Bosnia: Mountains, Rivers & Mosques

Bosnia-Herzegovina is a beautiful country that has been recovering strongly since the war of the mid 1990s. Amongst its jewels is an abundance of mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, hospitable people and 600 years of Islamic civilisation in the heart of Europe.

This heritage tour takes us to places of Islamic, historical and cultural significance in the company of experienced guides. A great opportunity to meet local people and learn more about a truly fascinating region. We begin by exploring the historic city of Sarajevo and reflect on the tragedy of Srebrenica. We then witness the splendours of Mostar and experience the natural beauty of places such as Blagaj, Pliva Waterfalls and Mount Igman.

Our Bosnian guides speak fluent English along with languages as diverse as Arabic, Indonesian and German. They have many years of experience organising tours in the Balkans.

Tour Package

All local transport with airport transfers, accommodation, breakfast, tour guide, entrance fees and local taxes are included. An experienced English speaking guide will accompany the group throughout the trip. Transportation will primarily be in an air-conditioned mini-van or bus. International flights are not included but we will advise you on the best routes from your country of departure.

Highlights:

Baščaršija Area, National Library, Ferhadija, Tunnel of Hope, Vrelo Bosne, Mostar Old Bridge, Svrzo House, Srebrenica Martyrs Cemetery, Pliva Waterfall, Pasha’s Madrasa, Sulejmania Mosque, Jajce Fortress

Main Locations:

Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Travnik, Jajce, Mostar, Blagaj

Addition Locations or Activities for Extended Tours:

Dubrovnik (Croatia), Bihac, Tuzla, White Water Rafting

Airport:

International flights should be booked in accordance with the dates advertised but you are strongly recommended to confirm these details with us prior to making payment.

Arrival Location: Sarajevo Airport (SJJ)
Arrival Date: Saturday 25 May 2024
Arrival Time: Before 17:00
Departure Location: Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) or Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
Departure Date: Saturday 1 June 2024
Departure Time: After 16:00

Accommodation:

A mixture of high quality 3 and 4 star hotels in convenient locations with emphasis on safety will allow you to easily reach the most important attractions. Participants typically spend 5 nights in Sarajevo and 2 nights in Mostar. 

Standard accommodation features twin rooms with separate beds but single supplement options are also available.

“I very much enjoyed the trip as Bosnia is a very beautiful and scenic country and I thank the organisers for putting it together. All around I think it was a good trip.” (Esma, September 2017)

“The Balkans tour gave an amazing oversight of the culture and atrocities that have taken place in Bosnia. The tour was the right amount of sightseeing and relaxation. The tour guide was just amazing and very knowledgeable about Bosnia. We were given a lot of flexibility and the tour guide worked around the group’s wishes. Being a vegetarian, the tour guide ensured that everyone’s dietary requirements were also met. There was so much more to see in Bosnia and 7 days was just not long enough. Wish we had more time in Mostar.” (Tanveer, September 2017)

“Islamic Travels, Jazak’Allah Khair for giving us the opportunity to travel to Bosnia. It was a much needed and enjoyable break. All in all the overall experience was good alhamdulillah and satisfying. Just thought I leave you some feedback. I found the accommodation very comfortable, there was still more to see and do. An extended package of a few days extra may attract a wider audience in’sha’Allah. The rest was value for money alhamdulillah. The group clicked and the tour guide was brilliant and made us feel comfortable. Logistically everything went smoothly, and there was no pressure on me to sort out anything else as most of it was taken care of. I will definitely recommend this trip and group to others.” (Abdul Hamid, September 2017)

“Overall the trip was an amazing experience both in terms of the insight into Bosnia’s culture and heritage as well as the travelling group themselves. Our tour guide was extremely helpful and friendly and felt more like a buddy at times. He was very flexible and accommodating, prioritising enjoyment over schedule, was also very knowledgeable on history and religion, which is important for an Islamic heritage tour. We enjoyed local food stops throughout the trip, my overall experience of the trip was overwhelmingly positive. The trip was generally hassle-free from the moment we landed to our departure, I learned a lot more about Bosnia and its very colourful heritage than I expected, and I enjoyed the companionship of like-minded and diverse group of travel buddies which made the whole experience highly memorable. I would certainly consider going on Islamic Travels tours in future and would recommend them to friends also.” (Raihan, September 2017)

