Bosnia & Herzegovina 
8 days Road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina was never on my bucket list. I didn't know much about the country, except that it was part of Yugoslavia and had the Yugoslav Wars in the not so distant past and claimed a lot of lives. A random email with an offer of cheap flights sent me to this absolutely amazing country with lovely food, nature, culture and of course, people. 
I loved my time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so here's an 8 day itinerary of my road trip. 
I hope it will inspire you to visit at least one of the places I've been to

6. Places to eat
The flight to Tuzla, the third largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was only £19 with one of the well known budget airlines. This was the starting point of our road trip through the country. A party of four generations of girls: my daughter, who was 8, my 16-year-old niece, my Mother-in-law and I (ages not given! ) rented a car and started an amazing journey.
Tuzla is a small industrial city with a very charming old town centre.  There are cute bars and restaurants with amazing food throughout the city.  Unfortunately, due to erosion from salt mining, sinkholes developed below the old town. Parts have collapsed and the historical centre may very well have an expiry date. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a budget traveler's paradise. Food, drink and accommodation are all affordable, even in the cities. If you like cakes, you must try Caffe Slastičarna Iljazović.
WHAT TO DO IN TUZLA

1. Pannonian Lakes
 Weather permitting, you must visit Pannonian Lakes. The Tuzla Municipality has transformed a wild accumulation of salt water into the biggest artificial salt lake in Europe. We visited on a weekday and it was very quiet, we had almost the entire lake to ourselves. Unfortunately the water slides were closed, but it's a nice place to spend an afternoon anyway. Entrance is £2.50 for an adult and £1.80 for a child. 

2. Stroll around the streets. 
The place is lovely, with green parks, an orthodox church and a mosque to visit. Have a cake and some coffee in the cafes and try a lot of weird and wonderful local dishes in the restaurants.

3. Shopping
Do a little shopping. Tuzlanka Shopping Mall is surprisingly great. We found a few little treasures there, especially for my daughter. Kids clothes were amazing and cheap.  
JAJCE
It's a two hour drive from Tuzla to Jajce. You drive on rocky mountains roads with  rivers cutting through dramatic landscapes and it's a real treat. There are very few tourists who visit Bosnia each year so don't expect many people to speak English. I loved it because it kept the experience raw and authentic. We arrived very late in the evening and the restaurant in our hostel was still open.  They have a menu on English, which was great so late in the day, however even in English the dishes had Bosnain names so it was a spin of the wheel when you ordered and you just had to hope for something nice. I liked most of the Bosnian dishes but they are very meaty with a  small selection of vegetable choices so be aware when you book.  You wake up in the morning just to see how beautiful Jajce is. Take a short walk to the old town and you can visit Pliva Waterfall.
                                Pliva Warerfall   
WHAT TO DO IN JAJCE

1. Waterfall 
Located  5 min walk from old town, where the river Pliva meets the river Vrbas.  This waterfall quite unique. Not only it right in the of town, it also got smaller after  earthquake during the Bosnian war. You can view the falls from the top of the road, then follow the sign down to the waterfall where  you buy for £1 for close up view.  Prepare to be a little wet. Definitely worth a visit.

2. The fortress and The catacombs
The fortress in Jajce was built around the 14th century by Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, the founder of the town and has been repaired and rebuilt over the centuries. Catacombs built around 1400 AD for the aristocratic Hrvatnić family. 

3. Mlinčići watermills on Pliva
Lies approximately 5км, Mlinčići watermills must see when you are in Jajce.  They have been built on the Pliva River since the Middle Ages. The lakes are surrounded by lush green hills. Perfect for walk around and have a picnic. 
4.  Velico Plivsko Lake
 
They are two lake not far from town: Malo (small) Plivsko Lake and Velico (large)  Plivsko Lake. Both surrounded by tall green trees, with typical mountain climate and crystal clear water.  We decided to spend our afternoon on Velico Plivsko Lake. Area around it is suitable for all kind of sports activities; biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, but we were very boring and rented a little boat running on solar power. Best £20 for an hour we've spend admire surroundings and jumping  in to the very cool clear water. Lunch in one of the restaurants with a gorgeous views of the lake was a perfect way to round of a lovely day.
KONJIC
Of course, here comes the unforgettable rafting experience. First, you have to get from Jajce to Konjic. It took about 3 hours to drive, but roads are good and scenery amazing.  We arrived in Konjic, which is happened to be a point where the region of Bosnia meets Herzegovina in early afternoon. Our hotel was right on the lake, even there is no beach views are lovely.  After a light lunch, we decided to check out local aqua park. 

WHAT TO DO IN KONJIC

1.  Bazeni Konjic - Aqua park 
Well, it's more like a large swimming pool with one or two slides. Day ticket for adult 5 KM (it's about £2.50) and 3 KM for a child. Even it was about 30 degrees , place was virtually empty.  We spend a pleasant few hours there.

