Bjelasnica Mountain Hiking Tour – 4 day

Bjelasnica Mountain Hiking Tour – 4 days

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4 DAYS ADVENTUROUS HIKING ESCORTED TOUR

This is a great hike in the hinterlands of Bjelašnica Mountain – covering traditional villages, old water mills, stunning views of canyon and waterfalls of Rakitnica River.

IN COOPERATION WITH GREEN VISIONS TOUR OPERATOR SARAJEVO

Day 1: Today we’ll be trekking to Bjelasnica Mountain to Green Visions’ mountain hut. We’ll hike up the opposite side of the Olympic Ski Slopes, much less traversed by hikers and nature lovers alike. The hike will take us through a pine and beech wood forest up to the Gate of Wind where you will be either gently and pleasantly greeted by warm Bjelasnica Mountain breeze or its rugged ever piercing south wind. From here we traverse up to a small Sheppard’s hut (at 1,620 meters). The hut is a bit more than 45 minutes from where we were dropped off. We’ll have lunch and enjoy the flowing hills and bare peaks of the south-east side of Bjelasnica Mountain.

At this point we will start our steep 1 hour climb to the top of Hranisava (1.964 meters). Hranisava’s slope is rather steep in some places but offers lovely views of Central Bosnia and Herzegovina and their peaks, Bukovik, Trebevic, Igman, Romanija, Treskavica, Visocica, Velez, Prenj, Cvrsnica, Vran, Vranica and Vlasic, almost all main mountains in Central Dinaric Alps chain. In short, what a view you will get. From the top we’ll continue hiking down to Krosnje (1.660 meters), a traditional summer settlement for Sheppard’s coming from as far away as Capljina in Herzegovina. Krosnje which is at the foot of Krvavac, a magnificent peak partially surrounded by 2 to 4 meter high pine brush “Kleka”. Krvavac is rough and demands respect from man and animal alike. Locals say that it is the place where wolves descend from and bears over winter. After a brief rest in this truly mystical place we head back via a cool source back to our cozy mountain hut where we stay for a night. Approximately 5-6 hours walking

Day 2: After breakfast, we trek across the northern part of Bjelasnica towards Lokvanjsko Lake…a tiny lake perched high in the mountains surrounded by high altitude alpine pines called ‘kleka’. After a short break in these quiet surroundings of kleka and the lake with its numerous frogs, endemic type of salamanders and water snakes we set off to Vlahinja summit (2.056m). After an hour and a half we arrive at the peak with its rare view of the Olympic skiing resort of Babin Do. Here we will enjoy a picnic lunch before hike to Sitnik through truly beautiful and empty mountainous terrain of Bjelasnica Mountain interior. The hut is a lonely reminder of Bosnia’s great mountaineering past. We will return back to our hut, picking up our overnight gear, using the “back way” circling around the lake while being treated to great views of Hranisava and Krvavac. Approximately 6-7 hours walking

Day 3: Today we are leaving our “base camp” at Stanari hut and continue over Bjelasnica Mountain ridge, toward Ljeljen peaks (1.938m) and Greda pass to our final goal today, Umoljani village.

In the early morning hours we depart Stanari and make our way towards the interior of Bjelasnica. Along the way we can meet the occasional shepherd with his sheep grazing on the steep slopes of Bjelasnica Mountain. The view from within the valley is endless and filled with the yellow and purple flowers so characteristic of summer. After an hour and a half we begin our gradual climb to Greda, a beautiful pass in between Krvavac (Bjelasnica’s second highest peak 2.062 m.) and Debela Brda (1.987m). Here we are treated to today’s prize, views of: Bjelasnica’s highest peaks, Treskavica, Visocica, Zelengora, Jahorina mountains…. While walking through soft mountain grass we wind our way down to Grkarica source a true life saver in the warm months of summer. Leaving the source behind we again begin to walk through the long valley, surprised after hours of empty mountainous terrain by arriving at a beautiful summer village of Gradina and today’s final destination, Umoljani village. Approximately 6-7 hours walking

Day 4: This hike offers it all, amazing scenery, old water mills, stunning views of Rakitnica River canyon and a good long hike on the last day of this incredible adventure. All in all this is a great hike in the hinterlands of Bjelasnica Mountain. From the traditional style Bosnian Mosque in the village of Umoljani, we’ll trek to Seven Mills and the beautiful source used or centuries as energy to grind wheat into flour. We hug the ridge until Rakitnica (this is the far north end while Kasici is the far south end) awesomely opens up before us. After 5-10 minutes of going uphill, we reach the Cascades of Studeni Potok. Here, at certain times of the year, the stream falls 400 meters into the canyon below. Following the stream up we hit Studeni Fields and the serpent like formations of Studeni Stream. Here we’ll have a super view of Obalj and the long flat valley of Studeni Fields. En route, we’ll find quite a few sources where we can drink our fill.

From the Studeni Fields we hike along Obalj’s side to the 40 meter Peruce Waterfall. All along, you will be treated by sweet views and cool breezes coming off of Visocica and Treskavica. Lukomir is Bosnia’s highest village at 1,469 meters, with its ancient stecci (stecaks – medieval tombstones) where villagers stick to the “old way” of doing things. Traditional dress, the occasional turban and fez are still worn and go hand in hand with the more contemporary bliss’ of everyday life, electricity and running water. On the edge of the village you will be treated by a rare view of Rakitnica, Obalj and Visocica. You have arrived at the end of the world. After the lunch break, we will return via Dugo Polje, a long stretched out field flanked by Bjelasnica and Obalj. The trail is well maintained by people from the various villages around. From the village we walk down to Umoljani zig zagging along cultivated fields, where we will be picked up and transferred back to Sarajevo. Approximately 7 hours walking

This hike is of medium difficulty.

Total walking hours: day 1- five to six hours, day 2 – six to seven hours, day 3 – six to seven hours, day 4 – seven hours

PRICE : 219 EUR Minimum 5 participants

What to bring: hiking boots (recommended) or sturdy walking shoes, sleeping bag, flash light, pocket knife, sun glasses, sun cream, one liter of water, personal hygiene kit, fleece/ jumper, rain and swimming gear, towel, change of clothes (e.g. dry socks, t-shirt, underwear and trousers) and a 30 to 40 liter backpack.

Included: transport to and from the location, coffee and/or tea, all meals breakfast (3x), lunch (4x), dinner(3x), and snacks, one fully-equipped and experienced guide and accommodation in basic mountain huts on Stanari and Umoljani village.

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