• Mala Kravica - KRAVICA WATERFALL LJUBUŠKI

In the Ljubuški region, the Kravica waterfall stands as a remarkable natural wonder, formed by the Trebižat River as it flows through limestone landscapes, depositing tufa. Many visitors acclaim it as one of the most stunning natural attractions, making it a well-known emblem of Ljubuški and Herzegovina.

• Mostar - Discover Mostar’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town on this walking tour, guided by a private expert. As you explore the city’s medieval architecture and historical landmarks, gain insights into its extensive history, from the Ottoman Empire to the communist era of former Yugoslavia, and its involvement in WWII, the Cold War, and the Yugoslavian War.

• Počitelj - The historic urban site of Počitelj is situated on the left bank of the Neretva River, along the main road from Mostar to Metković, south of Mostar, within the Čapljina Municipality.

In the medieval period, Počitelj served as the administrative and governance center of the Dubrava county, marking its westernmost boundary, which granted it significant strategic importance. It is believed that Bosnia’s King Stjepan Tvrtko I constructed the fortified town and its surrounding settlements in 1383.

The fortified town of Počitelj developed from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Architecturally, the remaining stone-built sections form a fortified complex, showcasing two evolutionary stages: medieval and Ottoman.

The earliest documented mention of the town is from 1444, in charters issued by Kings Alfonso V and Friedrich III. Between 1463-1471, a Hungarian garrison occupied the town. After a brief siege in 1471, the Ottomans captured the town, and it remained part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878. From 1782 to 1879, it was the center of a kadiluk (an area under the jurisdiction of a qadi - judge) and from 1713 to 1835, it served as the headquarters of the Počitelj military district.

The town’s significance and appearance have evolved throughout its history. Three periods are notable for Počitelj’s development:

1. The era of Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus when the town held significant strategic importance (1463-1471).

2. The period of settlement growth under the Ottoman Empire, marked by the construction of typical public buildings: mosques, mekteb (Muslim primary school), imaret (charitable kitchen), medresa (Muslim high school), hamam, Turkish baths, han (inn), and sahat-kula (clock-tower) (1471-1698). During this time, military conflicts occurred in more distant areas.

3. The period of regaining strategic importance after the Venetians conquered and destroyed Gabela (1698-1878).

With the establishment of Austro-Hungarian rule in BiH in 1878, Počitelj lost its strategic importance and began to decline rapidly. The loss of the town’s strategic role helped preserve the original urban architectural ensemble, allowing the town to remain in its original form to this day.

During the 1992-96 war in BiH, the entire historic urban site of Počitelj and its various buildings suffered extensive war damage.

In 1996, Počitelj was recognized by World Monuments Watch as one of the world’s 100 most endangered cultural heritage sites, as proposed by the University of York, United Kingdom, and the University of Sarajevo, due to its outstanding value.

In 2000, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated the Programme for the permanent protection of Počitelj, which includes: safeguarding cultural heritage from further deterioration, rehabilitating damaged and destroyed buildings, returning refugees and displaced persons to their homes, and ensuring the sustainable and long-term protection and revitalization of the historic urban area of Počitelj. The program is ongoing and currently focuses on rehabilitating housing complexes in the upper part of Počitelj.

ARCHITECTURE

FORT - The fort of Počitelj was constructed between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, with intervals of halted construction. The original medieval core of the fort is the oldest walled section, where two construction phases can be identified: the older, inner town or fortress (a donjon tower with a small ward or bailey) from the late fourteenth century, with later additions, alterations, and reinforcements dating from the second half of the fifteenth century. Based on the layout of the oldest parts of the fortress, it is assumed that a small settlement existed below the fortifications, dating from an earlier or the same period as the fortifications themselves. Shortly before 1698, the fortress was significantly enlarged and fortified with a stronger defense system. The town was walled to form an inner bailey from the square tower, two bastions (Mehmed-paša’s and Delibaša’s), Dizdar’s house, a granary, the fort’s mosque, and a “water-tower” - a cistern with an entrance and steps leading to the water, two large gateways, and two small ones. During the 1992-96 war in BiH, the fortress suffered no serious damage.

MOSQUE OF ŠIŠMAN IBRAHIM-PAŠA - or Hadži Alija’s mosque is one of the finest examples of the classical Ottoman style of single-room domed mosques in BiH. According to its chronogram, it was built in 970 AH (1562-63 AD) by Hadži Alija. The mosque occupies a prominent position in the town’s urban fabric and its natural surroundings. Other public buildings located near the mosque include the mektebs, the imaret, the medresa, the hamam, the han, and the clock-tower. The mosque was destroyed in 1993: the dome and minaret were demolished, and the rest of the building was severely damaged. As part of the Programme for the permanent protection of Počitelj, the mosque was rehabilitated and has now returned to its original function.

