“Up and down, hiking in BiH, it’s a rollercoaster of impressions and emotions, I can hardly keep up with them. But when the ride is over, you want to stay for the next round.” I wrote that about a year ago and it is still true. I’m happy to scroll through my photos and see so many nice places I want to share, I can hardly choose. But I would like to show not only the shiny Instagrammable moments, I use Instagram to show my journey in stills. The whole journey.

I tried to connect hiking trails, National Parks, interesting sights, natural and cultural highlights of which I knew they will be part of the official Green Trail. Some parts of the route I hiked can be done by bike as well. I created the route along the way, tried to find the best hikable trails, but there are some road sections here and there. Also, there are many alternatives, I believe I could hike another month or two or three exploring. Below this blog post I will add a list I made (and updated in 2021) with possible hiking, biking, kayak and other kinds of Green Trail tracks.

It’s an real interesting region. Unlike the White Trail, the Green Trail isn’t a mountain trek pur sang. It does lead you through the Dinaric Alps, but through the lower parts. It definitely is Green and absolutely stunning. Lisac and Vlašić are my favorite, LOVE those mountains!

Road struggles

To be completely honest, I kind of had a hard time. The first week has been difficult to find my way. I sort of know where I want to go, but the problem is that I want to go on foot. That’s not a common thing to do, I know, but here it often seems impossible. Sometimes there’s only a big road and I can tell you, these are no fun. Smelly, noisy and boring, but most of all dangerous for hikers. My biggest fear are the dogs. And they know that, I know, but really, they’re super scary when they’re hanging around in groups, next to the road. I’m tired off being afraid. It’s only been one week and that’s not enough to give up. I believe it will get better, in a way I get used to it, I just need some time to adjust. AND I need to spend just as much time hiking in nature!

Laku_Noć
Laku Noć, Zvijezda mountain

Hunters

After leaving Kulen Vakuf, I spend the night in a hunters lodge full of hunters who had to get up at 5.30. Luckily they made coffee for me as well ánd assured me that if I stayed on the road, there was no way anyone would shoot me. Maybe it sounds stupid when you look at the road on this picture, but in Kulen Vakuf I was told that it’s dangerous to get up here (all by myself), that there are bears, wolves, boars and hunters.

I listened to those people, appreciate their concerns, but went my own way. And look how beautiful it is up here. I’m so glad I went and I’m so glad I met those hunters, because they gave me the other side of the story. Because of them I had a totally fearless, super pleasant hike.

My_via_dinarica_green_trail_bih
Early morning on the trail, hiking from Kulen Vakuf to Vrtoče.

Etno selo Zelenkovac

Zelenkovac
Zelenkovac
Šibovi
This is the view from Šibovi, a small village somewhere between Mrkonjić Grad and Jajce

From Jajce to Sarajevo

New old pants, new old shoes & some shit on the road. I prepared myself for the last part of my journey, the stretch from Jajce to Sarajevo. Therefore I picked up some warm clothes, a warm sleeping bag, my bear bell and a pair of shoes. New old shoes. And guess what happened. The temperature is going up! Good weather, non stop. The snow on Vlašić is probably melting, nevertheless, I’m prepared! No “bears” on the road for me. Just a some shit 😉

Bears_on_the_road...
Bears on the road

Veliko Plivsko jezero

Last few days I’ve seen many fishermen and I’m kind getting it, I think. Perhaps it’s not just about catching fish. I mean when you think about it, a fisherman is often alone at the most beautiful, quiet places. They bring all they need and then spend a few hours or days there. Catching fish. Or not. Sounds good to me!

Veliko_Plivsko_jezero
Veliko Plivsko jezero

Jajce

Jajce
Jajce

Čuperovica

From Jajce I followed a small road up through some small villages. Through the forest, through more villages, more forest until I found a good place to camp. The next day I wanted to hike from Čuperovica to Smet, a supposed to be beautiful hiking trail. Only I had to reach the trail head.

Čuperovica
Čuperovica

Smetovi

My GPS had no clue, there were no signposts and the people I met offered me a ride back to town. “No thanks, I’m going to the mountains. (Da, sama!!)” After one more hour through the forest, I reached an open field with a trail that lead me to this viewpoint. Oh yes, I’m back. Back in the mountains and look, that’s where I came from. Happy and proud that I found my way.

Smetovi_mountain
Smetovi mountain, this supposed to be beautiful hiking trail IS super beautiful!

Vlašić

On my way up to Vlašić. This is really an amazing mountain. It’s sweet, it’s grassy, but there are cliffs and rocks as well. The city down there is Travnik, it should be worth visiting, but Vlašić changed my mind. I want mountains. I choose mountains. This is where I feel happy. So, I’m gonna cross this beauty and try to find my way to Sarajevo through the mountains instead of going all the way down.

