Feel the spirit of adventure as you descend through the hidden treasures of Bosnia and Herzgovina. If the Balkans are one of Europe’s hidden gems, then Bosnia & Herzegovina is the region’s best-kept secret and of one those destinations that will unexpectedly capture your heart. This country with exceptionally beautiful landscapes, cultural diversity, and fascinating history is still waiting for adventurous souls to discover it. To shed light on this important, and relatively unexplored area, our team joined forces with Sport Bijeli d.o.o., Mikkele d.o.o., SK Group d.o.o, Slobodan Klačar - Master of Sports, a mountaineer and former strength and conditioning coach of FK Sarajevo, Hutovo Blato Public Company, Bunker.ba, Visitkonjic.ba, Zip line Fortica, Tekija bb Mostar, Hotel Mostar, Association “Tajna prirode”, JP Vjetrenica, Tourist agricultural cooperative MIRAN SAN – AKTIVAN DAN and created this remarkable video capturing the beauties of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the project Via Dinarica. Video was fillmed and directed by @MarinMamuza.
Mountaineering club "Kozara" from Banja Luka is organizing a VIA DINARICA VOLUNTEER CAMP at the Klanac bike park in Krupa na Vrbasu, as part of the DIG & RIDE festival. Camp will be held from 09/29/ to 06/10/2019.
We invite all outdoor enthusiasts who are ready and willing to volunteer and work on the construction and maintenance of MTB and hiking trails to send their short biography and motivation letter by Thursday 26/09/2019 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Number of participants is LIMITED!
Activity plan for the VD volunteer camp:
Day 1 (29.09.) - Arrival of participants at the camp spot- trail visiting - resting Day 2 (30.09.) - Lecture and training of participants on the trail construction and maintenance - work in the camp Day 3 (01.10.) - Dividing volunteers into two groups - one group starts working on the trail from the top of Manjača towards Surjan (9 kilometers of the trail in total) - the other group doesthe trail from Surjan to the camp (8 kilometers of the trail in total) Day 4 (02.10.) - Continuation of the trail maintenance work started the previous day - work in the camp on the construction of the "pump ride" Day 5 (03.10.) - Construction and maintenance of a new 9km long trail (Vranovina - Krupa spring) Day 6 (04.10.) - Continuation of work on the new trail to the Krupa spring - work in the camp on the construction of the "pump ride" Day 7 (05.10.) - “Via dinarica day” - joint hike along the trail from Banja Luka to Krupa (Vrbas canyon, Samar & Ljubacic lookouts, Stone bridge, waterfalls and Krupa spring) Day 8 (06.10.) - Volunteer camp participants will be able to register and participate in the enduro race competition
Each evening during the VD volunteer camp, different workshops and acctivities will be held:
● Workshops by Center for Environment, Banja Luka (Screening of the Blue Heart of Europe)
● Mountain Rescue Service Workshops (In-Nature Disaster Management and First Aid)
● Photo Exhibition
● Acoustic groups - “Zdravo da ste”
● Outdoor film screenings and Via Dinarica presentation
This camp is being held as part of the project "VIA DINARICA Phase II - Improving the accessibility of Via Dinarica trails in Bosnia and Herzegovina and affirming the Via Dinarica brand" implemented by Association Terra Dinarica with partners, which is part of the Via Dinarica project in BiH co-funded by the United Nations Development Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH), with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID BiH) and the Agency for Development Cooperation of the Republic of Italy (AICS).
Under the project Improvement of accessibility of Via Dinarica trails in Bosnia and Herzegovina and further affirmation of Via Dinarica brand, Terra Dinarica is seeking for individual-consultant services to provide tehnical assistance for identifying and assessing tourism stakeholders and resources along the Via Dinarica White trail in Kosovo* and Albania.
The aim is to provide follow-up on development activities on the White, Green and Blue Trails; to provide best practice and know – how on Via Dinarica trail assessment in Kosovo* and Albania; to promote and make visible all above mentioned through Via Dinarica web platform (OA - Outdooractive), and to gain Leading Quality Trail (LQT) – Best of Europe certificate for White Trail in BiH. The project builds on existing Project Via Dinarica: Assessment and Capacity Development (Phase II) and through previous projects funded by UNDP. Kosovo* and Albania have begun to become an attractive adventure tourism destination. With the highest mountains of the Dinaric Alps, these two countries have to be fully integrated into the Via Dinarica White Trail. Even though, both countries have many trails that are marked and connected to Via Dinarica, there are still gaps along the trail as well as proposed variants. In order to integrate both Kosovo* and Albania trails into the Via Dinarica trail platform, the good practice and expertise will be obtained, and assessments conducted by adventure tourism expert. Therefore 200 km of new trails have to be GPS marked with at least 30 accommodation facilities recorded, as well as other points of interest.
