Price:1,299.00 €
Wine routes of Herzegovina
Description
Wine routes of Herzegovina – 7 days / 5 riding days / 6 nights
Schedule
When there is wine, often culture and good times follow. Did you know that the wine tradition of Herzegovina dates back to 2000 BC? From the time of the Slavs, Bosnian Banates, the Bosnian Kingdom, Ottomans and Austro-Hungarians till now, wine production has always been of the highest quality in Herzegovina.
In the saddle, trekking with our four-legged friends, we will visit beautiful regions and vineyards, enjoying the Mediterranean climate of the coastal and lowland area in the southern part of Herzegovina. Learning first-hand about it’s winemaking tradition.
“The Wine Routes of Herzegovina” is a unique horse-back trail and wine tasting experience, created to take your senses on a journey through an array of aromas, scents and flavours of the old country via Zilavka and Blatina production.
On our riding trail you will visit some of the 22 wine cellars, which are located in six Herzegovinian municipalities. All of them use state-of-the-art technology to produce wine and have immense experience and love for what they do. Amongst these vineyards exists a positive competitive spirit, which, from year to year, results in an ever increasing quality of Zilavka and Blatina produced in this region.
Did you know that Herzegovina is the only place in the world, along with Mongolia and Iceland, where you can still see as many wild horses in just one place? Beautiful animals that make you stop for a moment and wonder in awe when set eyes on them. As the highlight of this trip to the wine region we will visit this magnificent area and along with the beautiful scenery, we’ll treat ourselves to the famous Livan cheese and other home-made delicacies, of course you will indulge in the Herzegovinian wine of your choice after having had a weeklong tasting to decide which bottle best tickles your fancy.
And so even more fitting, a bottle of wine of your choosing will be our gift to you at the end, to take home and share with your loved ones. An unforgettable remembrance of your time spent with us in Herzogovina. Don’t forget to declare your baggage at the airport. Any liquids in your hand luggage, madam?
| Dates 2024 | May 19 – May 25 (booked out) June 2 – June 8 (booked out) September 22 – September 28 (booked out) October 6 – October 12 (booked out) October 20 – October 26 (booked out) Booked out |
| Dates 2025 | April 6 – April 12 April 13 – April 19 April 20 – April 26 April 27 – May 3 May 4 – May 10 May 11 – May 17 May 18 – May 24 May 25 – May 31 October 5 – October 11 October 12 – October 18 October 19 – October 25 October 26 – November 1 |
| Group size / price | 6 persons + guide 7 days / 6 nights / 5 riding days 2025 – Price 1.299,00 EUR (all-inclusive, excl wine tasting) |
| Guest requirements | All guests must be at least 18 years old. Children cannot come along. Riding skills: Advanced Intermediate Rider weight limit: 210 pounds / 95 kilograms Tack type: English tack Horse breed: Arab, Lipizzaner, Bosnian mountain horse and Haflinger |
| Highlights | 5 days of horse riding (4 full days, 1 half day of riding) Horses and riding equipment Spa, swimming pool, massage Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner All drinks and refreshments 6 nights accommodation Airport transfer Wine tasting experience (25 EUR per person/winery) not included in price. All meals, riding, transfers and accomodation included. |
Itinerary
PROGRAM
Day 1 – Sunday (arrival day)
Arrival Sunday afternoon, pick-up at the Airport or your accommodation in Sarajevo and transfer to Lazy Horse equestrian center, 30 min drive.
Enjoy the afternoon settling into your accommodation, take a walk in the forest or watch the riding lessons taking place in our riding arenas. The evening brings along a dinner with the group and your guide, with a ride and safety briefing. The chefs at the BBQ will be your hosts, Rasim and Jason.
Overnight at Lazy Horse.
Accommodation (Equestrian Center Lazy Horse)
3 double bedrooms (one with private bathroom)
One 4 bed room (shared bathroom)
Kitchen, terrace
Day 2 – Monday (3 hours riding, Sarajevo walking tour)
After breakfast we will have an introduction of the horses and an evaluation of the riding skills of the group. We will then saddle up for an easy morning ride of approximately 2 hours.
The aim of this introductory ride is to get used to the horse with whom you will hopefully spend an unforgettable riding week. Lunch at the farm, followed by a trip to Sarajevo for a guided 2-hour walking tour, learning all about the history of this beautiful city.
After sightseeing, we will visit the first destination of our wine tasting journey, a beautiful winery on the very slopes of the Sarajevo hills with a beautiful view of the city.
The Hedona Wine Club is the first boutique winery in Sarajevo, surrounded by vineyards at an altitude of 850m. Hedona designed a great way to showcase their wines, carefully paired with innovative renditions of classic Bosnian dishes. The vineyard counts 3,500 vine plants, mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which they use to carefully make sparkling wines following traditional methods. While we enjoy wine and food, Mr. Arman, the owner of the vineyard and winery, will tell us his interesting and exciting wine story, unique in this region.
After the tasting, we take our favorite bottle back to Lazy Horse, where we will toast to the beginning of our riding adventure.
Overnight at Lazy Horse.
Accommodation (Equestrian Center Lazy Horse)
3 double bedrooms (one with private bathroom)
One 4 bed room (shared bathroom)
Kitchen, terrace
Day 3 – Tuesday (3 – 4 hours riding, lunch at beach)
Today, spectacular Blidinje is our goal, a wild mountain plateau that offers dozens of kilometers of flat areas that invite us to canter and gallop along the beautiful Blidinje lake, the largest natural lake in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Around 1500 different plant species have been identified so far in this unique area, with more than 200 of them being endemic, relict, and sub-endemic species. Blidinje Nature Park is also known as the largest habitat of the endemic white-bark Bosnian pine.
