Overview
Discover the Balkans off the beaten track on the scenic trails of the Via Dinarica Trail. This itinerary combines the best Via Dinarica trails of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will let you immerse yourself in pristine wilderness and authentic local culture. You will explore spectacular limestone peaks and the beautiful Adriatic coast, taking in glacial lakes, amazing views, colourful wildflowers, medieval villages, and a gracious culture and people.
Starting in Croatia, you will hike through the less known part of this otherwise popular holiday destination. In Bosnia, you will have the chance to visit Sarajevo, with its fascinating mix of European and Ottoman culture, and Bjelašnica, one of four mountains around the city that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics.
This is a small group tour, on which you will share the experience with other passionate travellers and will 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 mountain areas, mind that two of the nights are spent in mountain huts, in dorm rooms with shared facilities.
- Hike in the great limestone Dinaric Alps
- Climb the highest peak of Croatia, Sinjal (1831 m)
- Visit authentic villages in Bosnia, where residents still live “the old way”
- Explore Mostar and Sarajevo, cities full of culture and history
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Split/Skradin
Arrival at Split airport and transfer to the small and pleasant town of Skradin, on the banks of river Krka. In the evening, while enjoying a drink at one of the town’s terraces, you can often feel the fresh breeze coming down from the mountains in the inner lands. Dinner at the hotel.
- Accommodation: Hotel Skradinski Buk or similar (Skradin, Croatia)
- Included meals: Dinner
Day 2: Canyon of Krupa River | 9km
Morning transfer to the area of river Krupa. The hike starts from the village of Ravni Golubic into the scenic river canyon, where you will be enjoying views to its emerald waters as well as the intense green banks of the river. We will also get a chance to admire Kudin most, a 109m long stone bridge connecting the banks of Krupa river. We’ll have a picnic lunch and the possibility of a refreshing swim in the river. Hike back to Ravni Golubic on a different trail and transfer back to Skradin. Dinner at the hotel.
- Walking for the day: 3-4h, 9km, ↑300m
- Hotel Skradinski Buk or similar (Skradin, Croatia)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Mount Badanj and Brezovac Mountain Hut | 8km
Transfer to Guge village and Mirkovici plain, below Mount Badanj. Start of our 2-day hiking adventure on Dinara. Dinara is the highest mountain in Croatia. Although it doesn’t boast with remarkable height – it does not exceed 2000m, its shape and length make it one of the most impressive mountains in Croatia.
Today we ascend to the minor but equally interesting Mount Badanj (1,281m), for some nice views of the Dinara mountain and the valleys below. In the afternoon we arrive at the Brezovac mountain hut, where we will spend the night enjoying the fresh air and silence of the mountain, accompanied by some local products which we will have for dinner. Overnight in dorm rooms, with shared facilities.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 8km, ↑550m
- Accommodation: Mountain Hut Brezovac (Dinara Mountain, Croatia)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As the overnight will be in a hut that is not accessible by cars, mind that you will have to carry a backpack with what you will need for the evening and for tomorrow’s hike.
Day 4: Mount Sinjal and Drive to Mostar | 14km
In the morning we start our ascent to the highest peak of Croatia – Mount Sinjal (or Dinara, 1,831m). The first part of the ascent follows an old military gravel road climbing up the mountain. We then move away from the road and start ascending towards the peak on a rocky and relatively steep path. At the top, we can enjoy some beautiful views to Perucko lake basin, Troglav mountain on the border with Bosnia and the mountains of Sibenik and Knin region. After the peak, we start our descent towards Glavas village on the eastern slopes of Dinara mountain. On the way down we enjoy passing over Levurdovac pasture and Podcrvkica plateau, further down to the huge amphitheatre of Pekasova Draga valley, passing an old fort that used to guard the eastern access to Dinara mountain, in the time of Ottoman conquests. The hike ends in Glavas village, where we are picked up by our bus and transferred to Mostar, in Bosnia & Herzegovina, where we continue with the second part of our Via Dinarica Croatia and Bosnia program. Dinner and overnight in Mostar.
