Family programme for GCC travel agencies
Bosnia for Gulf families in 8 days: private family programme for GCC travel agencies
Bosnia for Gulf families is an 8-day summer programme with private vehicles, family apartments and halal-friendly dining in Sarajevo, the Bjelašnica and Trebević mountains, Mostar and the Kravice waterfalls. It is operated by travellige, a Sarajevo-based, trade-only DMC, for travel agencies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and the wider GCC.
- Duration
- 8 days
- Route
- Sarajevo → Sarajevo
- Best months
- June to September
- Group size
- One family or several families, each in its own private vehicle with driver
At a glance
- Duration
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Route
- Sarajevo, Trebević, Bjelašnica, Konjic, Jablanica, Mostar, Blagaj, Kravice, Počitelj, Sarajevo
- Overnights
- Sarajevo 3, Mostar 2, Sarajevo 2
- Transport
- Private vehicle with driver for each family: sedan, minivan or minibus by family size
- Accommodation
- Family apartments, apart-hotels or connecting hotel rooms
- Border crossings
- None
- Season
- June to September, with the peak in July and August
Why this programme sells
Gulf families come to Bosnia and Herzegovina in summer for green mountains, rivers, waterfalls and cooler air, in a country where mosques, halal food and a welcoming Muslim culture are part of everyday life. Saudi Arabia accounted for 12.8% of foreign overnights in Bosnia and Herzegovina in August 2025, according to the national statistics agency, which shows how strong this summer flow is.
Families want a different rhythm from coach groups: late starts, long lunches, space for children, privacy and flexibility. This programme is built around that. Each family has its own vehicle and driver, stays in apartments or connecting rooms, and has free time every day. The driver stays with the family for the day, so plans can change with the weather or the children's energy.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Sarajevo
Private meet and greet at Sarajevo International Airport and transfer to the family apartment (20 to 30 minutes). Evening walk in Baščaršija with dinner at a traditional Bosnian restaurant.
⌂ Sarajevo
Day 2
Sarajevo, Trebević and Vrelo Bosne
Late-morning city tour with an Arabic-speaking guide: Baščaršija, the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Sebilj fountain and the Latin Bridge. Afternoon cable car up Trebević mountain for views over the city and a walk in the forest. Evening at the Vrelo Bosne park at Ilidža (about 30 minutes), at the spring of the Bosna river, with horse-drawn carriages along the avenue.
⌂ Sarajevo
Day 3
Bjelašnica mountain day
Drive to Bjelašnica, one of the 1984 Olympic mountains (about 45 minutes). Fresh air, meadows and space for children, with optional quad or buggy rides with local providers. Lunch at a mountain restaurant. Optional visit to the traditional highland village of Lukomir by 4x4, depending on road conditions. Return to Sarajevo in the afternoon.
⌂ Sarajevo
Day 4
Sarajevo to Mostar via Konjic and Jablanica
Drive south along the Neretva (about 2.5 hours of driving in total). Stop at the turquoise Jablanica lake and in Jablanica for the famous lamb on the spit. Arrive in Mostar in the afternoon and walk to Stari Most when the heat drops in the early evening.
⌂ Mostar
Day 5
Kravice, Blagaj and Počitelj
Morning at the Kravice waterfalls (about 45 minutes) for swimming and a picnic in the shade. Lunch by the river at Blagaj next to the dervish tekke at the spring of the Buna. Late afternoon at the Ottoman village of Počitelj, then back to Mostar.
⌂ Mostar
Day 6
Mostar to Sarajevo
Relaxed morning in Mostar. Return to Sarajevo (about 2.5 hours), with stops along the Neretva. Afternoon free for shopping in Sarajevo's malls and the bazaar.
⌂ Sarajevo
Day 7
Free day or nature excursion
Free day with the driver on standby, or a nature excursion such as a lake and forest day in the mountains near Fojnica (about 1.5 hours each way), or a picnic on Igman. Farewell dinner.
⌂ Sarajevo
Day 8
Departure
Private transfer to Sarajevo International Airport.
Optional Una and Bihać extension
For families staying longer, we add two nights in the Una valley in the north-west: the waterfalls of Štrbački buk and Martin Brod in Una National Park, rafting suitable for families on calmer sections, and riverside restaurants. Bihać is about 4.5 hours from Sarajevo and a similar distance from Mostar, so the extension works best as days 6 and 7 with a return to Sarajevo on day 8, or by adding two extra days.
Included in the ground package
- Family apartments, apart-hotel units or connecting hotel rooms, with breakfast where available
- A private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for each family for all days of the programme, sized to the family and its luggage
- Private arrival and departure transfers
- An Arabic-speaking guide for the Sarajevo and Mostar tours; English is also available
- Trebević cable car tickets and Kravice waterfalls entry
- Halal restaurant bookings for the lunches and dinners on the programme
- Child seats on request
- Local tourist (city) taxes, itemised in the quote
- One Arabic- or English-speaking operations contact, reachable around the clock by phone and WhatsApp
Not included
- International and domestic flights, unless quoted separately
- Visa fees and any visa support beyond the invitation letters we can issue for confirmed bookings
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Meals and drinks not listed as included
- Optional excursions and activities
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses, porterage at hotels unless requested, and anything not listed under included
- Quad and buggy rides, 4x4 to Lukomir and the Una extension (optional)
Hotel categories
- Family apartments and apart-hotels with two or three bedrooms and a kitchen, in central Sarajevo and Mostar
- 4-star and 5-star hotels with family rooms or connecting rooms
- Villas with gardens in the Sarajevo area for larger families, subject to availability
- On request we select properties with no alcohol served and with prayer rooms or nearby mosques
Group size and guiding
The programme is private: each family has its own vehicle and driver throughout. Several families travelling together can share an Arabic-speaking guide on sightseeing days while keeping their own vehicles.
Our guides speak Arabic and English, and our drivers know the family-friendly stops, prayer locations and halal restaurants along the route. A female guide can be requested, subject to availability.
FAQ
Do Saudi families need a visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina runs a seasonal visa waiver for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain from 1 June to 30 September. Rules for other GCC passports differ. Visa rules change, so check before booking; last checked: October 2026.
Which flights connect the Gulf with Sarajevo?
flydubai flies from Dubai year-round with a summer peak, and flynas, Jazeera Airways and other Gulf carriers have operated seasonal routes. Gulf routes were heavily disrupted in summer 2026, so we recommend flexible booking terms and, as a fallback, one-stop routings via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Schedules change; last checked: October 2026.
Is all the food halal?
Halal meat is standard in many restaurants in Sarajevo and Mostar, and we book only restaurants that confirm halal menus for the programme's meals. We can also arrange alcohol-free venues.
Can the programme be longer?
Yes. Many Gulf families stay 10 to 14 days. We add the Una valley, more mountain days or an apartment stay in Sarajevo with the driver on call.
When is the busiest period?
July and August, with the GCC school holidays. Apartments and private vehicles should be confirmed early for these months.
Can you handle large family groups?
Yes. Families of ten or more can travel in a minibus with driver, and we can book adjoining apartments or a villa.
Quote a family programme
Send the family size, children's ages, dates and preferred accommodation. We reply with a private programme and net rates within 24 hours on working days.
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