Overview
Hiking the Via Dinarica in Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) is an eight day small group tour, taking you through two national parks: Sutjeska in BiH and Durmitor in Montenegro. By day three of this trip, you are summiting Mount Maglić (2,386m), the highest in BiH. You get to celebrate this on a day of white water rafting the next day. There are plenty of opportunities for dips in Montengro’s Durmitor National Park too, such as at Skrka Lakes on your hike up to Skrka Pass (2,112m). Or in Zeleni Vir Lake en route to Bobotov Kuk (2,523m), Montenegro’s highest mountain.
Accommodation varies from hotels and guesthouses, to a bungalow at a rafting camp on day four.
- Sarajevo
- Sutjeska National Park
- Mount Maglić (2,386m)
- Tara Canyon
- Durmitor National Park
- Bobotov Kuk (2,523m)
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sarajevo
Arrive in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our driver collects you from the airport and takes you to your accommodation. In the afternoon, there is the opportunity to learn about Sarajevo’s complex history through a guided tour of the major historical and cultural sights of the city (included). In the evening, meet for a welcome dinner and group briefing.
- Accommodation: Hotel Kandilj or similar in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Meals: dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Sutjeska National Park and Hike to Jagodino Lake and Kuk Summit | 7km
In the morning, transfer to Sutjeska National Park (approximately 2hrs). After arriving at our hotel in the Tjentiste Valley, start the hike from Papin Do Hut to Jagodino Lake. From the lake, continue over open terrain to the summit of Kuk (1,817m), right on the Montenegro border, offering panoramic views of Zelengora Mountain and the Volujak rock face.
The descent follows a partial return route, taking just over an hour, with the stunning slopes of Lebrsnik and Volujak in the distance. After a lunch break near the hut, transfer through the Sutjeska River canyon back to the hotel for dinner (approx. 30 minutes). Before dinner, we take a short 10-15 minute walk to visit the Partisan Memorial of Sutjeska, honouring those who died during the Battle of Sutjeska in WWII.
- Walking for the day: 7km, 3-4h, ↑450m ↓450m
- Accommodation: Hotel Mladost or similar in Tjentište (Sutjeska National Park, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Lokva Dernečište – Maglić – Prijevor | 15km
The day begins with a transfer to Lokva Dernečište (approximately 1h). From here, head through woodland and across open mountainous terrain towards Maglić (2,386m), Bosnia-Herzegovina’s highest mountain. The ascent itself takes approximately four hours and the route follows fairly well-maintained mountain trails along steep cliffs. This section is by far the most demanding part of the tour, and please note that the route is exposed, so it is not recommended to anyone suffering from vertigo. Upon reaching the summit, stop for lunch and take in the views over Montenegro and Trnovačko Lake. Begin your descent towards the lake and head to the village of Prijevor, where you are transferred back to your accommodation in Tjentište.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 8-9h, ↑1,300m ↓1300m
- Accommodation: Hotel Mladost or similar in Tjentište (Sutjeska National Park, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Tara River rafting
The famous Tara River follows the natural border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro and offers some of the best rafting experiences in Europe, with level II-IV rapids. A transfer takes you into Montenegro, to the starting point of the rafting trip (45mins), which is led by a professional guide. The Tara Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the deepest canyon in Europe, and the second deepest in the world. After the day of rafting, have an early dinner on the banks of the Tara River, once again back in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Your accommodation for the evening is in simple wooden bungalows next to the river.
