the amphitheatre hill just above Neretva river, offers an amazing insight into the past dating back 600+ years. While walking the old town streets, and its stunning defensive walls, we will try to peek into the reasons why this beautiful town was completely destroyed in 1993 during the time of aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina. We give factual insight into who destroyed it and why present-day, while it successfully defies time, still stands without proper local and state support for further reconstruction and rehabilitation.

>Počitelj village, looming over the beautiful Neretva river.

After we enjoyed the shades of pomegranate trees in the medieval Počitelj town, our next stop will be the beautiful Kravice waterfalls. As Herzegovina is a typical karst region, it is heavily rich with stunning underground rivers. When rain dissolves the limestone, the Herzegovinian rivers turn turquoise and become the most beautifully colored rivers in the world. Trebižat river, being mostly famous for stunning tufa waterfalls, additionally offers an amazing summer time activities such as kayaking and quite chilled swimming experience.
Our plan for the time spent at Kravica waterfalls is to thoroughly explore this beautiful place, and if we happen to visit the place during the summer months, do some swimming and have a few drinks at by-the-river cafe bars.

Afternoon: Herzegovina region is blessed with approx 300+ sunny days in a year, and being so, represents the most important wine region of the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian Croat dominated regions around the town of Čitluk are among the most renowned local wine-makers, and experiences of wine-tasting along local products such as prosciutto, olive oil and cheese are one of a kind.

Just knowing that less than 3% of global wine production is biodynamic, and having a chance to try extremely ecologically-made wines by Herzegovinian wine philosophers, will be a unique and tasty experience.

>Herzegovina wine tasting experience. The group is tasting some of the best biodynamic wines of the region of Balkans.

Lunch: The lunch time is planned at Stolac. Being a town with more than 30 national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and beautiful Bregava river, Stolac is a perfect destination for short city walk and lunch-by-the-river break. Trying local Herzegovinian specialties such as “pura” (polenta served with plain yoghurt and garlic), “japrak” and “dolma” (grinded beef meat with spices rolled and boiled into vine leaves or layers of onion), “janjetina ispod sača” (roasted lamb meat under the bell), or local trout will surely help you better understand the Herzegovinian culture.

For dessert you may opt for “smokvara” (sweet made of wheat and corn flour with fig pekmez – thick fig made syrup), which is the most famous sweet of all Herzegovina. Trying one in Stolac with Bosnian coffee is the best combination.

Later afternoon journey will take us through some very remote parts of east Herzegovina until we arrive at Vjetrenica cave (eng.wind cave). The Bosnian largest and World’s most biodiverse cave, offers an amazing insight into the natural phenomenon of stalactites and stalagmites through a millennium long process of creation. Its most significant inhabitant is the Olm (human fish), and being the only amphibian in Europe that lives in the cave, we will consider ourselves extremely lucky to have seen this beautiful salamander on our Vjetrenica cave explorations.

On the way to Kotor, the final stop of the day is one of the most interesting XV century Serbian Orthodox monasteries, founded on the remains of the IV century Byzantine church, the famous Tvrdoš.

Beautifully located on the right bank of the turquoise Trebišnjica river, the largest underground river in the Balkans, Tvrdoš monastery seems to have adopted its colorful beauty and calmness, adding even more to the experience of the whole place.

While being an active monastery, at the same time, Tvrdoš is one of the globally most renowned wineries. Producing a variety of wine sorts with Vranac (red) and Herzegovina native Žilavka (white) being the most popular, other products such as Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Rosé could not be missed and are also of a great quality.

The wine-making competitiveness between West and East Herzegovina produces amazing local wines. Getting a chance on the same day to compare the quality of the long term tradition of production of high quality wines of Bosnian Croat in West Herzegovina vs Bosnian Serb producers in the East Herzegovina, is simply an experience worth having. At Funky tours we bring you the best of both worlds.

Later Afternoon: Arrival to Kotor in Montenegro, will be in later afternoon hours, mainly depending on our border crossing time. However in the Balkans, crossing the borders in later hours is always better than in the mornings, so our expectations, even in the highest season, is that we will not spend too much time on the Bosnia-Montenegro border.

