Mostarska Bijela Canyon Hiking – Full Day Tour from Sarajevo or Mostar

Region of Mostarska Bijela is completely safe from any perspective of mines. Funky Tours will NEVER conduct trips to any areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina having ANY risk at all from perspective of mines.

Safety of our guests and ourselves, is our most important priority.

INCLUDED

Guide
English speaking local-expert guide and driver. Guide in different language available on request.
Food
Picnic lunch. Vegetarian options available.
Free pickup
Either if you go from Mostar or Sarajevo we can arrange free pickup.
All Transfers
All tour transfers are provided by Funky Tours.
Taxes & Flexible Cancellation Policy
No hidden costs. VAT 17% included in the price. Cancel 1 day prior for full refund or change dates anytime.
Availability
Tour is available from May to November.
Group Discounts
For bigger group bookings, discounts are available.
Online Payments
Pay safely online with a credit card. We accept payments for all types of credit cards.

NOT INCLUDED

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.

Logistics

This tour can depart from Mostar or Sarajevo. For Mostar departure we shall pick you up at your address. For guests leaving from Sarajevo, we can start from our office or arrange free pick up on request as well.

Departure Times: Daily: 8 AM from Mostar or 7 AM from Sarajevo.

The most convenient start of this tour is town Mostar, which is only 40min driving away from Mostarska Bijela delta into Neretva river, where is the starting point of our hiking trail. However if your only option is to go from Sarajevo, it is no problem, but please note that it would be 1.45hrs driving from Sarajevo one-way.

As soon as we reach Salakovac lake on its left side, where Mostarska Bijela river is entering the Neretva river, that is the beginning of our Mostarska Bijela hiking trail.

As soon as we leave our car, we shall start hiking through the beautiful Mostarska Bijela valley. 

It is a six kilometre long and wild valley where vertical rocks often reach heights at over 300m above. Majority of the trail are the riverbed waterways carved by the Bijela river. The valley itself was created by glacial movements and ice melting processes at Prenj mountain thousands of years ago, offering us today an amazing insight into natural processes of the Balkans since the Ice Age.

Depending on the season, Bijela river for the most of its flow through Herzegovinian karst can be completely underground, but also during the spring, it could be quite tricky to cross. It means that in some parts we have to take off our shoes in order to jump across the numerous creeks in aim not to get wet, making this experience one of the tour highlights.

During the walk animal wildlife is so easy to spot. We can easily meet up viper snakes (Vipera ammodytes) and several types of differently sized frogs and lizards. The region is known to be home for chamois, wild horses and eagles, with stunning biodiversity of herbs and trees.

During the 1990ies the canyon of the Bijela river was used to connect Mostar and Jablanica, with a two day hike across Prenj mountain. Our hiking tour is a unique way to further additionally understand the story of Siege of Mostar, the situation in Herzegovina and aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Later trail will take us by an interesting cemetery of the Lojpur family and via an amazing set of rock formations called “Kravlje pećine” (eng. Cow caves), we shall reach the entrance to the Bijela river canyon itself.

The cave itself is extremely narrow, at places being 1 metre wide and over 20-25 metre high, with Bijela river passing through. It is recommended if the water levels are high during the spring and post heavy rain periods, to have an extra pair of shoes or flip-flops to wear, in order not to get your hiking boots wet. Cave is chilly and the water temperature is around 6-8 Celsius. 

Cave being 80m long, is a 15-20 minute walk through the ice cold, crystal clear, drinkable water flow. Perfectly polished, non slippery rocks are quite easy to walk, and if you are an expert jumper, you can even avoid wet feet too. (But where is the fun then? Get wet and enjoy this amazing nature creation as much as you can!)

At the very end of the cave is a kind of, “heavens open” above us, 10m high waterfall. The water comes from higher parts of Prenj mountain and via these karst crafted holes, canyons and passages, eventually ending in the beautiful Neretva river. Upper flow of the river is not accessible beyond the point of the waterfall. At the very bottom the waterfall is a small river spring too.

Spending 30min to an hour inside the cave is recommended and stunning photos can be taken.

Once we are out of the cave, picnic lunch will be served while enjoying the view of Bijela river passing into lower canyon caves and disappearing in front of our eyes.

The return will take approximately 2.30 hours.

• Tour Class: Medium-Easy
• Walking Distance: 8 km
• Minimum Altitude: 135m
• Maximum Altitude: 495m
• Total Elevation Gain: 470m
• Total Elevation Loss: 115m

What Do I Need to Bring?

• Comfortable hiking boots or thick bottom sport sneakers
• Spare light shoes or flip-flops to explore the cave and not getting wet your main boots/shoes
• 1.5 l water
• Sun cream and hat (summer time)
• Rain jacket (in case of bad weather)
• 2 spare t-shirts to change
• Light-weight, breathable walking trousers
• Flashlight (if you have it)
• A small backpack to carry personal items (water, snacks, shirts to use during the hike)

1. Connecting Tour Between Sarajevo and Mostar

Since Mostarska Bijela valley is almost half-way between Sarajevo and Mostar, this hiking tour can be combined as a connecting tour between Sarajevo and Mostar. For example you are planning to travel from Sarajevo to Mostar and are not planning to go back to Sarajevo, you can book this tour, and at the end of the day we can drop you off in Mostar or vice versa.

1. Is this tour for me?
   This is an easy to moderate hiking tour which requires normal aerobic fitness; muscular strength and endurance and is for anyone who is into a bit of challenge.
2. I would like to join this tour but I do not have the necessary hiking equipment.
   In case you have decided to join our hiking tour but forgot to pack your hiking boots or some other relevant part of hiking equipment you might be worried about, feel free to contact our team and we will do our best to provide the necessities. 
3. Is lunch included in costs?
   Yes, costs include picnic lunch. Please inform us in case of any dietary restrictions.
4. Can I join this tour other than from Mostar?
   Yes you can join this tour if you are staying in Sarajevo, Konjic, Jablanica too.
5. Can I book as a solo traveller?
   Yes you can. Significant number of our fellow travelers are solo.
6. How much should I tip?
   Tips are not included in the tour costs, nor they are heavily expected in Bosnian culture. However when you receive excellent service, we recommend tipping.
7. How much in advance do I need to book this tour?
   It is recommended to book at least 5 days in advance but our team will go above and beyond to confirm the trips even 24h before the supposed departure.
8. Can I pay for the tour with credit card?
   Yes, we accept VISA and Maestro. Please note that, in case you would like to make a credit card payment, you will need to do it at our office or by prepayment via credit card authorization form. Our guides can NOT accept credit cards. 
9. Which currency is accepted for cash payment?
   We are fans of our local currency (BAM), but you can also pay in EUR, HRK, USD, GBP or even combined.