In order to achieve above mentioned, the adventure tourism expert have the following tasks and responsibilities:
- Conduct desk studies to gather information on existing trails and capacities; - Identify businesses and service providers operating along the trail; - Conduct a series of structured and semi-structured interviews with companies, existing and potential customers, local and international tourists; - Conduct comparisons and analysis of existing capacities and adventure tourism potential in the respected areas; - Conduct field visits in order to gather GPS data, conduct assessment of trails conditions, identify attractions and service providers operating along the trail and evaluate their current capacities and offer; - Assist on inclusion of new trails, tours, points of interests, offers, and services to mountain tourism markets via Via Dinarica web platform.
Timeframe for implementation:
- Kosovo assessment by the end of November 2019 - Albania assessment by the end of July 2020
Profile of Expert(s) - Good knowledge of the topics required for the Assessment; - Previous work experience in outdoor adventure activities; - Good health and fitness; - Experience in trail assessment and development; - Experience in managing GPS data; - Good computer skills; - Good knowledge of English; - Experience with GIS software platforms is an advantage.
Budget Max 10.000USD including transport, accommodation, and other costs.
Please send by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) your technical and financial offer in line with the requirements of this ToR by no later than 30thAug at 16:00 hrs. On the basis of the above requirements, the consultants shall submit an updated CV, pro-invoice in the form of the offer, valid certificates, and copy of the ID Card.
The relevant documents are available for download below:
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Complex of travertine waterfalls in Martin Brod at Una National Park, which is part of the Via Dinarica Green Trail in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is currently at the UNESCO tentative list. Martin Brod harbours the largest complex of waterfalls in the Una National park, with once numerous watermills and bučnica´s – natural-eco laundry. Milančev buk waterfall is one of the sequent waterfalls and cascades which are spread throughout the entire village of Martin Brod all the way to the Unac’s confluence with the Una. This 800-meter-long sequence of waterfalls and cascades with a vertical drop of 54 meters is the largest and longest waterfalls complex in the Una National park.
If you wish to experience a real adventure, enjoy pristine nature of Dinaric Alps, and get to know some of the Via Dinarica trails in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we invite you to apply to the Via Dinarica camp. Activities and skills you will acquire during this camp include maintaining the trail, sleeping in tents, building campfire, orienteering, and cartography. The camp will take place from April 20 to May 2 2018 at some of the most beautiful locations along the Via Dinarica White Trail in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Would you like to have some good time at mountains of Sutjeska National Park?
Your age is not of great importance, but please take into account that the terrain will be demanding. However, you have time until April to prepare :). Participants are required to bring standard mountaineering equipment. Additional equipment and tools will be provided.
Accommodation and food will be provided by the organizer. Participants cover their travel expenses. Participants will be accommodated in mountain huts and shelters, households and tents (depending on capacity at specific locations).
Deadline for applying is February 15, 2018, and number of participants is limited to 50.
After the selection process, participants will be informed about details concerning the camp. Participants are required to pay a deposit, which will be refunded upon arrival. The purpose of the deposit is to guarantee participation, so that the organizer would not have to bear excess costs due to cancellations. The amount of the deposit is 100 KM/50€ plus PayPal transaction fees, to be paid at the following bank account: IBAN: BA39 1990 4900 5934 4065 SWIFT CODE: ABSBBA22
The Conference Via Dinarica - a platform for sustainable tourism development and local economic growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on the occasion of the celebration of the International Mountain Day in Sarajevo on 11 December 2017. Improvements of the tourist offer throughout the country were presented and attention was drawn to the importance of sustainable tourism development for a better life of all people in BiH, especially residents of country’s rural and remote locations. Via Dinarica is an initiative of USAID and UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a total value of US $ 1.6 million and is implemented in partnership with: Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska. The goal of the Via Dinarica project is to contribute to the reduction of economic, social and regional disparities in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the affirmation of Via Dinarica as the unique regional tourist destination of the Dinaric Arc countries.
Mirko Šarović, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, emphasized that the Via Dinarica project is an incentive for everyone in BiH to invest more in tourism. "I have to say that investments in tourism are small and we lag behind countries of the region. I believe that this is a chance to take a closer look at this important sector, which can be the engine of the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I think we need to build the perception of BiH as a country that is a desirable tourist destination. Tourism should be integrated in all cantonal, entity, and state-level plans, must be part of all reform agendas and all the budget plans - in order to make that key step forward and earn the first billion from tourism in BiH," Minister Šarović emphasized. "Via Dinarica is a unique project because it naturally connects people of the Balkans, tourists from all over the world with BiH, as well as people with nature," said Sezin Sinanoglu, Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH. "Since 2015, exceptional success has been achieved. The living standard of tourist service providers in rural areas has been improved, as thanks to education and investment in better capacities they can provide better services to all visitors." Sinanoglu emphasized that very successful and strong partnership with the authorities at all levels was achieved through Via Dinarica Project. The uniqueness of the Project was recognized by the world's prestigious world media such as The Guardian, Lonely Planet, Outside, The Vogue, and National Geographic Traveler, the last of which has classified this destination as one of the best places in the world to visit in 2017. The USAID Mission's Office of Economics Director Andrew Boegel believes that this project is remarkable. "The project has contributed to the development of the local community, the enterprises, the creation of new jobs and the marking of the thousands of kilometers, which emphasized the great potential BiH and tourism have," Bogel said. "This project is developing sports-adventure and eco-tourism, which are the two fastest growing branches of tourism in the world and even in BiH," said Edita Đapo, Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. the project has led to economic strengthening of people in local communities, in mountains and in rural areas, enabling people to remain in these areas and to live up to their work. "The FBiH Government has recognized the importance of this project and has supported it with 300,000 KM in the last two years. I hope that this project will also find institutional, political and financial support to continue with its realization," added Minister Đapo.
