Enjoy Ancient Mostar

The experience was excellent, we had a great guide (TJ), he explained everything related to Mostar and Bosnia, and we never get tired of that, we had also a great chofer (Boky?) Excellent chofer and a kind person. In general was an amazing tour, I will have the experience in my mind forever, including great pictures from Mostar and Kravice Falls, and one of the most amazing food I have try during tours around the world..

A full day with lots of coach travel with some time to see Mostar. Guide TJ had personality and opinions but at times a bit too much. Swearing unnecessary and not so professional. Guide in Mostar told the history of the old bridge but evaded the modern tragic and profound history of destruction and rebuilding. But still a good day.

We had Maria and Soria as our tour guides who were excellent. Learnt a lot about the history, economy and the social fabric of the region from them. The schedule was good and the stops were well timed. The day couldn't have been better.

My husband and I booked this trip through our hotel. Pick up was 7.05 am and I think it was 6.30 pm before we got back so us a very long day. We were on a mini bus that held 15 people so was a great size, very comfortable with air conditioning. Our guide was Ivan and he is the main reason for giving 5 stars. He gave lots of information in a good way so you didn’t get too much so weren’t bored, but enough to make it interesting and understandable. We visited some waterfalls which were stunning and the to Mostar. Bosnia isn’t anywhere as nice a place as Dubrovnik, but interesting. It was nice to see the contrast in buildings and it was a lovely quaint place. We had a thunderstorm so did get very heavy rain which was a shame but did mean we could take some photos without as many people on it. I can imagine at peak season the place will be packed, so it was nice to go and see it when it was a little quieter. We booked the Montenegro trip and we’re disappointed that our guide wasn’t Ivan.

We ended up going through border stations six times during the day. Neum visit was a cafe off highway not in the town. Hour at waterfalls was ok. NOT enough time in Mostar. Guide in van had no enthusiasm for trip. Then we find out you can book the trip in Dubrovnik for 2/3 the price. Viator you failed us this time.

First the good - Mostar was interesting and our guide there, Bruno, was very informative. Had a delicious lunch and enjoyed the walk around the old town. It feels a million miles away from Dubrovnik. The scars from the war are everywhere and that in itself is very powerful. Now the rest - this is advertised as hotel pick-up and drop-off. We were at the Hilton and were told to meet at Pile gate. Not the end of the world -but not a hotel pickup. At the end of the day we were told we could not be dropped off at Pile and would be taken to the next bus stop. NO idea where this is, so we opted to get off at the other end of the Old Town. Again, not the worst thing - but not what is stated. I was disappointed with our guide on the bus. I have had great experience with all of the guides I have been with here except for this lady - who seemed to be either reading from script or regurgitating information she had learnt. She treated us all like schoolchildren - with constant instructions about times we needed to be back on the bus, the need to have seatbelts on etc. Honestly -the bus was full of adults and I feel we only needed to be asked once to obey the laws and wear a seatbelt. Instead we were subjected to a tirade about letting the team down if someone wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was fined by police in Bosnia and then the whole bus needed to go find a post office to pay the fine, causing us to be delayed and held up at yet another border crossing. On the way home she even said it might be possible to stop for a toilet break if some needed to stop, but that not everyone would be able to go to the loo as it would cause delays at the border! Needless to say there was no toilet stop (and no coffee stop either although advertised). On the way home the driver took an alternate route cross country to avoid border controls and drove as if being pursued. There are multiple border crossings and I am sure when it is busy these cause delays - but surely that is known and is factored into the time. Not really the problem of the paying passengers! The waterfalls were fine but really did not need a 60 minute stop and the time would have been better spent in Mostar, at the coffee stop, or taking the pressure off the driver to drive like a bat out of hell. In summary - Mostar was interesting but I am not sure that the three hours there were worth an 11 hour day.

The “luxury minivan” is a small vehicle that can accommodate up to 21 adults, including the driver and your guide. Inside, it is dark due to heavy tinted windows and can be claustrophobic as the vehicle is filled to capacity. When we are picked up several minutes after the agreed upon time, only the seats at the back of the bus are available. It is a row of four seats cramped next to each other, where only two seats are free for my friend and I. We take the seats. After the first stop, we tell the tour guide, Nicholina, that we are unhappy at the back of the van and inform her that we would like to change seats. She says this would not be possible. She says that, as we took a tour on the same bus the day before and we already knew we would be seated at the back, we should have said something earlier. Therefore, she made it clear that this was our fault. After our first stop, we attempted to change seats as she had not announced any seating policy. At this point, she asked us to move as two people who sat there “had written a note” requesting for the seat. When I asked these people if this was true, they did not acknowledge that a note exists. This is when the tour guide changed her explanation and clarified that they only speak Spanish so they needed to be near her for translated tour commentary. She then raised her voice and asked me to take my seat, noting that I am just one unhappy customer. “I will take care of the 17 happy ones,” she said. As of this writing, Nicholina has not made amends. She has not requested other people to change seats. And she has still not established a fair and flexible seating policy that does not unfairly penalize people for the minivan pickup order that they have no control over. *This tour involves 6 time-consuming border crossings.

Kind of a long drive out (about 3 hours each way including border crossing), but with an expert driver and a guide who provided just enough information on the way. Pickup was a bit chaotic at the Pile Gate. Lots of tours picking up at the same time so you need to be aware - the destination is in the windshield and the name of the tour operator is on the door to the van. Mostar was worth the visit (imho) and the tour operator there was very entertaining and forthright about the troubles. It was quite “touristy” but the people were overall friendly.

<p>This was an excellent tour and would definitely recommend. Guide was very informative and friendly. We stopped at Neum for a short break before heading to the border. We stopped at Kravice Waterfalls which were fabulous. Spent about an hour there before heading to Mostar. What a delightful place. The Stari Most Bridge was impressive and divers were waiting for tourists to pay up enough money before jumping into the river below. We also visited a Turkish House which was very interesting. A really great day.</p>

Mostar is a beautiful ancient city with an interesting past, great architecture, and a blending of many different cultures. Our guide Ana and our male guide (sorry, we couldn't remember your name!) were both very friendly, spoke good English, and spoke frankly about the history and future of both Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The bus was large and air conditioned with a restroom in the back, so the long drive did not bother us. The countryside was lush and beautiful, and we stopped for coffee at a lovely little renovated hotel along the way. Views from the old abandoned guard tower we stopped at on our way home provided panoramas of the whole river valley. It really is a magnificent area.