Balkan Journey - Bosnia & Montenegro
A Balkan Journey through Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro unravels a fascinating, long & troubled imperial history of the region, which is contrasted by some of the most stunning natural landscapes. Emerald green rivers, cascading waterfalls, long & narrow gorges and majestic mountains, one of which even hides a rainforest. Drive down further to Montenegro, and you reach a coastline dotted from border to border with beaches of yellow and volcanic grey, and huddles of picturesque, orange-roofed houses in charming hamlets. This is, in short, a picture-perfect holiday.
Trip Highlights
- Begin your trip in Sarajevo – despite a troubled past, the vibrant capital today welcomes visitors with its cultural heritage, outstanding cuisine, charming monuments, picturesque location & warm people – where the cobblestone alleyways and narrow bazars straddle the grand relics of the Austro-Hungarian empire
- Drive to Mostar – the Ottoman frontier town known for its iconic Old Bridge (Stari Most).
- Head into the Venetian picture-perfect Kotor – backed by a spectacular deep blue, fjord-like bay, to the mountainous interior, filled with national parks and towering peaks
- Explore the less visited Lustica Peninsula – home to charming villages, beautiful beaches, and the spectacular Blue Grotto – named for its florescent blue water
- Drive through Montenegro’s relatively less visited gems – Tara Canyon, Durmitor National Park, Mount Lovcen & Lake Scadar and soak in the warm hospitality of this very young country
Which Visa Do I Need
Indian citizens require a visa to visit Bosnia & Montenegro. However, holders of multiple entry Schengen Visa can enter either country as tourists without any additional visa.
Length of Stay
We recommend at least 8 days for this itinerary. There are no direct flights to Bosnia or Montenegro, so almost a full day is spent in getting there and back.
Best time to visit
Summer is the best time to visit (July-Aug) with long warm days. However, shoulder months of May-June and September are also worth considering as the crowds are lesser. Most attractions in the mountains are either closed or run on reduced opening hours during winter months, however, there are plenty of opportunities for skiing and other winter sport
history, culture, islamic architecture, scenic drives, warm beaches, seaside towns, fortresses & monasteries
Did you know
- A strange tradition in rural parts of Bosnia occurs during large celebrations such as weddings and childbirth. Jubilant revellers fire guns into the air.
- Bosnia has a Rainforest. Sutjeska National Park’s Perucica in eastern Bosnia towards the Montenegro border covers 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) of rainforest. A total of 170 species of trees and 1000s of different types of plants, along with an abundance of wildlife call this area home
- A Bosnian can either be a Bosniak, Croat or Serb based on his or her religious affiliations as a Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox Christian respectively. Each group has their own language, which is Slavic based and shares similarities with each other. After conflicts in the 1990s, Bosnia split along ethnic lines. Each group now has their own president. Few countries have three languages and three presidents.
- Bosnia is home to a self-proclaimed micronation: Hajdučka Republika Mijata Tomića, which has its own flag, currency, consul, Constitution and a sole ruler. Here, the formation of political parties, as well as any dealing with politics, is forbidden, since it is not good for human health. It is also interesting to notice that it has a grand amount of 73 ministers. Besides classic ones, there are also ministries for smiles, unsolved cases, for the protection of men from violent women, non-married men, artificial blondes, bankrupted truck and bus drivers, vagueness, provocation, and easy women
- Stara Maslina, in Montenegro’s southern town of Bar, is known as the oldest olive tree in the world. At over 2,000 years old, the tree is a magnificent attraction in an area known for its hectares of beautiful olive groves. In fact, there are over 100,000 olive trees in Bar that over 1,000 years old!
