Bosnia & Beyond

Excellent tour of Bosnia & Montenegro, with its variety of scenery and fascinating history. Organisation and itinerary were very good. The tour was fairly full on, but no early starts or really long journeys. We were quite a large group,17 of us, but fortunately the tour bus was quite spacious and we got on really well. Food was good. Hotels were variable. The tour leader, Fatima, was very good, as were the local guides. As we only had a few hours in Dubrovnik it would have been good to have a short guided tour there.

Wonderful locations, spectacular scenery, good variety and a fabulous leader!

This trip covers so many interesting & beautiful places. Our guide was great & really enthusiastic about showing us so much of both Bosnia & Montenegro and ensuring we had a taste of the history & culture of both countries. The bus rides between destinations were in themselves really interesting passing amazing scenery (with loads of opportunity for pictures) & our guide giving us history along the way. Hotels were nice & in most locations stayed a few nights giving you a chance to get out and see the different towns. It is a varied itinerary with both beautiful & historic towns to explore & mountain walks to enjoy.

Lovely trip. Wonderful companionship.

One of my best trips ever, made better by a great tour leader.

This was one of the best Exodus holidays I have been on…and I’ve been on a few! The guide really was excellent and made the trip fun, interesting and unforgettable. He really knows the region , both its history and the natural environment. The bus was very comfortable and spacious which made the journey undemanding. There were 16 of us in the group and we all enjoyed the trip .The hotels were good and we didn’t move on every day which was good. It’s a full on trip so not much time is spent in the hotel. Breakfasts were very good and the location of the hotels meant it was easy to go out on your own. The itinerary is varied… Sarajevo and Dubrovnik are great cities. Mostar ,although very busy, is a must see and the smaller places especially in the mountains were fascinating.

An excellent trip. The scenery was spectacular. The local people kind and knowledgeable about the region's history. I certainly feel I know more now about the devastating recent past and its legacy.

A great trip with a diverse itinerary made even more enjoyable by having an excellent guide, driver and lovely fellow travelers. A good insight into the region's history, conflicts, religion and culture with a blend of sightseeing, leisure and walking, cities and countryside. Beautiful alpine scenery, dramatic landscapes, wildflower meadows.

Bosnia Herzegovina is a truly amazing country. The cities, scenery and people were all wonderful. I had been looking at doing this tour for some time as I had heard good reports about Sarajevo as a cosmopolitan city with friendly people. I also thought the scenery would be good. My expectations on both were exceeded !

Lorenc and Dina are great guides. Saw beautiful country and many sites

A varied and interesting trip in a small very friendly group

A wonderful, varied tour of the history and modern culture of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina; two beautiful and fascinating countries. This tour takes in the med, the mountains and vibrant cities. Something for all.

A great insight into war between the Balkan countries. Starting in Kotor, we headed into the mountains. The countryside is spectacular: the scenic walks around lakes, looking down into deep gorges with impossibly blue/green water plus the fields of buttercups and blue wild violas were amazing. Many wild flowers including orchids along the way. In Sarajevo and Mostar the damage left by the war is so noticeable. Destroyed buildings protected by Unesco, but the owners not having the money to repair them, mortar shell and sniper holes in buildings. Learning about the siege of the town and the tunnel built under the airport were fascinating.

A very good mix of Balkan history, culture and lovely countryside.

Just returned from 11 days in the beautiful Balkans with 16 other great people making up the tour group. The itinerary was well planned, considered and delivered and gave me a greater insight into this part of the world I had longed to visit. The range of landscapes and cityscapes we journeyed to and through were breathtaking with enough guided and free time to learn, explore and absorb.

