Jajce, Travnik and Pliva watermills - Day Tour from Sarajevo
Description
Discover the rich history of Travnik, which became the capital of the Ottoman province of Bosnia and the residence of the Bosnian viziers in 1699. The city became an important center of government in the whole Western frontier of the empire, and consulates were established by the governments of France and Austria-Hungary. After Travnik we're heading to one of the most beautiful cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jajce. Beautiful waterfall combined with complex history make it stand out among others. "Dear friend, I'm writing to you from the town where in the very centre of it the most beautiful waterfall in the whole empire is located" - (it was written on a postcard sent from Jajce to Prag by Czech tourists, in the late 19th century, when Bosnia was part of Austro-Hungarian empire). Last but not least, you will visit watermills that are beautiful and straight out of fairy tale.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The next stop is medieval city of Jajce, often known as King city. It is one of the best-preserved fortified capitals of the Bosnian Kingdom, the last stronghold before to kingdom dissolved under the pressure of military advancement at the onset of Ottoman Empire takeover.
Catacombs of Jajce is the name given by locals to underground Christian small church so it is not a "catacomb" in true sense. Church has been carved in a single rock or a cave in late Romanesque style.
In the first half of the 15th century, when Jajce was promoted to the capital of the Bosnian kingdom, the older Romanesque church from the 12th or 13th century was adapted in the Gothic style. After marrying the Bosnian heir to the throne Stjepan Tomašević on April 1, 1459, Jelena Branković (Mara), daughter of the Serbian despot Lazar Branković, brought the relics of St. Luke the Evangelist, which the despot Đurađ Branković bought from the Ottoman sultan in 1453 for the sum of 30,000 ducats. In November 1461, the coronation of the last Bosnian king, Stjepan Tomašević, took place in this church according to papal envoys. During the Ottoman Empire, in 1528, the church was converted into a mosque and named after Sultan Suleiman I. The mosque burned several times in fires when the medieval stone and painted decoration was destroyed. It was most severely damaged in a fire in 1658, and in the last fire in 1832, only the walls remained of the building and it has not been used since then.
Esma Sultanija Mosque, or Čaršija Mosque, is located in Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the main street that connects Travnička and Banja Luka gates. This is the only mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina named after a woman. It was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At 17 meters in height, the Pliva waterfall is one of the most notable features of Jajce. This natural monument is located in the very center of the town and has been named one of twelve most beautiful waterfalls in the world. It is also the only waterfall in the world to create an estuary as it joins the Pliva River with the Vrbas River. Whether you are standing beneath it or looking down from above, the Pliva waterfall creates a spectacular view!
And just downstream of Jajce, in the area of the Pliva Lakes, is a collection of about 20 little huts that once served as watermills for local farmers. Most of the huts go back to the period of the Austro-Hungarian empire (about 1867 to 1918), and they give the impression of a little storybook village. When we finish here, lunch break! Pliva lake offers great food and even better view. Getting ready to come back to Sarajevo.
Plivska lakes in Jajce have crystal clear water, which is reason enough to visit this Bosnian beauty. Surrounded by the natural landscape, they present fairytale scenes that seem to call you to come to Jajce. One of the symbols of the city of Jajce is certainly these lakes.
Good morning. We start our adventure at 8:00 am. The first stop is in the city of Travnik, to witness the unspoken part of the country's history: Bosnian Kingdom. Old Fort is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval fortified buildings in Bosnia on which later historical periods left their distinctive characteristics.
We'll have a nice break to drink some Bosnian coffee, where the river is flowing right next to and under you. Location: Blue water springs (Plava voda)
This is Suleymanis Mosque or Multi-coloured Mosque. It was built in 1757 during the Ottoman era. Really an architectural beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from any hotel in Sarajevo
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(335)
My wife and I had a great day. Thank you so much for being so kind since the first day answering all my questions and having us picked up. We loved every second of it. I also want to write how great Ben was. We couldn’t have asked for better guide. He was friendly, considerate, and just super respectful. We had an unforgettable time with him and I wish him the best in life.
Ben was the tour guide. The tour was planned perfectly but Ben was very flexible and able to accommodate some additional things for the entire group as we talked and asked about certain things/changes. Ben is knowledgeable and has a passion for his profession. Great communication skills, talks with respect with everyone. Pliva watermills was the highlight of the tour. Definitely worth a visit, and I'd recommend this tour for sure. The company that operates is great, the communication leading up to the day of the travel and everything on the day was flawless.
It’s ok and very long boring day. The guide and driver was the same person and he didn’t speak too much and didn’t go with us on most of the sites. He made us eat lunch at 10:30am at one of his places and by the end of the tour we were hungry again.
Amazing trip, smooth and calm. Agency and people are very friendly, cooperative and flexible. They were considerate to the group’s style and needs. Also the groups are max 7-8 with vans so much convenient when going off and on the vans. Highly recommended
A fantastic tour with a wise and "old" guide who helped us, a group of young people in our twenties, navigate through picturesque Bosnia. Thank you again for such a wonderful experience and for accommodating to our suggestions and making sure we got to see the places we wanted while bringing Bosnia's rich history to life.
Brilliant guide and sights were brilliant
I had the opportunity to do the Jajce tour and it was amazing! The guide, Kenan, was nice and explained things well. Definitely recommended to book with them! I loved it
My family and I had an amazing experience with Kennan and Adventure in Bosnia. Kennan was punctual, informative, kind, and incredibly accommodating, as we had both mobility and time constraints. We had such a great time, in fact, that we decided to book two more customized tour options with Adventure in Bosnia, one for a day trip to Lukomir Village with tour guide Imaan, and one for a day trip to Livno, with tour guide Amir. Transportation from our hotel was all arranged for by Adventure in Bosnia. Kennan, Iman, and Amir were all amazing, well-informed, and incredibly kind, and really made our experience 10x more enjoyable. Adventure in Bosnia was able to help us create a customized itinerary with very little notice. We cannot thank Kennan enough for an amazing experience! Highly recommend this tour and working with Adventure in Bosnia to create a customized Travel Itinerary that allows you to experience the best of Bosnia according to your interests!
This is an interesting trip with two fortresses, a painted mosque, a catacomb church and waterfall and lake. It’s a long day, especially in the heat, but worth doing. Take plenty of drinks and if you go on a Sunday, take some lunch/snacks as the supermarkets are closed and the stops not long enough to eat. Thanks Kenan.
This tour was an amazing daytrip outside of Sarajevo at must-see areas of Bosnia. Travnik and Jajce have historical importance but are gorgeous small towns with plenty to see. Pliva lake and the Pliva water mills were a very nice addition to the trip and the lunch spot by the lake was great! Our tour guide, Ken, was fabulous. We enjoyed every minute with him, and he made sure that we were comfortable and entertained, and accommodated us in so many ways. We were so satisfied we ended up booking a couple more trips with his tour company, which were also 5/5 experiences. One was a day trip to Lukomir Village, and the other was a customized trip to Livno. Overall, his company and his guides took extremely good care of us and would highly recommend his company for tours in Bosnia!
