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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Highlights of Bosnia Herzegovina

Eight-day escorted tour through Bosnia and Herzegovina by rail and coach

Illustration of Highlights of Bosnia Herzegovina

Ffestiniog Travel operates this 8-day escorted journey through Bosnia and Herzegovina, beginning in Sarajevo and concluding in Blagaj. The tour combines sightseeing in major cities with two distinctive rail experiences: the narrow-gauge Šargan Eight, which climbs through hairpins and spirals over the Šargan Pass, and a modern Talgo train linking Mostar and Sarajevo. Days involve city walking tours, visits to medieval fortifications and waterfalls, a lake cruise, and exploration of sites connected to Ottoman history and the 1992-1995 siege. A tour leader from London and a local Bosnian guide accompany groups of up to 14. Accommodation ranges from three nights in Sarajevo to one-night stays in smaller towns, with breakfasts, selected meals, flights, and all transfers included. The itinerary suits history enthusiasts, rail travellers seeking scenic narrow-gauge journeys, and those seeking guided comfort in a less-travelled corner of the Balkans.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: May 2027 at GBP 2,840. Confirm availability and book early.
  • The from-price covers the package; rail fares for the two train journeys are included in the itinerary, not separately charged.
  • Group size capped at 14; final hotel allocations depend on the tier selected and city availability.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Sarajevo

    Flight to Sarajevo

    Early flight from Heathrow via Vienna to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia Herzegovina, for a 2-night stay in a central hotel. Our lunchtime arrival allows time for an afternoon city orientation tour including the Ottoman bazaar and the location of Franz Ferdinand’s assassination which sparked WWI. Tram enthusiasts will enjoy riding the city’s small network, made famous during the 1992-1995 siege – the same trams are still in use.

  2. Day 2overnight: Sarajevo

    Jajce

    Visit the Sarajevo suburbs to see the source of the River Bosna in a beautiful pine forest and the amazing Tunnel of Hope, the only lifeline to the city during the siege. Continue to the fortified town of Jajce (former medieval capital of Bosnia) with its castle, numerous old riverside watermills and a stunning waterfall in the town centre.

  3. Day 3overnight: Mokra Gora

    Visegrad & Mokra Gora

    We pay a brief visit to Serbia, driving via Visegrad with its impressive Ottoman bridge to the small village of Mokra Gora. Our hotel here is on the old narrow gauge station.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Konjic

    The Šargan Eight

    A narrow gauge railway once linked Belgrade with Dubrovnik across difficult mountainous country. The last section closed in 1974, but the Serbian state railway has now reopened the most scenic part over the Šargan Pass from Mokra Gora. It climbs in a series of hairpins, spirals and a figure of eight loop which gives the line its name. The three hour return trip includes photo stops at vantage points. Returning to Bosnia, we overnight in a riverside hotel near Konjic.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Mostar

    Konjic & Mostar

    Short city tour including a visit to a hand carver of wooden furniture. We then drive to the nearby Jabalanica Lake for a cruise and enjoy lunch on the boat. The journey delivers great views of the impressive railway bridge on the Sarajevo to Mostar line. Continue to Mostar where we have a walking tour of the old town and the famous Stari Most bridge after which the city is named. We stay here for 2 nights.

  6. Day 6overnight: Mostar

    Kravice Waterfalls

    Visit the old village of Pocitelj with its unique local stonework and the beautiful Kravice Waterfalls. Lunch and wine tasting at a local winery then explore Mediugorje, a major Catholic pilgrimage site.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Sarajevo

    Blagaj

    Morning visit to Blagaj where the river flows out of the mountainside in a series of rapids. A little free time in Mostar before a late afternoon train from Mostar to Sarajevo (two hour scenic journey by modern Talgo train). Farewell evening meal in Sarajevo.

  8. Day 8

    Lunchtime Flight to Heathrow

    Morning transfer to the airport for flight via Vienna to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Day 4: The Šargan Eight narrow-gauge railway climbs from Mokra Gora over the Šargan Pass in a series of hairpins, spirals, and a figure-of-eight loop over three hours with photo stops.
  • Day 5Day 5: Cruise on Jabalanica Lake with views of the railway bridge on the Sarajevo to Mostar line, then walk through Mostar's old town to the Stari Most bridge.
  • Day 7Day 7: Late-afternoon Talgo train from Mostar to Sarajevo, a two-hour scenic journey, followed by a farewell evening meal in the capital.

Included

  • Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
  • Rail travel as specified
  • Other travel by private mini-coach
  • Accommodation with en-suite facilities
  • All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 evening meal
  • Airport and other transfers
  • Local taxes/fees
  • All gratuities
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local professional Bosnian guide

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The tour includes the narrow-gauge Šargan Eight (three-hour return trip from Mokra Gora) and a modern Talgo train from Mostar to Sarajevo (two hours). Other transport is by private coach.
Is the tour escorted?
Yes. A tour leader from Ffestiniog Travel accompanies the group from London throughout, joined by a local professional Bosnian guide.
What is included in the price?
Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline, rail and coach travel, accommodation with en-suite facilities, all breakfasts, two lunches and one evening meal, transfers, local taxes and fees, and all gratuities.
When does the tour run?
One departure in May 2027 at GBP 2,840 per person.
Which hotels are used?
Hotel Sahat in Sarajevo (three nights), Hotel Konaciste Osmica in Mokra Gora (one night), Hotel Noor in Konjic (one night), and Hotel Kriva Cuprija in Mostar (two nights).
How much walking is involved?
City walking tours in Sarajevo and Mostar, a visit to the fortified town of Jajce, and exploration of local villages. Standard fitness is required.

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