Predrag Gluhaković, Trade and Tourism Minister of Republika Srpska, said: "From an economic point of view, this project is of immense importance because Via Dinarica contributes to economic development through employment of the local population as well as increase of accommodation capacities in rural areas and increase of tourist services in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. " The film premiered on the film about Via Dinarica and opened an exhibition of photographs of the most beautiful landscapes of this corridor. Also presented are the Via Dinarica web portal and mobile application, and the special edition of the Bradt Travel Guide dedicated to the so-called. the white path of Via Dinarica in BiH. The panel discussions discussed with local and regional partners about possible ways of further development of the Via Dinarica initiative based on past experience.
Premijerno prikazivanje Via Dinarica videa tokom završne Via Dinarica konferencije, emotivno je ganuo sve prisutne. A o čemu se radi, pogledajte i sami. Dobar duh Via Dinarice, njenih ljudi i prirode živi i ide dalje!
UNDP BiH kindly request you to submit your proposal for Design and Delivery of Familiarization/Press (FAM/PRESS) trip for international tour operators and journalists to Via Dinarica destinations in BiH.
Proposals may be submitted on or before Monday, 20th November 2017 by 12:00 CET and via e-mail or courier mail to the address below:
United Nations Development Programme Zmaja od Bosne bb, 71 000 Sarajevo General services Facsimile: 033/552-330 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Your Proposal must be expressed in the English language, and valid for a minimum period of 60 days. Please refere to the link for more information regarding the call for proposal.
In the course of preparing your Proposal, it shall remain your responsibility to ensure that it reaches the address above on or before the deadline. Proposals that are received by UNDP after the deadline indicated above, for whatever reason, shall not be considered for evaluation.
*** The Via Dinarica is a long-distance trail which connects seven countries that encompass the Dinaric Alps mountain range: from Slovenia to northern Albania. The heart of this trail is in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, and Montenegro. The project is an initiative of USAID and UNDP focusing on the portion of the mountain range in BiH, and is implemented in cooperation with national partners.
The Via Dinarica corridor consists of three major trails – the White, the Green and the Blue Trails - as a community-owned and operated tourism product that provides sustainable livelihoods for a broad range of stakeholders. Part of our development strategy within Via Dinarica includes organization of a FAM and Press trip for four more media outlets from European countries.
Come, explore and write about world’s best kept adventure secret at the end of November or beginning of December 2017.
A couple of tour operators and a travel blogger - journalist from Finland, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) this week, and explored some of Via Dinarica trails, aiming to inform Finnish tourists about this destination, and prepare attractive programs for them. Via Dinarica corridor consists of the three main Trails – Green, Blue and White. The Green Trail follows the lower forest belt of the Dinaric Alps, and the Blue Trail goes across the coastal Dinarides with a magnificent view of the Adriatic Sea. The White Trail follows the highest limestone peaks of the Dinaric Alps, that are covered in snow most of the time. During their 5-day trip, a group from Finland had a chance to explore the Via Dinarica, an area that is yet to be discovered by many hikers and cyclists. On this adventure, they found a playground for active travelers on the Via Dinarica: exciting trails, amazing views, colorful wildflowers, and welcoming culture.
“I think that (Via Dinarica) is unique. There is no such a thing anywhere else in the world, it’s fantastic. I think it’s something many people and countries would like to have, but they can’t. It’s the most amazing hiking trail in the world. It’s a place where not so many have been to, and that matters to Finns. It’s a place that is a really well-kept (tourist) secret, and that is something that attracts us,” said Ms. Marinnella “Nella” Himari, a travel blogger and journalist from Finland. Ms. Himari writes stories about Via Dinarica in her travel blog and in the major outdoor magazines in Finland. She visited Bosnia and Herzegovina for the third time and she keeps returning: “I don’t know what is magical in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is something that not so many countries have, (…) and that’s why I am coming back all the time.”
