Bosnia
Bosnia offered more than we could have imagined.
Nature, culture, history—and more kilometers than expected.
The border crossing was the hardest so far.
But what followed were long descents, quiet national parks, and clear mountain lakes.
We met Max, a cyclist from France.
And Sarajevo—deep, layered, unforgettable.
Bosnia was different.
Still lakes. Endless forests. Mountain roads that never seemed to end.
A quiet, wild kind of beauty – untouched and real.
We camped by a lake, hidden near old ruins,
on a long stretch of gravel near the water.
No people. No noise.
Every day was uphill.
But then came Max, a cyclist from France,
who joined us for part of the journey –
through national parks in the south,
toward a lake so peaceful,
it felt like time had stopped.
One descent took nearly an hour –
spiraling down into a valley carved by wind and silence.
We were headed to Sarajevo,
a city I had always dreamed of visiting.
It took half a day to enter the city,
past decaying buildings with traces of Soviet architecture,
until we finally reached the old town.
And suddenly, the atmosphere shifted:
markets, cafes, narrow alleys, scents and sounds.
It didn’t feel like Eastern Europe.
It felt like something in between worlds.
We stayed for almost a week –
exploring, listening, tasting.
A local guide shared Sarajevo’s deep, complex history.
And the food... some of the best we had so far.
Then we rode east – through another national park.
The road to the Montenegro border was steep and endless,
testing my limits.
But it was only a taste of what was still to come:
The Durmitor.
🚲 Travel Mode
Bicycle
📅 Date From: September 2023
📅 Date To: September 2023
📍 Points of Interest
🏙️ Sarajevo – Full of history, tolerance, and countless pigeons. Its old town feels like a bazaar — unexpected, vibrant, and a special place to have visited.
🏞️ Blidinje Lake – A hidden gem deep in a national park. Remote, peaceful, and not easy to reach by bike — but absolutely worth it.
🚲 Lake Jablanica – A mountain lake with long tunnels and winding roads along the river. Riding there by bike was truly special.
🛤️ Mountain Roads – Endless downhills and remote mountain passes. Some of the toughest yet most beautiful parts of the journey.
🤝 Max from France – A spontaneous meeting with another cyclist that led to memorable shared moments.
🚧 Border Crossing – The most challenging crossing so far — tough, slow, and unforgettable
✍️ Experience Snippet
Just past Sarajevo,
we reached a hilltop as the sun began to set.
With permission from a neighbor,
we pitched our tent behind an abandoned house,
next to a small cemetery.
His dog – large, cautious –
kept his distance at first.
But soon, he sat with us
as we cooked our dinner in the quiet light.
Then suddenly – barking.
The dog stood, growling into the dark forest,
and wouldn’t stop.
We were deep in the mountains.
Far from people.
Our first thought: bears.
I felt uneasy.
But exhaustion wins over fear.
And soon, I was asleep.
👉 Want to see the full route?
Check out the route below.
🗺️ Route Legend
🔴 Red – Bicycle
🔵 Blue – Ferry
🟣 Purple – Hitchhiking
🟡 Yellow – Bus / Taxi
🟢 Green – Train
⚫ Black – Airplane
⚪ White – Planned Route