“I was pleasantly shocked at how beautiful and picturesque Bosnia is, the mixture of mountains, rivers, waterfalls, mixed in with culture and history is awesome. Having also travelled to Srebrenica as part of the tour, we were overcome with a deep sorrow but we also felt as a consequence a connection with the people, to support them and tell others about their struggles and their courage to overcome such evil that took place. We could have not gone there but having had the experience this made our connection with Bosnia even stronger. From that experience we were able to see how the people are recovering and rebuilding themselves and their future and that is very humbling. We travelled to different cities including Mostar and Sarajevo. All at once you can be part of the old and the new, and as a Muslim could connect to the Islamic heritage that is there. There are Masjids everywhere, tekkiyas, some are so old, when you walk in you feel a connection to the past. You can only sing the praises of Allah as you travel through Bosnia, and since it is an Islamic tour, there were many tears of joy and wonder at what we saw. We stayed in halal hotels, where no alcohol was sold and we ate at halal restaurants and food stalls. Our female guide Selma was timely, professional and very knowledgeable. She went beyond her duties to provide us with an excellent experience. As we were a female only group I am so pleased that we had a female guide. It made the experience even more easy for us. She was able to understand our likes and dislikes very quickly and even went out of her way to help me go somewhere that was not part of the tour. Sarajevo is an incredibly lively place that both young and old can enjoy. The food is incredibly cheap, and very good quality and organic. Our driver was excellent, he drove so well and safely just like a family member would. We have had some harrowing experiences in many parts of the world, so this was excellent. I have had the privilege of travelling all over the world but Bosnia is a place that has left a resonating effect on my heart, Inshallah I will be going there again. Islamic Travels was extremely professional and I would have no hesitation in recommending them. We wanted an Islamic holiday somewhere we have not been before. Although it was costly (peak season, and last minute) I am really pleased we did this as a family and we learnt so much and enjoyed ourselves. Bosnia is a country every Muslim should travel to.” (Saleha, August 2017)

“I wanted to visit Bosnia with a focus on the history and culture from an Islamic perspective, travelling with other Muslims. The Islamic perspective, catering for needs of Muslims, e.g. awareness about halal food, visiting mosques and Islamic history sites The guide who was able to share her personal experience which gave us greater insight into the history of the country. The honesty and integrity of the guide as a person. The helpful and safe driver who took us many miles through the beautiful county. The variety of sightseeing tours through landscape, gave balance to the more harrowing visits to Sebrenica, and interspersed with days spent in Sarajevo at museums and other sights. The support offered by the tour guide and hotel staff when one of our party had to return home early. A good overview of the county, its history and people, with regard to the requirements of travelling Muslims.”  (Catherine, August 2016)

“The destination, the itinerary, the guide, the group and the small size of the group. All the elements were there to allow us to spend an amazing time together in a country full of surprises, history and beauty. Because of the destination I didn’t know, the period, and the price corresponded to my budget alhamdulillah. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a must place to go for those who want to learn some history, appreciate natural beauty, eat good and cheap food, meet lovely people…. All that in the same place! Jazakumallah kheir to have organized this memorable trip.” (Myriem, August  2016)

“Fantastic trip. Well organised, very informed guide and good value for money. Would recommend that more people visit Bosnia & Herzegovina.  The scenery is fabulous, the people generous and many, many years of Islamic history.” (Aysha, August  2016)

