4.8

Trek and Raft the Via Dinarica Trail across Bosnia and Montenegro

Discover one of Europe’s hidden wonders as you hike through Bosnia and Montenegro and raft the huge Tara River Canyon

What's Included?

  • Maximum group size: 15Join small n’ sociable groups of like-minded, active and outdoorsy people – designed to be solo-friendly

Fromexcluding flights

Highlights

  • Hike Europe’s wildest trails through Bosnia and Montenegro along the relatively unknown Via Dinarica

  • Visit UNESCO protected natural wonders, including the Tara River Canyon – the deepest gorge in Europe, and ascend Bosnia’s highest peak, Mt Maglić (2386m)

  • Explore limestone peaks, glacial lakes, ancient villages and an unforgettable landscape of untouched beauty that's teeming with wildlife

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Sarajevo

    Hotel
    Twin share
    Dinner included
    Show Day 1 detail

    Check into your hotel in the old, oriental trading quarter, settle in and then head our for a tour of historic Sarajevo alongside your guides.

    Day 2

    Sutjeska National Park

    Hiking
    4-5hrs · 6mi · 1837ft up · 2083ft down
    Hotel
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 2 detail

    Leave Sarajevo and hike to the beautiful Donje Bare Lake in the Sutjeska National Park. After lunch, cross the rugged and unspoilt terrain to the summit of Uglješin (1,858m) and enjoy the views across the Zelengora Peaks and the rocky cliff wall of Volujak. Hike to Gornje Bare lake via the Tovarnica ridge and then catch the bus to your hotel in the lovely Tjentište Valley.

    Day 3

    Maglić Mountain

    Hiking
    9hrs · 9mi · 4429ft up · 4265ft down
    Hotel
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 3 detail

    Take on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s highest peak, Maglić Mountain (2,386m) and enjoy your lunch while staring across the valleys into Montenegro. Take a dip in Trnovačko Lake, descend into Prijevor and then back to your hotel in time for dinner.

    Day 4

    Raft Europe’s deepest canyon

    Rafting
    3-4hrs
    Mountain hut
    All meals included
    Show Day 4 detail

    Time to face-off against the Tara Canyon - the deepest gorge in Europe - as you white water raft the class II-IV rapids against a backdrop of untouched wilderness. The canyon marks the border between Bosnia and Montenegro, so you’ll spend the day traversing it and then stay in a wooden cabin on the river bank.

    Day 5

    The Sokolina Plateau

    Hiking
    6-7hrs · 11mi · 4462ft up · 1903ft down
    Guesthouse
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 5 detail

    Enter Montenegro and travel to the Mratinje Dam - at 220 metres, one of the highest in Europe. Hike into the beautiful Durmitor National Park and end the day at a guesthouse on the far side of the Tara Canyon.

  2. Day 6

    Škrćko Lakes

    Hiking
    5-6hrs · 7mi · 3117ft up · 656ft down
    Hotel
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 6 detail

    After a short transfer, continue hiking towards the Škrka Mountain Hut and lakes via Sušićko Lake and the Skakala waterfall. After a lunch break - and the opportunity to dip into the cool, glacial waters - continue via Škrka pass (2112m), all the way down to Dobri Do valley. Take in tremendous views of the stunning peaks surrounding the forested trails over rocky, mountain terrain.

  3. Day 7

    Bobotov Kuk

    Hiking
    6-7hrs · 9mi · 2133ft up · 3937ft down
    Hotel
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 7 detail

    The last day of hiking ends with a high point: the summit of Bobotov Kuk (2523m), Montenegro’s highest peak. Starting at 1900m, trek towards Zupci, a magnificent massif with 14 sharp rocky 'teeth' - a trademark of Durmitor. Reach Zeleni Vir, the highest of the glacial lakes in Durmitor, before beginning the steep ascent. With every step, the views expand, until you reach the top of Montenegro. On a clear day, you may be lucky to see all the way to the Adriatic Sea from this vantage point. After a lunch break, descend and return to Žabljak for a well-deserved rest.

  4. Day 8

    Head for home

    Breakfast included
    Show Day 8 detail

    Say goodbye to your guides before heading back to the airport in time for your flight home.

Practical Stuff

Getting There

Fly into
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)
Fly out of
Podgorica Airport (TGD)
Pick up
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)
13.00 on Day 1
Drop off
Podgorica Airport (TGD)
12:00 noon on Day 8

Detailed Logistics

Transfers

You’ll be met in Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) in Bosnia and Herzegovina by your guides. Please arrive by 13.00 on Day 1

The trip ends with a transfer to Podgorica (TGD) after breakfast on Day 8. The transfer itself takes around 2.5 hrs to Podgorica Airport (TGD). You will arrive there around noon so are free to book flights returning after 14:00.

