The Highlands Path A Sisters Heritage Trail

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Umoljani

  The Legend and History: The village is famous for its rich folklore, including the legend of the Aždaja (a giant dragon) whose petrified stone silhouette can still be seen on the cliffs above the village. It is also home to a unique mosque with a tin minaret, which miraculously survived the 1990s war. The Nature: Visitors are drawn to Umoljani for its stunning, untouched landscapes, most notably the nearby Studeni Potok (Cold Creek), which winds through the mountain meadows in a series of perfect, serpentine loops. The Culture: Today, it is a popular destination for hikers and eco-tourists looking to experience authentic local hospitality, traditional stone architecture, and delicious homemade mountain cuisine.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Obalj (1896)

  The Stats: Obalj stands at an elevation of 1,896 meters above sea level. Despite its impressive height, it features a relatively gentle, grassy ridge that makes the ascent highly accessible compared to more jagged, rocky peaks. The Panoramic Views: Reaching the summit rewards you with breathtaking 360-degree views. To one side, you can look directly down into the dramatic, deep canyon of the Rakitnica River (one of the deepest canyons in Europe) and across to the imposing peaks of Visočica Mountain. The Perfect Circuit: For hikers, Obalj serves as the ultimate high-altitude bridge between two of the area's most famous locations. A popular full-day trail starts in Umoljani, climbs up and over the ridge of Obalj, and then descends directly into the isolated, historic village of Lukomir, before looping back along the Rakitnica canyon edge.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Lukomir

  A Living Museum: Lukomir is famous for its distinct, ancient way of life. The village features traditional stone houses with steep roofs made of cherry-wood shingles, designed to withstand the harsh mountain winters. Because heavy snow completely isolates the village for months at a time, life here follows a seasonal rhythm. Our Personal Connection: While the winters are quiet, summer brings the village completely back to life. That is when our grandparents move back up to Lukomir for the season. Like many of the elders, they spend the warmer months tending to the high-altitude pastures, keeping the old traditions alive, and welcoming travelers with the kind of genuine warmth you can only find in the mountains.

  2 hours • Admission ticket free
• 4

  The Karst Terrain: Unlike the gentle, rolling green ridges found near Obalj, Lovnica showcases the raw, classic beauty of the Dinaric Alps. Its structure is composed of limestone and dolomite, creating a much more rugged, dissected profile with steep slopes and sharp elevations that give it a wild, untamed character. The Eco-Zonation: Hiking across Lovnica offers a beautiful transition in nature. The lower slopes feature dense beech forests, but as you push past 1,500 meters toward the subalpine zone, the trees thin out into scattered, resilient Bosnian pines (Pinus heldreichii) and open alpine meadows that are perfect for summer grazing. The Wilderness Experience: Because it sits slightly further back from the standard Umoljani-Lukomir tourist loop, Lovnica offers a profound sense of isolation and quiet. It is a fantastic vantage point for looking over the Upper Neretva River basin drainage system and feeling the true, vast scale of the high-altitude wilderness.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5

  A Hidden Time Capsule: While villages like Lukomir have become famous tourist stops, Čuhovići remains beautifully quiet, untouched, and off the beaten path. It is a place characterized by rustic stone architecture, historic wooden-shingled barns, and vast rolling pastures where sheep have been herded for generations. Deep Family Heritage: For us, this village holds a deeply personal meaning, as our grandmother was born right here. Her roots tie us directly to this landscape, embodying the resilience, warmth, and enduring spirit of the mountain people who have shaped life in these highlands for centuries. The Trekking Gateway: For hikers and adventurers, the village serves as a vital focal point for extended mountain routes. Positioned further west than Lukomir, it connects travelers to the spectacular landscapes of the Blace plateau, hidden mountain lakes, and the wilder, less-traveled ridges of the high Bjelašnica range.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Blatačko Lake

  The Alpine Oasis: The lake is relatively small and shallow, beautifully framed by rolling green meadows and rugged karst hills. It relies entirely on rainwater and melting winter snow, creating a serene watering hole where local shepherds still bring their flocks to graze during the warm summer months. Ancient Crossroads: Beyond its natural appeal, the area surrounding Blatačko Lake is a significant historical site. The plateau is home to remarkable clusters of stećci—monmental medieval tombstone necropolises that sit silently on the ridges overlooking the water, left behind by the people who guarded these mountains centuries ago. A Hiker's Rewarding Destination: Reaching the lake feels like discovering a secret world. It is a popular and rewarding trek when combined with routes from Čuhovići or Lukomir, offering hikers sweeping views across the canyon lines and a profound sense of isolation far from modern civilization.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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