Private Via Dinarica Bosnia - Bjelasnica mountain (4days)

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This is a great hike in the hinterlands of Bjelasnica, part of the Via Dinarica white line, covering traditional villages, old water mills, stunning views of canyon Rakitnica and waterfalls.


DEPARTURE DATES


  • May 07 - 10, 2020
  • June 04 -  07, 2020 
  • July 02 - 05, 2020
  • August 13 - 16, 2020 
  • September 03 - 06, 2020 
Category
Hiking
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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • Hranisava peak (1,964m) & traditional shepherd summer settlements 
  • Lokvanjsko Lake & Vlahinja summit (2,056m)
  • Umoljani & Gradina villages
  • Obalj summit (1,896m) and Lukomir village - highest populated place in Bosnia

Day 1:

Today we’ll be trekking to Bjelasnica Mountain to Green Visions’ mountain hut. We’ll hike up the opposite side of the Olympic Ski Slopes, much less traversed by hikers and nature lovers alike. The hike will take us through a pine and beech wood forest up to the Gate of Wind where you will be either gently and pleasantly greeted by warm Bjelasnica breeze or it is rugged ever piercing south wind. From here we traverse up to a small Sheppard’s hut (at 1,620 meters). The hut is a bit more than 45 minutes from where we were dropped off. We’ll have lunch and enjoy the flowing hills and bare peaks of the south-east side of Bjelasnica.
At this point, we will start our steep 1-hour climb to the top of Hranisava (1,964 meters). Hranisava’s slope is rather steep in some places but offers lovely views of Central Bosnia and Herzegovina and their peaks, Trebevic, Treskavica, Visocica, Velez, Prenj, Cvrsnica and Vranica, almost all main mountains in Central Dinaric Alps chain. In short, what a view you will get. From the top we’ll continue hiking down to Krosnje (1,660 meters), a remaining of traditional summer settlement for Sheppard’s coming from as far away as Capljina in Herzegovina. Krosnje which is at the foot of Krvavac, a magnificent peak partially surrounded by 2 to 4-meter high pine brush “Kleka”. Krvavac is rough and demands respect from man and animal alike. Locals say that it is the place where wolves and bears descend over winter. After a brief rest in this truly mystical place, we head back via a cool source back to our cosy mountain hut where we stay for a night. Approximately 5-6 hours walking

​​​​​​Accommodation: Mountain Hut, Stanari 
Meals: L, D

Day 2:

After breakfast, we trek across the northern part of Bjelasnica towards Lokvanjsko Lake… a tiny lake perched high in the mountains surrounded by high altitude alpine pines called ‘kleka’. After a short break in these quiet surroundings of kleka and the lake with its numerous frogs, endemic type of salamanders and water snakes we set off to Vlahinja summit (2,056m).
After an hour and a half, we arrive at the peak with its rare view of the Olympic skiing resort of Babin Do. Here we will enjoy a picnic lunch before hiking to Sitnik through the truly beautiful and empty mountainous terrain of Bjelasnica’s interior. The hut is a lonely reminder of Bosnia’s great mountaineering past. We will return back to our hut, picking up our overnight gear, using the “back way” circling around the lake while being treated to great views of Hranisava and Krvavac. Approximately 6-7 hours walking

Accommodation: Mountain Hut, Stanari 
Meals: B, L, D

Day 3:

Today we are leaving our “base camp” at Stanari hut and continue over Bjelasnica ridge, toward Ljeljen peaks (1,938m) and Greda pass to our final goal today, Umoljani village.
In the early morning hours, we depart Stanari and make our way towards the interior of Bjelasnica. Along the way, we can meet the occasional shepherd with his sheep grazing on the steep slopes of Bjelasnica. The view from within the valley is endless and filled with the yellow and purple flowers so characteristic of summer. After an hour and a half, we begin our gradual climb to Greda, a beautiful pass in between Krvavac (Bjelasnica’s second highest peak 2,062 m.) and Debela Brda (1,987m). Here we are treated to today’s prize, views of Bjelasnica’s highest peaks, Treskavica, Visocica, Zelengora, Jahorina mountains…
While walking through soft mountain grass we wind our way down to Grkarica source a true lifesaver in the warm months of summer. Leaving the source behind we again begin to walk through the long valley, surprised after hours of empty mountainous terrain by arriving at a beautiful summer village of Gradina and today’s final destination, Umoljani village. Approximately 6-7 hours walking

Accommodation: Pension Umoljani, Umoljani village 
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4:

This hike offers it all, amazing scenery, old water mills, stunning views of canyon Rakitnica and a good long hike on the last day of this incredible adventure. All in all, this is a great hike in the hinterlands of Bjelasnica.
Today we have a full day walk in the Bjelasnica Mountains, home of the 1984 Winter Olympics, ascending Obalj peak (1,896m) and visiting Lukomir, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s highest village (1,469m). From the traditional style Bosnian Mosque in the village of Umoljani, we walk to the Gradina, summer village which locals of this area used for centuries as their base for summer pastures. From here we will start ascending toward Obalj ridge and slowly we will rise above Studeni Potok (Studeni stream). The views will start to open in front of us. Mountains south of us, Treskavica and Visocica will offer us fantastic and breathtaking scenes. Once we catch the slopes of Obalj, we will slowly continue and progress to the summit itself. From the peak, we’ll see Lukomir village below us where we will descend from the top.
Lukomir is Bosnia’s highest village at 1,469m, with its ancient stecci (medieval tombstones) where villagers still follow a traditional shepherd way of life. On the edge of the village, there is a fabulous view of Rakitnica canyon, Obalj, and Visocica. Traditional dress, the occasional turban, and fez are still worn and go hand in hand with the more contemporary bliss’ of everyday life, electricity and running water. On the edge of the village, you will be treated by a rare view of Rakitnica, Obalj, and Visocica. You have arrived at the end of the world.
After a simple but tasty homemade lunch, we will hike back around Obalj, all the time having the Rakitnica Canyon below us. All along, you will be treated by sweet views and cool breezes coming off of Visocica and Treskavica. The trail is well maintained by people from the various villages around. From the village, we walk down to Umoljani zig-zagging along cultivated fields, where we will be picked up and transferred back to Sarajevo.
Approximately 7 hours of walking 

Meals: B, L

Fact File


Period: April through November
Category: Moderate to Challenging

Activity: Day 1: 5 - 6 hours,
                Day 2: 6 - 7 hours
                Day 3: 6 - 7 hours
                Day 4: 7 hours

Departure time: 09:00 AM
Estimated Time of Return: 7:00 PM

What is included: Transport from Sarajevo to location and back, accommodation in Mountain Hut/Pension, coffee or tea, breakfast (3x), lunch(4x), dinner(3x) and snacks, one fully-equipped and experienced guide.

What is not included: Optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; souvenirs and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, etc.).

What to bring: Hiking boots recommended/Sturdy walking shoes, flashlight, pocket knife, sunglasses, 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.