If you would prefer to be collected/dropped off in the town centres please let your host know.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Sarajevo from airports across the UK and Europe.

What is and isn't Included?

What's included

Qualified English speaking mountain guides

7 nights in guesthouses, hotels, and bungalows.

Munch on tasty food throughout

To and from the airport and everything in-between

All your rafting and safety equipment

All national park entrance fees and taxes

So just hike with a daypack of essentials

What You'll Eat

Lunches will consist of picnic-style treats, like bread, cheeses, meats and sausages, pate, salad, chocolate bars, cookies, trail mix and coffee/tea. Dinners meanwhile will mostly be taken in restaurants known for their tasty, local delicacies. Umolj…

Food and Dietary info

Lunches will consist of picnic-style treats, like bread, cheeses, meats and sausages, pate, salad, chocolate bars, cookies, trail mix and coffee/tea. Dinners meanwhile will mostly be taken in restaurants known for their tasty, local delicacies. Umoljani village especially will give you a chance to sample a variety of the region’s traditional dishes. When you’re in the mountain huts, your guides will prepare your food. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form and note that options are limited throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Optional Extras

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, a private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability). This is available on days 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7 of the itinerary only and is subject to availability.


To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.

All extras must be paid before your trip starts.

Ratings & Reviews

4.810 reviews
  • 3 stars (0)
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)

Category rating

Latest Reviews

  • Joanna

    A fantastic adventure, in unspoilt lands, with a terrific guide. Highly recommended. Will definitely go back to Sutjeska and Durmitor national parks if I get the chance. Highlight was a rustic stay in a mountain hut with a very hospitable local host. Loved it!

  • Lydia

    An amazing week hiking through Bosnia and Montenegro. Incredible views, varied trails, friendly group and excellent tour guide. Evelin went above and beyond to make sure we were all happy and enjoying the week / he was a fountain of knowledge too and great fun along the way. A mix of hikes with some more challenging than others - each day we would assess weather and take the best route possible for safety and to ensure we had the best possible experience. I loved the white water rafting day midweek / it made a good rest after the intense hiking the day. I would thoroughly recommend. Take kit for all weather conditions - don’t underestimate how quickly it can change. Accommodation was varies, all quite basic but clean.

  • Jaz

    Samer and the rest of the host team did an incredible job taking us on a journey of an unspoilt and truly beautiful part of the world. All of the walks were carefully planned and extremely enjoyable with amazing views and a good level of challenge. The rafting made for a really fun break in the isle of the trip, and is an unforgettable experience. The food was amazing throughout, despite me being vegan, the team helped me to find solutions and I never went even close to hungry! The group was brilliant to spend time with, social and talkative, a great bunch of people to spend the week with. Finally, I cannot say enough about how excellent the team were, they really made this trip special, and it certainly had me wanting more, to come back and experience these stunning countries again and again. You will not regret booking this trip!

  • Tessa

    The hiking / rafting trip in Bosnia & Montenegro was absolutely fantastic. We did an 8 day tour that started in Sarajevo and ended in Podgorica. The scenery was stunning, the trip was really well organized and the guides (Evelin & Samer) were great (positive, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, honest, motivational and careful). We travelled with a group of 15 and had so much fun. The hikes were definitely challenging at some points but everybody was able to do it. I enjoyed learning about Bosnia and Montenegro, admiring the landscape and the diverse itinerary of the trip. The guides made us feel safe and taken care of, while also preparing us well for what was to come, with honest and reliable descriptions. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys hiking. It was a great trip to do as a solo traveler because the group was very mixed, with couple / friends / solo travelers (most people in my group were between 23-35 yrs old).

  • Jess

    A great trip all round to discover the wild beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. A rewarding and challenging experience, made very enjoyable with a great group and host. The difficulty rating is fairly spot on. Do take note that if the weather conditions are not ideal as it was on my trip, you would not be able to ascend the summits for Maglic and Bobotov Kuk.

  • Kevin

    Stunning views of varied landscapes everyday

  • Alizee

    Marvelous experience, the guides were excellent and the landscapes fabulous. I felt very at ease as a solo traveler and the group was very diversified in terms of background and ages. I found some of the hikes challenging but we were under excellent guidance and safety was always first. Accommodations were clean and food was great too.

  • Richard

    The local team were professional, caring, knowledgeable and friendly. The trip itself was beautiful, sufficiently challenging and very rewarding. Our group was brilliant.