Once at Kotor, we shall check into our centrally located hotel, relax for some short time and head to Kotor old town for delicious dinner.

Dinner: Kotor is Montenegro’s most beautiful coastal town. Being so, the most recommended local specialties for the first evening should be seafood delicacies. Your Funky Tour Host will make sure to recommend Kotor’s great dinner places, and suggestions on what to eat when it comes to Mediterranean cuisine.

Evening: After the dinner, you will have free time in Kotor. Since the day was quite long already, you can possibly take a short walk back to the hotel or, in case you feel inspired for some more, explore the old part of Kotor during the late evening hours.

During the summer season, together with Budva, Kotor is one of Montenegro’s nightlife capitals. Having a few drinks in the local bars within the city walls (or just outside), will surely be a great way to sum up all the amazing experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina we’ve had so far.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria 4* or similar
Meals Included: B

Activity Note: Today we are exploring Kotor bay, meaning we will have quite a lot of opportunities to swim. In case you are visiting Montenegro coast during the summer months, a swimsuit, towels and sun cream should be on your must-have list.

Breakfast: Our beautiful hotel 4* Hotel Astoria (or similar) in Kotor will serve us buffet breakfast from 7 to 10 AM featuring Montenegrin and International options.

Morning: Since the previous Herzegovina day was quite long and demanding, on this day in Kotor we will start at 9 AM (if needed we can start at 10 AM). As your breakfast was served early in the morning, for those early birds, some early morning hours could be spent enjoying the buzz of the Kotor old town and city markets. We especially recommend exploring the fish and local products market located on the outer walls of Kotor (left from the main Sea gate) that works from 7 AM to 2 PM.

The morning walking tour of Kotor will take us via hidden cobble stoned streets, giving us an opportunity for in-depth understanding of the history and cultural background of Kotor.

In the present day originating from Venetian-era, but originally mentioned during the Roman era as a strategic position on the Adriatic sea, the Kotor throughout its nearly 2 millenia long history has been through many ups and downs. Since Romans, followed by Illyirians, Slavs, Hungarians, Serbian, Venetians, French, Austrians, Yugoslavian, and today finally part of modern Montenegro, the Kotor has seen many empires passing by, while leaving part of their history engraved within heavily fortified walls of Kotor.

>Kotor old town and Kotor bay view from San Giovanni fortress.

Learning specifics about the past and presence of Kotor, while admiring the narrow stone streets, stone churches, stone walls, high mountains above, small windows with drying laundry, a ton of cats, hidden bars and cafes, and so much more, is a great way to experience UNESCO heritage of Kotor town.

Must do in Kotor: The famous Saint John’s Fortress, or Castle of San Giovanni just above the Kotor old town is a must do. However, as it is not part of the Kotor walking tour, but in aim to be fully experienced, this adventure requires you to climb nearly 1400 steps, and we recommend this experience either in the early morning or late afternoon during your free time in Kotor. To avoid big heats and avoid the sun getting directly to your camera while taking photos, the most recommended time for the walk is the early morning. For romantics, the late afternoon hike, during the sunset is also very recommended. The castle is open 24hrs a day, with an 8 EUR entrance fee (May to October).

Afternoon: After the Kotor walking tour, around the mid-day, when Kotor is mostly crowded, we will leave this beautiful town for a few hours, to explore a bit more of Montenegro coastline.

The 2nd most famous spot in Kotor bay area is Perast village. Only 15min driving away from Kotor, Perast is a baroque village in the municipality of Kotor with its two stunning islets: Sveti Djordje (St. George) as a natural one, and Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks) as artificial one. Historically important for its naval history, Perast strategically stands opposite of the only water entrance to Kotor bay.

After we take a pleasant short walk through Perast village, we are ready to take a short boat ride to the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks.

>Beautiful islets of St.George and Our Lady of the Rocks, are just short boat ride away from Perast.

In the middle of the 15th century, on 22nd of July 1453, when two brothers, one of whom was seriously ill, found an icon on a rocks (“škrpjela”) in the water, as a sign of gratitude for healing, the locals of Perast, built an islet, by increasing the surface of the islet by pouring stones and sinking old sailing ships.

