Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting the inhabitants of the country's highest inhabited village and having lunch that they kindly prepared for us, the walk to the village was truly spectacular with stunning views wherever you looked, the friendliness and unassuming nature of the villagers was indeed inspirational as it is a tough life living off the land and I can imagine that the winters can be harsh and long!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Samer was a wonderful leader, his knowledge of the mountains was second to none and he looked after the group with patience and encouragement throughout, even on some of the more arduous climbs. He was more than just a leader though, he was a historian always happy to answer any question the group might have, he was an interpreter when we had problems getting out requests across to the locals and at times he was a comedian with his own brand of humour!....... if you get Samer as your guide you can be reassured that you will be in safe hands!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The walking is rather strenuous and a fair bit tougher than we have in the UK but it is easily done with anyone that is a regular walker and the views more than make up for the effort!

Suggestions

Bosnia is a wonderful and diverse country and really is somewhere to visit before the "secret" get out!.... Sarajevo is a wonderful city and somewhere I would go back again to spend more time in, Mostar has its own natural beauty beside the famous bridge, with its rich history and narrow cobbled streets. One great upside of Bosnia is the cost of living, dinner with wine or beer would not be much more than about 20marka (£10) and I bought the whole group (15 of us) an ice cream in Sarajevo and still had change from £10... If there was a downside in Bosnia it is that they still allow smoking in restaurants, cafes and bars but this should not distract you from visiting this wonderful country and the air in the mountains is unpolluted and smoke free!!... I cannot recommend this trip highly enough.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, by far, was the rafting. A glorious day, peaceful and a little bit different. Working as a team was fun. I enjoyed the walks and the city tours too. We enjoyed eating out in the evening with the group. The town at the top of the hill was very interesting and I enjoyed talking to the people who lived there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was good, but he failed to keep the group together sufficiently during the hikes which was unfortunate. Other Exodus leaders worked harder to be inclusive. Other than that he was very nice, enthusiastic, well organised and informative.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Practice walking up hills. I used a much smaller pack than suggested which was just fine. The two star hotels are adequate - however we didn't always have hot water. Coffee is really important and generally delicious.

Suggestions

The food always includes both cheese and meat, and not much in the way of vegetables/salad. It can be heavy and creamy. It is generally good. We felt the restaurant in Dubrovnik was a rip off.

Most Inspirational Moment

The day on Maglic. "Entertaining" climb to the top. A very steep descent down scree to a tranquil green lake. Once at the water it really seemed like paradise. Sarajevo is a great city. Standing at the waters edge in Mostar at night. Looking up at the iconic re-built bridge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eldar and Kenan were exceptionally good Very knowledgable. Friendly. The best!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather in June was blisteringly hot. Take suitable protection.

Suggestions

Great country. Ignore the past troubles. You will enjoy it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The entire group of 15 reached the summit of Maglic. The ascent included a challenging stretch just below the summit, including some scrambling and a short stretch of via ferrata, but with guidance and support from the guides we all managed this without difficulty. Watching Euro football matches in the open air Fanzone in central Sarejevo was a great experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eldar was brilliant at everything. It would be difficult to find anyone who knows the mountains better, he's a great team leader, all the arrangements worked like clockwork, his communication was clear and unambiguous, and he was very patient with our constant questions (as none of us spoke any of the local languages). There appeared to be no problem he couldn't solve, including repairing my sunglasses, very professionally, when the lens fell out!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Get as fit as possible before you go so that you can really enjoy the superb walking on this trip. Maglic is a bit of a challenge but more than worth the effort ... Take insect repellent as the pristine, unspoilt countryside is not at all polluted by insecticides. Don't be put off by this - it's beautiful with wonderful wild flowers everywhere. BiH gets very warm - take light clothes and plenty of sunscreen.

Suggestions

This was a superb trip and I'd advise anyone to do it

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many highlights to this holiday it's hard to single anything out. All of the walks offered amazing views and each city had it's own story to tell. We had a preconceived idea of Sarajevo from the images of the war many years ago. However it is an incredible city which is so full of history and has been beautifully rebuilt. The old city is fascinating to wander around and seeing so many different cultures and religions living side by side without conflict was impressive! A must see city for anybody!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Samer was a fantastic leader. His passion about bringing tourism to Bosnia and allowing people to see the beauty of his country was so clear to see. He showed us around brilliantly and was a lovely man who made everyone feel valued.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Keep an open mind throughout the trip and be prepared for the basic accommodation in the National Park. It's completely as described as the rooms are pretty old but the views are stunning and a dip in the swimming pool nearby is a must (although it is pretty damn COLD! Be prepared for some long hours on the little bus as many of the walks can be quite far from where you're staying. Bosnian mountain roads aren't very well maintained but our driver was particularly skilled and determined at getting up them :)

