Walking the Balkans- Bosnia, Serbia & Montenegro

This eight-night tour begins in Sarajevo, where Ottoman bazaars, Austro-Hungarian architecture and the scars of recent history form an intriguing cityscape. From there, a drive through the Bjelasnica mountains leads to Lukomir, Bosnia’s highest and most remote village, where life has scarcely changed for centuries. The route then crosses into Serbia, stopping at Tara National Park to take in Banjska Stena viewpoint, which looks across the Drina canyon towards Bosnia.

Heading on to Montenegro, the itinerary includes the Uvac Nature Reserve with its serpentine river bends and griffon vultures, and Zabljak, gateway to Durmitor National Park with hikes to alpine lakes framed by pine woods. The tour ends near the rock-carved Ostrog Monastery and the southern town of Trebinje, before a final transfer to Dubrovnik airport. The walks are varied but generally modest in pace, with time to appreciate the details of local life and landscape rather than race through them.

Explore Worldwide runs this small-group escorted tour, which blends culture, history and nature across three countries that do not often appear on the regular walking holiday circuit. The travel days are mainly by coach, with transfers timed for convenience rather than early starts, allowing a reasonable balance of activity and downtime.