Already in the 15th century, a chapel was erected, in which the image of Our Lady was placed. By the beginning of the 17th century already, about a hundred ships had been sunk, including captured Turkish ships. The larger church was built in 1630, but was damaged in the earthquake of 1667. In addition to earthquakes, the shrine was also exposed to Turkish and pirate attacks.

Today, the islet with its church, beautiful frescoes and a small museum is one of the biggest attractions of the Bay of Kotor.

This activity will take around 30-40min, and once we are back to Perast, we will continue exploring other amazing parts of the Montenegro coastline.

Lunch: Experiencing Perast without at least having one drink or coffee at bars and cafes overlooking the islets is definitely a miss. Since approximately we shall be in Perast during the lunch time, our choice for lunch will be one of the most amazing Perast restaurants. Trying Adriatic seafood delicacies is of course the first choice.

>Old town of Perast nested with beautiful marina is ideal place for afternoon lunch break.

If you are more into continental cuisine, Montenegro specialties like Njeguši village cheese and prosciutto as appetizers are perfectly combined with mutton and lamb chops, served with roasted potatoes, onion and a mix of veggies. Food like this has the best taste if the meat is roasted under the bell (“Ispod sača”) on a hot coal or sometimes, in a milk marinade with fresh spices.

Of course, during the lunch your guide will recommend you the best of local and authentic Montenegro wines. Globally, Balkan wines are still an unknown phenomenon, but just knowing the European single largest vineyard, sized at 2000 acres, is located in southern Montenegro will make you rethink your wine choices when travelling the Balkans. The most popular Montenegro wine is called “Vranac” (eng. Black stallion), and is excellently combined with red meat.

Afternoon: In the afternoon hours after lunch, we still are exploring Montenegro coastline. We can’t miss out on Budva and the island of Sveti Stefan (eng. St. Stefan).

Budva traditionally is considered a Balkans summer time party capital. Long sandy beaches with open space clubs and bars bring young people from all around the Balkans, eager to party and enjoy the Balkan style of music.

Originally founded by Phoenicians, 2500 years of turbulent history are woven into the walls of Budva old town, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited places of the Adriatic coast. Walking around the narrow, cobble stoned streets and enjoying the wide panorama views from Budva old town fort, while listening to the historical facts on this beautiful small town, is a great way to peek into the glorious history of this small, but extremely beautiful town on Montenegro coastline.

Just outside of Budva old town is Mogren beach, offering amazing opportunities for summer time swim and chill, as it is the best beach in close vicinity of Budva old town.

>Island of Sveti Stefan (St.Stefan) is a home to one of the most luxurious hotel resorts – Aman. 

Last stop of the day is the island of Sveti Stefan. Once an island, today connected with mainland by narrow isthmus, Sveti Stefan is now a 5-star franchise hotel of the international group of Aman Resorts. Entrance to Sveti Stefan usually is not allowed unless you have booked accommodation or lunch there. However, observing the beautiful Sveti Stefan islet from a short distance, and taking selfies during our visit is a must do.

By mid-afternoon we are back to Kotor, where for the rest of the day you will have free time.

Dinner: On your own. Your Funky Tours Host will provide you with all the amazing recommendations on where to dine and have a good time during your evening free time in Kotor.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria 4* or similar
Meals Included: B – L

Activity Note: Today we plan to visit Njegoš mausoleum at Lovćen National Park, and to reach all the way up, we will have 461 stairs. Make sure to have some water along the way and during the summer take sun cream. Additionally, our Skadar lake cruise will provide us an amazing opportunity for great swim and chill. The morning 1 hour ride that will take us from Kotor to Lovćen has 25 sharp hairpin turns, so make sure you don’t overeat yourself during the morning breakfast. We are visiting the beautiful Lipa cave, and the temperature inside is around 10 degrees Celsius, so make sure to have something warm to wear, if needed.

Breakfast: Our beautiful hotel 4* Hotel Astoria (or similar) in Kotor will serve us buffet breakfast from 7 to 10 AM featuring Montenegrin and International options.