MEDRESA (Muslim religious high school) OF ŠIŠMAN IBRAHIM-PAŠA - Evlija Čelebi’s travel chronicle indicates that the medresa in Počitelj dates from before 1664. It belongs to the standard type of smaller religious school, with five classrooms and a lecture room arranged along the two sides of an inner courtyard. The classrooms are roofed with five small domes, and the lecture room with one large one. During the 1992-96 war in BiH, the medresa was damaged by shelling. As part of the Programme for the permanent protection of Počitelj, the medresa was rehabilitated.

HAMAM (the baths) - Evlija Čelebi’s travel chronicle suggests that the baths were built before 1664, by craftsmen sent from Istanbul for this purpose.

The hamam is typical of smaller public baths. As part of the Programme for the permanent protection of Počitelj, the hamam was rehabilitated.

HAN (inn) OF ŠIŠMAN IBRAHIM-PAŠA - was constructed around 1665. It was a single-storey han type, built around a central area where horses were stabled. Little remains of the original structure of the han: the remnants of an arched gate of finely dressed cut stone with parts of the outside walls to the left and right of the entrance, parts of the outside wall opposite the entrance; some remains of the raised podium (for travelers to rest); all of this recorded before 1960. The structure was renovated in the 1970s for catering purposes.

SAHAT-KULA - CLOCK-TOWER - Since Evlija Čelebi’s travel chronicle does not mention the sahat-kula, it is assumed to have been erected after 1664. It is typical of clock-towers in Herzegovina, influenced by Mediterranean-Dalmatian architecture. It is stone-built, with dressed quoins and ends in a stone pyramid. There are four pointed arches on the four sides above the opening near the top of the tower. This type of sahat-kula is found in Počitelj, Mostar, and Stolac.

HOUSING - Stylistically, the residential architecture of Počitelj blends Mediterranean and Oriental elements with certain local features. The influence of Mediterranean architecture is evident in the use of gable roofs, the pronounced stone wall structure, small, widely separated windows, and the arrangement of rooms in fairly small, single-storey buildings. The influence of Oriental architecture is reflected in the use of hipped roofs, doksats or oriel windows, rows of close-set windows, the arrangement of rooms with a hajat (anteroom) on the ground floor and an open divanhan (sitting room) on the first floor, and the interconnected enclosed courtyard and interior living quarters. The primary building material was stone. Typical common features include round chimneys and roof cladding of irregularly shaped stone slabs. All houses had privies in the courtyard and a hamamdžiluk (small bathroom) in the musandera (built-in carved wooden structure incorporating cupboards and occupying the entire wall of the main room). Wealthier households had a bathroom in every room. All the houses in the town were destroyed during the 1992-96 war in BiH. As part of the Programme for the permanent protection of Počitelj, the mosque was rehabilitated and has now returned to its original function.

THE GAVRANKAPETANOVIĆ HOUSE - is a group of buildings consisting of two smaller and one larger building (with the division into selamluk and haremluk) constructed during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is the largest and most highly developed example of Počitelj’s residential architecture. A notable feature of the building is the use of arched windows on the west facade. By the mid-twentieth century, the buildings had been abandoned and were deteriorating significantly, leading to a project to convert it into an artists’ colony, launched in 1961 and completed in 1975. The central building was converted to accommodate artists. During the war, the complex was set on fire and destroyed in 1993. The most severe damage was to the haremluk, the wooden post-and-pan construction, and wooden cladding. As part of the Programme for the permanent protection of Počitelj, the Gavrankapetanović housing complex was rehabilitated and has now returned to its function as an artists’ colony.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• English Speaking Driver
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Gratuities
• Lunch

Mostar – Where East Meets West in Timeless Beauty

Enter a city where cultures, religions, and histories harmoniously blend. In Mostar, visitors will find one of the Balkans’ most renowned landmarks—the Old Bridge (Stari Most)—a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning the emerald Neretva River.

Visitors wander through the Ottoman-style Old Town, with its cobblestone streets, lively bazaars, and traditional craft shops.

Savor authentic Bosnian cuisine—grilled ćevapi, baklava, or Turkish coffee—while dining by the river with breathtaking views. From historic mosques and churches to warm hospitality and striking contrasts, Mostar is a place that touches the heart.

A trip to Mostar is more than just sightseeing—it’s an experience of beauty, history, and emotion that lingers long after the journey concludes.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.