We had an amazing time. Our tour leader, Fatima, was absolutely wonderful. Our driver, Samir (sp?) is the most chilled man in Bosnia and an excellent driver on all those narrow windy roads. Our group gelled really well and we had lots of fun together. The tour had a good balance of city highlights, combined with rural villages and getting out into nature for short refreshing walks and swims. We had some excellent homemade traditional food as well as great restaurants, especially Babylon in Mostar where we had a great view of the bridge and Red Bull bridge diving competition. And another restaurant set on the banks of a river. We learned a great deal about the complicated history of the Balkan countries as well as current political situations. Bosnia, Montenegro and Croatia are all phenomenally beautiful countries. But Bosnia in particular blew me away with its gorgeous mountains, rivers, lake, waterfalls and warm, genuine people. A feast for the eye and soul.

The whole trip was amazing and genuinely a lovely group of people.. friendly, interesting, generous and great fun. Well organised throughout with well selected destinations and knowledgeable guides .. not least Evalin who has such a wide knowledge of history, local people, the countryside … everything. We were also lucky to have Fatima with us too who was always ready with answers to questions and help/advice. Our drivers were brilliant driving us safely and comfortably through every type of terrain and on very narrow and winding roads … also friendly and welcoming. This was my first Exodus trip and I have already recommended it.

It is a busy trip but with time to explore cities and sights on your own. So you can either revist places that you been taken around but wanted to get a better insight i.e Sarvejo or just sit and people watch. The Balkans have an interesting history that needs exploring. Visiting 3 countries certainly showed tge connection with each other but also the differences. People were very friendly wherever we went and wanted to share their daily lives. Our guide Samra and our driver Sam were excellent. Pity this was Samra's last trip as she is expecting her first child in September. She not only lead the tour as a manager she integrated the group by booking restaurants for all of us to eat together for the first night at a stop, but we could do our own thing on the second night. She was very knowledgeable and explained the history of what we were seeing, clearly but easy to understand. It was more like having a big sister around. Hotels were all good.

A great balance of being guided vs free time, eating together as a group or finding restaurants on our own. We were incredibly unlucky with the weather for virtually the whole trip, but that didn't stop us enjoying the scenery, mountains, lakes, history and the warmth of the local people.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, which let us enjoy the highlights of Montenegro and Bosnia. There was quite a lot of driving, but it's nearly all through stunning scenery, so it didn't feel like a chore. The itinerary was very well put together to provide a real variety of experiences, from old towns, to nature, to modern cities with an interesting past. The included walks were enjoyable, and not too challenging (although the optional climb up the city walls in Kotor was hard work in the heat and humidity). The food throughout the trip was excellent - while meat and potatoes were the staples, there were always other options available when you wanted a bit more variety.

This was a really exhilarating trip. We had such a diverse journey through mountainous landscapes and fascinating cities - with stops at a waterfall, lakes and interesting historical remote buildings. The itinerary was excellent.

An amazing trip dipping into the complex history, cultural background and natural wonders of the region.

This trip exceeded my expectations in terms of the sheer variety of scenery and experiences. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro are stunningly beautiful countries and, as yet, unspoilt by mass tourism. The Bay of Kotor, with the mountains rising up precipitously behind; the remote valleys and settlements; turquoise lakes and rivers; deep gorges and waterfalls; fascinating towns and cities like Cetinje, Sarajevo and Mostar; monasteries below sheer rock faces; isolated villages offering great hospitality; plentiful food portions; wine tastings; a superb guide who brought the incredible history to life: what more could one want? Although we saw and experienced a huge amount, there were no early starts, and the drives were punctuated by stops at places of interest. It was also good to spend at least two nights at each place apart from the last (Dubrovnik), so that we were not packing up and moving on every day. Our driver, Semir, also deserves a mention - he was always helpful and was a very steady driver, so we felt completely safe.