Morning: This morning we start at 8 AM. As the day is quite long, a bit earlier start is recommended. The first part of the tour will be a stunning experience of driving via an Austrians made road (1879) that originally connected Kotor and Cetinje, the old royal capital of Montenegro. The road is enriched with 25 hairpin turns, and with several panorama stops, it gives us an amazing view over the Kotor bay. Once at the top, we have arrived at Lovćen National Park, a core and heart of Montenegro, its most valuable cultural, historical and religious heritage site.

>Lovćen Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic Njegoš by Ivan Meštrović. 

The Lovćen National Park was founded in 1952, with an area of 6220 acres.

The heart of Lovćen is considered to be Jezerski vrh (1657m) on which the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, the most famous poet, bishop and ruler of Montenegro from 1830 to 1851,
was built.

Having climbed 461 steps, carved into the sheer rocks, we get the opportunity to explore the Mausoleum and to enjoy the 360 views of the stunning Montenegro landscapes. On one side we can see Skadar Lake and majestic Montenegro mountains, and on the other, stunning Kotor bay, and if the day is clear, possibly even the coast of Italy.

>Lovćen National Park observation post at Petar Petrović Njegoš Mausoleum.

Afternoon: After exploring the powerful story of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, we head down and take a short ride to Njeguši, the birthplace village of the Njegoš dynasty, which ruled Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. Njeguši village, aside from being the cultural and historical core of Montenegro, at the same time is the birthplace of Montenegrin national cuisine.

The idyllic village with just several tens of inhabitants, is homeplace to globally popular Njeguši prosciutto and Njeguši cheese. Since the region of Njeguši village ideally combines Mediterranean and Continental climate effects, the local products of prosciutto and cheese together with honey, rakija (eng. brandy), variety of herbs, local organic veggies and fruits, simply taste the best, and add up to the overall experience of this beautiful village.

Njeguši prosciutto is a dark colored pork meat of intensive taste. Salted, beech smoked and dried at the specially made dryers of 1m thick stone walls, combined with centuries old traditions and the art of making, this unique product of Montenegro is a must try. When you taste the Njeguši prosciutto, it feels as if you just have tried the pure hormone of happiness, serotonin, which tastes like the mysticism of the distant past.

At Funky Tours, we are devoted to the best of spiritual and material worlds, so tasting the best Njeguši prosciutto, combined with yellow Njeguši cheese, (if preferred, wine and local brandy), is simply a bit of both worlds.

After the historic and tasty visit to Njeguši village, our journey continues towards Cetinje – former center of the state, and today the cultural, historical and spiritual capital of Montengro.

In the 2nd half of 15th century, the Ottoman conquests have forced the then master of Zeta, Ivan Crnojević to move the seat of the state, from the fortified town of Žabljak, to a more inaccessible climate, deep into the mountains, to a foothills of Lovćen mountain. During 1482, Ivan Crnojević built a court and monastery, which were the first establishments of the new capital, Cetinje. Later when Ivan Crnojević transferred the Zeta Metropolitanate to the newly built monastery, Cetinje in addition to the secular, became a spiritual center. In the mid 19th century, when already mentioned, the glorious Petar Petrović II Njegoš, managed to unite Montenegrin tribes and create the foundations of a modern state, Cetinje until today became the mythical place of Montenegrin nationalism and statehood.

>Cetinje Orthodox monastery was built by the prince Ivan Crnojević  of Zeta in 1484. 

During our walking tour of Cetinje, we will learn historic facts about Montenegrin old capital, hear about the first printing house of the South Slavs (just 4 decades after the Guttenbergs), visit famous Cetinje spots such as Cetinje Monastery, historic centre with its famous foreign embassies, museums, royal theatre, Biljarda (the new royal residence) and so much more.

If required, free time in Cetinje, to explore the historic town on your own will be arranged.

Just 5 kilometers from Cetinje, we will make a short detour and break away from socio-cultural stories to peek a bit into speleology, and visit Montenegro’s most famous speleological wonder, the Lipa cave. About 2.5km in length, a mix of beautiful passages and halls, enriched with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, some up to 5m tall, and with annual temperature ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius, Lipa cave is a must see for anyone visiting the region of Cetinje.

Our 1 hour visit to Lipa cave is a professionally guided tour, with the local guide, whose speleological knowledge and expertise will additionally enhance our cave exploring experience.

