Overview
Located 20min drive away from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bjelasnica mountain range is a place full of wild natural beauty and authentic villages, yet to be discovered by many hikers looking for a pure mountain adventure off the beaten track. Hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics and being a battleground during the siege of Sarajevo, Bjelasnica is also a place full of history that will tell you a lot about life in the Balkans, adding a touch of cultural exploration to your journey. To make your travel experience even richer, you will be able also to explore Sarajevo, one of the most historic and culturally diverse cities on the Balkans.
This is a self-guided walking tour, most suited for experienced travellers looking for an authentic adventure in one of the last wild corners of Europe. The itinerary will take you through spectacular limestone peaks, glacial lakes, amazing views, colourful wildflowers, medieval villages, and welcoming local culture. You will spend one of the evenings in a mountain hut, completely immersing yourself into the peace and quiet of the mountain.
- Explore the cultural riches of Sarajevo
- Discover the Via Dinarica trail
- Untouched Mountain settlements, canyons & summits
- Enjoy old shepherd lifestyle as it was once was
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sarajevo
Arrival in Sarajevo on your own. Depending on the time of your arrival, you will have the rest of the day for exploring the cultural riches of this historical city.
- Accommodation: Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo)
- Meals included: none
Day 2: Hike the Old War Routes at Igman Mountain | 11km
Transfer to the bottom of Igman mountain and hike over old war route to the Bjelasnica Ski resort. The area became prominent in 1984 when it hosted the Winter Olympics, and a lot of the facilities and hotels date to that period. Because of its strategic location, it was also a key battleground during the Bosnian War (1992–95). Dinner and overnight are at a comfortable hotel.
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, ↑750m, 11km
- Accommodation: Hotel Bjelasnica (Bjelasnica Ski resort)
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Ascent of Bjelasnica Highest Mountain | 13km
Day of crossing the Bjelasnica mountain plateau with an ascent to the Observatory. The history of the Observatory dates back to 1878, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire occupied Bosnia, and installed almost immediately the first meteorological station on the summit, creating the first meteorological station in the whole area of the Balkans. The observatory is still there and has been repaired of the damage sustained during the last war, and still functions as an important chain-link in the meteorological survey of the Balkans. Your hike continues towards Umoljani village for overnight.
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, ↑850m, 13km
- Accommodation: Pension Umoljani (Umoljani Village)
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Village To Village Hike | 12km
Today’s hike has it all, amazing scenery, old water mills, stunning views of the Rakitnica canyon and great hiking. Depending on your route choice, you will enjoy a full day of walking in the Bjelasnica Mountains, possibly ascending Mount Obalj (1,896m) and visiting Lukomir, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s highest village (1,469m).
- Walking for the day (option 1): 3-4h, ↑450m, 9km
- Walking for the day (option 2): 4-5h walk, ↑700m, 8km
- Accommodation: Pension Ljetna basta (Lukomir village)
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Crossing the Rakitnica Canyon | 10km
Hike into one of the deepest canyons in this part of Europe. The trail is constantly zig-zagging downhill until you reach the Rakitnica river, at the deepest part of the canyon. The long descent via old shepherd trails ends with the crossing of one of the old suspension bridges and ascent to the opposite side of Bobovica village. From here you will follow the meadows and green pastures of Visocica mountain to the Vrela Hut.
- Walking for the day: 5-6h walk, ↑800m, 10km
- Accommodation: Mountain Hut Vrela (Tusila village )
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Glimpse of Visocica Mountain | 11km
Hike across one of the most exciting rides in the area with stunning views of the opposite side of Rakitnica canyon. At the end of the hike, a transfer will take you to Sarajevo, where you will be able to have an evening of rest and reflect on your hiking adventure.
- Moderate walk: 5-6h, ↑850m, 11km
- Accommodation: Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo, Bosnia)
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Departure
Departure on your own.
- Meals included: Breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
In Sarajevo, you will be accommodated in a cosy B&B (private rooms, en-suite facilities), located in the central Oriental part of the city. One of the evenings will be spent in a comfortable hotel in Bjelasnica Ski resort (private rooms, en-suite facilities). You will spend one night in a mountain hut (dorm rooms, shared facilities). In Umoljani Village, you will be accommodated in a local pension (private rooms, en-suite facilities). We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Show our default accommodations for this trip
- Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo)
- Hotel Bjelasnica (Bjelasnica Ski resort)
- Mountain Hut Stanari (Bjelašnica Mountain)
- Pension Umoljani (Umoljani Village)
Accommodations are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired 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
Meal plan, as listed in the itinerary: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunch packs and 3 dinners (in Sarajevo you have plenty of restaurant options to choose from)
Difficulty and terrain
We rate the difficulty of this trip as moderate, with an average walking time of 7-8h per day, so to enjoy the walking part of the tour you should have previous experience and be in a good physical shape (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
Departures for this trip are available from April to October. The tour is self-guided so you can depart at any day during the active season. 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 some snow during the summer is not unusual in the Dinaric Alps.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
Recommended arrival/departure airport: Sarajevo
Inclusions
Included
- Transportation during the entire trip with 4+1 Jeep or 8+1 minivan to the starting/ending points of the walks
- Luggage transfers (except on day 4 to Lukomir Highland Village)
- Accommodation for 6 nights (as described in the itinerary)
- Meals as specified in the itinerary: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunch packs and 4 dinners
- Information package including detailed route description with corresponding maps of Bjelasnica & Igman (scale: 1:50 000) and directions for self-guided walks with GPS tracks for each day
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and airport transfers
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Sleeping bag or walking poles rental (10 EUR per trip, paid locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- If you are travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a single room (only possible in Sarajevo and Bjelasnica Ski resort)
- Extra nights in Sarajevo
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