The Finnish tour operators and a blogger hiked in the great Dinaric Alps - undiscovered by tourists, and saw spectacular limestone peaks and caves. They experienced the wilderness of Sutjeska National Park, a stunning area located at the heart of the Dinaric Alps, and visited Perućica, one of Europe’s last remaining Primeval forests. The Finns visited Lukomir Highland Village on the Olympic mountain of Bjelašnica, cycled around the Blidinje glacier lake, walked over the old Ottoman Mostar Bridge, rafted the emerald waters of the Neretva river, and visited Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital Sarajevo. The Finnish tourism experts believe that cultural heritage, historic places, beautiful nature and affordable prices are the key things, which would attract Finnish tourist to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I’ve done a lot of tracks and hikes around the world, but I got very excited when I saw pictures and heard about Via Dinarica. It is definitely a world class hiking and tracking area,” said Mr. Mikka Ukkonen, representative of the Finish tour operator Mandala Travel. He plans to bring Finish tourists to Via Dinarica trails: “Our plan is to offer more tours in the Balkans, and we can easily offer active tourism with hiking tours around the major culture sites on Via Dinarica. I think the selling points would be pristine nature, unique warm culture, good food, very welcoming people, and no mass tourism, (…) so you have a feeling of exploration.”
“I think there are a lot of different things to see (on Via Dinarica). We don’t have mountains in Finland, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are great mountain ranges, a lot of almost untouched nature to be seen, clear rivers, good fishing, rafting, canoeing, climbing, tracking and a lot of cultural and historic attractions throughout the country,” said Mr. Tatu Kullberg, representative of the Finish tour operator Aventura, and elaborated: “The Balkans is a still unknown (tourist) destination, but I think there is an interest for the Balkans, it’s becoming more and more popular destination.”
The tour for tour operators and a travel blogger - journalist from Finland was organized within the scope of the “Via Dinarica: A Platform for Sustainable Tourism Development and Local Economic Growth” Project, which aims at the development of potentials of the Dinaric Alps’ corridor and its promotion. It has been designed to reduce economic, social, and regional disparities in Bosnia and Herzegovina through promotion of Via Dinarica as a regional tourism attraction and to increase Bosnia and Herzegovina’s standing in the competitive nature-based tourism sphere. Via Dinarica Project aims to support the process of establishing the Via Dinarica corridor as a tourist product that provides sustainable livelihoods for a broad spectrum of stakeholders in local communities along the trail.
“The arrival of the Finnish tour operators is a step towards expanding the market of Via Dinarica as an international outdoor destination. Moreover, the FAM/Press trip is an opportunity to local tour agencies, with networks of other service providers in BiH, to connect with international tour operators and journalist to promote and sell the Via Dinarica. It is very encouraging that the initial feedback we received from the Finnish tour operators and a journalist is overly positive,” said Božena Kaltak, Via Dinarica project manager.
Via Dinarica is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH), and is implemented with the support of Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of BiH, and Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska.
Twitter
Finns discover magic of @Via_Dinarica tourism in BiH: http://bit.ly/2wctHXJ @USAIDBIH @UNDPBiH
Do you or your company consider yourselves to be socially responsible? Are you looking for a tangible, effective and affordable way to give back to local communities in a sustainable manner that will make a lasting impact?
The Via Dinarica is a mega-trail that extends through the entire Dinaric Alps from Slovenia to Albania. National Geographic has named it as one of the best new destinations in the world for 2017. We want to make sure that the Via Dinarica lives up to its name! If you or your company consider yourselves to be socially responsible and looking for a tangible, effective and affordable way to give back to local communities that will make a lasting impact, our program might be something for you. The Via Dinarica needs your help to sustain as one of the key locomotives to the development the Dinaric Alps region. In order to promote sustainability and support the local communities benefitting from the Via Dinarica, the trail needs to be maintained and prepared for every season to ensure safety and access to visitors and domestic hikers alike. This difficult work is usually conducted by selfless volunteers from various hiking clubs throughout the region. More often than not they have to supply their own tools and materials to keep the trails in good shape. We’re aiming to help them do their volunteer work even better.
With the generous support of UNDP and USAID in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the EU, GIZ and local institutions in other countries, most of the hiking trails have been marked and signposts placed. However, maintenance of trail infrastructure remains an open issue in most places.
Maintenance and preparation of the trails is a serious responsibility. Every spring the trails need to be cleared of branches and rocks, landslides or wash-off need fixing, and markings refreshed. Sometimes signposts are damaged by weather or animals and need replacing. Unfortunately, trees with trail markers are occasionally cut down by loggers. All these issues need to be fixed promptly.
Most hikers and tourists are not aware how much work stands behind properly maintained trails in popular hiking destinations. Most places have institutional support or mechanisms in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of hikers. Our region struggles with resources to keep up this type of support…and that’s why we’ve developed this concept to create a sustainable support system that is beneficial to all.
So, how can you help?
You, as an individual or socially responsible company, can also take a part in maintaining the Via Dinarica trails and the Via Dinarica initiative by adopting a section of the trail. You can also adopt a shelter or support the work of the Via Dinarica support center.
How to adopt a trail?
Maintenance of the trail and accompanying infrastructure costs about 60 euros per kilometer per year. Simply pick a number of non-adopted kilometers of the trail to financially support Via Dinarica for a year, OR in order to adopt a section, just click the link ADOPT A TRAIL from the selected Via Dinarica section.
How do you know that trail will actually be maintained?