Vlašić
Vlašić
Vlašić_mountain
Vlašić mountain, I like

Pollution

There is this typical mist or smog which covers the valleys. I’m not sure if it’s actually pollution or a mountain-thing. Or a combination. It is beautiful from above, but I remember Sarajevo during the winter and that’s no fun for sure. Luckily there is a solution: go up into the mountains 🙂

More_Vlašić
More Vlašić

Lisac

Lisac mountain
Lisac mountain, Good night 😴⛺

Tvrtkovac

Today I’m not alone, I got a guide (long story) to bring me to Tvrtkovac, a peak close to Pepelari where I camped. After this peak I had to do it on my own. Do another six hours on a sort of marked trail. Despite the very detailed (Bosnian) description of the route, I managed to loose the track within half an hour. Stupid thing is that I know exactly where I took a wrong turn, but I was too stubborn to go back. As a result, I scrambled down the mountain, arrived in a village which I was supposed to pass by from above and hiked 20 kilometres on macadam roads. BUT I made it to Ponijeri and I had a great day 🙂

Tvrtkovac_mountain
For real
Tvrtkovac_peak
Tvrtkovac peak

Perun

Meet Perun. I named this cute dog after the mountain we hiked. For one day Perun joined me, or actually followed me. First I thought he (or she) would go back at a certain point, but he didn’t. I went up, he went up. I walked through the snow, he did. I ate pita, he did. When I stopped to put on warmer clothes, I saw him shaking. He’s still young and I wasn’t sure if he could find the way back. I didn’t know what to do, so I kept on going. I crossed Perun mountain, he did.

When we arrived in Vareš, I realized that I couldn’t take him with me for the rest of my trip. I went to a gas station to warm up and think of what to do. Perun was not allowed to come in. Poor, cold Perun. I asked the guy who worked there what to do. He just laughed. He tried to chase Perun away. Perun kept on coming back. He locked Perun in the bathroom, Perun waited.

Ow and now comes the terrible part. The terrible part is that I left Perun in the cold. I left this cute little dog in the bathroom. Honestly, when I think of it, I feel so cruel. It hurts. I know I wasn’t able to take care of him, but I also know that I didn’t do everything I could to help him.

Maybe he walked back. Maybe the guy from the gas station took him home. The next day I went back to the gas station, I had to check if Perun was still there. I had to ask the guy what happened after I left. Bad luck. The gas station was closed. Perun was gone.

The end. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

Perun planina
Perun planina

Zvijezda

After rain & snow comes sunshine. Oh yes. With a friend from Vareš I explored Zvijezda. My goal was to find a way to Olovo, his goal was to find this old Roman bridge. We both succeeded ánd had a great time!

Rimski_most_orlja
Roman bridge on Orlja river

Garbage

It’s one of the many many many garbage dumps I came across. I simply don’t understand, especially because almost everyone I met praises self grown food. “No pesticides” or “alles natur“. Also, a lot of people go into the forest to pick mushrooms, rosehips, berries and so on. They make fantastic food, they make amazing food! How come that leaving or dumping garbage is not considered as a threat for their food? And how come that people are always blaming the “fucked up country” for all the mess instead of start picking up rubbish? I simply don’t understand. Perhaps I’m from a different world.

Actually the more I think of it, the more I realise that I’m exactly the same. As in, I complain but don’t take any responsibility. I don’t pick up trash neither. I don’t dump garbage, but I dump a photo and passively wait. Hoping that awareness will show up eventually.

Garbage_dump
🙁

Bijambare

So I forgot where exactly this beautiful piece of art was, sorry don’t remember the name of the village, but it is somewhere between Olovo and Bijambare. Also, I’m not sure how old this obelisk is. Is it from the Roman Empire or after. Oh dear, did you know that I actually studied history of art?!! Wait, Bakići? Yes! Anyways, there’s a real nice, well-marked hiking trail going up, definitely worth a little detour. (a Google search tells me that it’s probably from the 14th century), check this page if you want to find out more.

Obelisk_bakaci_bosnia_and_herzegovina
An obelisk surrounded by trees. Just one. In the middle of the forest.

Last day to Sarajevo

Bukovik
Crepoljsko, really really really almost there!

Sarajevo

Vijećnici_sarajevo
Made it!

More Via Dinarica Green Trail tracks

1 Comment

  1. Eva ..what a wonderful blog and fantastic pictures …I am resident here in Livno by Busko jezero for ten years almost and have rarely seen this type of challenge carried out and with rightly so, no fear …..! Thank you for your even portrayal of the people(s) the culture and the habits ……my good Dutch friend PIM passed me this blog he is from the Omis area so you are being widely read …. i LEARNED a lot …
    Brian Eager
    Livno

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EVAdinarica

Hiking & Biking the Balkans

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