Overview
Explore the hidden gems of the Balkans on the Via Dinarica section in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. This adventure will take you through the Sutjeska and Durmitor National Parks: two stunning areas located at the heart of Dinaric Alps. You will start the tour in Sarajevo, Bosnia’s capital city, which hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, one of the most culturally diverse and historical places on the Balkans. During the active part of the itinerary you’ll ascend Maglic (2386 m) – the highest peak of Bosnia, raft the Tara river, a UNESCO protected site and Europe’s deepest canyon, and discover many glacier lakes, amazing views, colourful wildflowers, medieval villages and welcoming local culture.
This is a small group tour, on which you will share the experience with other passionate travellers and be accompanied by a local guide who will give you the best insights into the places you visit. As you will be exploring some remote places, mind that one night is spent in a bungalow in a rafting camp with shared facilities.
- Sarajevo, one of the most historical and culturally diverse Balkan cities
- Maglic (2,386m), the highest mountain in Bosnia
- Rafting through the Tara Canyon, Europe’s deepest canyon
- Emerald glacier lakes of Durmitor National Park, UNESCO heritage
Show map
*This map is only for general reference; detailed route maps will be provided in your pre-departure package.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sarajevo
Arrive in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Your trip leader will welcome you outside of the customs and immigration area at the airport, and take you to your hotel in the oriental quarter of Sarajevo. In the afternoon, there will be an organized tour of the major historical, cultural and war sites in the city that will help you to piece together its complex and fascinating history. In the evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner and trip briefing.
- Accommodation: Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo, Bosnia)
- Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: Hike to Donje Bare Lake & Mount Ugljesin | 9km
In the morning you will be transferred to your hotel in Sutjeska National Park, before continuing to the tranquil lake of Donje Bare. After lunch, you will walk through a beech forest and open mountainous terrain to the summit of Mount Ugljesin (1858 m), for one of the best panoramic views of the Zelengora peaks and the rock-face wall of Volujak. You continue the stunning circuit back to Gornje Bare lake via the Tovarnica ridge (1.5 hours) with Bosnia’s highest peaks a constant companion on the horizon. We will be transferred back to the hotel in Tjentiste valley, before an early dinner.
- Walking for the day: 9km, 4-5h, ↑↓400m
- Hotel Mladost (Sutjeska National Park, BiH)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Ascent of Maglic, Bosnia’s Highest Mountain | 14km
A transfer will take you to Lokva Derneciste (approx. 1 hour), from where you will head for Bosnia’s highest peak, Maglić Mountain (2,386m), through the forest and open mountainous terrain. The ascent itself will take approximately four hours over fairly well-maintained mountain trails on steep cliffs and is by far the most demanding part of the trek. Please note the route is exposed, and it is not recommended for anyone suffering from vertigo. Each step takes you further above the surrounding peaks until you reach the summit, where you will have lunch and enjoy wonderful views over Montenegro and of our next stop, the emerald green waters of Trnovacko Lake. After descending to the lake in the afternoon, you head for Prijevor where a transfer takes you to your hotel in Tjentiste.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 9h, ↑↓700m
- Accommodation: Hotel Mladost (Sutjeska National Park, BiH)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Tara Rafting
The Tara is one of the most beautiful whitewater rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina that offers some of the best rafting experiences in Europe, and it will surprise you with its stunning wilderness and beauty. A jewel amongst the world’s natural heritage spots, the Tara boasts one of the deepest canyons in Europe. It follows the natural border between Bosnia and Montenegro most of the time. After the professionally guided rafting trip starting in Montenegro, you will enjoy an early dinner on the Tara River banks in Bosnia. Tonight you stay at simple wooden bungalows next to the river, enjoying the sound of water and campfire.
