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?
Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 15 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
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
Key Information
Day 1
Sarajevo
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
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
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
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
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.
Day 6
Škrćko Lakes
Hiking
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.
Day 7
Bobotov Kuk
Hiking
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.
Day 8
Head for home
Say goodbye to your guides before heading back to the airport in time for your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)
13.00 on Day 1
Ends
Podgorica Airport (TGD)
12:00 noon on Day 8
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.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6 – Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
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.
What is the accommodation like?
Sarajevo
In Sarajevo, you’ll stay at a newly built, traditionally Bosnian family-run guesthouse called Pansion Kandilj. All rooms come with air-conditioning and private facilities.
Sutjeska National Park
In Sutjeska National Park, you’ll stay in a Hotel Mladost in Tjentiste Valley (Days 2 & 3).
Tara River
On Day 4 you'll stay at simple wooden bungalows next to the river, enjoying the sound of water and campfire.
Montenegro
On the first night in Montenegro (Day 5), you’ll stay in a rustic guest house called Sokolina that’s based in a converted old barn. Expect homecooked meals and stories told around a campfire with your charismatic host Dragan.
Žabljak
On Days 6 & 7, you’ll sleep in Žabljak's Hotel Zlatni Bor. It includes comfortable double, triple and quadruple rooms with en-suite bathrooms and has its own traditional restaurant.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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 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 everyday
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, knowledgeable and friendly. The trip itself was beautiful, sufficiently challenging and very rewarding. Our group was brilliant.
Our guides, services and schedules were great.