In order to guarantee accountability and reliability for your assistance we will send each sponsor a short report each year on the activities along your adopted section of the trail. Also, any registered individual on the trail.viadinarica.com site can rate and leave a comment and/or describe the current conditions at the trail. Inspected spots can be marked on the map and photos uploaded to the site. These reviews cannot be controlled by site administrators and are placed on the heading photo on each trail description as seen below:
The reviews are published automatically on the Via Dinarica site, but also on several other channels of the Outdooractive platform, the largest outdoor portal in Europe. When someone reports on a trail conditions, the Via Dinarica support centre is alerted by e-mail. Local volunteers will be informed to check on reported condition and provide feedback. The report will not be removed from the site, but followed by the response from the field. This ensures that the entire history of interventions will be always be visible on the site. It is a highly transparent and efficient system!
How would people know that you have adopted the trail and supported Via Dinarica?
Those who adopt a section of the trail will be listed on the supporters’ page and among the partners.
Those companies and individuals supporting maintenance of sections and stages enjoy following benefits:
1. On-site plaques (15x 20 cm) with the name and/or logo of the sponsor with desired inscriptions will be place on the trail on signposts or other location on at least each fourth kilometer along particular section.
2. The trail description includes remarks about and link to sponsors website (if applicable). In case the sponsor adopts an entire stage of the Via Dinarica trail, the author’s avatar can be replaced with the sponsors logo.
3. Number of photos from the trail are stamped by adopter’s logo and inscription supported by.
4. All sponsors are listed as partners and are included in the stories and blogs section to the particular section of the trail that you adopted.
How many people walk along this trails and who will actually see it? How about visits to viadinarica.com site?
Although many aspects of the project and the trail are still under development, the Via Dinarica popularity has been on the rise. During our first year in 2016 our content was displayed through our partners network, Outdooractive.com, more than 5,5 million times. Small print-out booklets and GPS tracks were downloaded over 5000 times.
The Via Dinarica has been listed among the top destinations in Europe and the world by several well-known publications. The Guardian included Via Dinarica tour among the 10 best holidays in Europe. Vogue recommends the Mountain Travel Sobek journey along the Via Dinarica as a top honeymoon trip, but also as the one of 9 destinations every woman should visit in 2017. Lonely Planet has regularly written about us and the German Geo lists Via Dinarica as a top trend destination. The most prestige recognition, however, was inclusion of Via Dinarica among the best travel destinations for 2017 by National Geographic Traveler. So our visibility and popularity continue to increase which makes it more important than ever to make sure we live up to the high quality expectations of international guests.
OK. All of this is nice, but why should you support it?
The Via Dinarica is more than just a trail. It is a one of a kind product that connects communities and pristine nature that represents the backbone of one the last European wilderness corridors. It is a hope for a better tomorrow for the people living in rural communities all along Dinaric Alps and a positive experience for every hiker, tourist or adventurer undertaking this challenge and taking that message home with them.
Here is the list of the Via Dinarica trail sections in Bosnia and Herzegovina available for "adoption":
For more information about adopt-a- trail program, please e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call +387 62 393 393.
If you wish to experience real adventure, to enjoy the untouched nature of Dinaric Alps, and get to know some of the Via Dinarica trails in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are inviting you to apply for the Via Dinarica camp.
Cleaning and maintaining the trail, sleeping in tents, camp fire, orienteering, and carthographie are some of the activities and skills you can acquire during this camp, from 21st april to 2nd may 2017 on some of the most beautiful locations of the Via Dinarica White trail. How do you feel about visiting Prenj, Čvrsnica, the area of the river Rakitnica and the National Park of Sutjeska?
Age is not that important, but you have to count on rather difficult terrains. However you have time for a training and preparation until April. Participants are required to have standard hiking equipement with them, and the other equipement and tools will be provided.
Accomodation and food are covered by the organizer but participants are responsible for their travel expenses. Participants will be accomodated in the mountain huts and shelters, households and tents (depending of the accomodation capacity at the specific location).
The deadline for the aplication is 15.02.2017., and the maximal number of participants is 50.
After the selection, the chosen candidates will be informed about the details concerning the camp. Selected candidates are required to pay a deposit, which will be refunded to them upon the arrival to the camp. The payment of the deposit is a guaranty that the chosen candidates will come and participate, so that the organizer wouldn't have excess costs due to cancellations of candidates.
If you are interested please send your CV and motivation letter to email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This is a great opportunity for all interested adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts, activists, volunteers and nature lovers. Spend your time in an useful and noble way!
Prestigious National Geographic Traveler included Via Dinarica Trail amongst world’s best destinations in 2017. Via Dinarica, mega-mountaineering and hiking trail, connecting natural and cultural sights in Dinarids, is recognized and acknowledged as a great chance and potential for development, especially for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This wonderful news was published late last night in National Geographic website. Complete article will be available in print magazines across the World in the end of this month in special edition National Geographic Traveler Best of the World.