“Visiting so many beautiful places, and learning about the history, especially the Ottomans. It was also a pleasure to meet many native Bosnians and learn directly from them upsetting to hear stories about the Bosnian conflict. I wanted to visit a part of the world I knew nothing about. I wanted to see a Muslim country in Europe, learn more about its history and see the beautiful scenery of this undiscovered land. Having been there, I would definitely recommend everyone should visit Bosnia and Herzegovina! This trip affected me deeply and I believe it is essential for all Muslims to visit this region, experience what I did and spread the word (which I will certainly do). Thank you for organising this fantastic tour.” (Saleema, May 2014)

“The tour guide. She was an important part of the holiday as we spent significant time with her – she was incredibly relaxed, friendly, adaptable and understanding. It was as if we had gone to Bosnia and met an old friend. Her company and expertise certainly enhanced our experience, and I would certainly recommend her specifically to any of my family / friends wanting to go in the future. Also the car was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver. I have travelled a lot in the past and I chose this country because it was a bit different to the usual holidays and ‘off the beaten track’. The tour itself is the first I’ve done with Islamic Travels. The idea of looking at the Islamic heritage of a place was very appealing. My friend and I thought we would just give it a go and we are glad we did as we enjoyed it thoroughly, so much so we would recommend to all our friends and families and would certainly come back for another visit. The people in the country make the trip and our tour guide Selma, driver Samir and all the other people we were introduced to by them were fantastic and welcoming. They made us feel very safe and were constantly checking for any issues that might compromise our trip, and we were told that the base in London was regularly checking up on us to see if we are ok and enjoying ourselves, which I thought was rather nice.” (Farah Ahmed, May 2014)

“The Bosnia trip exceeded my expectations, the group was good, Senad, Sehija, Retno and all the others we met were really good people and guides. The contacts our hosts had made the trip all the more interesting and insightful. The accommodation was really good too. I would and have recommended this trip to others and would do another one of these trips insha Allah.” (Ayesha Fisher, May / June 2011)

“Just a short note to say we had a brilliant time in Bosnia. Great company of companion travellers. Want to say for now that it was great on the whole, and glad we went as both our hosts there, Br Senad and Sr Sehija were just so helpful and friendly.” (Mumtaz Hussain, May / June 2011)

“We had a lovely trip which exceeded our expectations. We were alhumdulillah in good company -our fellow travellers, and have all become good friends. We learnt a lot about our Muslim brothers and sisters in Bosnia, and found Bosnia-Herzogovina very scenic and historical. I was pleased to meet such friendly and inspiring people. It is unfortunate the we in the UK know so little about what they have suffered and that they continue to face challenges, and could benefit from our support. JazakAllahu khair for organising the trip.” (Rubina, May / June 2011)

“Learning about the history and current problems of the region from an experienced guide was invaluable. Visiting historical and cultural sites was another highlight. The visit to the memorial site in Srebenica was extremely harrowing but is essential for all who visit the region to gain an appreciation of the bravery of those who have rebuilt their lives after the war. Finally, visiting the Nahla Centre in Sarajevo was truly inspiring because of the huge efforts put in by a few women to turn their vision of a fairer society into a reality. I enjoyed travelling with the tour group and learnt a lot from individuals. I wanted to travel with a group that was familiar with my needs as a Muslim and that would offer me a real insight into the Islamic history of the region. I was also impressed with the details offered on the Islamic Travels official website.” (Shahien, May / June 2010)

“Unique experience, a must trip for all Muslims who are concerned about the Muslims living in the UK, not just UK but worldwide. Bosnia and its people have demonstrated how to fight the Islamic way. They were very careful and very much aware of how Muslims should fight during the way. A very useful lesson to be learned especially for Muslim counties who are currently fighting wars. Amazing explanation of how the Muslims live in a community and especially the way they have managed to take care of women’s needs. An example for us in the UK to follow. I was blessed to take part in the tour. The people of Bosnia are very kind and keen for Muslims from all round the world to visit them. I strongly believe that all the Muslims should support them in rebuilding their lives and their country and make Bosnia one of the hottest destination for holidays.” (Nasrin, May / June 2010)

 

Next tour dates

25 May – 1 June 2024

Price from

£699

Enquire about this tour now