This holiday gave a great taste of 3 Balkan countries, breath-taking scenery, attractive towns and villages and sobering insights into the past suffered there, particularly Bosnia. A variety of sites, history and experiences were included which made the trip really interesting. The only downside was the over-popularity of Dubrovnik at the end of the trip

This is a fascinating trip and I would recommend you book soon before some of the places you visit become too popular. The trip starts in Montenegro, and you spend a mixture of time in the stunning town of Kotor and out in the wilds of Durmitor NP and Zabljak. The views and walks are beautiful. Onto Bosnia and much learning about the recent war, however the country has far more to offer than this with wine tasting, waterfalls, remote villages and of course the very touristy, Mostar. The trip is paced well, with no really early starts and time allowed for you to explore yourself. Walks are not difficult and the food meaty, whilst accommodating vegetarians. If asked I would say "just book"

A superb trip with great variety - coastal scenery, mountains, rivers, lakes, canyons, the city of Sarajevo, and then all the history, culture and peoples of the Balkans. It was a very easy trip with comfortable travel, unhurried and yet lots seen and done. I really enjoyed travelling with the group - always someone to go out with for meals or a drink and yet plenty of time to do your own exploring.

This is a very interesting and varied trip through Montenegro and Bosnia Herzogovina, covering countryside, mountains, culture and history. A lot is fitted into a relatively short time, so it involves quite a bit of travelling, but the countryside is stunning and our driver was excellent, so it was really worth it. The mountains are reminiscent of the Dolomites, but without the crowds. The cities are medieval and very quaint, but still bear the scars of the Balkan war of the 90's. The war exhibition in Sarajevo is particularly thought provoking and well worth a visit.

I enjoyed the mix if this trip. Old walled towns, wonderful coastline, and flower meadows as you like to think they were in the UK in the past. Even the coach journeys through the countryside were worth the time spent doing them.

An amazingly diverse trip taking in wonderful UNESCO world heritage sites. From cities to isolated mountainous hikes, swimming at Kravica waterfalls and lunches in out of the ordinary hidden gems. I now have a much greater knowledge and understanding of the war in these countries.

This was an enjoyable and illuminating trip, very efficiently run. Almost all places visited were worthwhile, with the possible exception of Budva. A mixture of lovely scenery (especially the Montenegro mountains), comfortable travelling and towns/cities attractive in themselves but with an extra layer of history.

A great trip, scenically a good mix of coastal and mountain scenery, local culture well explained & a great introduction to this part of the Balkans.

If you love glorious mountain scenery on every day of your journey then this is the trip for you. Every place we went looked like it could be an airbrushed postcard, yet the beauty was very real. The walks were lovely and not too difficult, although I do recommend bringing walking poles. I was fortunate enough to be in a group with Sabina as our guide. While I've never had a bad guide with Exodus, Sabina stands out as the best. She did a wonderful job of looking out for everyone in the group and making sure everyone felt included. Her love and knowledge of the Balkans really came through. Our driver was very skilled and he kept us safe on some narrow, winding roads.

I was hoping to understand more about the recent war in Bosnia. I didn't learn much except that this is an extraordinarily complicated place the crossroads of Europe geographically and historically, that nationalism is toxic, and that efforts by internationalbodies such as the UN were incapable of preventing war and even genocide if one of the combatants decide on a course of action.

I have just completed this Exodus tour of the Balkans, and I rate it amongst the best well rounded tours I have experienced. The itinerary was excellent. The bus and accommodations were very good. There was a very good balance of road time through breathtaking countryside, to walks, hiking and group meals experiencing local foods, to free time. Our driver was safety conscious. I would sign up for an Exodus tour again without hesitation.

Great cultural and educational experience. Lots of variety of experiences superbly led by Sabina and safely driven by damir. Not enough time in Dubrovnik so most of the group extended the tour independently like us.

A great holiday, with a good mixture of costal & mountain scenery and the vibrant cities of Sarajevo & Kotor. Food exceeded all my expectations, particularly at the two lunches included at a farm in Montenegro & the village in Bosnia. Our guide Alen was excellent, providing amazing insight to the cultures and history we saw along the way. To quote a t-shirt, no-one boring ever said let’s go to Bosnia!, highly recommend to those with a spirit of adventure.