This way, including Via Dinarica in "Travellers 21 Best of the World" programme, National Geographic Traveler, except from recognizing Balkan's natural beauties, acknowledged all organizations, mountain clubs and unions, mountaineers, adventurers and all other enthusiasts devoted to this concept in past several years.
In Terra Dinarica, coordinating Via Dinarica organization in BH, outline that this prestigious acknowledgement is a result of persistent, hard, but also visionary work of partnering organizations, volunteers network and support of international development agencies, UNDP and USAID in B&H. It is important to notice that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the first in region that prepared and marked all stages of Via Dinarica White Trail going through this country, officially opened in Blidinje this year in June.
Via Dinarica is not only chance for development, but also our reality and confirmed fact, say in Terra Dinarica. Due to this, it is necessary to encourage local governments and partnering organizations to give even bigger efforts to preserve natural heritage in BH, which can be and has to be used in sustainable manner that secures economic prosper to local people.
„Via Dinairca has replaced politics with nature. What could be more beautiful?!“ says Thierry Joubert, owner of Green Visions agency from Sarajevo. Via Dinarica encompasses three trails in B&H: Green, White and Blue. Green trail passes through BH forests and it is ideal for family mountaineering and recreation; Blue Trail passes through SE Herzegovina and connects this region with Adriatic coast. White Trail, connecting summits of our highest mountains is most interesting to thru-hikers, adventurers, mountaineers and all other people looking for untouched natural beauty and mountain peace and tranquility.
I hiked more than 1200K through 4 different countries and added another 300K in Slovenia. The original Via Dinarica White Trail follows the Javorniki mountain range from Snežnik to Postojna. Although the forest up there is one of a kind, I decided to spend a bit more time in Slovenia, made a detour and set out an more ˝scenic route˝ through the beautiful Green Karst landscape. The last part of my Via Dinarica journey started in Ilirska Bistrica from where I headed back into the mountains, to Mašun, Sviščakih and Snežnik. I was blessed with fantastic weather. Cold, sunny and colorful. Autumn at its best.
Ilirska Bistrica memorial monument dedicated to fallen Slovenian soldiers
Early morning view on Snežnik forest. Super sunny freezing cold amazing autumn! Yes, this is why I hike.
On the top of Veliki Snežnik
After Slovenia’s highest non-Alpine mountain I decended to the municipality of Loška Dolina, at the foot of Snežnik mountain. Instead of hiking through the forest for the next few days, I stayed in this valley to see the other (in)side of Slovenian Dinaric Karst. Caves, sinkholes disappearing lakes and rivers, but also the culture that the mountains bring along. It’s an interesting rural area that in a way is still isolated from the big-city-influences. Loška Dolina has it’s own slang and own traditions. Dormouse hunting in order to survive the long, cold winters for example!
The temperature dropped significantly, even in the valleys it was below zero at night so I thought it was a good idea to visit one of Slovenia’s coldest places, the Bloke Plateau… A perfect moment to change my little green house for a sweet wooden hut. Glamping!
At this point I was much further up north than I expected, I wanted to hike around Cerkniško Jezero and go up Veliki Javornik, but this would mean many more kilometres. I changed my plan and continued to Cerknica, said hi to the witches on Slivnica and found out that with my northern variant, I avoided the Bura that blew on the Javorniki mountainrange. Haha, ˝elk nadeel heb zijn voordeel˝ – Johan Cruijff.
Happy hiker?! The witches on Mount Slivnica are cooking some bad weather especially for me…
Dark dark Bura clouds…
Cerkniško Jezero: ˝More than just a lake˝, it’s a mystical disappearing lake
I took my time in Notranjska Regional Park to learn more about this beautiful Karst region, paid a visit to the Museum of Lake Cerknica and hiked along river Rak in Rakov Škocjan. When I arrived at Predjamski Grad, I reached the end of my route, but it didn’t feel like a finish. There was one more mountain which was absolutely impossible to ignore. Nanos.
Rakov Škocjan mali naravni most
Rakov Škocjan view from veliki naravni most on River Rak
Random tree art
Slovenian Gold
Predjama castle
Suhi Vrh, Nanos. Looking back. The trail lies behind me.
On Nanos I looked back. Poehh, this is it! Wow, I made it. I did it. I hiked the Via Dinarica!
The end?
Or a new beginning…
After a little break in Ljubljana I hopped back on a bus. The bus to Vipava, a little town on the other side of Nanos. I couldn’t get enough those mountains and I couldn’t deal with the fact it was over. A few more days… And I started to hike back, exploring and searching. For what? Something I might never find, but I enjoy doing!
Development projects of all sorts tend to be long processes where visible results don’t necessarily appear for years. The Via Dinarica, however, is a different story...and it’s one that is rapidly catching fire across the Dinaric region and within the international adventure travel industry. The Via Dinarica has been recognized by an impressive entourage of international press, from the Best New Trail in the World award in 2014 from Outside Magazine to The Guardian’s top European Adventure Destinations for 2016.
