YPT Tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Our Bosnia and Herzegovina tours are unique and also the gateway to many other interesting countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina, informally referred to as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe, situated on the Balkan Peninsula. Its name roughly stands for “the running water” and is also derived from the equally named river Bosna. The “Kingdom of Bosnia” was already recorded back in 1377-1463.

Renowned for its rich ethnic and religious diversity, this country sees Islam, Orthodox Christianity, and Roman Catholicism practiced by Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. Its landscape is equally diverse, offering a dramatic mix of rugged mountains, golden sandy beaches, and dense forests. And believe it or not, Bosnia is renowned for its coffee.

Its capital, Sarajevo, is unique for several, often dark, reasons. Between 1992 and 1996, the city was the site of the longest of a capital city in the history of modern warfare, which lasted three times longer than the Battle of Stalingrad and more than a year longer than the Siege of Leningrad. Almost 14,000 people were killed during the siege and the city still bears the scars. It also is a photographers dream, providing multiple locations and sights that are unique and rarely replicated in any other city.

You’ll see that the Balkans are rich with history, diversity, culture and beautiful scenery. It is more than a region haunted by Nazi occupation and concentration camps, with decaying and forgotten spomeniks (monuments) scattered around.

Then end of the Second World War saw the former Yugoslavia develop and progress under the grip of Josip Broz Tito, renowned for his military tactics against the Axis occupation and his hard stance against Stalin. But peace didn’t last in the region, with the death of Tito followed by the economic failure shattering the framework that kept Yugoslavia united. It led to war, with many wishing to create their own nations. Fuelled by nationalism and ethnic tension, the collapse of Yugoslavia saw the deadliest war in Europe since WWII, with thousands of war crimes and crimes against humanity still under investigation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is but one of seven countries of former Yugoslavia, each unique despite their shared history, where you’ll meet genuine people and learn and about their language, cultures, and political views. A mixture of ancient and modern history through times of peace and conflicts makes this a truly unique place to visit.

Group Tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina

YPT runs group tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of our Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour, which offers several groups and variations to pick from. 

Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour: Tito’s Winter – November 22nd -December 3rd , 2024 – €795 – €1695

Ultimate Yugoslavia Tour – May 16 th -27 th , 2025 – €795 – €1695

Independent Tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina

YPT can arrange Bosnia and Herzegovina tours deep into the country, leveraging on its network of local partners, or link it with tours to other parts of the former Yugoslavia such as Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, or Kosovo. Overland trips to Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, and beyond are possible as well. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for a perfect independent Bosnia and Herzegovina tour.

Below is an example Bosnia and Herzegovina tour for a post-WWII and post-soviet city experience. This can be extended or combined with other activities to create independent tours. 

Example of a 5-day Bosnia and Herzegovina Post-WWII and Post-Soviet Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Sarajevo

• Arrive at your own leisure in Sarajevo and transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• Check into Sarajevo war hotel, a unique historically accurate simulation of war-torn Sarajevo, full of authentic items from the war which serve as decorations and run by a small family which survived the war in Sarajevo and is willing to share their war experience and personal stories with you.
• Pre-Tour Meeting at 6pm before going for a first dinner in one of the cozy Bosnia and Herzegovinan restaurants. 
• Overnight in Sarajevo.

Day 2 – Sarajevo

• We head out and grab breakfast in Sarajevo, for coffee lovers, Bosnian coffee is incredible!
• We then meet our local guides and minibus for an excursion to the tunnel of hope, a war-damaged home with a tunnel network underneath that is now a museum and a fascinating insight into the lifeline of this city when it was under the longest siege in history.
• After this we head to the Serbian side of Sarajevo, complete with Ratko Mladic banners lining the streets. We continue up to the mountain that overlooks Sarajevo and provides stunning views. We then explore the bobsleigh track from the 1984 Olympics, surrounded by bunkers, this eerie monument has been left to decay since the war but provides excellent urban exploration and photography opportunities. On the way we will have the chance to explore many war-damaged abandoned buildings.
• We head back down into Sarajevo, stopping at the spot where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was dramatically assassinated, an event which sparked the first world war, before grabbing lunch nearby.
• Begin the Sarajevo war tour, covering sights related to siege time, such as the Sarajevo roses, Children’s memorial, Post office, Canned beef memorial, Sniper Alley, Holiday Inn hotel. The tour will also feature personal stories from the war from the local guide.
• Free time in the evening before exploring the Ottoman style old town, its markets and sampling some of the amazing Sarajevo cuisines before winding down with some drinks.
• Overnight stay in Sarajevo.

