On this holiday, you will enjoy a unique trip combining rides through pine forests, fields, picturesque slopes, and paths along mountain creeks on the Via Dinarica trails, as well as a guided walking tour of Sarajevo and an afternoon spa visit too. The two first, and last night you will stay at the ranch and the other nights you will stay in mountain lodges.
Preliminary day-by-day program
Day 1 - Sunday: Arrival day
Riding: No riding.
You will be met at Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) or bus station and transferred to your accommodation at the ranch (c.30 min drive). If you arrive early, then the afternoon will be free to explore the local area or to meet the horses at the riding centre. A group dinner will be served in the evening which will also give your hosts and guides the opportunity to go through their pre-ride and safety briefing. In the summer months, this might be a tasty BBQ! Overnight at the ranch tonight.
Day 2 - Monday
Riding: 2 hours
After breakfast you will have an introduction to horses and a ride evaluation. This will be a short 2 hours ride on one of the local trails. Your hosts and guides like to pay special attention to your comfort on the trail and will discuss the equipment you will need for the ride and ensure everything is adjusted for you - it is important that everything is in place before you set off. The aim of this ride is for you and your horse to get used to one another and be able to enjoy what is hoped will be an amazing week! You will return in time for lunch at the ranch, followed by an afternoon trip into Sarajevo for a guided 2-hour walking tour. Here you will learn all about the history of this beautiful city. Dinner at a local restaurant in Sarajevo before returning to the ranch for the night.
Day 3 - Tuesday
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
Make sure your bag is packed to go into the trail support vehicle. Setting off in the morning after breakfast you will follow a trail to the northwest. Well-rested horses and plenty of flat sections will invite some light trots or canters. You will then continue slowly downhill towards the Lepenica river where you will find a shallow place to ride through and enjoy several pretty waterfalls. For the next 15 or so kilometres, you will mainly walk and trot on forest paths and through a few glades, enjoying the sight and sound of the mountain river Crna Rijeka (the Black River). You will stop for a lunch of fresh grilled river trout and a quick rest in hammocks with the sounds of the river all around. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the Mountain Lodge Lopata in time to take a quick rest before another delicious local dinner this evening.
Day 4 - Wednesday
Riding: 5 hours
After a good breakfast and strong coffee, you will prepare the horses for the day of riding ahead. Moving further northwest, the elevation will continue to rise until you will take your first stop on a high plain which is located at an altitude of 1,744 meters. You will often pass small natural water springs by the trails. The incline to the plain is gentle and mostly through forest paths as well as open glades.
Eventually, you will climb above the forest belt and here you will see the amazing spectacle of Bitovnja mountain. The vast mountain pastures invite you to enjoy some good canters and the scenery is breathtaking on all sides. From this point, it seems as if you could see from one end of Bosnia to the other! After some good riding, you will be met by the support crew and stop for a well-deserved picnic lunch on Bitovnja.
In the afternoon, you will continue through vast pastures and, arguably, the most beautiful section of your adventure. A few more hours of riding will see you leave beautiful Bitovnja behind and descend down to your next overnight destination, Mountain Lodge Pogorelica. After another tasty dinner, there will be a chance to discuss the day of riding and make a plan for tomorrow.
Day 5 - Thursday
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
With both horses and riders well-rested, you will begin your journey on the next demanding riding day. You have around 25 kilometres of riding ahead of you, including some good ascents. You will start by climbing up towards the Mountain Zec, which will take about three hours of riding. Crossing mountain pastures where shepherds graze thousands of sheep during the summer months; in the valleys, you will spot their huts and sheepfolds too. All around you, the slopes of Mount Zec are covered in crops of cranberries and blueberries too. On a clear day, you can see as far as Sarajevo from this position. Stopping on this beautiful lookout, you will enjoy a well-deserved break with refreshments and a picnic lunch. Once everyone is full and well-rested, you will continue on to your next destination – Prokoško Lake. Many have written about the beauty of this fairytale lake, calling it the "eye of the mountain" or a "natural gem". It is located in the heart of the Mountain Vranica, which is recorded as one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Again, there are many wood-built shepherd huts located around the lake and you will be staying in one of these huts tonight.
Dinner and overnight in cabin Jezero.
Day 6 - Friday
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
After breakfast this morning, you will prepare your horses and will leave the beautiful scenes of Prokoško Lake, riding towards the village of Tovarište. The final morning ride will take approximately 3-4 hours and there will be transportation waiting in Tovarište to take the horses back to the ranch. Before loading the horses in the trailer, you’ll have a final saddle-bag picnic watching the horses graze. After lunch, both horses and riders will transfer by vehicle back to the ranch. On arrival, you’ll change and take the short drive to a beautiful local spa for swimming, sauna, steam rooms and a massage! Once fully relaxed and after a fabulous week’s riding, you’ll head back to the farm for a wonderful farewell BBQ dinner. Overnight at the ranch.
Day 7 - Saturday
Riding: No riding.
Departure after breakfast today.
