HERZEGOVINA HIMALAYA
DIVA GRABOVICA AND VELKI KUK
Category: Green Hike
Total hiking hours: 4 - 5 hours
Price: 75 KM/38 EURO
Departure time: 08:00
Estimated time of return: 19:00
The mountain valley of Diva Grabovica is nested in the extraordinarily
attractive environment in the heart of Cvrsnica Mountain (2228 m), right
at the place where the Mediterranean climate comes across the rough
alpine climate. The drive from Sarajevo takes a bit less than two hours.
Most of the journey we will trek through a dry sandy bed of an ancient
Pleistocene’s river that flew down from Cvrsnica’s melting
glaciers. There we are surrounded with the massive thousand meter high
rock faces of Bijela and Mezica cliffs. From here we will venture below
the cliffs of Mededi on Veliki Kuk with its overgrown hundred year old
forests of endemic black pine trees, which hides numerous wild game.
The silence of this pristine wilderness is interrupted only by the boom
of the wind going through the tree crowns or by stones cracking under
our feet. It is a tremendously peaceful place.
We'll break for lunch at the bivouac built as a starting point for those
interested in climbing the sheer 1,000 m face of Velki Kuk. Enjoy the
sights and sounds (or lack of). From the bivouac we’ll take you
up to a small hidden spring cascading down Veliki Kuk, where the adventurous
can cool them selves of in Cvrsnica’s last clear spring water.
On the way back from this enormous amphitheatre, we enjoy the sight
of the bold and attractive contours of Prenj Mountain that appear on
the east horizon. This Green Walk is perfect for both the hiker and
walker. It is a low level of difficulty with a high level of intensity.
Diva Grabovica - Žljeb
Category: Green Hike
Total hiking hours: 5 hours
Price: 75 KM/38 EURO
Departure time: 08:00
Estimated time of return: 19:00
Cvrsnica Mountain - it’s a great magical mystery tour climbing
through the ancient forests of Cvrsnica Mountain to Zljeb...all the
while trekking on King Karadjodzevic's old hunting trails. A hunting
hut was built near the top for the King because he so fancied the rich
wildlife the area had to offer. He 's dead now, but his trail is very
much alive and we intend to use it as much as possible. We'll hike through
closed beech-tree forests starting from the amazing valley of Diva Grabovica.
It’s a fairly sharp climb at times but truly stunning and refreshing.
The trailhead leads us to several natural springs, so water is nema
problema. Do bring a water bottle to fill for our final ascent though.
We'll climb the steep up for 2.5 hours before reaching our destination.
We'll do our famous lunch on a perch overlooking the largest rock face
on the Balkan Peninsula @ over 1,000 meters. The peaks of Cvrsnica tower
around us in every direction from this point. Mali and Veliki Medved
sprout out in front, rock walls to our right, and the eagley peaks of
Cvrsnica highest points just behind us. After a lunch and a short rest
we will walk down and take a cooling dip where the Diva Grabovica stream
meets the Neretva. This will be a great day to spend the end of the
weekend; spectacular views and a refreshing dip with sights fit for
a king and queen...so treat yourself as such, you won't be disappointed,
we promise.
Veliki Prenj
Category: Green Hike
Total hiking hours: 5 - 6 hours
Price: 75 KM/38 EURO
Departure time: 08:00
Estimated time of return: 19:00
…its been calling all winter and the time has come…for
those up to the challenge we’re off to Prenj, the Herzegovina
Himalaya, to climb the peak of Has at 1,915 meters. It’s a fairly
tough climb and we will probably experience snow…boots and gaiters
a must (we do have extra gaiters).
The hike: great, the view: even better. This Green Hike will take us
deep into Prenj mountain, the wildest of Bosnia’s Dinaric Alps.
You should be in good shape to take the journey and your legs should
be ready for a good workout. It’s a two and half hour drive to
Glogovo’s hunters hut. From there the serpentine trail up to Barice
will take us 1.5 hr. Has is another hour away with spectacular views
of Lupoglav @ over 2,000 meters, Cvrsnica, Velez, Cabulja. All in all
it’s a 5-6 hour hike climbing over 700 meters and descending the
same! Are you up for the ride?
BLACK SOURCE
Category: Green Walk
Total hiking hours: 3 - 4 hours
(plus some fun rock-hopping)
Price: 75 KM/38 EURO
Departure time: 08:30
Estimated time of return: 19:00
For those of you who have been I need not say more. For those less
fortunate this place is a nature wonderland. Heading south towards Mostar
we’ll head off across the Neretva into the Dreznica Canyon. 18
winding kilometers later we’ll reach the source of the Drezanka,
or at least close to it. From the end of the canyon we’ll take
a great Green Walk up and over the old rocky trail. Within an hour and
a half’s time we’re sitting at the hidden source, deep in
the Dreznica canyon, facing rock cliffs that scream up over 500 meters
behind us and to our right. Our panoramic view to the front offers the
high peaks of Cabulja Mountain over 2,000 meters high, most certainly
covered in snow. Our walk, however, will be a dry one. We won’t
reach any significant heights so the snow never reaches the belly of
the canyon. I honestly have no more words…you must see this place.
It’s a stunning, awe inspiring, and utterly relaxing Green Walk.
One we’re fairly sure you’d never see if we hadn’t
had a green vision. But we did, so come join us…once again, we
promise you won’t be disappointed.
*Rocky terrain! No snow though and the trails are well maintained.
DREŽNICA – POGORELIŠTE
Category: Green Walk
Total hiking hours: 3 - 4 hours
(plus some fun rock-hopping)
Price: 75 KM/38 EURO
Departure time: 09:00
Estimated time of return: 18:00
This is a new valley for us…yet another magical discovery in
Herzegovina’s Drezanka Canyon. This hidden valley is a bit better
maintained than our last trip to the Black Source…. where we experienced
lost trails due to rain and landslides. Not here though…halfway
up the valley we park the jeep near the Drezanka. A short walk brings
us to the bridge across the Drezanka. Heading towards the Pogoreliste
Stream one may ask where on earth are we going…but what awaits
us is a mystical hidden valley with waterfalls, old Shepard houses,
and ancient stone walls used to keep livestock in the summer. You will
enter a different world here, one cut off from all civilization - or
at least seeming as such. The rock faces spurt up at over 1,640 meters
behind us with a magnificent view of snow-covered Cvršnica. The
walk is relatively an easy one…the inclines are slight and we
stick to the valley trail, which has been used for centuries by locals
herding goats and other livestock. It’s a magical trip if there
ever was one and one more gentle than the sister canyon walk to the
Black Source.
Oh, the places you’ll go.
HERZEGOVINA HIMALAYA
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