- Daily activity: 3-4h of rafting, II-IV class rapids
- Accommodation: Bungalows at Highlander Camp (Tara river, BiH)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Hike to Crkvicko Polje and Sokolina Plateau | 19km
After a short transfer from the rafting camp to the Montenegro side and Mratinje dam (220m high, making it one of the highest in Europe) you’ll start today’s hike. The hike takes you uphill for about two hours after which you come out on the plateau and continue over it, with a great view on the surrounding mountains. You end the day on the edge of Tara canyon at Sokolina guesthouse, with amazing views of the Durmitor massif and the Tara river, where you rafted the day before.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 6-7h, ↑↓600m
- Accommodation: Local Guesthouse (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: From Susica Hut to Skrka lakes and Skrka mountain pass | 12km
Тoday’s hike continues onwards from Susica mountain hut via the Susicko lake and Skakala waterfall, all the way to Skrka Mountain Hut and lakes. Beautiful spot for a lunch break and if you’re brave enough, you can enjoy a cold glacier waters dip. From here we continue via Skrka pass at 2,112m and all the way down to Dobri Do valley. Today’s hike is a total of 12km, which takes us from forested trails, over rocky, mountain terrain and finally descending to the plateau of Dobri Do.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 5-6h, ↑↓950m
- Accommodation: Pension Javorovaca, Zabljak (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Bobotov Kuk (2,523m) | 14km
The last day of hiking ends with another high point: a climb of Bobotov Kuk (2,523m), Montenegro’s highest mountain. Starting relatively high, on Sedlo (1,900m), hike over the grassy slope of Surutka toward Zupci (“Teeth”), a magnificent massif with 14 sharp rocky “teeth” – a trademark of Durmitor. Reach glacial Zeleni Vir Lake, the highest in Durmitor, and then begin a steep ascent toward Bobotov Kuk. With every step, the views expand, until you reach the top of Bobotov Kuk, and of Montenegro. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Enjoy lunch here and then descend back via Zeleni vir, followed by a short ride back to Zabljak for a well-deserved rest.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 6-7h, ↑↓650m
- Accommodation: Pension Javorovaca, Zabljak (Durmitor National Park, Montenegro)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, a transfer will take you to Podgorica Airport (2.5h) for your departure flight.
- Included meals: Breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Most accommodations are small family-run hotels and B&Bs with ensuite facilities. One night is spent in a bungalow in a rafting camp (private rooms with shared facilities). We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Show the default hotels for this trip
- Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo, Bosnia)
- Hotel Mladost (Sutjeska National Park, Bosnia)
- Bungalows at Highlander Camp (Tara river, Bosnia)
- Pension Javorovaca (Zabljak, Montenegro)
Please mind that the default accommodations are subject to availability. In case a hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a property of equal standard. We will provide full accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
The tour package includes full-board meal plan: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches (mostly picnics), and 7 dinners (as listed in the itinerary).
Difficulty and terrain
We rate the difficulty of this trip as moderate to strenuous, with a maximum walking distance per day of 19km, and daily elevation of up to 900m. You should be in good physical shape and be able to walk for 7-8h, to enjoy the walking part of the tour (read more about difficulty grades). The paths are not technically challenging, still have in mind that there are some exposed sections which are not suitable for people with vertigo.
When to go
Departures for this trip are available in May, June, July, August and September; please click the Book Now button for the exact dates. The minimum group size to guarantee the departure is four participants. During the hiking 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. However, short cold waves and even snow during the summer are not unusual in the Dinaric Alps.
Getting there
View country info and up-to-date travel advice, here for Bosnia & Herzegovina, and here for Montenegro
Click to view travel options
Recommended arrival airport: Sarajevo
Recommended departure airport: Podgorica
Inclusions
Included
- Transportation during the entire trip with 8+1 minivan or 20+1 minibus (including airport transfers)
- English speaking tour leader/guide
- 6 nights in twin/double rooms with ensuite facilities
- 1 night in а bungalow in a rafting camp, shared facilities
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Sarajevo city walking tour (with all entrance fees where needed)
- Tara rafting with all fees and safety equipment
- All local fees for Durmitor & Sutjeska National Parks
Excluded
- Airfare
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Tips for the tour leader and local staff
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Options, extras & supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
- Extra nights in Split and Sarajevo
- Sleeping bag or walking poles rental (10 EUR per trip, paid locally)
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