Bjelasnica Highland Village Tour
Part of the Via Dinarica White Line
Olympic Mountain Bjelasnica
HIKING TOUR | 4-days | 430€ | This Bosnian adventure tour is a part of the Via Dinarica White Trail which leads through the amazing scenery of Bosnian Olympic Mountain Bjelasnica to the isolated highland villages Umoljani and Lukomir, old water mills, and impressive views of the Rakitnica Canyon.
Experienced guides and pure mountain air invite you to discover grassy mountain slopes in Bjelasnica hinterland, only 25 km southwest of Sarajevo (20-minute drive).
In summer months you can meet shepherds living in traditional summer villages and watch their sheep grazing on the steep slopes of Bjelasnica mountain. You can drink water from a clean mountain stream, pick wild thyme and blueberries from the hillside for free.
The visit to the traditional highland villages Umoljani and Lukomir is a great discovery. A local food produced in these isolated mountain villages is a really special experience.
If you wish to prolong your stay in Bosnia, there is a possibility of exploring Sarajevo on one of the interesting city tours with an experienced local guide. Check out our city tour Discover Sarajevo.
TOUR DAY BY DAY
Day 1 - Bjelasnica Mountain & Hranisava climb (1.964m)
Picking up time in Sarajevo at 9:00 AM. Our trekking tour leads us to the mountain hut in the summer village Stanari, located in the heart of Bjelasnica mountain at 1.585 meters (base location for further exploration of the mountain). We will continue to hike through beech and pine forest on the opposite side of the Olympic ski slopes, which is less frequented by hikers and nature lovers. The hike takes us up to the Gate of Wind. From here we are crossing over up to a small Shepherd’s hut (at 1.620m), where we will have a lunch break. After lunch, we will start an 1-hour steep climb to the Hranisava peak (1.964m) which will reward us with a beautiful view of Central Bosnia-Herzegovina and its peaks Bukovik, Trebevic, Igman, Romanija, Treskavica, Visocica, Velez, Prenj, Cvrsnica, Vran, Vranica and Vlasic, almost all main mountains in Central Dinaric Alps chain. From the top, we are hiking downhill to the abandoned village of Krosnje (1.660m), a traditional summer settlement for shepherds coming from Herzegovina. The Krosnje village lies at the foot of Krvavac peak (2.061m), a magnificent and rough peak surrounded by 2-4 meter high juniper bushes called “kleka”. After a short break, we are hiking back to our mountain hut where we stay for a night. Approximately 5-6 hours of hiking. Accommodation: Mountain Hut, Stanari. Meals: lunch, dinner.
Day 2 - Lokvanjsko Lake (1.760m) & Velika Vlahinja peak (2.056m)
After breakfast, we will start our hiking tour across the northern part of Bjelasnica mountain towards Lokvanjsko Lake, a small glacial mountain lake at 1.760m, surrounded by juniper bushes called “kleka”. It is only 100m long and 60m wide. In these quiet surroundings with its numerous frogs and endemic type of salamanders, we will have a short break. We continue our hike to the Velika (Big) Vlahinja summit at 2.056m. After an hour and a half, we reach the peak and stay for a moment to enjoy the wonderful view of the Olympic Ski Resort Babin Do. Here we will have our picnic lunch before continuing to the mountain hut Sitnik (1.730m). By circling the lake, we will return to our mountain hut Stanari while being treated to the great views of Hranisava and Krvavac summits. Approximately 6-7 hours of hiking. Accommodation: Mountain Hut, Stanari. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 3 - Climb to Greda peak & Highland village Umoljani
In the early morning hours, we are leaving our “base camp” at mountain hut on Stanari and continue over Bjelasnica ridge, toward Ljeljen peaks (1.938m) and Greda pass to our final goal today, highland village Umoljani. On our way towards the interior of Bjelasnica, there is a possibility to meet a shepherd with his sheep grazing on the steep slopes of Bjelasnica. After an hour and a half, we begin our gradual climb to Greda, a beautiful pass between Krvavac (Bjelasnica’s second-highest peak 2.062m) and Debela Brda (1.987m). Here we will once again be rewarded with another stunning view, this time of Bjelasnica’s highest peaks, Treskavica, Visocica, Zelengora and Jahorina mountains. While walking in the fresh mountain air, through soft green grass, we wind our way down to Grkarica source, a true lifesaver in the warm summer months. Leaving the source behind, we continue to walk through the long valley, and empty mountainous terrain to the beautiful shepherd's summer village of Gradina and today’s final destination: small highland village Umoljani. Approximately 6-7 hours of hiking. Accommodation: Pension Umoljani, Umoljani village. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4 - Highland village Lukomir above Canyon Rakitnica
The last day of this incredible adventure offers a great hike in the hinterland of Bjelasnica. You will be amazed about old water mills, stunning views of Canyon Rakitnica and amazing scenery during our long hike. Our starting point is the Bosnian Mosque in the village of Umoljani, a specific architecture of an old mountain mosque. We will continue our hiking to the Gradina, a traditional Bosnian summer village which locals used for centuries as their base for summer pastures. From here we will start climbing toward Obalj ridge. First, we reach the Cascades of Studeni Potok (eng. Cold Stream). Here, at certain times of the year, the stream falls 400 meters below into the Canyon of Rakitnica, forming a high waterfall that can only be seen by the bravest and most skilful people. The stream has a long snake-shaped formation. En route, we’ll find a few refreshing springs with clear water. You can directly drink from the source. After a while, we will reach a peak of Obalj (1.896m). From the top, you will be able to observe Bosnia’s highest village of Lukomir (at 1.469m) with its ancient stecci (medieval tombstones) and traditional mountain cottages. We will descend into the village to meet its villagers and find out more of their “old way” life and customs. Because of its unique position, the village of Lukomir offers a great view of the impressive Canyon Rakitnica and a mountain landscape around the village like Obalj and Visocica mountains. After a lunch break, we will return via Dugo Polje, a long field flanked by Bosnian mountains Bjelasnica and Obalj. We will walk down to Umoljani zigzag along cultivated fields, where we will be picked up and transferred back to Sarajevo. Approximately 7 hours of hiking. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Return time: around 7:00 PM.