Lunch: The lunch time is planned at Rijeka Crnojevića, or famously called Montenegrin Venice. When Ivan Crnojevic in 15the century founded Cetinje, in centuries to follow Rijeka Crnojevića (eng. Crnojević river – named after Crnojević dynasty), as one of the most famous Skadar lake tributaries, became the largest Montenegrin port and the leading trade center. Together with the Danilo bridge, built in 1853, several old buildings, a nice pedestrian zone and a few beautifully located traditional restaurants, Crnojevića Rijeka is the perfect place for lunch time chill.

>Rijeka Crnojevića viewpoint at National Park Skadar called Pavlova Strana.

Especially appreciated product of this region is dry bleak (dried fish), and due to its uniqueness and exceptional taste, traditionally very much in demand on the Italian market.

Normally, aside from locally appreciated fish, other Montenegrin continental and seafood dishes can be easily found here. Your Funky Tours Host job is to, according to your taste, recommend you the best food from the offer.

Afternoon: After delicious lunch it is time for the most inspiring moment of the day. The beautiful and fulfilling Skadar lake boat cruise.

Lake Skadar is a natural wonder. A protected National Park of Montenegro and Albania and a paradise of wildlife. Being home to more than 260 bird species, islet monasteries, old and traditionally built stone villages, stunning beaches, Skadar lake is Montenegro’s true heart and soul.

Our afternoon boat cruise will take us via Crnojevića river and Skadar Lake to the small village of Žabljak at a confluence of Morača river. With optional short uphill hike and visit to the medieval fortress, which under the Crnojević dynasty, was a capital of Zeta, the views from the top will be simply amazing, and worth every single effort.
For ornithology lovers, Skadar Lake is a true paradise. Unlimited offer of cormorants, herons, gulls, terns, ducks and sometime a giant Dalmatian pelican, make this magnificent natural setting a must see.

Additionally carpets of water lilies, water snakes, frogs, all kinds of bugs and insects, fish, toads, dragonflies, etc., just add even more to an amazing Skadar Lake experience.

For true adventurers, during the summer time some swim and chill at crystal clear Skadar Lake is a must do.

In the late afternoon, after stopping at the stunning Pavlova strana viewpoint, and furthermore admiring the beauty of Skadar Lake and Crnojevića Rijeka, we are back to Kotor.

Dinner & Evening: On your own. Since this is your last night in Montenegro, you might wanna do some easy and relaxing evening, while getting ready for more explorations of northern Montenegro, on your way back to Sarajevo. By now, you already know the Kotor bay region very well, and are capable of planning your Kotor evening quite easily. Your Funky Tours team is always at your disposal in case you opt for some Budva nightlife.

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

Activity Note: This package itinerary is planned to end in Sarajevo, so it becomes the 8 day round trip from Sarajevo. However, the package can alternatively end in Dubrovnik, Podgorica and Tivat, depending on what is most convenient for your further plans of Balkan explorations. Additionally, since the Durmitor National Park is an extremely beautiful region, extending this package and spending at least one or even two nights at Žabljak, and mixing in an amazing hiking or Tara river rafting, is definitely a recommended adventure.

Breakfast: Our beautiful hotel 4* Hotel Astoria (or similar) in Kotor will serve us buffet breakfast from 7 to 10 AM featuring Montenegrin and International options.

Morning: This morning we start at 8 AM. As the day is quite long, an early start is recommended. To reach central and northern Montenegro, the road with several amazing opportunities for great photos (Salty lake) will take us via Nikšić towards Ostrog monastery.

Nested in the sheer rock of Ostroška Greda, at an 900m altitude, annually visited between 250.000 and 300.000 believers and visitors, Ostrog Monastery is the most visited Orthodox shrine in Europe.

This Serbian-Orthodox Monastery was founded by Saint Basil of Ostrog (Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina) in the XVII century, whose “mošti” (eng. Relics) considered miraculous, are still kept in the monastery.

>Serbian Orthodox monastery Ostrog is one of the most important Serbian shrines in the Balkans.

During our visit to the monastery we shall visit Church of the Holy Cross, which contains original frescoes from the 17th century, three of which were declared a valuable cultural treasure by UNESCO. Later, we get to see the actual location, today marked by a circle, where St. Basil died in 1671, and miraculously a vine grew from the solid rock.

