Secret Lands of the Balkans
This trail will lead you to Lake Krenica, following an ancient medieval trade path across vast plateaus. You’ll have the chance to refresh by the Matica River, explore the fascinating Ravlića Cave, and visit the ancient necropolis of Stećak, home to centuries-old Roman tombstones. This experience isn’t just about riding—it’s about embracing the beauty, history, and staggering scenery in this small, forgotton corner of the world.
This horseback adventure through Herzegovina offers a blend of scenic riding, cultural exploration, and unique experiences. You will ride across rolling hay fields, vineyards, and along the Matica River, with stops at breathtaking locations like Lake Krenica and Nuga Lake. Each day consists of morning and afternoon rides, with a long break for lunch. Evenings at the ranch offer traditional food, relaxation, and camaraderie with fellow riders.
Whether trotting through shaded forests, galloping across open fields, or cooling off in crystal-clear waters, every moment on horseback immerses you in the beauty, history, and tranquility of Herzegovina.
The journey includes a visit to the famous Old Bridge of Mostar, a ride through fragrant Artemisia fields, and a tour of the historic Ravlića Cave. Along the way, you will experience traditional hospitality with riverside picnics, a winery visit, and a chance to see the wild horses of Livno up close. With a mix of exhilarating canters, peaceful valley rides, and fascinating cultural sites, this trip is an unforgettable way to explore the heart of Herzegovina on horseback.
- Discover Bosnia’s secret landscapes on horseback
- Ride through lakes, rivers and wild Herzegovinian countryside
- Explore ancient caves, tombstones and historic trade routes
- See wild horses of Livno and visit Mostar’s Old Bridge
- Enjoy riverside picnics and authentic local hospitality
- Relax in a tranquil guesthouse surrounded by nature.
itinerary
Day 1
Guests will have time to meet each other and settle into their accommodation. Before dinner, the hosts will give a short introduction and briefing about rides, horses and other things important to know. Dinner will be served with homemade food specialties. A snack can be served before dinner in case of early arrivals.
Day 2
After breakfast you will get to meet the horses. Today's ride is up to Lake Krenica. During the summer months you can stop to refresh and take pictures at the Lake for great memories. Krenica Lake tour is a very interesting straight forward ride over hay fields of Herzegovina with amazing views and wildlife such as rabbits, wild ducks, pheasants, birds. Ride around Krenica Lake, which is well known and features in many local tales & legends with its deepest point at 47 meters deep. Enjoy a delicious lunch followed by some rest. In the afternoon, you will visit the red and blue lakes, the great attractions of this region. From the fortress you will see the landscape that you will be riding across this week. Get back to the stables before dinner.
Day 3
Today you are going to Mostar to visit the famous "Old Bridge of Mostar". For those joining in July and August, you'll have the chance to witness a 450-year old tradition for the men of Mostar which consists of jumping into the river from the 25-meters high Old Bridge. In Mostar you will have lunch and taste a traditional food called "Ćevapčići", on a riverside terrace with a view of the "Old Bridge". You will have the opportunity to buy ice cream, traditional cakes, souvenirs or even clothes on the streets of the old town in Mostar. Afternoon is reserved for another pretty ride on the fields of Artemisia - the name says it all, an interesting riding route through the fields of the very aromatic herb Artemisia. You will canter through the herbs and enjoy the amazing and unique smell of this plant. The ride continues through the vineyards. Dinner will be served back at the ranch.
Day 4
Today's trail is called the Matica River. A very special riding day as this route was used for the National Endurance Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2010. The Matica River is famous for having a different name in every village it crosses, and ends up in the Adriatic Sea. On this route you will have an amazing place to stop and cool the horses. Lunch will be served by the river. In the afternoon you'll go on a tour of the traditional family wine estate and taste the local wines. Dinner will be served back at the ranch.
Day 5
After breakfast, get ready to go on the most interesting and longest route riding around the beautiful Lake Nuga. You will be climbing the hill to get to the entrance of the famous cave called “Ravlića pećina”. Enjoy a guided tour of the cave and hear about the history of this area. After visiting the cave you will continue to the spring of the Matica river. The area is well known for the old watermills that were used to flour grain for bread in the past centuries. A picnic lunch will be served at the river, and then enjoy a short visit to the “Peć Mlini” Park. In the afternoon you will mount up and ride back to Nuga Lake. At the stables, set the horses to the barn and head to dinner served in the club house.
Day 6
After breakfast, get ready to go on an excursion to visit the wild horses in Livno approx. 2h drive away from the stables. The wild horses of Livno live on the Kruzi plateau, on an area of about 150 square kilometers, located between the town of Livno to the south and the Cincar mountain to the north. This is a completely wild area of prime grazing, warm summers and long, cold and windy winters. The number of horses goes up to 1,000 individuals, and the search for horses with an experienced guide will make this excursion an unforgettable experience. You'll be able to take pictures and maybe even touch a horse if one of them shows interest in humans (it often happens that horses are the ones making the first step!). After the excursion, stop for lunch in a restaurant in Livno. If you are back from the wild horses excursion on time (and if not too tired), another evening ride can be organised and dinner will be served at the yard.
Day 7
After breakfast, guests will ride from the ranch near wine yards, passing orchards and crops of corn, potatoes, wheat (depending on which time of the year you are riding). You will ride through the village and then follow the route uphill crossing over a hill called Svetigora. Arrive in a very peaceful valley called „Omerovac“, a family-owned area surrounded by 4 hills (Svetigora, Krstina, Ograda and Orlov Kuk). Lunch will be served in the middle of the 4 hills. All you can experience on this ride is absolute peace. After lunch, head into a forest of oak trees. On your way back to the ranch, stop to visit a necropolis of ancient Roman tombstones. Some of them still have ancient carved symbols. In the afternoon, those who want can visit Međugorje (a religious center) and/or visit the Kravica waterfalls. Dinner will be served after the excursion, at the ranch.
Day 8
Departure is scheduled after breakfast and snacks are available for late departures.
Get a free
Secret Lands of the Balkans
Mini-brochure PDF
know before you go
For intermediate to advanced riders, you should have plenty of riding experience and be comfortable at all paces. Good physical condition is required due to the long hours in the saddle. We also welcome beginners, but they will follow a modified riding program tailored to their skill level.

