Sarajevo to/from Dubrovnik (Split/Kotor) 2-Day Transfer Tour via Mostar and Herzegovina

Destination:Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Inclusions:Tito’s Bunker | 4* Hotel Eden (or similar) | Walking Tour of Mostar
Driving Time:2.30hrs | Private Vehicle

Morning: The Morning ride will take us through the exciting suburbs of Sarajevo and areas of central Bosnia until we pass Ivan Mountain and enter the Herzegovina region. As soon as we are in Herzegovina, we’ll start descending, as a region of Herzegovina is generally at lower altitudes and has a different climate, so you’ll notice dramatic natural environment changes.

Konjic: First stop of the day is a visit to the old part of Konjic town. Unique, prehistorically inhabited, famous for the 17th century 6-arch Old Bridge, looming over the turquoise Neretva River, usually a very sunny place, is the day’s perfect start. Standing on WW2’s last day, during the Nazi withdrawal and destroyed bridge, we learn the story of the “monument to human stupidity”, the mystery of Tito’s Bunker, the famousness of white water rafting at upper Neretva region and glacier Boracko Lake, and the few other stories before we visit Tito’s Bunker.

In the early 1950s, Josip Broz Tito, the late leader of the former Yugoslavia, ordered the building of a secret bunker that would safeguard the country’s ruling class in case of a nuclear attack.

Located 900 feet (270 m) underground in Konjic, the 26-year project was only completed in 1979, the year before Tito died, and it was built at a cost equivalent to just under £3 billion ($4.6 billion).

If restocked with supplies, it would still serve its purpose – allowing 350 people to live and work for six months without ever coming outside. More about this place you see here.

Jablanica – Battle on Neretva story: Ride continues by passing the large, dammed but gorgeous Jablaničko lake, with a short stop at Jablanica where we learn the WW2 story of “Neretva Battle” and “sniff” into the way how our most extraordinary delicacy, famous roasted lamb on the spit is made.

Views of Jablaničko Lake and regions of Prenj mountain are breathtaking and will make you want to stop and breathe those in.

Blagaj Dervish House & Buna River Spring: Blagaj town is home to Buna River Spring – Europe’s most beautiful, most powerful, clean, and drinkable karst river spring, settled beneath a few hundred meters high rock. Water from a relatively large but stunningly deep cave springs a fantastic 43 cubic meters 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 the early 16th century, as a unique sacral-residential example of Islamic architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visiting this complex and learning more about Dervish life in Herzegovina as an essential part of our history is a MUST DO. For Muslim travelers, “Tekija” is where prayers are hosted five times a day and can be attended if wanted.

Lunch:Later, after visiting “Blagajska Tekija” and “Izvor rijeke Bune” before we continue our ride to Dubrovnik, it is time for lunch. Due to the famousness and cleanliness of the Buna River, the most important thing to taste in Blagaj today is local trout. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so spend 10/12 EUR per person for a great lunch. As mentioned earlier, depending on the tour pace, alternatively, lunch can be planned at Jablanica (Stop 3), where you get to taste famous Bosnian roasted lamb.

That is why we don’t leave the place before we offer our guests the opportunity to try locally prepared trout on “Blagaj Way,” enjoying the fantastic scenery of Buna River Spring and Dervish House next to it. Vegetarians, don’t worry; we have solutions for you as well 🙂

Mostar:As soon as we arrive in Mostar, we’ll do our hotel check-in and start our 2-hour walking tour, which will cover the most important sites and locations in Mostar.

Our focus will be Mostar’s Old Bridge, Old Bazaar, and Old Town, but we offer stories of Mostar’s uniqueness regarding historical and cultural diversity.

The story of Mostar will be about the Bridge, its rise and fall, and how it rose again. You will learn about the Siege of Mostar, why it is called Mostar, and about “Mostarians.” We recreate Mostar for you and with you.

Evening:Spending a night in Mostar and enjoying this gem in the late evenings when all the crowds are gone is simply amazing. Free time, or dinner on your own or with us 🙂

Mostar by Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric

“When a man spends a night in Mostar, it is not the sound that awakes him, but the light. I know that from experience. The light I was greeted upon arrival at Mostar, the light I was followed from morning to evening, and later, after departure, the light remained within me as the main characteristic of my memories of Mostar.

I’ve always felt that what shines over this nature-privileged city and how it permeates everything within is some extraordinary light in strength and quality. I’ve always thought that this way (light) is how the love for life, courage, cheerfulness, a sense of proportion, and creative work enter man’s life.

