Day 1 : Welcome to Sarajevo
Upon arrival in Sarajevo the group will be met by our team and transferred to their hotel in a city suburb. The remainder of the day will be for resting and relaxing. An orientation session will be held to prepare for the days ahead.
Day 2 : Sarajevo: A walk through time
On this day the group will discover the rich history and culture of Bosnia, starting with a tour of Sarajevo’s Old Town, exploring the Ottoman, Austro Hungarian and communist era influences on the city as well as the landmarks of the major wars that took place here. The group will visit the beautiful Ottoman marketplace filled with shops and restaurants selling a wide range of goods alongside beautiful old buildings, mosques and churches. Our expert team will explain the history of Islam in Bosnia and the multifaith traditions of Bosnia, to the 500 year old waqf of Gazi Husref Bey, to the story of how World War 1 started at the exact spot where in 1914 Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. From here the group will proceed to discover the magnificent springs of the Bosnia river located in a green forest, and take a lovely horse and carriage ride. The group will proceed to the Tunnel of Hope that was built in 1993 and was the only lifeline for the people during the Siege of Sarajevo - the longest in modern history. The day will end on a mountain at Sunnyland Restaurant overlooking Sarajevo. Here, there is an exciting alpine coaster ride for an additional fee. Return to hotel for diner and overnight.
Day 3 : Central Bosnia Tour (Travnik, Ahmici)
Travel to central Bosnia and explore the cultural city of Travnik with its stunning Coloured Mosque, impressive Ottoman fortress and the beautiful mountain springs. Lunch will be at a beautiful riverside location. The group will visit local Muslim villages and learn about the lives of villagers. At the village of Ahmici, the group can learn about the war crime and massacre that took place in 1993 by Croatian militia.
Day 4 : Olympic Mountains Tour
Travel to the beautiful mountains where the 1984 Winter Olympics were held and enjoy magnificent views, while learning about the region. Take a cable car ride to the peaks. Visit the Army Mosque - built by the Bosnian army during the war- and learn about its wonderful story. The group will have lunch at a scenic mountain location followed by a presentation about our charity work. The group will then help prepare gift packs for donation to our beneficiaries on day 6 of the programme. Proceed to the Islamic community of Sarajevo for a presentation about their work, then visit the Lions Cemetery to make a dua for the martyrs who defended Bosnia Herzegovina so heroically. End the day with a coffee at the White Fortress enjoying the views of the city. The rest of day is free to explore Sarajevo.
Day 5 : Herzegovina tour (Mostar, Blagaj, Pocitelj, Stolac)
Travel to the Herzegovina region of the country and explore its rich Islamic heritage. This includes a tour of the heritage city of Mostar with its Ottoman marketplace, the world famous Stari Most Bridge, Karodoz Bey Mosque, Mehmed Koski Pasha Mosque. The group will proceed to the town of Blagaj, where a 450-year-old Sufi Tekkiya is located by the source of a raging river. Moving on, the group will visit the UNESCO Heritage town of Pocitelj, with its unique stonework and location by the river before proceeding to Stolac, with its rich culture and one of the oldest mosques in the country. Along the way the group can visit villages and meet the local people to learn about their lives and experiences.
Day 6 : Meet the Community/Charity Day
This day is reserved for community and charity activities. The group will visit some organisations and people that we support through our charitable activities. Following this, there will be a ‘handover ceremony’ to give the charity packs prepared on day 4 to the needy beneficiaries. For lunch, the group will be joined by some young Bosnians, and will learn about the challenges faced by the young people living in Bosnia today. The rest of the day is free to rest or explore Sarajevo. At dinner, the group will be joined by some notable personalities of Sarajevo and have a chance to learn about contemporary Bosnian issues and culture.
Day 7 : Srebrenica: A modern Genocide in the heart of Europe
Travel to Northeast Bosnia to the city of Tuzla to meet some inspiring local women’s groups to learn about their work and projects for women. Proceed to the town of Srebrenica - the scene of the worst war crime in Europe since World War 2. At the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial, the group can learn the details about the tragedy in June 1995, when over 8,300 Muslim men and boys were massacred by the Serbians, despite being under UN protection. The group will also meet some Muslim community leaders and survivors and learn about their experiences and bravery, as well as the work they are doing for the communities. There is opportunity to make donations (optional) directly to the needy people. All donations will be made in a respectful and sensitive manner.
Day 8 : Farewell Bosnia
After breakfast, the group will have a final session to sum up the trip and share any reflections. Checkout of the hotel and then there will be some free time for last minute photos and activities. The group will be able to farewells to our team and their new Bosnian friends, then transfer to airport.