Sample the wines of the region and learn about wine-making traditions on this cultural ride through the Sarajevo mountains. Enjoy riding through diverse landscapes, including open plains, dense forests and riverine valleys, and view the wild horses of the Cincar Mountain from horseback.
Preliminary day-by-day program
Day 1 - Sunday
Riding: No riding.Arrive Sunday afternoon to be picked up at the Airport or your accommodation in Sarajevo and transfer to the equestrian centre, approximately 30 min drive. Enjoy the afternoon settling into your accommodation, taking a walk in the forest, or watching the riding lessons taking place in the riding arenas. Dinner with the group and your guide, with a ride and safety briefing. The chef at BBQ will be your host, Rasim.
Day 2 - Monday
Riding: 2 hours
After breakfast, you will have an introduction to the horses and an evaluation of the riding skills of the group in the arena. You will then saddle up for a morning’s easy introductory ride of approximately 2 hours. The aim of this introductory ride is to get used to the horse with whom you will spend an unforgettable riding week. Lunch at the farm, followed by a trip into Sarajevo for a guided 2-hour walking tour, learning all about the history of this beautiful city. After sightseeing you will visit the first vineyard on your wine-tasting journey, on the slopes of the Sarajevo hills with a beautiful view of the city. The Hedona Wine Club is the first boutique winery in Sarajevo, surrounded by vineyards at an altitude of 850m. Hedona designed a great way to showcase their wines, carefully paired with innovative renditions of classic Bosnian dishes. The vineyard has 3,500 vines, mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which they use to carefully make sparkling wines following traditional methods. After the tasting, the group will choose their favourite, and take a bottle of it back to the accommodation to toast the upcoming adventure.
Day 3 - Tuesday
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
Today you will enjoy the pleasure of riding through the wine regions of Herzegovina, the sunny south part of the country. After an early breakfast, you will head out by car (1½ hour) to where the horses are waiting for you, safely brought by your hosts' reliable stableman Zijo. You will spend your first full-riding day in Herzegovina in a natural park called Hutovo Blato, which is a nature reserve for birds and a well-known ornithological site. You will mainly be riding through the lowlands today, but will also ascend the nearby hills for a stunning view of the wetlands. There you will make camp for an afternoon rest and a picnic, after which you will take an electric boat ride to enjoy the silence of the Deranje lake. The afternoon ride will take you to the first overnight stay which is on the shore of the lake, a small hotel with a restaurant famous for its river fish delicacies. After a short rest, the group will head to the first winery, Domano. It is known for the red wine variety Blatina. Their slogan is “wine with deep roots”, because wines have been produced in Herzegovina since the time of the Illyrians. Along with selected varieties of Blatina, you will enjoy homemade culinary delicacies.
Day 4 - Wednesday
Riding: 4 hours
Wednesday is reserved to enjoy what many consider to be the most beautiful river in Herzegovina, the Trebižat. After a hearty breakfast and a 40-minute drive, you will arrive at the starting position of today’s riding tour. You'll ride along the shores of the green Trebižat and, at convenient locations, also through the shallow water, offering refreshments for your four-legged friends. You will take a lunch break in one of the restaurants at the numerous waterfalls. After a well-deserved rest, you will set off on a new adventure, but this time in a kayak and not in the saddle! Tired but satisfied after enjoying the water, you will settle in at a nearby family farm and choose one of the 6 wineries in the nearby town of Ljubuški. The city is known for its large concentration of wineries; guests can choose one and enjoy a tasting of wine, cheese, and local products. Again, the widely known Blatina is on the wine menu and for white wine lovers the best local variety of Žilavka is grown in this area.
Day 5 - Thursday
Riding: 4 hours
Today is a special riding day. After a 2-hour drive, the group will arrive at the foot of the Cincar mountain, home to numerous herds of wild horses. It is estimated that their total number has already reached 1,000. Here you will mount your horses for an exciting ride across the Krug plateau, a landscape that invites you to take a leisurely canter. In a nearby glade, you will have the opportunity to watch the wild horses as the camp is set up. This will give you ample opportunity to study their behaviour in the herd and take unforgettable photos. The horses often approach the camp out of curiosity or because they are used to receiving salt and food from visitors. After an unforgettable experience, you will settle in a nearby hotel and prepare for a new tasting of wine and the delicious Livanja cheese, which is considered the best cheese in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Livno is home to many wine producers and your hosts will be taking you to their favourite organic one, the Knebu winery, which many say is a real sensation in the world of wine. Located at an altitude of 950 meters, it ranks among the highest in the world. Dramatic weather extremes at high altitudes cause sudden and powerful reactions in the vines, releasing great amounts of charged energy. The high altitude contributes to the intense taste and aroma of the grapes due to significant differences between day and night temperatures. Chardonnay and Traminac are the wine varieties which the Knebu winery is most proud of.
Day 6 - Friday
Riding: 5 hours
Today, spectacular Blidinje is the destination - a wild mountain plateau that offers miles of flat areas that invite fast canters and gallops along the beautiful Blidinje Lake. Blidinje is also the place where the charismatic and widely known Hajdučke Vrleti (Haiduk’s crags) restaurant is located, where you will relax and enjoy local food and wine. After this last day of riding, the horses will be loaded into the horse truck and together you will head back to the Equestrian Centre. There you will have the chance to change before taking the short drive to a beautiful local spa for swimming, sauna, steam rooms and a massage. Of course, everything is planned for in advance, and this final evening of your horseback wine tour is sweetened with a selection of wine, brought back from each winery, so you can once again taste the best that Herzegovina has to offer, alongside a farewell Bosnian “gala dinner”!
Day 7 - Saturday
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you can say goodbye to the horses before being transferred to the airport or your accommodation in Sarajevo.