After the official opening of the White Trail last May in Blidinje Nature Park in West Bosnia, spearheaded by the Sarajevo-based NGO Terra Dinarica, the lengthy spine of the Dinaric Alps officially opened its doors to the world. Although there is still work to be done, this launch has spurred a handful of hard-cores to trek the entire 1,350 km length of the Via Dinarica White Trail from Slovenia to Albania this summer. But the trail has been created to ensure that there is something for everyone. For novice and pro alike, the Via Dinarica White Trail has no shortage of activities ranging from challenging hiking and biking routes to leisurely walks accessible to families with kids.
The arrival of autumn has in no way slowed the biking and hiking season on the Via Dinarica. Terra Dinarica and their counterpart in Croatia, Via Dinarica Croatia, have initiated the first International Via Dinarica Day on October 8-9. It’s a day for nature lovers from the wider Dinaric region to strap up their boots and head out to the great outdoors. The International Via Dinarica Day is more a call of the wild than an event. Hikers, bikers, climbers, cavers, runners, and campers are encouraged to go and enjoy any section of the world’s newest mega-trail and share their stories, videos and photos of their weekend with Mother Nature. Send you material either to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by October 15 and the winners will be rewarded with a modest prize. The idea is meant to be a symbolic gesture to reinforce the principles of the Via Dinarica, which is - above all, to connect naturally. So by connecting peaks and people the initiators aim to raise awareness not just to the immense repertoire offered by the Via Dinarica but also the need to nurture, protect and promote the cultural and natural heritage of the Dinaric Alps.
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Sean McDermott and Lois Parshley are National Geographic Explorers coming to Bosnia and Herzegovina to write about the Via Dinarica as the world’s newest long distance trail. They’ll be spending the summer hiking from Slovenia to Albania on the Via Dinarica White Trail and creating a cultural map of the trail. At its core, this is a project about a profound sense of place. This is a region that has regrown after a difficult period, and there’s distinct cultural and environmental features that make each country the trail traverses unique. That’s why the explorers will be creating a map to capture the spirit of the trail and all of its diverse surroundings.
They’ll create map-based reported essays, photography, and short video clips on their websitewww.hikethebalkans.com. This digital-first approach will transform the reporting process, sampling from spatial themes. By integrating photography, cartography, and text, this project will expand traditional reportage to include visual multimedia presentation tools. They’ll also be creating a video for National Geographic Magazine and blogging on that website. National Geographic is based in the U.S. but has large global markets. Its circulation is 6.8 million views a month, and it is translated into 40 different languages.
As a little background, Lois has worked as an editor at the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and Popular Science, and written for The New Yorker, Businessweek, The Atlantic, Wired, Outside, and the Washington Post, among others. Her website is www.loisparshley.com and her most recent photos on Instagram can be found at @loisparshley. Their most recent project, which Sean McDermott also consulted on, was in Liberia for the Atlantic magazine, focusing on the food shortages after Ebola. Sean McDermott is a farmer and photographer who’s been published in Maxim, National Geographic, and Popular Science, among others. As someone with a background in agriculture, on this trip he will be focusing on agricultural traditions in the region.
During the field visit along the Via Dinarica Green Trail in Bosnia and Herzegovina, our photographer Adnan Bubalo, made this photo at Borike locality in Rogatica Municipality. It was early misty morning, perfect light and great eye of our Adnan.
1th Place Worldwide in All Categories on www.500px.com
This photo was selected for the best one and got 1th Place Worldwide in All Categories on www.500px.com …and for those who don’t know, 500px is leading online photography community and marketplace with over 7 million photographers from 200+ countries worldwide!
It has been almost a year since the pilot project “Walking the Via Dinarica’ successfully came to a close. We had walked a million steps from the highest peaks in the Dinaric Alps in Valbona, Albania to the underground cave system of Postojanska Jama in Slovenia. We covered over 600 kilometers of majestic terrain and made about as many friends.
With the pilot project completed we were eager to start to keep the ball rolling. Outside Magazine named Via Dinarica the Best New Trail in the World in 2014. We had met so many fascinating and motivated people along the trail…ones that became our friends. There was Catherine in Valbona, the determined and dedicated biologist doing all the right things for her isolated mountain community. Enes and Dusko showed us the magical mountains of Montenegro. In Croatia we also got the red carpet treatment from Marije, Dorijan, Valentina, Alan and Maja – just to name a few. Kenan and Elma, our expedition leaders, even discovered a few more hidden corners in our own backyard of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Not too long after that the region was struck by devastating floods. In May of last year many parts of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia found themselves deep under water. It was a natural and man-made disaster not seen here since the 19th century. That’s when many of us shifted our focus to flood recovery to aid those who lost their homes and their hope. Mountain Rescue units, rafting and diving clubs, and ordinary volunteers of all kind rose to the occasion to lend a helping hand. Teams from all sections of the Via Dinarica responded in accordance with our motto – Connecting Naturally. We knew we were all connected in this and the selfless actions of hikers, bikers, rafters, climbers, divers, and rescuers saved countless lives.
