Understanding Srebrenica Genocide Study Tour + Homemade Lunch with Local Family Included

(159 Reviews)
Price
From€60
Booking Form
Enquiry Form
Full Name*
Email Address*
Your Enquiry*
* I agree with Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step
* Please select all required fields to proceed to the next step.

Proceed Booking

Save To Wish List

Adding item to wishlist requires an account

20476
10 Hours
Availability : Every Day
Min Age : 5+
Max People : 8 persons
Tour Overview

To fully understand 1990ies Bosnian Genocide and in the same time Srebrenica Genocide, there is no better way but to visit Eastern Bosnia, Srebrenica and Potočari Memorial Centre, and in the same time we can not only talk about Genocide events at just one micro-location (Srebrenica), but we have to put whole Eastern Bosnia into a context of the story.

Also, tour will uncover reasons behind the breakup of Yugoslavia with detailed story of worst Genocide in Europe since WW2.

During the tour you will have honor to visit local family and have lunch at their home while getting insight how local communities live today.

At the same time it will give answers to what Srebrenica is today, what it had been yesterday, and day before, but most of all what Srebrenica could become in a future, if denial as last phase of Genocide continues to happen.

Highlights

What's Included

INCLUDED
  • English speaking local-expert guide and driver.
  • We shall have amazing homemade lunch with the local family in Srebrenica. In this way we empower local communities to be active participant of sustainable tourism. Vegetarian options available.
  • Free of charge pickup.
  • All tour transfers are provided by Funky Tours.
  • No hidden costs. All government taxes & entrance fees. VAT 17% included in the price.
  • Cancellation Flexibility. Cancel 24hrs before departure for full refund  or change dates.
  • Tour is available throughout the year.
  • Pay safely online with a credit card. We accept payments for all types of credit cards.
NOT INCLUDED
  • Personal travel insurance is not included. Please buy it at home country.
  • Tips are not included in the tour costs. If you receive excellent service, please consider tipping.
  • All tours are shared, unless specifically booked as private.

Departure Times & Starting Points

Departure Times Daily at 8 AM.

Pickup Locations If you are staying in the old town of Sarajevo meet us at our office. If you are bit away from us, please let us know and we can organise advance pickup.

Itinerary

Activity Note: The tour is adapted to all ages and is not physically demanding. Due to the distance of the locations, we use vehicles during the tour.

Meet & Greet

Meet our team at the office or your preferred pickup location. Your guide will give you a personal, firsthand, experience of sorrowful past events and introduce your to the local people of Srebrenica to complete the whole picture. They will make sure no questions remain unanswered, even of personal nature, so don’t refrain from sharing your thoughts and opinions at any moment of time.

Eastern Bosnian region

After the morning pickup around 8 am, you’ll spend two and a half hours on the road towards Srebrenica, where you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery of Eastern Bosnian mountain regions, spiced up with detailed stories and important explanations behind the reasons of “Death of Yugoslavia”.

Understanding the role of Bosnia in the storm of 90’s is crucial for better understanding of Genocide in Srebrenica.

Genocide in Srebrenica is not an event which just took place in one narrow region or one town, in fact, it is an overall story of aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning Genocide events took place in wider area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially of the region of East Bosnia, famously called Podrinje.

During your ride you will pass through several small towns and village where similar events have occurred, so chronological introduction and context is very important to fully understand the story that you’ll be exploring together that day.

The most important towns we are passing by, and which are related to the story of Srebrenica Genocide and 1990s ethnic cleansing:

  1. Sokolac (Learn about 1992 ethnic cleansing against the Bosniaks by the Serbian paramilitaries and Army of Republic of Srpska (VRS)
  2. Vlasenica (Learn about Sušica Concentration Camp)
  3. Milići and Zaklopača Massacre (Learn about whole village being killed, 59 people including 12 children)
  4. Kravica (Learn about mass execution of nearly 1200 man in Kravica warehouse)
  5. Nova Kasaba (Learn where many Bosniaks were held at football area before later were all executed)
  6. Bratunac (Learn where Srebrenica Genocide Bosniaks victims were held first before later killed during the July 1995).

Aljazzera America story on Srebrenica Genocide tour by Sarajevo Funky Tours

Memorial Centre Potočari

As soon you arrive to Memorial Centre at Potočari, you will have a chance to participate at locally guided tour and history class at Memorial Centre with official guide. Local guide in charge is survivor of those events and person whose experiences and stories are extremely important part of the tour. Memorial Cemetery where over 6500 people, in past years have been buried, before exhumed and identified, while some over 1500 victims are still missing, will be the most striking and mind blowing part of the visit.

