Mostarska Bijela hiking tour is an ideal opportunity to experience the pure beauty of Herzegovina karst and the unique adventure of exploring the amazing Bijela canyon.
The spectacular Bijela Valley has been carved by the river Bijela and is a completely remote piece of heaven where only few people so far have had a chance to set their foot on and experience this untouched natural beauty.
Get ready to see the stunning valley, diverse wildlife, and an amazing 80m long canyon of the Bijela river with the waterfall at the end of the canyon.
Either if you do it from Sarajevo or Mostar, this tour is a perfect day trip for people with medium or even medium-low physical condition.
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.
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.
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.
What Do I Need to Bring?
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.