Recovery has taken quite a bit of time. And the process is still on ongoing one. But we are please to announce that the Via Dinarica project, funded by UNDP and USAID and implemented by Terra Dinarica, is up and running still…and again. We will be revisiting and sharing with you all the amazing spots we encountered on our last epic journey. We will mark the White Trail, invest in mountain hut reparations and renovations, provide small grants to B&B and tourism service providers, help mountain rescue services and rafter who lost equipment in the rescue efforts to replenish and renew their gear, and continue to tell the unraveling story of the lands and peoples of the Via Dinarica.
We will also walk, hike, bike, ski, and raft the new Green Trail that will meander from Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina connect with the White Trail in Croatia. We’ll be working closely with other initiatives throughout the region to promote all of activities and exciting adventures the Via Dinarica has on offer.
We’re happy to be back…and hope you’ll join us in our (re)discovery of Europe’s best kept secret. We’re gonna show you the funky, inspiring, breath-taking, and pristine side of the Dinaric Alps. Follow us here. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Hello all. The Via Dinarica team, as you know, has completed its first leg of the trip. Since then, we have been working on gathering as much information as we can and strengthening our network with you – the people that make Via Dinarica the mega-trail it deserves to be. Kenan is working on both trip descriptions of the 50 some odd tours that they completed this summer and autumn. He is also fine tuning a documentary film with Dinno Kasalo that will air on BH1 on December 30th of this year. We also have ReFresh production company – operated by film directors Ademir Kenovic, Pjer Zalica and Srdan Vuletic – working on a few video spots to promote the idea of Via Dinarica. In short, we’re still on it. But we need your help.
As we have always preached, Via Dinarica is an open concept. It’s owned by no one and yet by everyone. It’s success completely depends on everyone pulling their weight, being good stewards of both environment and community, and coming together for the common good.
We are now building the website part of the Via Dinarica portal. We will, of course, continue with our weekly blogs (and encourage those of you with good stories about the Via Dinarica that would like to share to most certainly do so). But now our focus is on getting the word out about the people and places of Via Dinarica. We already have an impressive collection of mountain guide associations, B&B’s, tour operators, mountain lodges, and a wide range of service providers along the trail. We don’t want to leave anyone out, though. That’s where you come in.
We kindly ask that you take a little time to send us your information so we can better promote you and your activities. What you do, of course, must be related to the Via Dinarica. It can be a small hotel, a barn, a mountain association, or a tour operator. We want your information out there!
Please send information in this format –
Tim’s Eco House: Address 21 Via Dinarica Lane. Phone 033 555 1212. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Web www.viadinarica.com . Working hours 8.00-20.00 Mon-SatCards MC, V (or cash only if applicable)
If you are an accommodation provider please add Prices Doubles starting from 40euro (for example).
After that we’d love a short description of who you are and what you do. What sets you apart from others? What is particularly special about your club, place, cafe, B&B? If you have a B&B, how many beds do you have? Does it come with breakfast? We also want to hear what services you provide – are you a do-it-all kind of guy/gal or do you just rent mountain bikes? Have GPS coordinates, send them too! Are you difficult to find? Give us directions. Send us a cool photo. At least 200 dpi please. Tell us all about what there is to see and do in your hood. We want to hear all the highlights and features Via Dinarica has to offer. No one knows the terrain like a local.
It’s true, we already know a lot of this material. The Via Dinarica team has sent out questionnaires. Nonetheless, it’s still important to hear it from you, to fact check, to encourage your participation in this process, and to make sure you have your voice (and business) heard. Our job is to help serve you.
So, please send me your listings to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I will write to you acknowledging that I received your mail. I cannot tell you right now when everything will be up. What I can tell you is that we are working hard at getting as much information as we can ready for the next season. So spread the word. We want to hear from you. We want everyone to hear about Via Dinarica. Our deadline? Yesterday :). But get it to us as soon as you can.
Via Dinarica. An idea whose time has come.
Thank you folks. Faleminderit. Hvala. For those of who celebrate Christmas – Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Happy skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, biking, and – if you’re crazy enough – ice cold rafting.
Activity plan for the VD volunteer camp:
![[VIDEO] Dobar duh Via Dinarice!](/images/_DSC9250.jpg)
In Terra Dinarica, coordinating Via Dinarica organization in BH, outline that this prestigious acknowledgement is a result of persistent, hard, but also visionary work of partnering organizations, volunteers network and support of international development agencies, UNDP and USAID in B&H. It is important to notice that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the first in region that prepared and marked all stages of Via Dinarica White Trail going through this country, 
Happy hiker?! The witches on Mount Slivnica are cooking some bad weather especially for me…
Dark dark Bura clouds…
After the official opening of the White Trail last May in Blidinje Nature Park in West Bosnia, spearheaded by the Sarajevo-based NGO Terra Dinarica, the lengthy spine of the Dinaric Alps officially opened its doors to the world. Although there is still work to be done, this launch has spurred a handful of hard-cores to trek the entire 1,350 km length of the 