Other important elements of the visit will take place at former Dutchbat UN base, where you’ll get a chance to see amazing newly open (Feb 2017) Museum of “Srebrenica Genocide – failure of international community”, understand importance of Memorial Room, see number of documentary movies, study chronological photo exhibitions, get stunned by graffiti remains, learn personal stories and stories of in-base mass grave and other elements of importance related to overall story of Srebrenica Genocide.

Sarajevo War Tunnel was dug in July 1993 and used to be main supply route to Sarajevo during the Siege

>Srebrenica Genocide Memorial at Potočari

Srebrenica Town

After some three hours of visiting Potočari Memorial Centre, it’s time for a short, 6 km ride to Srebrenica town. Visiting this small, historically rich, ‘silver town’ (Bosnian for silver is ‘Srebro’) will give better insight in the meaning of the “Worlds largest concentration camp during the 90’s”. Short walking tour for interesting photography and understanding what Srebrenica as small town really is.

Sarajevo Cable Car

>View of the valley with the town of Srebrenica – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Lunch with the local family – highlight of the tour

The most important highlight of the day is lunch with the local family in Srebrenica. As the unemployment rate, Genocide denial and severe discrimination of predominantly Bosniak people in Srebrenica is frequent, Funky Tours has dedicated its work to empower local communities to be active participant of sustainable tourism.

People of Srebrenica love to share their personal stories, those beautiful ones, equally as the terrible ones. Don’t be afraid to listen, understand and actively support the sustainability of life in Srebrenica today.

Food is homemade with vegetarian options. Taste is totally beyond your imagination.

After you are done with lunch and Srebrenica town explorations, it is time to head back. Expect to be in Sarajevo around 6 or latest 7 pm.

Sarajevo Olympic Bobsled Track at Trebevic Mountain

>Traditional Bosnian food prepared by the Srebrenica local family

Finally today, facts are known, as what exactly happened in Srebrenica is beyond any reasonable doubt. Simply, numerous trials at ICTY have proven it, but true reasons and role of the Dutchbat UN forces at Srebrenica, and overall UN role, is still very hard to fully uncover. The mission of this tour is to clear it out.

Denial, as last phase of Genocide and ethnic cleansing in Easter Bosnia still continues.

Srebrenica Genocide Judicial Aftermath

Srebrenica Genocide Overview

The Srebrenica massacre, also known as the Srebrenica genocide, refers to the July 1995 killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys, as well as the ethnic cleansing of another 25,000–30,000 refugees, in and around the town of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by units of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) under the command of General Ratko Mladić during the Bosnian War. A paramilitary unit from Serbia known as the Scorpions, officially part of the Serbian Interior Ministry until 1991, participated in the massacre. It is alleged that foreign volunteers including the Greek Volunteer Guard also participated.

In April 1993 the United Nations had declared the besieged enclave of Srebrenica in the Drina Valley of north-eastern Bosnia a “safe area” under UN protection. However in July 1995 the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), represented on the ground by a 400-strong contingent of armed Dutch peacekeepers, failed to prevent the town’s capture by the VRS and the subsequent massacre by the Bosnian Serbs of more than 8,000 civilians and prisoners, mostly men and boys.

Srebrenica Genocide Intentions

The Srebrenica massacre is the largest mass murder in Europe since World War II. In 2004, in a unanimous ruling on the “Prosecutor v. Krstić” case, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), located in The Hague, ruled that the massacre of the enclave’s male inhabitants, accompanied by the forcible transfer of all of the women, children and elderly, constituted a crime of genocide. Theodor Meron, the presiding judge, stated:

By seeking to eliminate a part of the Bosnian Muslims, the Bosnian Serb forces committed genocide. They targeted for extinction the 40,000 Bosnian Muslims living in Srebrenica, a group which was emblematic of the Bosnian Muslims in general. They stripped all the male Muslim prisoners, military and civilian, elderly and young, of their personal belongings and identification, and deliberately and methodically killed them solely on the basis of their identity.

In February 2007 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concurred with the ICTY judgement that the atrocities committed at Srebrenica constituted a genocide, stating:

The Court concludes that the acts committed at Srebrenica falling within Article II (a) and (b) of the Convention were committed with the specific intent to destroy in part the group of the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina as such; and accordingly that these were acts of genocide, committed by members of the VRS in and around Srebrenica from about 13 July 1995.

