How to Take A Bosnia & Herzegovina Day Trip From Dubrovnik

A Bosnia & Herzegovina day trip from Dubrovnik is a great way to get immersed in the Balkans and experience more than balmy Croatia!

Kravice Falls

As I instructed my Instagram followers to do, let’s play ‘spot Rose’ and see if you can find me somewhere at the bottom of the first image below!

Seriously, aside from a couple in the Philippines, I think this is my favourite waterfall I’ve ever been to. The best bit was that I had it to myself (my family and the other four people on our tour didn’t go swimming – probably because the water was absolutely freezing).

As was becoming apparent, Bosnia has not yet peaked in terms of tourism… I’m sure if the Falls had been in Thailand, or even just over the border in Croatia, they’d have been heaving.

Since Kravice Falls are close to the Croatia border, they’re an ideal first stop on a Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik. The drive took just over 2 hours but went quite fast, especially since our tour guide chatted to us about Bosnia and we stopped for coffee.

Počitelj

We stopped for a break in this sweet village set around a castle – hopefully my photos will do it justice. Despite the fact there weren’t very many tourists around, there were lots of little vendors selling fruit, souvenirs and Middle Eastern-style rugs.

As well as Christian influences, we were beginning to see a big Muslim population as Bosnia was once in the Ottoman/Turkish Empire. Počitelj was a good example of the country’s mix of cultures with a church and a mosque almost side by side.

Mostar

Our next stop was Mostar which I instantly adored. The Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Center) is full of character and definitely the place to be for tourists.

What currency to use in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The Bosnian Convertible Mark is the main currency (2 BAM to €1) but the Euro is widely accepted. This is really useful if, like us, you’re visiting from Croatia.

You’ll notice that prices in the local currency are often displayed as ’10km’. Don’t be confused; this also refers to the Convertible Mark.

Pros of a tour

– It was so easy and convenient with no map reading or driving required on our end

– Having a local guide to explain the history

– Relaxing and not worrying about research

– Potential travel buddies if you’re a solo traveller.

Cons of a tour

– Personally, I struggle with the tight schedules of tours and would usually like to enjoy a place for longer

– As someone pointed out to me later, taking a tour from Croatia means less of your money goes to Bosnia. Travelling independently and staying overnight would be far more beneficial for the country.

Less of a tour con and more a problem with my family’s organisation, being on time for the stops was tricky for us. The most stressful moment of the day was my dad realising that he’d left his backpack with our passports in down by the Kravice Falls. It was a steep ten-minute walk from the car park. He had to run there and back in the heat whilst the tour waited!

I consoled him with the story of when I left my entire backpack in the foyer of a hotel in Cambodia mistakenly thinking it had been put on the bus. The whole 20-person tour ended up two hours behind schedule for the rest of the day. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so unpopular before or felt so guilty.