Prokoško Lake and Vranica Mountain
Full day of hiking and glacier lake explorations at amazing Vranica mountain

We’ll have to start our journey quite early from Sarajevo at 8 AM in aim reach town of Fojnica as early as possible.

Fojnica, town historically known for healthy thermal waters and gold mining, is home to Franciscan Monastery dating some 650 years ago. Today it is location which “most likely", is home to the oldest written document on human rights - Ahdnama” written some 550 years ago after Ottoman conquest of Bosnia in 1463. However visit to this place is optional and requires advance arrangements and is not covered in the standard tour, which is focused on nature explorations of Vranica mountain and Prokoško lake regions.

As soon as we leave Fojnica, we start our 16 km long, macadam and totally forested drive, with plentiful of small creeks crossing our way, to reach Prokoško Lake and get to see why this area is nicknamed for “Bosnian Swiss”.

Glacier made, Prokoško Lake is “nested” at 1636 m.a.s.l, with number of old, shingle covered, shepherd’s wooden huts - Katuni at its vicinity and amphitheatre of Vranica mountain behind, are definitely something not to miss for any nature lover during the trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. No doubt about it.

As soon as we arrive at lake and dozen of photos already taken, we’ll get ready for our hike and pack up some of the local specialties, most importantly local bread, sheep cheese and locally made tea.

Before start visitors are free to explore region of the lake itself and maybe get lucky to see endemic species such as Vraničko Zvonce (Edraianthus niveus), Bosanska Zvonička (Symphyandra hofmannii) or the famous endemic amphibian Triton, which only lives in Prokoško lake (Triturus alpestris reiseri), discovered in 1891 by Othmur Reiser, ornithologist of National Museum in Sarajevo, when this species are was named after him.

Our goal that day is to do roughly 6 hour hike and peak up the Vranica mountain - Nadkrstac at 2112 meters above sea level. Starting point will be at Prokoško lake at 1636 meters above sea level what will give us roughly 500 meters altitude gain.

Mountain of Vranica is full of small, clean and cold creeks running down the cascades which makes scenery looks like “water heaven”.

Once on top, stunning views with numerous mountain plateaus and peaks in our eyesight will surely take our breath away. Then, our 3-4 hour hard work will pay off and we’ll finally get to taste local food we brought all the way up, enjoying amazing scenery. Hot local tea will be out of this world as well.

After rest, it will be time to head down, and this time will be bit easy and different trail will be taken.

As soon as we are back to Prokoško Lake we’ll organise local lunch, something unmissable when out in these areas. We’ll learn more about how certain types of Prokoško cheese are being made, how general shepherd life at Vranica mountain looks like and what happens when winter season is there. Cultural insight is quite important, to understand how life was, and is today.

Village itself has unique mosque, possibly highest one in whole of Europe at altitude of 1666 m.a.s.l. and is possible to visit.

Later on we go back to Sarajevo for around 1.30 hour ride, expecting to be back around 6 - 7 PM.

For people with low physical level who are not capable of hiking at this level, but heavily interested to experience natural and cultural beauty of this region, we can organise this tour as SUV journey which will cover great amount of amazing sights and will deliver amazing sightseeing experience.
For mountain biking (MTB) lovers, this tour is simply amazing option and can offer wide range of activities and distances covered with bit different itinerary. If you are interested in this option please let us know as different itinerary and cost can be applied.