The ICJ also ruled that Serbia “has violated the obligation to prevent genocide”, and that Serbia was to cooperate fully with the ICTY including the transfer of individuals accused of genocide to the ICTY. Ratko Mladić has been accused by the ICTY but still remains at large and is suspected of hiding in Serbia or in the entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina called the Republic of Srpska.

Scale of Killings

The majority of those killed were adult men and teenage boys but the victims included boys aged under 15, men over the age of 65 and even reportedly babies. The Preliminary List of People Missing or Killed in Srebrenica compiled by the Bosnian Federal Commission of Missing Persons contains 8,373 names, some 500 of them under 18, and includes several dozen women and girls. As of March 2010, 6414 genocide victims have been identified through DNA analysis of body parts recovered from mass graves and 3,647 victims have been buried at the Memorial Centre of Potočari.

In 2005, in a message to the tenth anniversary commemoration of the genocide, the Secretary-General of the United Nations described Srebrenica as the worst crime on European soil since the Second World War, and while noting that great nations had failed to respond and that blame lay first and foremost with those who planned and carried out the massacre and those who assisted and harboured them, acknowledged that the UN itself had made serious errors of judgement and the tragedy of Srebrenica would haunt the UN’s history forever.

Serbia and Montenegro was cleared of direct responsibility for or complicity in the massacre, but was found responsible for not doing enough to prevent the massacre and not prosecuting the responsible, in breach of the Genocide Convention. The Preliminary List of People Missing or Killed in Srebrenica compiled by the Bosnian Federal Commission of Missing Persons contains 8,373 names. As of July 2012, 6,838 genocide victims have been identified through DNA analysis of body parts recovered from mass graves; as of July 2013, 6,066 victims have been buried at the Memorial Centre of Potočari. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić officially apologized for the massacre, although he stopped short of calling it genocide.

UN Involvement

In 2013 and 2014, the Netherlands was found liable in its own supreme court and in the Hague district court of failing in its duty to prevent more than 300 of the deaths.

On 8 July 2015, Russia, at the request of the Republika Srpska and Serbia, vetoed a UN resolution condemning the Srebrenica massacre as genocide. Serbia called the resolution “anti-Serb”, while European and U.S. governments affirmed that the crimes were genocide. On 9 July 2015, both the European Parliament (EP) and the U.S. Congress adopted resolutions reaffirming the description of the crime as genocide.

Srebrenica Genocide Timeline

  • 6 – 10 July 1995
    The Bosnian Serb Army attacks Srebrenica – within a UN safe area previously held by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Civilians taking refuge there are under the protection of Dutch forces.
  • 11 July
    Thousands of refugees and Srebrenica residents – mostly women, children and the infirm – flee to the Dutch UN peacekeeping base in Potocari. Bosnian Serb commanders demand Bosniak Muslims hand over their weapons.
  • 12 July
    Bosnian Muslim men of military age begin to move north after gathering in Susnjari. They are shelled as they flee through the mountains. Some are also gunned down en route, while others are killed after surrendering.
  • 12 July
    Male and female refugees are separated by the Bosnian Serb Army. Thousands of women, children and the elderly are deported by bus to Bosniak Muslim territory. The men are held in trucks and warehouses.
  • 13 – 17 July
    Up to 8,000 Bosniak men and boys are killed at a number of execution sites around Srebrenica. Reports of the atrocities begin to surface on 16 July. Source: UN, ICTY.

What to Bring

What Do I Need to Bring?

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Water bottle

Trip Photos

11th of July Srebrenica Memorial funeral
Memorial funeral on 11th of July
Ruins and abandoned buildings in Srebrenica
Ruins and abandoned buildings in Srebrenica
Srebrenica local population who returned to Srebrenica region after the war
Srebrenica local population who returned to Srebrenica region after the war
Funky Tours annually organize Newyears gifts for the kids in rural regions of Eastern Bosnia
Funky Tours annually organize New-years gifts for the kids in rural regions of Eastern Bosnia
11th of July Srebrenica
11th of July Srebrenica – Memorial funeral is when families of the Genocide victims come to bury their relatives
Srebrenica Genocide tour and lunch with a local family
Srebrenica Genocide tour and lunch with a local family
Srebrenica Memorial
Srebrenica Memorial