After a long day of riding and enjoying a freshly prepared meal on the beach of the shores of this unique lake, we settle into a mountain lodge located in a dense forest far from populated areas. After a short rest and refreshment, we drive our horse trail van to one of the Herzegovinian wineries.
Given that Herzegovina has 22 active small wineries and many grape variety, it is not easy to decide whether it is Žilavka, Traminac, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon or another. Our selection for tonight’s winery is Vinarija Matiša, currently a family hobby with the desire to become a future business success of Mr. Juraj and his numerous family whose guests we will be at the wine tasting tonight.
Satisfied and full after the wine tasting, we return to our secluded mountain home with tonight’s favorite bottles of wine in the trunk, which we save for the final gala farewell dinner at the LazyHorse Equestrian Center.
Accommodation (Nature Park Blidinje Mountain Lodge)
Double and tipple bedrooms (with private bathroom)
Kitchen, terrace
Day 4 – Wednesday (3 hours riding, wild horses watching)
Today is a special riding day. After a hour or so drive we arrive at the foot of the Cincar mountain where we expect to ride next to numerous herds of wild horses. It is estimated that their total number has already reached 800. The surreal areas of the Krug plateau invite us to take a leisurely canter. On a nearby everglade we’ll have the opportunity to watch the wild horses and set up camp with our horses. This will give us ample opportunity to study their behavior in the herd and take unforgettable photos. The horses often approach us out of curiosity or because they are used to receiving carrots and apples from visitors.
After an unforgettable experience, we settle in a a charming house in nature where our horses are comfortably housed and prepare for a new wine tasting wine and the delicious Livno cheese, which is considered the best cheese in Bosnia and Herzegovina, exported to many countries in the world.
Tonight we will enjoy our favorite organic wine at the Knebu winery (Knebu translatet in English means “towards the sky”), which many say is a real sensation in the world of wine. Located at an altitude of 950 meters, it ranks among the highest in the world. Dramatic weather extremes at high altitudes cause sudden and powerful reactions in the vines, releasing great amounts of charged energy. The high altitude contributes to the intense taste and aroma of the grapes due to significant differences between day and night temperatures. Chardonnay and Traminac are the wine varieties which the Knebu winery is most proud of.
After the wine tasting, we return to our accommodation with our new favorite Knebu bottles of wine in the trunk and look forward to tomorrow’s riding adventure in the mountains of Herzegovina.
Accommodation (Horse Ranch Black Rock)
Double and tipple bedrooms (with private bathroom)
Kitchen, living room, terrace
Day 5 – Thursday (3 – 4 hours riding)
Today we are riding in the beautiful countryside near the town of Livno, situated in the Livno field, the largest karst field in the world and the place where the most famous Herzegovinian cheese is produced. Today’s riding day begins in a pleasant ranch that is home to about 50 Black Rok Ranch horses, and we ride through the mountainous regions towards the shore of Buško Lake, the largest lake in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Today’s special is the beautiful river Sturba, whose course we follow at the beginning of this riding day, then we continue our ascent to the surrounding mountains, riding through dense forests, arriving at clearings with a beautiful view of the Livno field that stretches endlessly around us.
After this last day of Heregovina riding, we put our horses in the horse truck and head back to the Lazy Horse Equestrian Center, our home base.
And today’s wine special is the local winery Pejčinović. Small family winery that produces excellent wines from the top wine variety Sauvignon Blanc. A very young winery run by our host, Mr. Goran, who together with his young family spends his days in the vineyard and strives to make his wines world-renowned for their quality and taste. His first wine was named after his daughter Lana, and he and his wife run the vineyard together and explore the possibilities of local natural conditions for growing the best grape varieties.
Accommodation (Equestrian Center Lazy Horse)
3 double bedrooms (one with private bathroom)
One 4 bed room (shared bathroom)
Kitchen, terrace
Day 6 – Friday (5 hours riding, fish picnic, massage and SPA)
We will depart in the morning after breakfast on a trail heading northwest. Well rested horses and flat sections invite a light trot or canter. We will continue downhill towards the Lepenica river where you can ride through the shallow water and enjoy its waterfalls. For the next 15 kilometers, we will mainly walk and trot on forest paths with a few everglades. Enjoy the view and calming rush of the mountain river Crna Rijeka (Black River).
For lunch we will have fresh grilled trout. The sound of the Crna Rijeka welcomes a quick nap in hammocks in the shade. In the late afternoon, we will arrive back at LazyHorse ranch and take the short drive to a beautiful local spa for swimming, sauna, steam rooms and a massage.
Of course, everything is planned for in advance, and this final evening of our horseback wine tour is sweetened with a selection of wines, brought back with us from each winery, so we can once again taste the best that Herzegovina has to offer. We’ll enjoy a Bosnian “gala dinner”!
Accommodation (Equestrian Center Lazy Horse)
3 double bedrooms (one with private bathroom)
One 4 bedroom (shared bathroom)
Kitchen, terrace
Day 7 – Saturday (departure)
After breakfast you can say goodbye to the horses before being transferred to the airport, your accommodation in Sarajevo or to enjoy further tourist’s excursions provided by our partners.
