Highlights of Bosnia Herzegovina

Day 1 – Flight to Sarajevo

Early flight from Heathrow via Vienna to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia Herzegovina, for a 2-night stay in a central hotel. Our lunchtime arrival allows time for an afternoon city orientation tour including the Ottoman bazaar and the location of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination which sparked WWI. Tram enthusiasts will enjoy riding the city’s small network, made famous during the 1992-1995 siege – the same trams are still in use.

Day 2 – Jajce

Visit the Sarajevo suburbs to see the source of the River Bosna in a beautiful pine forest and the amazing Tunnel of Hope, the only lifeline to the city during the siege. Continue to the fortified town of Jajce (former medieval capital of Bosnia) with its castle, numerous old riverside watermills and a stunning waterfall in the town centre.

Day 3 – Visegrad & Mokra Gora

We pay a brief visit to Serbia, driving via Visegrad with its impressive Ottoman bridge to the small village of Mokra Gora. Our hotel here is on the old narrow gauge station.

Day 4 – The Šargan Eight

A narrow gauge railway once linked Belgrade with Dubrovnik across difficult mountainous country. The last section closed in 1974, but the Serbian state railway has now reopened the most scenic part over the Šargan Pass from Mokra Gora. It climbs in a series of hairpins, spirals and a figure of eight loop which gives the line its name. The three hour return trip includes photo stops at vantage points. Returning to Bosnia, we overnight in a riverside hotel near Konjic.

Day 5 – Konjic & Mostar

Short city tour including a visit to a hand carver of wooden furniture. We then drive to the nearby Jabalanica Lake for a cruise and enjoy lunch on the boat. The journey delivers great views of the impressive railway bridge on the Sarajevo to Mostar line. Continue to Mostar where we have a walking tour of the old town and the famous Stari Most bridge after which the city is named. We stay here for 2 nights.

Day 6 – Kravice Waterfalls

Visit the old village of Pocitelj with its unique local stonework and the beautiful Kravice Waterfalls. Lunch and wine tasting at a local winery then explore Mediugorje, a major Catholic pilgrimage site.

Day 7 – Blagaj

Morning visit to Blagaj where the river flows out of the mountainside in a series of rapids. A little free time in Mostar before a late afternoon train from Mostar to Sarajevo (two hour scenic journey by modern Talgo train). Farewell evening meal in Sarajevo.

Day 8 – Lunchtime Flight to Heathrow

Morning transfer to the airport for flight via Vienna to London.