I recommend you. Is it these countries to help them develop their tourism, so they can rebuild their countries for the future. The world can learn from their past, spreading their stories to prevent wars like they experienced. They are not sophisticated regarding tourism, but they are finding their way because the government does not invest enough and therefore citizens are using tourism money to invest in rebuilding themselves. The stories of resilience and the spectacular scenery make these countries a must see now, before they get to commercially sophisticated. The only tour downside was the quality of accomodation on the tour which I felt were 1-2star level and did not live up to the price of the tour.

This is a good combination of interesting cities and mountains ,with a reasonable pace and comfortable air-conditioned bus;our guide and driver were excellent, with reasonable accommodation and generous meals throughout.

The trip exceeded our expectations. You start on the coastline of Croatia and Montenegro, which is totally stunning. The drive into the mountain is breathtaking and the scenery continues to delight throughout the trip. The exposure to the impact of the 90's war is sobering and I was glad to be able to learn so much about it. Our tour guide Sabina did a fabulous job of keeping us running to time but creating a relaxed atmosphere. I would highly recommend this trip.

Bosnia and Montenegro have it all; beautiful coast line, spectacular lakes which are oh so blue , mountains and charming towns and cities. This trip goes at an excellent pace with at least 2 nights in each place and no early starts or very long drives. Our tour guide Sabina was exceptionally good at explaining the conflicts of these countries enhanced with her own personal experiences. Nothing was ever too much trouble and she anticipated the needs of every member of the group including providing advice post tour. Hotels were of a good standard and well located.

The trip was everything I had hoped for and more. It is extremely well balanced in that it offers an excellent mix of town and countryside based activities, a mixture of coast, mountains with walking and culture.

The trip was fantastic!!! The transportation was comfortable and efficient, the accommodations were very nice and well organized, the group leader, Evelin Balta, was the best due to his passion of the region, knowledge of the history and sites, and overall concern for everyone in the group. I would highly recommend this trip due to the comprehensive coverage of the region, the excellent food, and great sites and destinations.

A very enjoyable trip with lots to do and a full and varied itinerary. This was our fifth Exodus trip and once again we had a great group with a mix of ages and nationalities. Organisation was excellent and you'll get to see a lot of the Balkans.

A very good trip, not only do you learn about the beauty of the country side, but also you learn a lot about the history and the last war in 1992-1996. A lot to see in the cities. It is one of those regions where you want to go back to.

Wonderful scenery-mountains,high valleys and gorges and also cities-Kotor,Sarajevo,Mostar and Dubrovnic.

Very good all around experience

I was impressed by the variety of landscapes and places on this trip: lakes, waterfalls, forests, mountains, canyons and rivers, as well as monasteries, mosques, churches, famous bridges , palaces and fortresses. And all in 11 days without ever feeling rushed!

This trip exceeded all my expectations. Having done the Balkan Discoverer tour last year I was intrigued what the other Balkan countries had to offer. The scenery was stunning and the choice & quality of food was great. As we were a small group our guide Evelin was able to recommend & take us to lots of different restaurants. Each one was better than the last so we sampled lots of local cuisine. The area is full of interesting history & hardships especially in Sarajevo. The travelling was no hardship, although the times in the trip notes are not accurate as on occasion the roads were very windy. The bus was adequate & the driver very careful. The mix of walking activities & sightseeing with very knowledgeable local guides was just right. The weather was very hot & some of the timings did mean that we were out in the midday sun walking. Lots of opportunity to swim in the sea & a beautiful waterfall (rather a commercial set up) but definitely worth a swim. I cant recommend this trip enough.

This was a trip covering a wide range of experiences. Starting in Dubrovnik, the transfer to the very attractive Kotor was in itself a taster to some of the superb scenery we were to encounter later in the tour. Kotor and the old town of Bdva enabled us to sample the Montenegro coast followed by some spectacular drives into the interior. The Durmitor National park provided opportunities for walks for many of us and then further spectacular drives took us into Bosnia & Herzegovina visiting the very interesting cities of Sarajevo and Mostar. Having 3 nights in Sarajevo and 2 nights in Mostar gave us the chance to get to know these cities reasonably well. All of the drives were broken up with interesting places to visit including some wine tasting at the Tvrdos monastery on the return to Dubrovnik.

