When you make a decision, you make a decision. Even though it is sudden, unexpected. It was like that with me. I had an opportunity to explore Bosnia and Herzegovina with some hikers from Muta and one of the tourist agencies.
BIH is a country in the heart of the Balkans. It is ethnically divided into three groups. Bosnians or Muslim people, then Bosnian Serbians and Croatians. Our path lead us to the western part of Bosnia where we explored mountain and water beauties of this country.
Our adventure began in May when the drivers Matjaž and guide Renato picked us up in Muta. We crossed the border between Croatia and BIH in the town Jesenovac. We saw the memorial, dedicated to World War II victims. The first day of our arrival to the western Bosnia, we explored the national park Kozaro. It is surrounded by lakes Una, Sava, Sana and Vrbas. In the middle of the park there is plateau Mrakovica, where you can also see the memorial, dedicated to the victims of Ustasha - Fascistmovement in World War II. First we climbed the memorial and visited the museum and then we hiked to the top of Lisin, which is 977 metres high. The path was very diverse, many climbs and descends, shadow, sun, forests, meadows and the beautiful views just kept coming. After the hike we found an accommodation in Laktaši in the hotel San. The place is known after thermal water, as they have 6 hotels and spas in the city.
The next day we took a walk to the long distance trail Banja Luka. We walked over the highest peak Banj Brda – Trešnjik to the famous tennis player Novak Djokovič’s inn and the memorial, dedicated to the victims, who fought to liberate Banja Luka after World War II and then we descended to the river Vrbas. We simply had to see the sights of Banja Luka and visit the stores. Banja Luka is the biggest city in Republika Srpska and second biggest in BIH. We were charmed by the Orthodox church, dedicated to the Christ. It was built by Belgrade’s architect Dušan Živanović between 1925 and 1929. The church is surrounded by Banski dvor (Ban court), the presidential palace and national theatre.
On the third day we went to the north-west of the country to camp Kira in the town Golubić by the river Una. Before we found the accommodation, we climbed 1795 metre high peak Osječenica. We started our hike from Bosanski Petrovac. The hiking trail is partly on macadam road and partly through the forest. The peak offers a beautiful view. We arrived to camp in late afternoon. We settled in nice houses by the river Una, which are surrounded by meadows and the river. Peace, quiet and gracefulness.
On the next day, our group split. Some decided to visit Bihać and others took the bus to climb to Klekovača. The mountain trail is very well marked. It runs on the road, which was used for military and national purposes in World War II. Klekovača is also a peak, which offers amazing views. You can even see the Adriatic Sea. The peak is also covered in bunkers, which remind us of war.
National park Una is the first national park in BIH. It was established in 2008. It lies in the western part of the country and is surrounded by mountains Plješavica on the west, Grmeć on the north-east and Osječenica on the east. Una river is 212 kilometres long and flows into river Drava by Jesenovac. The locals say, that the river fascinates tourists by its green colour.
On the last day before going home, we went on a rafting. Most of travellers did that for the first time. Believe me, they were not sorry. I had already been rafting on rivers Soča and Tara and I admit that I had fun at both places. I knew how things run but I didn’t know what to expect. Right before Štrbački Buk, the famous waterfall, the skippers explained everything and prepared us for the drop on the river. The first part of rafting was full of adrenaline, fast, fun and wet. When we came to the calmer part of the descend, we had to really paddle to get to our finish in Lohovo. We had to change our clothes, get back to the camp and go home. The trip went by fast and we were quickly back home in Muta.
I’d like to conclude with one of Zaplotnik’s thoughts: “I’m scared of time, because I know how little time I have. How much I still have to read, do, write, realize, how much I still have to love, work, be happy about or cry about. A person would just give up. All this in only a few decades we have.” Everyone found out something new about themselves on this trip. And maybe did something, which he hadn’t even dreamed about. And that counts.
