Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

  

Hidden treasures, no more…Bosnia…

 

There simply is no way to tour Europe and not be awestruck by its scenic beauty, epic history and dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. Once you have ticked off the great museums, panoramic vistas & energetic nightlife, what is left?  And cramming in more history, culture & spectacular scenery than seems entirely reasonable for its size, the Western Balkans is one of Europe's most intriguing regions. Diverse, welcoming and a hell of a lot of fun – everything you never heard about Bosnia is true.  Come……experience the beauty of Balkans with us…….

 

Europe’s almost unmanageable wealth of attractions is its biggest single draw: the birthplace of democracy in Athens, the Renaissance art of Florence, the graceful canals of Venice, the Napoleonic splendour of Paris, and the multilayered historical & cultural canvas of London. Less obvious but no less impressive attractions include Moorish palaces in Andalucía, the fascinating East meets West brew of İstanbul in Turkey, the majesty of meticulously restored imperial palaces in Russia's former capital St Petersburg & the ongoing project of Gaudí's La Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

 

There is a huge diversity of natural scenery: rugged Scottish Highlands with glens & lochs; Norway's fabulous fjords, seemingly chipped to jagged perfection by giants; the vine-raked valleys of the Loire; & the steppe-like plains of central Spain. If you are looking for beaches, a circuit of the Mediterranean's northern coast reveals one gem after another. Or strike out to lesser known, yet beautiful coastal regions such as the Baltic & Black Seas. Mountain lovers should head to the Alps: they march across central Europe taking in France, Switzerland, Austria, northern Italy & tiny Liechtenstein.

 

Cultural Pursuits|Great Outdoors|Culinary Adventures| Home to History

 

Talking of Balkans - the stuff of Legends.

 

Cramming in more history, culture & spectacular scenery than seems entirely reasonable for its size, the Western Balkans is one of Europe's most intriguing regions & ‘Balkan Peninsula’ was a synonym for European Turkey in the 19^th century, the former provinces of the Ottoman Empire in Southeast Europe. Rocky mountains & terracotta-roofed towns plunge spectacularly into crystal-clear waters all along the Adriatic coast. Amongst all the crowded beach resorts, Croatia's myriad islands provide some nooks of quiet seclusion, while Albania's less-visited riviera still has donkeys wandering through olive groves abutting secluded bays.

 

Though change is coming quickly to the Western Balkans, timeless traditions retain their currency - in some parts, even blood feuds are not as ancient as they ought to be. It is a region where you can barely keep up with the nightlife, but still get stuck behind a horse & cart. Urban landscapes are a pop-up book of European architectural history on a grand scale. Winding Ottoman streets are punctuated with Byzantine churches, Austro-Hungarian villas & angular communist-era blocks. Throw in some Roman ruins & Venetian palazzos, then wrap it all in a medieval wall & plonk it by the sea.

 

Foreign invaders have plundered the Balkans for millennia & the region's cooks have plundered right back, incorporating Venetian, Austrian, Hungarian & Ottoman flavours into the mixing pot. You might tuck into crumbed schnitzel in Ljubljana, seafood risotto in Split, octopus carpaccio in Budva, spicy goulash in Novi Sad, flaky burek (savoury pastry) in Sarajevo, a meaty kebab in Kosovo, blissful baklava in Tirana & stuffed peppers in Skopje. Locally produced olive oil, truffles & wine hold their own against the best in the world, as does the seafood, herb-grazed lamb & abundant bounty of fresh fruit & vegetables.

 

Aside from the ever-present architectural legacy, the Balkans are liberally scattered with artistic treasures, from church frescoes to Socialist Modernist sculptures & an edgy contemporary art scene. You are likely to stumble on street-side klapa (unaccompanied vocal harmony) performances in Dalmatia, plaintive sevdah singers in Bosnia, bards wielding gusle (single-stringed instruments) in Montenegro & upbeat Roma trubaci (trumpet bands) in Serbia. Religious festivities are celebrated with gusto, as are film festivals, outdoor performances of theatre & classical music, and the large alternative & electronic dance music festivals that attract thousands of visitors every summer.

 

Now, let us talk about craggily beautiful Bosnia & Hercegovina - most intriguing for its East-meets-West atmosphere born of blended Ottoman & Austro-Hungarian histories filtered through a Southern Slavic lens.

 

Craggily beautiful Bosnia & Herzegovina is a heart shaped country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, most intriguing for its East-meets-West atmosphere born of blended Ottoman & Austro-Hungarian histories filtered through a Southern Slavic lens. It is here that eastern & western civilizations met, sometimes clashed, but more often enriched & reinforced each other throughout the long & fascinating history. . Many still associate the country with the heartbreaking civil war of the 1990s, & the scars from that time are all too visible but people are starting to realize that present-day Bosnia is a complete departure from the war-torn image they might previously have held in their mind.

 

Bosnia & Herzegovina is a stunningly beautiful country with a vast array of landscapes, cultures, traditions & people. And as the old cliche goes 'people make the place' - and B & H prides itself on its hospitality &  treating guests as if they were family members.

 

Although it is not completely uncrowded, Bosnia is still largely off the beaten path. The food is delicious and its countryside is home to medieval villages with ruins of castles, emerald-toned raftable rivers & lakes, unspoiled natural parks, impressive cascading waterfalls plus the craggy Dinaric Alps. But the major drawcards include the reincarnated historical centres of Sarajevo & Mostar, counterpointing splendid Turkish-era stone architecture with quirky bars, inviting street-terrace cafes, traditional barbecue restaurants & a vibrant arts scene.

 

Ringed by mountains, Sarajevo is a singular city with an enticing East-meets-West vibe all of its own. Its idyllic mountain setting & diverse heritage makes Sarajevo one of Europe’s most intriguing cities. Yet it is its indomitable spirit that makes it truly special.

 

Once renowned as a religious melting pot, earning it the epithet 'the Jerusalem of Europe', Mosques & minarets decorate the skyline along with the Romanesque towers of Catholic churches & the onion-shaped domes of Orthodox ones. Within a few blocks you can still find large Catholic & Orthodox cathedrals, Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogues, and numerous mosques.

 

During the 20^th century, two violent events thrust Sarajevo into the world's consciousness: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand which sparked WWI & the brutal almost-four-year siege of the city in the 1990s. Although Sarajevo is a name which might seem inextricably linked to war & tragedy, the passing of time has done much to heal this remarkable & resilient city and Sarajevo is once again a wonderful place to visit - for its intriguing architectural medley, vibrant street life & irrepressible spirit.

 

The reason is obvious. Sarajevo is beautiful. The city is tucked inside a long, thin valley & surrounded on all sides by forested mountains, and almost every crossroad & street corner provides at least a glimpse of an idyllic picture-postcard backdrop. There is plenty of interest to discover in the largely rural hinterland too.

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Concerned that you don't speak the language or have a degree in regional history? Not to worry!  Our local offices are always there 24/7 to offer any assistance you might need.

 

A unique experience amidst an idyllic scenery & tryst with a very rich historical & architectural heritage is just a beginning....... Yep, the welcoming Bosnians are waiting & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Bosnia. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences………

 

Come……be inspired & discover the World with us