Price information & additional costs:
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Tour Dates 2024: |
Price: |
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May 2 - 5 |
430 € |
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May 29 – June 2 |
430 € |
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June 27 - 30 |
430 € |
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August 8 - 11 |
430 € |
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August 29 – September 1 |
430 € |
- Prices are per person.
- The tour price is based on a minimum of four (4) participants.
- Individual guests can join an existing group.
- Definite departure will be confirmed to participants by e-mail.
- Participants interested in a private trip may contact Inlandia for an individual offer.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- Transport from Sarajevo to the hike location and back.
- One fully equipped and experienced local English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation in Mountain Hut/Pension.
- Meals: breakfast (3x), lunch (4x), dinner (3x) and snacks.
- Coffee or tea during the hiking tour.
- Tourist taxes.
- Insurance and costs for the organization and realization of travel.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE / Additional costs:
- Extra drinks at Mountain Hut.
- Tip for the tour guide, driver and local staff (optional).
- Souvenirs and items of a personal nature.
- Travel insurance (additional health insurance, insurance against accidents, damage or loss of luggage and travel cancellation insurance). For more information read „Inlandia Terms & Conditions“, or contact us at info@inlandia.com
- All other expenses not covered by the programme.
You need to bring: Hiking boots recommended/Sturdy walking shoes, flash light, pocket knife, sun glasses, sun cream, 1,5 liter of water, personal hygiene kit, fleece/jumper, rain gear, towel, change of clothes (e.g. dry socks, T-shirt & underwear, trousers), 30 to 40 liter backpack.
DO NOT FORGET!
- Green Card (if traveling by your own car).
- Your passport or Identity Card (depending on the country of origin).
- Bjelašnica Mountain
- Highland villages Umoljani & Lukomir
- Legend of Studeni stream & Rakitnica Canyon
1. Olympic Mountain Bjelasnica is located only 25 km southwest of Sarajevo (20-minute drive). It is a part of the Dinaric Alps. Neighbouring mountains are Igman, Treskavica, and Visocica. Bjelasnica is covered with snow from November to May (hence the name which is similar to eng: white mountain). On the central massif with the highest peak “Bjelasnica” (2.067m), there is a weather station built-in 1894, first in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Therefore the peak has also local name Observatory. From that place began the start of the Olympic downhill during Winter Olympics in 1984. The hinterland of Bjelasnica hides ten mountain villages in which lived about 2,500 inhabitants before the last Bosnian war. Today these villages are mostly abandoned, except a few dozen residents who are still left. The population is mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock breeding.
2. Highland village Umoljani, located at 1.353 metres above sea level, is one of the few mountain villages where people live also during the harsh winter. The natural beauty of its surroundings is remarkable. The southern side is a typical karst landscape, dry and rather barren. The north side is full of dense forests and green pastures ideal for hiking and excursions. The remains of ancient settlements are scattered around the village with a large number of medieval tombstones perched on high ridges. At the entrance of the village, there is a mosque (the only one that has not burned during the Bosnian war in 1993), a petrified dragon (as a part of the legends about the name Umoljani) and a meandering stream called Studeni Potok (eng. cold stream).
3. Highland village Lukomir, located at 1.469 meters above sea level, is the highest and most isolated village in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the Bjelasnica Mountains (50 km southwest from Sarajevo), on the 800-metres high edge of the powerful Rakitnica Canyon, an impressive piece of nature. The village is unique in many ways, especially because of its stone houses covered with shingles of cherry wood and traditional clothes of its villagers. The locals of this mountain village are friendly and hospitable. They will offer you coffee or homemade tea, tell the legends and folklore of the area, and introduce you to their daily lives that remained the same as they were hundreds of years ago. Today, the village of Lukomir is a symbol of the historical, cultural, architectural and environmental heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a popular spot of many hikers from all over the world.
4. Studeni stream and Canyon Rakitnica – The legend says that the dragon came out of the Canyon Rakitnica to eat the villagers. He was in the form of a snake, meandering through fields and left behind Studeni stream what we see today. The villagers fled to a nearby hill, asking God to protect them from the dragon. The God petrified the dragon in the rock.
Whoever today sees the Rakitnica Canyon, Studeni Potok (stream) and mentioned rock, with some imagination can believe in this legend. It is difficult to find another explanation for this unusual natural formation and so much beauty in one place. More courageous and skilled can walk along the stream to the point where it flows into the Canyon of River Rakitnica and sees a beautiful waterfall of Studeni stream which plunges into river in cascades from about 400 m height.
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