2. Konjic old town

Konjic is one of the gems of Bosnia and Herzegovina, rightfully for its amazing nature that entirely surrounds it. The Neretva River flows through the center of Konjic, while the Prenj Mountain dominates the views. The old town of Konjic is very beautiful for walking with picturesque panorama to the surroundings in all directions. One of the highlights of Konjic is the Old Stone Bridge, Stara Ćuprija, built in 1682. Unfortunately, during withdrawal, in 1945, the bridge was bombarded by German forces, and only stone pillars remained standing.
In 1946, a new concrete bridge was built below this one. In 2006 the bridge was reconstructed, and everything was fixed with mortar made like it used to be, from sand, lime and minced bricks. The great choice of a cool bars and restaurants close by. If you like art then Tito’s Bunker, which was recently transformed into a contemporary art museum, is nearby too.
3.  Rafting
I've never had done rafting before, but it always was on my bucket list.  Neretva river is perfect for the first time goes. Smooth enough even to have a kids on the raft, but have a rapids that can get your adrenaline going too. The rafting usually starts at 9:00 , mini van picked us up from our hotel and took us to the other one for breakfast where we meet other team mates.  All geared up, 30 min drive to Neretva river, where we began my unintended first-ever whitewater adventure. The rafting takes through the beautiful canyons and waterfalls.  Around noon, we stopped at a place where Rakitnica river flows into Neretva river. While we all enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters, guys fire and prepared a barbecue for us and after half an hour, we were enjoying grilled sausages in a pita bread with vegetables. I can honestly say, that was a highlight of our trip for me. Best day ever, like my daughter would say.
MOSTAR
Our last stop was Mostar.  Mostar is a most popular destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina and best known for the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), a reconstructed medieval arched bridge.  Close proximity to Dubrovnik, made this beautiful town very popular with a day trips. It's a lot more commercial then the rest of the country, everyone speak English, great bars and restaurants, large choice of accommodation from hostels to 5* hotels.

WHAT TO DO IN MOSTAR

1.  Stari Most, also known as Mostar Bridge
During the war of 1990 most of the historic town and the Old Bridge was destroyed, but the bridge and most of the traditional buildings in the Old Town have been restored or rebuilt with the contribution of an international scientific committee established by UNESCO.  Make sure you wear comfortable footwear, the bridge is pretty steep and the surface is slippery.  Especially after a couple of glasses of wine it hard not to look like a fool. Throughout the day, you’re likely to spot rather fit looking men wearing tight black Speedos walking around collecting money. After a certain amount has been collected, you’ll get the extreme pleasure of watching one of them dive off the bridge. Do not attempt to jump off the bridge yourself, because people have been injured and even died doing it. 

2.  Blagaj
About 20 min from Mostar a gorgeous village Blagaj. Short walk from a car park will take you to the Tekija Blagaj, the historic monastery built into the cliffs overlooking a turquoise water of a Buna river, an oasis of peace and natural harmony. The monastery dates to the Middle Ages and open to visitors all year round. After visiting the monastery and having a cold drink in the local cafe, we had a little boat trip inside the cave. For a few euros each, the very knowledgeable skipper tells you about the history of the place, river and the caves.
3.  Kravice Waterfalls
Kravice waterfalls are a series of waterfalls located just an hour’s drive from Mostar, another major sight and probably the most popular place in the country. Kravice Waterfalls have a very large car park due to the popularity of a day trippers not only from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Croatia and Macedonia too. Entrance in high season is 10KM, about £4.50 for all day. Don't expect it to be quiet. The place is staffed with tourists, hard to find a place to put your belongings, and all most impossible to grab the table in the cafe. When we've got one, we didn't let it go until we left. But it didn't spoil our afternoon. 
Also At Kravice Falls it is forbidden to preform any religious rites. A legendary quote from a local: Kravice Falls is a place where burkas meet bikinis without any problems! This place is a natural beauty where there is no place for religion and I totally agree. 
Swimming at Kravice Waterfalls is an amazing thing to do and water is calm enough for kids as well. Swimming, claiming and exploring the rocks, standing under falling water was a great experience.
Mostar was our last pit stop in our travel in Bosnia  and Herzegovina. What can I say about our road trip.  This county has so much to offer. It's an amazing cocktail of traditions, culture, modern bars and restaurants with great local food and  beautiful nature. Please go to Bosnia and Herzegovina and have fun. Try local food, eat cakes, swim in the lake, try rafting, enjoy every minute of it.  We had to give up our car and take the bus to Dubrovnik in Croatia.  But this is another story. 

Heading to Bosnia & Herzegovina soon?  Discover more

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