Bosnia and Herzegovina: Via Ferrata Vulin Potok and Sport Climbing in Blagaj

Only 15 kilometers from Mostar, in the village of Blagaj, you will find the most beautiful area for sport climbing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the via ferrata Vulin Potok, which leads adventurously through a narrow gorge

The Vulin Potok via ferrata in Blagaj connects the individual sport climbing sectors, but is also an adventure in itself that you should do in Bosnia and Herzegovina .

This via ferrata is located in a relatively new climbing area that is quickly becoming one of the largest, most beautiful, and most diverse climbing areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina . It lies on the outskirts of the cozy village of Blagaj, not far from the ice-cold Buna spring , which rises directly at the foot of a 200-meter-high rock face.

Worth seeing: the dervish monastery Blagaj Tekke.

Right next to the spring, beneath the rocks, is the Tekke Blagaj, a 16th-century dervish monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another cultural highlight is Stari Grad Blagaj Castle , which you can visit on the descent.

Via Ferrata Sport Climbing Vulin Potok Blagaj Bosnia Herzegovina

Key Facts about the Vulin Potok via ferrata in Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina

♡ Factor: ♡♡♡♡ ♡

Time : 3 hours

Altitude : 381 m up and down

Length : 5.6 km

Accessible by public transport? No

Directions: From Mostar, drive towards Stolac and after 6 km, turn left at the FIS shopping center towards Nevesinje. Continue straight for the next 2 km and stay straight at the intersection towards Blagaj. Continue on the main road for 4 km and turn right just before the mosque. Cross the small bridge and turn left immediately after. Follow the dirt road to the Eco Centar Blagaj, where you can park.

GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for the hike to the Outdoor Active website

Starting point: Eco centar Blagaj

Provider:

On the Blagaj Climbing website you can find everything about the via ferrata, guided tours, climbing routes and accommodation.

Safety instructions

The via ferrata should only be attempted with a certified via ferrata set, helmet and appropriate previous experience.

The via ferrata leads through a narrow gorge

Even in summer you can find plenty of shade here

The via ferrata is approximately at a difficulty of BC

The Stari Grad Blagaj Castle from the inside

The via ferrata combines sport, fun and culture

From the castle, the road leads back to the village

Key Facts about Sport Climbing in Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Equipment required: 15 quickdraws and 70 m of rope.

• About 140 routes with difficulty levels ranging from 3 to 8 (French rating).

• From 15 meters up to multi-pitch lengths of 200 meters.

• 9 sectors where you can climb all year round.

• The climbing area in the limestone stretches over 2.5 km in length

The access to the climbing area and the via ferrata are well signposted

The Rebro sector at the top of the climbing area

The different sectors can be reached via the via ferrata

Orientation

The geographical location of Blagaj, the pleasant climate and the orientation of the sector make it possible for you to climb in Blagaj almost all year round .

Refugio im Sektor Rebro

The French scale is used to rate the difficulty . The Rebro and Šube sectors are located so they can be climbed year-round. The Pejotl (A), Pčelinjak (B), Ljut (C), Crvena stijena (D), Duga peć, Karantena, and Vučije točilo sectors are ideal for winter climbing, as they are mostly sunny and, if the wind isn't too strong, you can climb in a T-shirt. In summer, these sectors become unbearably hot after 10 a.m. Then you can move on to the Hladovina, Publika, and Ispod-Vodopanac canyon sectors, which are generally a bit windier and offer various orientations that provide shade. If you're still too hot, you can swim in the Buna springs; with water temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius, it's a real challenge.

Provider:

On the Blagaj Climbing website you can find everything about the via ferrata, guided tours, climbing routes and accommodation.

You can also find a topo at The Cag .

Climbing Guide: Bosnia and Herzegovina Rock Climbing Guidebook - 2024 by Igor Vukic and David Lemmerer

You can find more blog entries about the Balkans here

Info:

Arrival:

From Frankfurt there are flights with a stopover to Mostar .

The journey time by car is approximately 14:30 hours.

Mostar can also be reached from Dubrovnik in Croatia. From there, it's a two-and-a-half-hour drive or a three-hour journey by public transport.

General information about Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found here .

Fresh fish is available in the restaurants on the Buna

Information about the Dervish Monastery can be found here .

The Lazy Bar, located right on the Buna River, is a cozy spot. Here you can swim in the river and relax with a drink in one of the many hammocks.