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Mt Maglic, Bosnia's highest peak. Walking to and being hosted for lunch in the remote mountain village of Lukomir, near Sarajevo. Sharing the knowledge and experiences of our guides, Samer and Eldar, both in the mountains and their times as teenagers living in the Siege of Sarajevo. Learning about the complicated and volatile history.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Samer is one of the most inspirational trip leaders I have had the pleasure to travel with. Passionate about his country and its mountains, knowledgeable and open minded about the history, organised and professional, patient, caring, gentle and a tricky sense of humour. Co-guide Eldar also shared his love of the mountains - he is also a keen rock climber, mountain biker and part of the mountain rescue team, so we felt more than confident! Also helpful, going out of his way to show some of us find Sarajevo's specialist biking and sporting shops.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect any pillow menus - however this is five star tour for what it offers in discovering a beautiful country, still recovering from a tragic recent history.

Most Inspirational Moment

Everyday was so different and so packed full it is hard to pick out one moment but probably reaching the summit of Maglić having beaten the looming storm!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Samer along with his colleague Dino was faultless as a guide. Their, humour, knowledge and enthusiasm for BH made the trip. Every aspect was planned in-depth from the treks to booking lunches/dinners for the group; we were made to feel very looked-after throughout the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for all weather. During August we arrived at the end of a lengthy heatwave but still experienced frequent showers-some heavy. If you get travel sick just be aware that some of the minibus travel is through bumpy and windy roads; most journeys about an hour via minibus to the start of the walk.

Suggestions

I highly recommend the optional rafting trip- it gave a great perspective of the gorge with a dramatic landscape and crystal clear waters as a backdrop. The route is mostly very gentle with a few small rapids just big enough to make it exciting but not too big to distract from the scenery; plus with a good 4/5 hour trip including cooked lunch of fresh fish at the end it is amazing value.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of Maglic Mountain felt like a real achievement but the most moving part of the trip was seeing the evidence of the recent Balkan war and hearing some personal stories from the leaders. They brought the conflict alive in a way that is not achievable by films or the written word.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eldar was very calm and capable and he coped with every situation. He was exceptionally good at managing people and had a fun dry sense of humour. His knowledge about the history of the country added a rich dimension to the trip. Benjamin - the assistant guide was full of energy and good humour but when necessary he was supportive and patient. Both guides were very safety conscious. I have been on many group trips and they have been amongst the best leaders that I have encountered.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Day 3 is a long arduous hike - much more strenous than the other days. If you have any doubts about your ability have a rest day. Note that there is quite a lot of time spent on the bus travelling to and from the start and end of the walks and between the various overnight stops

Suggestions

Visit this unspoilt part of Europe. There is a great variety of scenery, interesting towns and cities plus a rich history.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the summit of Mt. Maglic after an arduous and long hike along many differing terrains. The descent was just as thrilling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Eldar Fazlagic was one of the most patient and laconic guides we have spent time with. He was aware of everyone's capabilities and nuances and wisely managed the group to accommodate these points. He was informative and helpful when asked. He gave personal and interesting insights into the history of his country and the troubles that beset it during WW1 and the 1992-95 war. He gave the trip an "edge" that helped Andrew & I know we chose well in making the journey.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We did this trip when there was record heat in Eastern Europe, temps of 32-38 deg. I know this is unpredictable but another time of the year may reduce this possibility. Some of the walks are exposed and lengthy and in that heat a challenge. Listen to the guide. If his advice is that you may be better to have a day off, listen to him as day one is a good measure of a clients stamina and he goes from that. They will accommodate but if a less fit client makes the day 3 hike, it really slows the group and makes for a most difficult day. Also be aware there are lengthy trips in the bus that are necessary to get to starting and end points of day's hike. If this is not your zone, think again.

Suggestions

Benjamen, the secondary guide was great fun, most helpful to those of the group who lagged behind due to tiredness and heat stress but never did he intimate it was a trouble or an onerous task for him to "bring up the rear". His conversations in the bus during the journies were always chirpy and informative.

Most Inspirational Moment

Eating the pastries on a hillside in a village that time seemed to have forgotten.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent he was very good to ensure we always had a plan b as the weather let us down a few times but we were not disappointed ,

Advice for Potential Travellers

Keep an open mind as your trip may need to be changed.