The estate is led by Marija Mikulić, a passionate equestrian athlete, owner and your guide. A graduate in advanced horsemanship and sports coaching, Marija has been recognised multiple times as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top equestrian athlete. She competes in dressage, show jumping, and endurance riding, and, together with her family, has spent over 20 years breeding and training horses.
Minimum 2 riders - Maximum 10

The horses at this destination are well-trained, calm, and responsive, making them ideal for trail-riding. The breeds are a mixture of local Bosnian breeds crossed with Arab, and there are also a few pure breds, there are only a couple of horses bigger than 15.2hh. Most of the horses here are home bred and easy to ride and control as they have been part of the family since they were foals.

English saddles and bridles are used, tack is fitted to each horse and riders are provided with saddlebags while on the trail.

Price includes
- 7 nights accommodation
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on departure day
- English speaking guide
- Six days of riding 2-3 hours each day
- All excursions and sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
Price Excludes
- International flights
- Airport transfers






Accommodation
Nestled within a picturesque yard and surrounded by a serene oak forest, you'll be staying in a guest house featuring three beautifully appointed rooms, each with its own private bathroom equipped with a shower, toilet, and complimentary toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, hairdryer, etc.). The bedrooms are typically furnished with double beds, twins are also available.
There is a communal living area with a large dining table and a plush sofa, ideal for unwinding after a day of adventure. You'll also find a swimming pool for cooling off in hot weather. The pool area offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.
The house is fully equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Though a small kitchenette is available for light use, all meals are served at the Clubhouse, just 50 meters away.
At the Clubhouse, you'll be treated to authentic homemade cuisine, crafted with love by head chef Renata. All the freshest ingredients, sourced from the garden and neighboring farms.
Secret Lands of the Balkans
Booking Conditions
See the full booking conditions specific to this trail here.Flights and transfers.
Do not book your flights until you have received the confirmation email from saddletravel.com
Flight and transfer information
- Split (SPU), Mostar (OMO) or Sarajevo (SJJ)
- Arrival & Departures: You may arrive and depart at any time via Split, Mostar, or Sarajevo airports. Transfer fees apply and are payable upon arrival.
- Where possible, riders arriving within one hour of each other may be grouped into shared transfers to avoid multiple journeys on the same day.
The single supplement is available upon request and subject to availability. We cannot guarantee a solo room.