Starting from Dubrovnik airport we crossed quickly intoKotor, Montenegro. Having enjoyed the beautiful city of Kotor we then drove to Cetinje through a series of 25 hairpin bends! Spectacular! Durmitor National Park and its gorges was our next highlight. Then came the Zabljak Plateau and finally into Sarajevo. Apart from this great city we saw the remote and semi-nomadic village of Lukomir, a not to be missed experience. We next found ourselves in Mostar another great place. Finally it was back to Dubrovnik!

A very good trip, not only do you learn about the beauty of the country side, but also you learn a lot about the history and the last war in 1992-1996. A lot to see in the cities. It is one of those regions where you want to go back to.

I have been on several of your trips, but this one rates as one of the best. Anaid our guide was very knowledgeable and gave an unbiased account of the homelands war which was extremely interesting and made me want to learn more about the Balkans, so already looking in the brochure for next year.

This was a fantastic trip with lots of variety and a great introduction to a beautiful part of the world. It included a really good range of activities, including (gentle) hiking in the mountains, guided tours of historical towns, swimming by a waterfall, visiting Orthodox and Dervish monasteries (and wine tasting at one of them), boat trip in the bay of Kotor, visiting a traditional Bosnian village in the mountains and getting to grips with the 20th century history of Sarajevo. In short, something for everyone!

Well rounded trip of Montenegro & Bosnia. Spectacular scenery & very interesting history.

It was well thought out, with a comfortable vehicle and good hotels (with the exception of the Hotel Komodor in Dubrovnik) and both the driver, Damir, and the tour leader, Evelin, were excellent. The trip is basically an extended taxi ride through stunning mountain scenery, punctuated by a few short walks, so getting a good view from every seat in the vehicle matters. Having air conditioning that worked well both in the vehicle and in the hotels is also important. Of the four trips I have done with this tour operator, this was the one that most exceeded my expectations---indeed it was one of the best organised trips I have done in thirty years of group travel. Full marks to the tour company, local agent and tour leader Evelin Balta

My 8th and, quite simply, THE best trip I have done with this tour company (and that's saying something!) We had history, from both the first World War and the more recent conflict in the 1990's. We had culture. We had some hikes through beautiful locations. We had the vibrant cities of Sarajevo (now on my list as one of my favourite's) and Dubrovnik. We had the Eastern feel of Istanbul in Mostar. We visited Churches, Monastery's and a Mosque. We had great food and even better wine and beer from the Balkans!! The prices were really cheap too. Great hotels, especially in Zabljac and Dubrovnik. Weather was in the early 30's and that was May/June. The local people were friendly and most had good English.

Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina are stunning countries with plenty of history, lots to do and see, friendly people and beautiful outdoor landscapes. Make sure you can cope with the summer heat (the hat & gloves were misnomers in the trip notes) and be aware that the design of the trip does not lend itself to the most active of holidays - so the age group is likely to be an older profile (although the outdoor activities and opportunities in both countries are fab so the tour operator is missing a trick here!).

This trip was full of remarkable contrasts - the Bay of Kotor and travelling back to our hotel by boat; the windy climb by road to Ostrog Monastery; the wooded walk around Montenegro's beautiful Black Lake; a lunch feast at Podgora; crossing borders on a suspension bridge over the Piva; Sarajevo - an extremely moving place to visit and stay; the Tunnel of Hope; Lukomir and the people who continue to live there (wonderful hospitality); the beauty of Mostar; climbing the fort at Pocitelj; the Dervish house at Blagaj, and our guide Alen's inspired/inspiring talk there following the call to prayer... and so much more. The group was large: 18 - but with such a brilliant guide and such a lovely bunch of people - I am not complaining (though generally prefer smaller groups!).

Very good all around experience

Wonderful scenery-mountains,high valleys and gorges and also cities-Kotor,Sarajevo,Mostar and Dubrovnic.