The church also contains a grenade from the Second World War from the time of the German bombing, which fortunately did not explode, although it previously broke through the fence and the wall of the Church of the Holy Cross.

At the upper level of the Monastery we shall visit the Church of Presentation where the body of St. Basil is enshrined in a reliquary kept in the cave-church dedicated to the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple. The frescoes inside the Church of Presentation were created in the late XVII century, and were painted on the surface of solid rock by master Radul, who beautifully coped with the natural shapes of the cave.

The views from the Ostrog monastery on the whole region of Bjelopavlići plain are simply breathtaking.

Our thorough explorations of the Ostrog monastery will additionally cover myths and legends, which spice up the overall narrative of the amazing and unique Serbian Orthodox monastery.

Afternoon: Our journey continues toward northern Montenegro, as we are heading towards Durmitor National Park. As we gradually gain altitude, the scenery completely changes. From the dry and bare south, as we drive deeper into the north, we slowly enter beech, oak and pine forested regions dominated by rocky peaks of Durmitor National Park.

Originally named by Celtic people “Dru Mi Tore”, literally meaning “Mountain full of water”, Durmitor National Park was founded in 1952. It is part of the Dinaric Alps. The Durmitor massif was shaped by glaciers, with the highest peak at 2523m called “Bobotov Kuk. With nearly 50 peaks more than 2000m high, surrounded by rivers Tara, Piva and Komarnica, Durmitor National Park is the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most amazing national park of Montenegro.

Hiking, rafting, kayaking, canyoning, zip-lining and tons of other adventure activities are at your palm when visiting Durmitor National Park. Today however, we are focusing on several most beautiful spots at Durmitor, those which, on a regular pace, can be visited in one day.

The most beautiful of all 18 glacial lakes, famously called “Gorske oči” (eng. Mountain eyes), is the “Crno Jezero” (eng. Black Lake). Once at the lake, and once we are blessed with the natural beauty of this amazing region, you will have free time to explore the lake on your own. The most recommended activity is a 1 hour walk around the whole lake (cca. 4km), where you can fully appreciate the beauty of the Black Lake region, while the high peaks of the Durmitor massif, grandiosely rise high above.

>The beautiful Black Lake at Montenegro National Park Durmitor is great place for nice walks and great photos.

Lunch: Once we have blessed our eyes and soul with the unrivalled beauty of the Black Lake, we will head to Žabljak for lunch. Being located at the altitude of 1450m, with approximately 2000 inhabitants, Žabljak is considered the highest town in the Balkans. Since it is just a few minutes drive away from the Black Lake, Žabljak offers a wide range of opportunities for accommodation and food when you are visiting Durmitor National Park.

Traditionally considered home to some of the best traditional Montenegrin food, our excellent choice of food today will be served according to your taste. Additionally, if you prefer to go into international cuisines and try great Žabljak pizza or burgers, don’t worry, we got you covered.

Afternoon: After the delicious food, we continue exploring Durmitor National Park, and visit Đurđevića Tara bridge. When constructed in 1940, during the era of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with its length of 365m and maximum height of 172m, looming over the 150m deep Tara canyon, Đurđevića Tara bridge was the highest in the World.

Just walking across the bridge and absorbing the beauty and grandeur of the surroundings, no one can remain indifferent. That is why in various travel magazines around the world, the Tara bridge was listed in the World’s 20 most beautiful bridges.

>Đurđevića Tara bridge over Tara river at Durmitor National Park

Our 30 minute stop at the bridge will be one of the highlights of the day. Just at the bridge, there is the most famous Montenegro Zip Line. Being the longest one in Montenegro and one of the longest in Europe, for the brave ones, we warmly recommend it.

Evening: Since our amazing 8 day travel itinerary covering Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro is slowly coming to an end, the last part of the day will be a ride from Djurdjevica Tara bridge back to Sarajevo. The road will take us via northern Montenegro and eastern Bosnia, where arrival time to Sarajevo will be in the later afternoon, when the program officially ends.

Dinner: On your own. By now, you already know what the Balkans offer, especially foodwise. So this last evening in Sarajevo we leave it up to you to decide where to have your dinner.