  • Siriporn

    Our guides, services and schedules were great.

  • Rob

    The guide and driver (who was like a second guide) were great!

Customer Photos

4.810 reviews
  • 5 stars (8)
  • 4 stars (2)
  • 3 stars (0)
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)
Showing all 10 reviews
  • A fantastic adventure, in unspoilt lands, w...

    Joanna October 2022
    A fantastic adventure, in unspoilt lands, with a terrific guide. Highly recommended. Will definitely go back to Sutjeska and Durmitor national parks if I get the chance. Highlight was a rustic stay in a mountain hut with a very hospitable local host. Loved it!
  • An amazing week hiking through Bosnia and M...

    Lydia September 2022
    An amazing week hiking through Bosnia and Montenegro. Incredible views, varied trails, friendly group and excellent tour guide. Evelin went above and beyond to make sure we were all happy and enjoying the week / he was a fountain of knowledge too and great fun along the way. A mix of hikes with some more challenging than others - each day we would assess weather and take the best route possible for safety and to ensure we had the best possible experience. I loved the white water rafting day midweek / it made a good rest after the intense hiking the day. I would thoroughly recommend. Take kit for all weather conditions - don’t underestimate how quickly it can change. Accommodation was varies, all quite basic but clean.
  • Samer and the rest of the host team did an...

    Jaz September 2022
    Samer and the rest of the host team did an incredible job taking us on a journey of an unspoilt and truly beautiful part of the world. All of the walks were carefully planned and extremely enjoyable with amazing views and a good level of challenge. The rafting made for a really fun break in the isle of the trip, and is an unforgettable experience. The food was amazing throughout, despite me being vegan, the team helped me to find solutions and I never went even close to hungry! The group was brilliant to spend time with, social and talkative, a great bunch of people to spend the week with. Finally, I cannot say enough about how excellent the team were, they really made this trip special, and it certainly had me wanting more, to come back and experience these stunning countries again and again. You will not regret booking this trip!
  • The hiking / rafting trip in Bosnia & Monte...

    Tessa September 2022
    The hiking / rafting trip in Bosnia & Montenegro was absolutely fantastic. We did an 8 day tour that started in Sarajevo and ended in Podgorica. The scenery was stunning, the trip was really well organized and the guides (Evelin & Samer) were great (positive, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, honest, motivational and careful). We travelled with a group of 15 and had so much fun. The hikes were definitely challenging at some points but everybody was able to do it. I enjoyed learning about Bosnia and Montenegro, admiring the landscape and the diverse itinerary of the trip. The guides made us feel safe and taken care of, while also preparing us well for what was to come, with honest and reliable descriptions. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys hiking. It was a great trip to do as a solo traveler because the group was very mixed, with couple / friends / solo travelers (most people in my group were between 23-35 yrs old).
  • A great trip all round to discover the wild...

    Jess September 2022
    A great trip all round to discover the wild beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. A rewarding and challenging experience, made very enjoyable with a great group and host. The difficulty rating is fairly spot on. Do take note that if the weather conditions are not ideal as it was on my trip, you would not be able to ascend the summits for Maglic and Bobotov Kuk.
  • Stunning views of varied landscapes everyda...

    Kevin September 2022
    Stunning views of varied landscapes everyday
  • Marvelous experience, the guides were excel...

    Alizee August 2022
    Marvelous experience, the guides were excellent and the landscapes fabulous. I felt very at ease as a solo traveler and the group was very diversified in terms of background and ages. I found some of the hikes challenging but we were under excellent guidance and safety was always first. Accommodations were clean and food was great too.
  • The local team were professional, caring, k...

    Richard August 2022
    The local team were professional, caring, knowledgeable and friendly. The trip itself was beautiful, sufficiently challenging and very rewarding. Our group was brilliant.
  • Our guides, services and schedules were gre...

    Siriporn November 2019
    Our guides, services and schedules were great.
  • The guide and driver (who was like a second...

    Rob September 2019
    The guide and driver (who was like a second guide) were great!

Before You Travel

What to Pack

Backpack with hiking gear laid out

Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.

Kit List

What do I need to bring?
Bags
  • Daypack (30-40 litres)
Clothes
  • Hiking boots
  • Waterproofs
Other
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Sun protection including sunglasses, sun hat (or cap) and sunscreen
  • Flashlight and small pocket knife
  • Toiletries

FAQs

Unfortunately no. As you start and end in different countries you'll need to have everything with you, however, you do not need to carry all your luggage during the hike.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre program, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 298kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

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