Rafting the Neretva River

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) contains many beautiful rivers and lakes. What better way to experience them than by rafting!

Where

We went rafting on the Neretva River, departing from the town of Konjic. Our tour was led by Grand River. We met at their offices in Konjic, before being bussed for around an hour to the starting point. It was a beautiful (but winding!) drive up through the hills!

What to expect

Once at the starting point we helped unload the rafts, before hopping in and starting our journey down the river. It took the whole day to travel the ~25km back to Konjic. It was very scenic, with crystal-clear water, green forest and steep gorges. The water level was relatively low (we travelled in September), so it wasn’t particularly white-water rafting – more of a gentle paddle down the river with rapids in a few spots. We stopped twice – the first for a swim break and the second time for lunch, which was cevapi, chicken, bread and tomatoes prepared by our guides. The river water is pristine but quite cold, so we were glad to be there on sunny day! Overall it was an enjoyable way to spend the day, and soak in the beautiful scenery. 

What to wear

The rafting company supplied wetsuits, booties, life jackets and helmets, so all we really needed to wear was swimming gear. We’d recommend wearing a rash vest or other top to cover your shoulders, as the wetsuits were sleeveless and a few people on our trip ended up sunburnt.

Any gear you don’t want to take up the river can be left in lockers at the rafting company’s office. They also had change rooms and showers so we’d recommend taking a change of clothes and a towel for when you’re done.

Other tips

Sunscreen is a must! We’d also recommend using the bathroom before you leave the rafting office as there are no bathrooms available during the trip. You don’t need to be a super strong swimmer, but being confident and comfortable around the water will make the day much more enjoyable. This trip would be suitable for teenagers as well as adults, and did not require a high level of fitness.

We stayed near Konjic, but rafting trips can also be booked as day trips from Sarajevo with transfers included.