Outside magazine awarded the Dinaric Alps Trail the 2014 Travel Award for the Best New Trail.
Via Dinarica is a 1000km long trail, winding all the way from Albania to Slovenia. Its head is a conglomerate of jagged peaks through Albania, northwestern Kosovo and an area of Montenegro, while the torso and heart pass through most of Bosnia and Herzegovina before reaching its legs in Croatia.
The trails tail tethers off in Slovenia at two of Europe’s greatest limestone caves at Postojnske and Skocjanske. From there, within arms reach, is a trail head to the mighty Via Alpina at Slovenia’s highest peak – Triglav Mountain.
Each country on the trail offers its own activities, from adventure to relaxation, on both land and water. Hiking and trekking is a popular activity in the national parks and whitewater rafting is a well-developed adventure sport in B&H and Montenegro. Although one may have to look a bit harder, it’s well worth the effort when it comes to rural tourism and enjoying the traditional lifestyles and cuisine of the highlands.
The Via Dinarica trail exists naturally, but the goal is to make it accessible to everyone who wants to make the trip. The mega trail is being implemented by ATA – the Adventure Tourism Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina with funds from the UNDP and USAID.
The Via Dinarica project promotes this little-known region of the Balkans, protects as well as shows off its natural resources and helps conserving the highland cultures of the region. Its final goal is to raise awareness on good business practices and environment protection, create a tourist offer which relies on natural beauties, traditional products and the unique cultural heritage, as well as to link stakeholders in the region for the purpose of jump starting sustainable economic development.
For more information visit www.viadinarica.com.