I could never have had enough of it despite being met everywhere. It is within the laughter of people, within clear vowels of their speech, in the faces of boys and girls at the evening walks. It is refracted as gold, restless gleam within the glass of Mostar Zilavka (white wine), and lives as a compressed strength and sweetness in these peaches and cherries. It hides in the shady, calm waters of Radobolja.

And upon it, Neretva is our brightest river, and bare karst surrounding hills have some unrestrained grandeur. Upon that light, I remember Mostar the best.”

Destination:Dubrovnik/Split, Croatia or Kotor/Montenegro
Inclusions:Breakfast | Wine Tasting or alternatively lunch at Stolac | Kravice Waterafalls
Driving Time:3.30hrs | Private Vehicle

Morning: As soon as light wakes you up in your beautiful Mostar hotel and after delicious breakfast, it is time for some morning-free activities on your own. We usually give our guests some free time in Mostar to explore the town on their own and discover some nice spots, which are sufficient all around.

Počitelj Town:After departing from Mostar very soon, we’ll arrive in Počitelj.

Stunningly nested above Neretva river, visit to Počitelj (“Počivati” – Bos. ”to rest in peace”), easy uphill, one-hour prolonged walking activity, accompanied by stories of town’s development and strategic importance during its 600+ year-long written history and visit to most important sites such as Hajji Alija Mosque, Clock Tower and Gavrankapetanović tower, IS A MUST, for anyone passing through or near Herzegovina region.

Unique, medieval, Ottoman era glorified, present-day Ottoman-Mediterranean style “architectured” fortress–town Počitelj is one of the remarkably few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina preserved in their integrity to the present times.

Kravica Waterfalls near Ljubuški:After we are done with Počitelj explorations, get ready for the highlight of the day, the miniature Niagara’s stunning waterfalls of Kravica.

Situated near Ljubuški, Trebižat River, with its travertine sedimentations, offers us a unique and breathtaking attraction – Kravica waterfalls. Height ranges from 26-28 meters, a water amphitheater is 120 meters below, and the surrounding nature of Kravica waterfalls falls into a unique Bosnia and Herzegovina geological monument.

If you are conducting this tour in summertime (between June and September), feel free to bring a swimsuit and join us for some chilling swim, or at least to cool your feet with a good drink.

Pass by:

• Čapljina – a small town in Herzegovina county

Medjugorje Catholic Pilgrimage & Local Wine Tasting:The area of west Herzegovina is famous for its fantastic wine story, and nowadays, local producers are making some of the finest wines in the region. If you are interested in exploring this part of the Herzegovina story, learning and tasting the finest of Blatina (red) and Zilavka (white) authentic wines along with other local products, visiting one local winery is a must. We’ll teach you about biodynamic wines, what they represent, and why they are rare today but slowly picking up. We’ll learn about the history of winemaking in Herzegovina and where it aims today so that it will be another highlight of your day. We can organize an alternative local lunch for guests not interested in wine tasting.

The most famous Catholic pilgrimage in Southeastern Europe today is Medjugorje. Virgin Mary’s apparition place from 1981 until today has attracted many pilgrims and other travelers interested in discovering the unique story behind this phenomenon. It is part of Herzegovina, and it is part of our tour too.

Radimlja Necropolis (UNESCO):After West Herzegovina, it is time to move further south and visit the attractive area of East Herzegovina, and the next stop is the World famous site – Radimlja Necropolis near Stolac – UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stećci is one of the biggest mysteries of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s history.

Appearing in the mid-12th century, with the first phase in the 13th century, the tombstones peaked in the 14th and 15th centuries before disappearing during the Ottoman occupation in the early 16th century.

Most frequent dilemmas are focused on questions of their origin, the origin of the deceased buried under them,  and the symbolic messages carved on them.

Vjetrenica Cave and Zavala Monastery: Vjetrenica (eng.”wind cave”) is the largest and most important cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the most exciting caves in the Dinaric Alps mountain range.

The cave has been explored to a total of about 7 km in length but is assumed to be around 20 km, and as it is known, it is the most decadent cave in the world regarding subterranean biodiversity. Proteus anguinus (human fish), fantastic stalactite, and stalagmite decorations are too unique to miss out on, so Vjetrenica is also one Herzegovina must-see.

Just next to the cave, the last spot of the day will be a visit to Zavala Monastery. Amazingly nested in the hills above stunning Popovo Field, this 15th-century Orthodox monastery is a great way to learn and understand why this seemingly dry and uninhabited area throughout history has always been a great source of different religious stories.

Evening: Last part of our journey before we reach Dubrovnik (Kotor or Split on request) will be an exciting ride through areas of East Herzegovina where we expect to be at our destination between 7 and 8 pm, and of course, we’ll drop you off at the location of your request.

If you prefer to be at your destination earlier, please let us know so we can arrange the day according to your request.