Herzegovina Bike II: From Roman Times to the Hajduk Republic!

Arrival in Sarajevo. We land at Sarajevo International Airport, where our guide/leader awaits us. We head to the Lights restaurant for a light lunch. During lunch, we get to know each other and toast to the exciting journey ahead of us. After lunch, we tour Sarajevo with an authorized guide. During our tour, we discuss the turbulent history but also talk about the everyday life of ordinary people adapted to demanding and capricious rulers who have alternated here over the past five centuries. We start from the City Library, which burned down in August 1992 during the city’s siege, and continue past the site where Gavrilo Princip shot Archduke Ferdinand through the beautiful streets founded in the 15th century. It’s time for one of the most beautiful experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We depart from Sarajevo railway station, where we board a train that takes us through the beautiful landscapes of the country to our hotel in Čapljina. Welcome drink, dinner, and overnight stay at Hotel Storia Čapljina.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Ćirina uskotračna pruga i danas, skoro pedeset godina nakon njenog ukidanja, ima skoro mitsko značenje u sjećanju hercegovačkog naroda. Ukidanje ove pruge dovelo je do depopulacije stanovništva u ovim krajevima no zahvaljujući entuzijazmu, prije svega ljubitelja biciklizma, ova pruga danas je svjetski poznata biciklistička staza. O kojima piši svi svjetski časopisi od New York Times-a preko National Geografic-a do The Guardian-a. Zato biciklarimo ovom stazom kako bismo sami rekonstruirali nekadašnji život pored ove pruge. Nakon tipičnog hercegovačkog krajolika, starih željezničkih stanica stžemo pred krašku pećinu Vjetrenica koju ćemo posjetiti u pratnji autorizranog vodiča koji će nas uputiti u tajne ove pećine. Vožnju završavamo u obližnjoj željezničkoj stanici koja je danas gostionica koja nudi hercegovačke tradicionalne specijalitete. Nakon ručka povratak u hotel. Slobodno vrijeme koje možemo provesti pored bazena ili odmarajući se prije zajedničke večere u hotelu.

Obroci: Doručak, Ručak, Večera

Duljina: 59.98 km;

Ukupno uspona: 880 m

We already have several kilometers under our belts, yet we haven’t reached the Old Bridge in Mostar. Today, we head to Mostar and explore it with an authorized guide. Free time allows us to capture photos of this unique single-arch bridge dating back to the 16th century. We blend into the crowd of local vendors and tourists, understanding the lifestyle between the Mediterranean and the Orient.

After visiting the Spanish Square and an open-air exhibition created through the hard work of the Mostar Street Art Festival, we hop on our bikes towards Čapljina. We ride alongside the Neretva River, following the old Ćiro railway route, all the way to Čapljina and our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Distance: 54.36 km;

Total ascent: 378 m

The town of Čapljina sprawls at the natural crossroads of Herzegovina. Apart from the four rivers, Čapljina is home to the Hutovo Blato Nature Park, the largest marshland area in this part of Europe. This favorite gathering spot for birdwatchers also offers an excellent trail for cyclists. Our route takes us around the park’s lake, providing unique viewpoints. You’ll have free time in the afternoon by the hotel pool before enjoying an A la chef dinner served with a selection of fine Herzegovinian wines.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Distance: 46 km;

Total ascent: 730 m

After breakfast and checking out of Hotel Storia, it’s time for new adventures! We head towards Ljubuški to visit the Kravice Waterfalls, a natural phenomenon protected as a rare treasure by the state. Following our enjoyment of Kravice Falls, we traverse through rural parts of Herzegovina, passing local villages in a quest to discover the life of the local population. We make a stop at the Franciscan Monastery in Humac to visit the Archaeological Museum, founded in 1884, offering insights into life in Herzegovina from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Continuing our journey today, we reach the Peć Mlini excursion site. After relishing in this hidden gem of nature, we load our bikes onto the van and proceed to our new hotel, Hajdučke vrleti in Blidinje Nature Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Distance: 59 km;

Total ascent: 800 m

 The Franciscans have been present in the regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dalmatia, and Slavonia since the 12th century. The Franciscan Route is a unique cycling journey that takes us through Franciscan monasteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, delving into their interconnected cultural and historical heritage, including Diva Grabovceva and stećci.

After a hearty breakfast, we embark on a ride through Blidinje Nature Park towards Rama. The breathtaking landscape, with its ascents and descents into Rama, offers views that will stay with you for a long time. Descending into the Rama Valley, which was transformed into a reservoir lake in 1968 with a small island housing a Franciscan monastery, truly takes your breath away. We visit the Franciscan monastery and have lunch in Rama before saddling up our bikes and returning to our hotel, Hajdučke vrleti, for a well-deserved rest and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 80 km;

Total ascent: 1500 m

Today, we ride through Blidinje Nature Park from our hotel to Masna Luka, where the Franciscans hold spiritual exercises. We continue along the Blidinje Lake and head towards Tomislavgrad, known since Roman times in these regions, but the real attraction is the praslon found near Tomislavgrad. The praslon is about 3.5 million years old and is located in the museum of the Franciscan monastery in Tomislavgrad, which we will visit together. We conclude our visit to Tomislavgrad with a shared picnic. After lunch, we load our bikes onto the van and drive back to our hotel. We’ll have a shared dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic, Dinner

Distance: 66 km;

Total ascent: 700 m

Check out of the hotel and depart for Sarajevo Airport, where, after an active week getting to know the country, we bid farewell to our guide.

Meals: Breakfast

On behalf of the entire ERO Travel team, we thank you for joining us on this extraordinary journey and wish you safe travels as you head home. Until next time!

We hope you had a memorable experience cycling with us. We would appreciate it if you could leave a review on Google or TripAdvisor, as your feedback is invaluable.

Warm regards from the ERO Travel team!