Overview
An eight day, self-guided cycling holiday between Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Dubrovnik in Croatia. For the most part you are cycling the Ciro Trail, a 140km route was originally created for trains because it was an easy connection between Bosnia-Herzegovina’s highlands and Croatia’s coast, following the Neretva River.
The actual trail starts in Mostar, so you have time to enjoy Sarajevo and its mountainous environs first, before hitting a trail that’s packed with natural and cultural highlights. These include the bird-rich wetlands of Hutovo Blato Nature Park, the cliffside Blagaj Tekija Monastery and finally Dubrovnik. Stay in a delightful array of locally-owned mountain lodges and traditional guesthouses, with luggage transfers. Bike rental is included in the cost of the tour.
- Sarajevo
- Bjelašnica and Visočica Mountains
- Boracko Lake
- Mostar
- Vjetrenica Cave
- Dinaric Alps
- Dubrovnik
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sarajevo
Depending on the time of your arrival you have the rest of the day to explore the numerous cultural riches of this magnificent capital city.
- Accommodation: Pension Kandilj or similar in Sarajevo
Day 2: Igman War Route and the Olympic Experience | 61km
Cycle along a path from Sarajevo to Igman and Bjelašnica Mountain, the site of the men’s downhill and ski jump during the 1984 Olympic Winter Games. You cycle along the route over Igman connecting Sarajevo to the outside world during the war in the 1990s. Overnight in Tušila.
- Cycling for the day: 61km, ↑1,300m
- Accommodation: Mountain Lodge Vrela or similar in Tušila
- Included meals: dinner
Day 3: Bjelašnica and Visočica Mountains | 55km
Starting from Tušila, you head through the Bjelašnica and Visočica mountain ranges to Boračko Lake, following a trading route used during the Ottoman era. The gentle asphalt road soon gives way to a more challenging and steep road on a stretch between the Bjelašnica and Visočica massifs through the heart of the Visočica range. You pass medieval tombstones and monuments of Bosnia’s turbulent history, reminders of what once was a mighty kingdom stretching all the way to the Dalmatian coast.
- Cycling for the day: 55km, ↑680m
- Accommodation: Apartments Boracko Lake or similar in Boracko jezero
- Included meals: breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Boračko Lake to Mostar | 60km
The day’s cycle starts with a strenuous climb from Boračko Lake followed by a spectacular ride across the Prenj Mountains. This is a challenging ride with switchbacks and climbing on a mix of gravel and secondary asphalt roads.
- Cycling for the day: 60km, ↑940m
- Accommodation: Hotel Almira or similar in Mostar
- Included meals: breakfast, and packed lunch
Day 5: Mostar to Capljina | 60km
Leaving Mostar, we recommend a stop at Blagaj to see the spring that forms the Buna River, as well as the magnificent Blagaj Tekija Monastery, dating back to the 16th century, and perfectly poised on a 200m-high cliff.
- Cycling for the day: 60km, ↑410m
- Accommodation: Hotel Storia or similar in Capljina
- Included meals: breakfast, and packed lunch
Day 6: Capljina to Zavala | 60km
Today’s cycle takes you through peaceful farmland, across old railway bridges and then into Hutovo Blato Nature Park. As well as taking time to enjoy the wild, wetlands of Hutovo Blato, you pass through former railway stations and get a feel for how this railway route once was. The day comes to a close in Zavala, where we highly recommend visiting Vjetrenica Cave, the largest in Bosnia-Herzegovnia, as well as the village’s 16th-century monastery.
- Cycling for the day: 60km, ↑950m
- Accommodation: Guesthouse Zavala or similar in Zavala
- Included meals: breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Zavala to Trebinje | 48km
You begin your ride along Popovo fields, an area that was flooded regularly in the past and as a result, most of the old villages today are located up on the sides of the dry limestone mountains and ridges. Continue along the old train tracks towards Trebinje.
- Cycling for the day: 48km, ↑450m
- Accommodation: Hotel Apis or similar in Trebinje
- Included meals: breakfast, and packed lunch
Day 8: Departure and transfer to Dubrovnik
After breakfast, a morning transfer to your destination in Dubrovnik.
- Included meals: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, mountain lodges and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view our default hotels for this trip
- Pension Kandilj or similar in Sarajevo
- Mountain Lodge Vrela or similar in Tusila
- Apartments Boracko Lake or similar in Boracko jezero
- Hotel Almira or similar in Mostar
- Hotel Storia or similar in Capljina
- Guesthouse Zavala or similar in Zavala
- Hotel Apis or similar in Trebinje
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Meals are included as listed in the itinerary: breakfast on all days, packed lunch on days three, four, five, six and seven. Dinners on days three, six and seven.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for experienced cyclists and requires a good level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). You will cycle on average of 60km per day, with an average daily elevation gain of 900m. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available between May and October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate desired beginning date when booking. During the active season, the weather is normally pleasant and sunny. More rain is expected at the beginning and the end of the season, and it gets warmer during July and August. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to Croatia.
Getting there
View country info and up-to-date travel advice, here for Bosnia-Herzegovina, and here for Croatia
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) (for arrival) and Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport (DBV) (for departure).
By train or bus
Inclusions
Included
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, route notes and maps
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts, 5 packed lunches, and 3 dinners
- Bike rental
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all cycling days
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you are travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this holiday is not available for solo travellers
- E-bike upgrade
- Additional nights in Sarajevo before the trip
- Additional nights in Dubrovnik after the trip
- Neretva white water rafting extension
Bike rental
Bike rental includes a fully equipped rental bike for the duration of the tour, patch kit, spare tube, pump, lock, rack and a water bottle holder. It is required to wear helmets on this tour. To guarantee optimum protection, we request that you bring your own helmet. Limited number of helmets are available to rent. E-bike rental is possible for an additional cost.
Rental bike (included)
- 9-speed bike
- Tektro M275 hydraulic disc brakes
- SR SunTour XCM fork
E-bike upgrade
- Marin – Sausalito E2
- SR/Suntour NVX-E, 63mm Travel fork
- Shimano BTEN605, 504Wh bettery