- Activity: 3-4h of rafting, II-IV class rapids
- Accommodation: bungalows at Highlander Camp at Tara River in Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Sokolina Plateau | 18km
A short transfer takes you from the rafting camp to Mratinje Dam, a 220m dam located in Piva River Canyon in Montenegro. Follow the trail, gradually ascending towards Sokolina Plateau. Walk across the plateau, ending the walk at your accommodation, located at the edge of Tara Canyon with views of Durmitor massif and the Tara River.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 6-7h, ↑1,350m ↓580m
- Accommodation: Sokolina Guesthouse or similar (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Sušica Mountain Hut – Škrka Lakes – Dobri Do | 13km
Тoday’s hike starts from Sušica Mountain Hut, after a morning transfer (45mins). We then head to Lake Sušičko and Skakala Waterfall crossing rocky, mountainous terrain and forested trails, before arriving at Škrka Mountain Hut and Škrka Lakes. After a break for lunch, there is the opportunity to take a dip in the cold glacial waters. Continue on to Škrčko Ždrijelo Mountain Pass, located at 2,114m. From here, today’s route ends with a descent to the plateau and valley of Dobri Do.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5-6h, ↑1,050m ↓545m
- Accommodation: Pension Javorovaca or similar in Zabljak (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Bobotov Kuk | 10km
The final day of hiking involves a climb of Bobotov Kuk (2,523m), the highest mountain in the Durmitor massif. After a morning transfer (30mins), today’s route starts relatively high at Sedlo Pass (1,900m), before leading over the grassy slope of Surutka. Head towards Zupci (2,309m), a series of jagged peaks that resemble teeth, as the translation of zupci suggests. Arrive at the glacial lake of Zeleni Vir, the highest lake in Durmitor National Park, from where your steep ascent up Bobotov Kuk begins. On a clear day, the view from the summit extends all the way to the Adriatic Sea. After lunch, begin your descent back towards Zeleni Vir, from where you are transferred to Zabljak.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 6-7h, ↑950m ↓1,125m
- Accommodation: Pension Javorovaca or similar in Zabljak (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, a transfer takes you to Podgorica Airport (2.5h) for your departure.
- Meals: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation varies from hotels and guesthouses, to a bungalow at a rafting camp on day four. 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, except the bungalows at Highlander Camp (day four), where you are accommodated in private rooms with shared facilities.
Click to view default accommodation
- Hotel Kandilj (Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Hotel Mladost (Tjentište, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Highlander Camp (Tara River, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Sokolina Guesthouse (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Pension Javorovaca (Zabljak, Montenegro)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of any being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with an accommodation of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days and lunches are included on all walking days (mostly picnic lunches). Dinner is included on all days, except day eight.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate to strenuous, with a maximum walking distance per day of 19km and daily elevation gains of up to 900m. You should be in good physical shape and able to walk for 7-8h per day, to get the most out of this tour. The paths are not technically challenging, but keep in mind that there are some exposed sections which are not suitable for people with vertigo (read more about difficulty grades).
This is a guided tour, so you will be supported by a local qualified mountain guide. You can also call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from the end of June until the end of September. Please click the Dates and Prices button to view exact dates. The minimum group size to guarantee the departure is four participants.
During the hiking season, the weather is normally pleasant and sunny in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. More rain is to be expected at the beginning and the end of the season, and it gets warmer during July and August with temperatures of around 25C. However, short cold waves and even snow during the summer are not unusual in the Dinaric Alps.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice, here for Bosnia-Herzegovina and here for Montenegro
Click to view travel options
Our recommended airports for this tour are Sarajevo Airport or Podgorica Airport. Complimentary group transfers to and from these airports are included in the tour price.
If you are able to travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina or Montenegro without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Sarajevo and Podgorica. For more details, see the national rail operators ZFBH (Bosnia-Herzegovina) or ŽPCG (Montenegro).
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Lunches included on all walking days (mostly picnic lunches) and dinner included on days one, two, three, four, five, six and seven
- Daily transfers to the start/end points of walks
- Arrival/departure airport transfers
- English speaking tour leader/guide
- Sarajevo city walking tour (including any entrance fees)
- Tara River rafting with all fees and safety equipment
- All local fees for Durmitor and Sutjeska National Parks
Excluded
- Airfare
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses and tips for the tour leader/local staff
- Any items not specifically listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own (not possible at Sokolina Guesthouse)
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers. (not possible at Sokolina Guesthouse)
- Extra nights in Sarajevo
- Sleeping bag or walking poles rental (€10, payable locally)