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is it possible to include Visegrad and/or other parts of eastern Bosnia in this tour?
    In case you are interested in visiting some other amazing places in and around East Bosnia do feel free to contact our team so we could customise the trip according to your preferences.
  2. Is lunch included in costs of the tour?
    Lunch is included in costs.
  3. Is this tour for me?
    This tour is suitable for anyone regardless of their age or fitness level.
  4. Can I book as a solo traveller?
    Yes you can. Significant number of our fellow travelers are solo.
  5. 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.
  6. Can I book this tour in other than English language?
    Tours are possible to book in other than English languages in private option. Do contact our team for further information.
  7. How much in advance do I need to book this tour?
    It is recommended to book at least 15 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 authorisation 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.
159 Reviews
Sort By:RatingDate

Alexander D

Solo Traveller

It was great, I was the only person in the car with the guide and it felt a lot more like a roadtrip with a friend than anything else. Enis, the guide, told me everything I wanted to know about history, culture, politics and life overall in Bosnia. He is obviously very knowledgeable about the war history and genocide and taught me a lot about that. The lunch with the family was also fantastic. It was like visiting my grandmas, the house lady gave me an infinite amount of food and promised to find a wife if I come back. Very warm and welcoming people. It really was the best tour I’ve ever done and although an important part, Srebrenica history was from being the only thing I’ve learned. A must for everyone!

March 2, 2023

Seany O

Solo Traveller

Okay let me tell you this. I’ve been all around the world and I’ve been on countless tours – the best way to see and learn about new cities when I arrive.

This was by far THE BEST tour I’ve ever been on. The tour guide Almir was so incredibly awesome, that when I went on the first tour of the Siege of Sarajevo, I was due to leave the next day for Serbia – I cancelled my trip and stayed longer so I could go on another tour with him! It was worth it.

As a foreigner, trying to grapple with the past of Bosnia and the impact the war has had on its people – this learning experience has helped broaden my understanding in such a monumental way. Having the 1:1 experience of meeting a mother who has lost loved ones in the genocide (I wasn’t even aware of the genocide before coming here – something I am ashamed to admit), was very moving and I am so grateful for such an experience. The home cooked Bosnian food was just delicious and exactly what I had been searching for on this trip.

Thanks Funky Tours and to Almir – your stories, insight, wisdom and first had accounts of war will remain with me forever, and I hope to use the knowledge to educate and inspire others in the future and along my own journey in my travels.

I’ll be back again – I assure you! Love to Sarajevo.

January 29, 2023

Daniel L

Solo Traveller

It’s a long drive out to Srebrenica from Sarajevo, but with Almir it never for a moment feels boring. Any questions you have about Bosnia and even the Balkans in general, he can surely have the answer.

Beautiful scenery juxtaposed against a hard topic, handled excellently. Absolutely 100% recommend.

January 9, 2023

Tais Yáñez

Solo Traveller

Funky Tours all-day learning about the persecution of Bosniaks (Muslims) and the Srebrenica Genocide with Almir, the most excellent guide ever, who defended his people and lived to share his immense knowledge and own experiences during and after the Siege of Sarajevo. In addition to driving through gorgeous nature with a huge history, and visiting the important relevant sites, you get the massive honour of having lunch with a lovely local family who supports themselves by inviting people to their table.

My own suggestions, be respectful of course. and I’d say ‘feel free to ask’ shouldn’t mean very intrusive painful questions which they will answer cos they are sweet and patient but check your positionality and avoid re-traumatising the guide and the kind hosts.

It is vital we never forget genocide.

Regarding the super tasty food, IMO avoid eating 2 days in advance cos Balkans have massive portions 🙂

October 24, 2022

Heather

Family Traveller

We spent two days with Adnan G, with one day centered on the Srebrenica genocide. Adnan’s ability to share his own experiences from the siege of Sarajevo with his deep knowledge of the war in Bosnia, with his exquisite humanity, empathy and generosity made our time together incredibly potent. I would wish all people could learn with Funky Tours – about this particular time in the world, as well as how to for learn about difficult history beyond defensiveness, deception and denial. The lunch with Leila in Srebrenica was deeply moving – her generosity of heart in sharing her story and the beautiful meal she made will feed us throughout our lives. This was a phenomenal experience with phenomenal people. Adnan, Elvir, and everyone else we met from Funky Tours – thank you for doing this important work.

October 24, 2022
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
4 travellers are considering this tour right now!
Start WhatsApp Chat
1
24/7 Assistance
Let's talk about the Balkans!
Thinking of Balkans? We are the experts!