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, 14km, ↑800m
- Accommodation: Hotel Almira (Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Blidinje Nature Park and Mount Vilinac | 10km
We start the Bosnian part of our Via Dinarica adventure with a transfer to Blidinje Nature Park, from where we will start hiking over Čvrsnica mountain. Today’s goal is Mount Vilinac (2118 m). The first bit of the trail takes us through a beech forest and has a gentle ascent. As the elevation rises we come above the tree line. From the top of Vilinac, we will see the surrounding peaks enjoying a 360-degree panorama. The hut where we spend our first night in the Bosnian mountains is located 15 minutes away.
- Walking for the day: 5h, 10km, ↑600m
- Accommodation: Mountain Hut Vilinac (Čvrsnica mountain, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As the overnight will be in a hut, mind that you will have to carry a backpack with what you will need for the evening.
Day 6: Hajdučka Vrata and Diva Grabovica Valley | 11km
After breakfast, we will hike east to Mount Drinaca (2,038m) and Hajdučka Vrata, a natural arch more than four meters wide. There are many natural arches of this kind in this area, but this one is the biggest. From here we will start our descent, more than 1,500m down, into the valley of Diva Grabovica. At the end of the day, we’ll be transferred to Tusila village at Visocica Mountain, for a well-deserved homemade dinner.
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, 11km, ↓1,800m
- Accommodation: Mountain Hut Vrela (Visocica mountain, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Highland Villages of Umoljani and Lukomir/Sarajevo | 16km
Full day walk on the Bjelašnica Massif (home of the 1984 winter Olympics). From the traditional style Bosnian Mosque in the village of Umoljani, we’ll walk to the seven water mills and the beautiful water source used for centuries for grinding wheat into flour. We follow the ridge until Rakitnica opens up. After 5-10min, we reach the Cascades of Studeni Potok. Here we’ll have a view of Obalj and the long flat valley of Studeni Fields. En route, we’ll find quite a few sources where we can refill our bottles. From the Studeni Fields, we hike along Obalj’s side, you will be treated by sweet views and cool breezes coming off of Visočica and Treskavica.
We soon reach Lukomir, Bosnia’s highest village at 1,469m, known for the ancient stećci (medieval tombstones) and the authentic lifestyle of the locals. Traditional dress, the occasional turban, and fez are still worn and go hand in hand with the more contemporary rhythm of everyday life: electricity and running water. On the edge of the village, you will be treated by a rare view of Rakitnica, Obalj, and Visočica. You have arrived at the end of the world. We return via Dugo Polje, a long field flanked by Bjelašnica and Obalj. The trail is well maintained by people from the various villages around. Winding our way through Crveni Klanac we arrive at Gradina, a summer village just above Umoljani. From the village, we walk down to Umoljani from where we’ll be transferred to Sarajevo for our final evening of this journey.
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, 16km, ↑350m
- Accommodation: Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Departure from Sarajevo
Depending on your departure time, you will have some time for some gift shops and quick sightseeing, before being transferred to Sarajevo Airport.
- Included meals: Breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Most accommodations are small family-run hotels with en-suite facilities. Two nights are spent in huts in dorm rooms with shared facilities (no need to bring a sleeping bag or sheets). 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.
Click to view our default hotels for this trip
- Hotel Skradinski Buk (Skradin, Croatia)
- Mountain Hut Brezovac (Dinara Mountain, Croatia)
- Hotel Almira (Mostar, Bosnia)
- Mountain Hut Vilinac (Čvrsnica mountain, Bosnia)
- Mountain Hut Vrela(Visocica mountain, Bosnia
- Pension Kandilj (Sarajevo, Bosnia)
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
You should be in good physical shape and be able to walk for 6-7h per day to fully enjoy this tour (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
Departures for this trip are available in May, June, July and September. 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 is not unusual in the Dinaric Alps.
Getting there
View country info and up-to-date travel advice, here for Croatia, and here for Bosnia & Herzegovina
Click to view travel options
By Plane
Recommended arrival airport: Split
Recommended departure airport: Sarajevo
Inclusions
Included
- Transportation during the entire trip with 8+1 minivan or 20+1 minibus (including airport transfers)
- English speaking tour leader/guide
- 5 nights in twin/double rooms with ensuite facilities
- 2 nights in dorm rooms with shared facilities at Brezovac and Vilinac Mountain Huts
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- All fees and taxes for Dinara and Blidinje Nature 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 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 in the mountain huts)
- Extra nights in Split and Sarajevo
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