Sutjeska National Park is one of the most impressive natural areas and the oldest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, making it a must-visit destination for anyone who loves pristine nature, mountains, and active holidays.
Located in the southeast of the country, near Foča and the border with Montenegro, this park combines dramatic mountain landscapes, dense forests, glacial lakes, and a rich history all in one place. Sutjeska has been attracting hikers, adventurers, and wilderness lovers for decades, as noted by the portal punkufer.hr in its review.
One of the Last Rainforests in Europe
The park’s greatest natural treasure is undoubtedly the Perućica rainforest, one of the last preserved rainforests in Europe. Massive fir, beech, and spruce trees grow in Perućica, which is also home to the magnificent Skakavac Waterfall, standing at about 75 meters tall.
Due to its rugged inaccessibility, Perućica remains largely unexplored, and sightseeing in the central part of the rainforest is strictly forbidden without a guide—to ensure you don’t share the fate of a German army unit that, as local legend has it, entered the jungle in 1943 and never came out.
In addition to Perućica and the area along the Sutjeska River, after which it was named, the National Park encompasses parts of the Maglić mountains (including the highest peak in BiH – 2,386 m), Volujak, Vučevo, and Zelengora.
The park is home to ten more mountain peaks higher than two thousand meters, eight “mountain eyes”—the glacial lakes of Zelengora (Donje Bare, Gornje Bare, Crno, Bijelo, Orlovačko, Borilovačko, Štirinsko, and Kotlaničko Lake)—and 17 icy rivers and streams.
Aside from the high peaks, green valleys, and deep canyons of the Sutjeska, Hrčavka, and Jabučnica rivers, the park’s inhabitants are equally fascinating. These include the brown bear, wild cat, lynx, and wolf, alongside an incredibly rich flora of Mediterranean, Central European, Central Asian, and Alpine types.
An Outdoor Playground
For lovers of active holidays, the park offers numerous activities. Hiking trails lead through dense forests, across mountain passes, and to the most beautiful viewpoints, with routes of varying difficulty available, ranging from easy walks to challenging high-altitude climbs.
There are nine walking trails in total, the longest of which stretches for 22 kilometers. Prepare well for your hike and study the trails you plan to take. For example, the shortest one, Route 6, requires serious physical fitness, experience, and specialized equipment – a helmet, harness, ice axe, and crampons.
Cyclists will enjoy the 48-kilometer-long trail from Tjentište to Orlovačko Lake. Adventurers can try canyoning through the Hrčavka canyon or rafting on the Tara and Drina rivers, while wilderness lovers will thoroughly enjoy a Jeep safari.
History buffs won’t be disappointed either, here they will find a historical overview, from the monument and memorials of the Battle of Sutjeska, to katuns (traditional mountain huts) preserving memories of former highlander life, and medieval stećci tombstones keeping their silent stone vigil.
How to Get There, Where to Stay?
The easiest way to reach Sutjeska National Park is by car. From Sarajevo, travel through Foča toward Tjentište, the park’s administrative center, while the Sarajevo – Dubrovnik road passes directly through a section of the national park. You can park your car in front of the Mladost Hotel or in the parking lot located across from the monument.
Tjentište is located 107 kilometers from Sarajevo, about 590 kilometers from Zagreb (via Sarajevo – Foča), and 150 kilometers from Dubrovnik (via Trebinje). Durmitor National Park is just a two-hour drive away (it is not that far, but speed is limited to 5 kilometers per hour on certain sections).
You can stay in private accommodation, the Mladost Hotel in Tjentište, or the nearby Youth Camp. Mountain huts are also available in Dobre Vode, Donje Bare, and near Orlovačko Lake, and you can camp in the Sutjeska River valley or the Tjentište valley. If you pay for accommodation within the National Park area, the entrance fee is usually included in the price, otherwise, a daily pass costs 10 euros, while entry to the Memorial Center and Perućica is charged extra.
