Destination: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. The bus network in Bosnia and Herzegovina is fairly extensive, with bus routes covering the length of the country. Train services are also available, though are slower and are more limited in both availability and transportation coverage.

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Bosnia and Herzegovina covers an area of 51,197 square kilometres, and is almost entirely landlocked, with only 20 kilometres of coastline along the Adriatic Sea. The region of Bosnia comprises nearly four-fifths of nation’s territory, with Herzegovina constituting the southernmost portion of the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina is largely mountainous, with mountain ranges such as the Dinaric Alps and the Kozara, Vlašic, Plješevica ranges criss-crossing the country. Much of Bosnia and Herzegovina is covered by forest, with forest making up two-fifths of the country’s surface.

Aside from the Mediterranean climate experienced in the country’s far south, most of Bosnia and Herzegovina experiences a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Depending on when you intend to travel, check the weather reports and dress accordingly.

There are three properties in Bosnia and Herzegovina listed on the World Heritage List. You can view the listed properties here: (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ba). Bosnia’s listed properties include:

Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad, which stands as an outstanding example of Ottoman-era civil engineering
Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar, which features a striking mix of medieval Bosnian and Ottoman-era architectural sytles
Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards, which contain thousands of distinctive medieval limestone tombstones.

Numerous festivals and events dot the calendar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the largest cultural events in the country is Bascarsija Nights. Held during the month of July in Sarajevo, Bascarsija Nights features many live performances, including opera, ballet, and theatrical shows, as well as film screenings and literary evenings. Summer on the Vrabas, an athletic carnival held in July, plays hosts to many sporting competitions, including soccer, basketball, beach volleyball, diving, and even competitive fishing. For a glimpse of the region’s medieval past, the Stolačka Tarča festival is worth a look. A medieval fair held in the town of Vidoško, it features archaelogical displays, dance performances and mock fights between costumed performers.

Bosnia by Ivan Lovrenović
Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Bradt Travel Guide by Tim Clancy
The Bosnia List: A Memoir of War, Exile, and Return by Kenan Trebincevic and Susan Shapiro
Bosnia in Limbo: Testimonies from the Drina River by Borja Lasheras

Bosnian cuisine bears many of the hallmarks of Balkan culinary traditions, as well as incorporating influences from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. Ćevapi, which is a sausage made from grilled minced meat, is the most popular street in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is generally served with pita bread, chopped onions and sour cream. A common accompaniment to many meals in Bosnia and Herzegovina is ajvar, a relish made from red peppers. Stews feature prominently in Bosnian cooking, including djuvec (an oven-baked stew made with onion, tomatoes, eggplant, and meat such as chicken or lamb) and begova čorba (a slow-cooked chicken and vegetable stew). Sweeter offerings include tufahija, which is poached apples stuffed with walnuts, and baklava, which is a layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and honey.

Like elsewhere in the Balkans, coffee is immensely popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is often enjoyed with meals or served to guests as a sign of hospitality. Stronger beverages found in Bosnia and Herzegovina include slivovitz (plum brandy) and medovina (mead).

Generally speaking, Bosnia and Herzegovina is safe to travel in, though always exercise common sense while travelling. Be advised however that land mines and unexploded ordanance is an occasional hazard, especially in more remote areas in the mountains and the country.

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. The electricity supply in Bosnia and Herzegovina runs at 230V and 50Hz. Bosnia and Herzegovina uses Type C and Type F electric plugs, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor with you.