When we realized how full of lakes, rivers and just awesomeness was in Bosnia, we couldn’t wait to get off land and on the water. I just recently popped my canoe cherry during a trip home and was itching to get back on the water. We came across Canoe Safari on tripadvisor and tracked it down after reading the raving reviews. We showed up at 10:30AM without a reservation and was greeted by Ivan. Ivan is the second in command and just as precious as can be. He set us up with a private tour (2.5 hours), alongside himself as guide and packed a little cooler for us to enjoy on the river. Ivan also gave us the option of a homemade, authentic Bosnian lunch spread after the tour which we did not hesitate in accepting. Everything included, our price was 30 euros per person! And off we went…

Like I said, I had canoed once in my whole life before attempting this tour and this was my boyfriend’s first time testing his river legs; so, naturally in our minds we were pros. Ivan was so patient with us and taught us how to navigate the rapids so we didn’t turn over. He went first so we could mimic his movements and even played the part of photographer so we could look badass taking on the rapids. 

He really made an effort to make our time on the river last for the full allotted time and didn’t rush us in any way. We saw turtles, snakes and river birds native to that area as well as tasted the fresh blackberries from the bushes growing on the river bends. (Sorry for dropping them in the water!!!)

I am going to skip the part where we got cocky and took the last rapid on ourselves (and flipped) and  go straight to lunch. (For the record, Ivan knew we were going to flip and made sure we did so safely.)

Ok. Lunch. If I hashtagged, I would hashtag #holydeliciousfoodinmymouth because that is what it was. I haven’t introduced Stanko, the owner of Canoe Safari and he is very important to this part of the post for one reason: his wife. His wife was creating our yummy yum yum meal when we paddled back to their dock but the smell reached us before we saw her.

A traditional method to prepare food is in cast iron pan, nestled in between wood that has been heated by fire. The creates a result where the food is half baked and half broiled for a taste and tenderness that can not be beat. Stanko’s wife had prepared chicken and potatoes for us using this method as well as laid out a plate of fresh fruits and tomatoes that were grown right there on the property. And to top it off, we were offered liquors and wine that were produced right there in the area. They also have other non-alcoholic drinks like juice and water for those of you who do not or can not drink.
But the best part was not the chicken or the potatoes or the liquors or the fruits (especially the figs. Oh, the figs!) or the tomatoes. It was their little welcome wagon, Blondie. The. Most. Charming. Dog. Ever.

Kravice Falls

If you follow the Trebizat you eventually get to the Kravice Falls, a little oasis tucked deep away in the mountains. For four marks a person, you can witness the most beautiful waterfall in Bosnia. There were several brave souls swimming in the cold mountain water but we opted to stay on dry land and sought refuge under one of the many cafes surrounding the water. It is a bit tricky to find, especially if you don’t have a GPS system. The Kravice Falls are located near the village of Studenac, between Ljubuski and Capljina. That is all we had to go by and if we could find it, so can you!