Mostar's Must-See: Kravice, Blagaj, Počitelj Day Tour

What an amazing day this was. Worth every penny and more. Our tour guide Esmer was warm, funny, incredibly informative and easy to listen to. As a very young child when the early 90s Balkan war broke out, he managed to give us a very balanced overview of the war and how it specifically affected Mostar, his home town, without ever lapsing into blame or side-taking or bitterness. This was not a war tour per se, it was about celebrating the spectacular beauty of the Herzegovina region of B&H. However, having someone to explain the history of the area from Ottoman and Venetian, then Astro-Hungarian colonial rule and latterly the breakdown of communist Yugoslavia and everything that has happened since added fascinating and really useful context to the whole day. The minibus was clean, comfortable and well maintained. The driver was safe and sensible. The roads were in excellent condition. The scenery was spectacular at every place we stopped. It was October so we had bright blue skies, pleasantly warm weather and beautiful autumn foliage everywhere. The tour was just the right length, a full day but not overly tiring or long. You will need a jacket though, it’s fresh up in the mountains. And wear sensible shoes. Mostar is a small city and it’s easy to see everything in a day or two, so even if you only have two or three days there. MAKE SURE you put a day aside to do this trip. It would be a crime not to. We considered hiring a car and doing the trip ourselves but I’m so glad we didn’t. Having Esmer there to provide such interesting and often numerous commentary really made all the difference.

Mirza was an excellent tour guide. He is very personable and knowledgeable. We even got a bonus presentation on how to make, enjoy and drink Bosnian coffee . This was more than just a regular tour . It was an immersive experience into history and culture of Bosnia Herzegovina. Highly recommended tour !

Brilliant tour lead by Esmer, he had incredible insight about the history and culture of Bosnia, 100% recommend. Incredible views throughout the tour

Hands down the best tour I have ever been on. The tour lasts about 8 hours from start to finish and takes you to five different locations. The tour guide, Esmer, gets you engaged with the history of Mostar from the very beginning and you just want him to keep going because it’s genuinely captivating. Fortica Hill The first stop is Fortica Hill, where you get a stunning 360° view of the surrounding mountains and a top-down view of Mostar. You can also walk on the skywalk (a glass bridge). We spent about 25 minutes here. Blagaj The second stop was Blagaj, which is the source of the Buna River and home to a beautiful Dervish Monastery nestled beside a cave and mountain. Entry to the monastery is €5. Some visitors were praying inside, and we were told that Dervish gatherings still take place here on Mondays and Fridays, lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. We stayed in Blagaj for about an hour. Back in the van, we were treated to some local figs and Bosnian chocolate biscuits, delicious! Počitelj The third site we visited was the picturesque village of Počitelj. We climbed up to the ruined fort, where we took photos of the surrounding area: the forest, the Neretva River, the clock tower, and the old mosque of the village. We stayed near the fort for about 20 minutes, then came down to pray at the village mosque. At the bottom of the village, there were vendors selling honey and pomegranate juice, as well as several restaurants and a bakery. We also stopped at a petrol station with a restroom (which we could use after making a small purchase). We spent around 1 hour and 20 minutes here. Back in the van again, we were offered some sweet local strawberries and plums. Another thoughtful touch from Esmer. Kravica Waterfalls The fourth stop was Kravica Waterfalls. Entry is €10, but our guide paid for all of us in advance to avoid the queue—we just gave him the money directly. I couldn’t contain my excitement during the 90 minutes we spent there. I took dozens of selfies, photos, and videos to try to capture the beauty of this natural wonder. I honestly wish I had more time, as I didn’t want to leave. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm. People were swimming and having fun in the water. I grabbed a coffee and a cigarette and simply took in the breathtaking surroundings. Buna Canal Our final stop was the Buna Canal, a natural waterway about 800 meters long. The water flows fast and is around 14 meters deep. We stopped here for about 20 minutes to take in the view and relax. The tour costs £40 excluding the tickets we purchased for the Dervish Monastery and Kravica Waterfall, but it was worth every penny. This tour is a must-do if you're in Mostar. Esmer went above and beyond to make the day unforgettable. Highly recommended!

Sights are great, timing and price are optimum. Esmer has it all - knowledge, personality, wit and spirit. Couldn't be better!

In our opinion, a tour is only as good as the tour guide makes it. Esmer, our guide, was the best we’ve ever had. He was very informative,, helpful, personable and also gave us an insight into the Seige of Mortar from his very own personal experience. Along the way, he provided us with goodies such as dried figs, bikkies, mandarins and water. If we could give Esmer 10 stars for this tour we would. Also, a huge mention to the driver. He was friendly and drove very safely. Do yourself a favour, and book this day tour.

Today we joined the tour from Mostar. Kravice Falls, Blagaj, Pocitelj guided by Esmer. My wife and I would like to say that it was a fantastic experience right from the comfortable bus, our driver and especially our guide Esmer. After experiencing some ordinary transfer drivers on this holiday it was great to have such a careful driver at the wheel. Esmer our guide just exceeded any level we had seen before. He was exceptional in his presentations of the war history and the country. He also had after each stop a little surprise for us in the form of dried figs,chocolate biscuits, grapes and plums. Esmer you are a beautiful person and we were so impressed , keep up the great work.

Book this tour!! Our tour guide Esmer was everything we could’ve asked for and more! We had the absolute best day. We felt incredibly privileged that Esmer shared his personal experience of the Bosnian war with our group. His story brought a new lens to everything we saw during the tour. Can’t recommend this tour enough, the villages and waterfalls were stunning!

The experience was amazing and our guide Esmer was exceptional with the level of detail about each place. We got to try some fresh fruit and local snacks for free too!

I cannot imagine a better tour guide than Esmir. The knowledge of his subject was exceptional, exceeded only perhaps by the love of his subject area and of his homeland Bosnia Herzegovina. If there was a Nobel prize for tour guides, he would be a justifiable winner. Hilary and David Kelly, Ireland