Day 3 – Mostar

• Breakfast in hotel and transfer with private bus to Mostar, the administrative center of Herzegovina and one of the most iconic cities of former Yugoslavia. 
• Nestled on the Neretva River, Mostar derives its name from the medieval bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the old bridge. This iconic structure, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was constructed by the Ottomans in the 16th century and stands as a quintessential example of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. 
• Lunch in the centre.
• Those keen can join for an afternoon visit to Neum, featuring the worlds second-smallest coastline. The rest has the option for further exploration of Mostar with our guide, or even spend the afternoon freely to fully absor the atmosphere and free the mind.

Day 4 – Travnik and Banja Luka

• Breakfast in the hotel before starting the day.
• Leaving Mostar, we head north, stopping for lunch in the quintessentially Bosniak town of Travnik, before reaching Banja Luka, the second-largest city in the country and the de facto capital of Republika Srpska.
• In the afternoon, we will explore Banja Luka, touring its historic downtown and the modernist outskirts from the Yugoslav era, and visiting the nearby Spomenik dedicated to the Fallen Krajina Soldiers. 
• Overnight in Banja Luka 

Day 5 – Kozara and tour end

• Late and leisurely breakfast in hotel
• Board our private minibus to Kozara, home to a 33-meter-high concrete cylindrical monolith. This Spomenik is dedicated to the partisan fighters, fallen soldiers, and civilian victims who perished during the brutal Kozara Offensive in the spring of 1942.
• We will marvel at the structure but also have some time to enjoy the hill and its surrounding forest.
• Lunch in Kozara, where the tour concludes.

From here you can join us further into the former Yugoslavia, go on a tour to Romania, or Slovenia, or venture further on by yourself.

Bespoke tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina

As part of our travel packages within Central and Eastern Europe, we can offer bespoke and independent tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina. These can be done as full Bosnia and Herzegovina tours or be combined with other countries. 

For more information on the following programs, simply get in touch. 

Eco-Travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Young Pioneer Tours can arrange trips to the lesser seen places of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the rural areas that cater to eco-tourism within the country, especially in its extraordinary national parks like Sutjeska, even boasting a rainforest. Visiting the second-smallest coastline in the world, just 22km next to the coastal city of Neum, also provides its own flavour.

Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Sarajevo and its surroundings we will then head to Zagreb. After two nights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we enter the country of Croatia to learn about its role in WW2 and the communist era.

Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Sarajevo and its surroundings we will then head to Belgrade, Serbia´s exciting capital. We will learn about its role during the communist era, see its brutalist architecture and the Great War Island. On the way to Belgrade, we incorporate a visit to Srebrenica, the site of a mass genocide in the 1990’s in which an estimated 8,000 men and boys were exterminated in a mass slaughter inside a warehouse.

Outdoor Adventure Tour

Explore Serbia’s natural beauty on a tour that includes hiking in Sutjeska national park, a Neretva kayak safari, an action-packed day at Kravice waterfalls, or skiing in the Jahorina mountain range.

Underground Bosnia and Herzegovina Tours

Sarajevo, Mostar, and the wider country have some amazing dark tourism, urbex and contemporary historical sites that few tourists get to see. Working with our local partners, YPT can arrange and underground and dark tourism tours to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Get in touch to have a bespoke itinerary planned for you. 

Wine Tasting Tour

Bosnian wine has a long history and many popular wine regions in the country. The most popular regions are in Herzegovina, next to Mostar, which used to be the Islamic wine centre of Herzegovina. You can explore further vineyards around the area of the Adriatic Sea, including Citluk and Stolac. You can go on a wine tasting tour of one of these regions, or you can visit one of Bosnia´s many wineries run by local families. 

Filming in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Through our media arm Pioneer Media we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others, to film within Bosnia and Herzegovina from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within the country.

Frequently asked Questions about travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina

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