FOCAFLYSPIN · SUTJESKA NATIONAL PARK

One of Europe's last
primeval forests.

Sutjeska is the oldest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it starts about an hour south of Foca. Inside it: Perucica, a strict reserve of untouched forest; Zelengora and its glacial lakes; and Maglic, the highest peak in the country.

THE PARK

Sutjeska
National Park.

Established in 1962, Sutjeska is the oldest and largest national park in the country, covering roughly 17,000 hectares along the Montenegrin border. It takes in the Perucica reserve, the Zelengora massif, the Sutjeska river canyon and Maglic, which at 2,386 metres is the highest point in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Most of the park is genuinely wild. There are marked trails and a mountain hut, but there is no cable car, no visitor complex and very little phone signal once you are inside. That is the appeal, and it is also the reason some parts are not accessible on your own.

What we do here. FOCAFLYSPIN does not run the park and does not employ its guides. Entry fees, guided walks into Perucica and canyoning permits all go through the park administration or licensed operators. What we can do is tell you honestly what is possible on your dates, help arrange it, and fit it around fishing or rafting if you are here for several days.

INSIDE THE PARK

Four things
worth the drive.

Perucica primeval forest in Sutjeska National Park
PRIMEVAL FOREST

PERUCICA

One of the last two untouched forests in Europe. Guide required.

Glacial lake on Zelengora mountain
MOUNTAIN

ZELENGORA

Eight glacial lakes, gentler walking than Maglic.

Canyoning in the Hrcavka canyon
CANYONING

HRCAVKA

Cascades, pools and rope descents. Guide and gear required.

Maglic peak and Trnovacko Lake
PEAK · LAKE

MAGLIC

2,386 m and Trnovacko Lake below it.

PRACTICAL

Before you
go in.

How do I get there from Foca?

The park entrance at Tjentiste is about 25 km south of Foca on the road towards Gacko, roughly half an hour by car. There is no useful public transport — you need a car or a transfer. Once inside, distances are longer than they look on the map and the roads are mountain roads.

Is there an entrance fee?

Yes, the park charges for entry, and guided visits to Perucica and canyoning on the Hrcavka are charged separately. Rates are set by the park administration and change, so we would rather check the current ones for your dates than quote a number that turns out to be wrong.

Can I walk into Perucica by myself?

No. It is a strict reserve and entry is only with a park guide. This is enforced. Most visits go to the Dragos sedlo viewpoint, which looks out over the reserve, and continue on foot from there with the guide.

When is the park open?

The park itself is open year round, but the high ground is a different matter. Snow can sit on Zelengora and around Maglic well into June and returns in October. Canyoning on the Hrcavka runs in the warmer months only. For walking, June through September is the reliable window.

How fit do I need to be?

It depends entirely on what you pick. The viewpoint over Perucica is a short walk. Zelengora and its lakes make a comfortable full day for anyone used to walking. Maglic is a serious mountain day. Tell us your group and we will match something realistic rather than sell you the hardest option.

Can I combine it with rafting or fishing?

That is what most people do. A common pattern is rafting one day, the park the next, and fishing on the third. If you have three days in Foca, say so in your inquiry and we will lay them out in a sensible order.

Is there accommodation inside the park?

There is a hotel at Tjentiste and mountain huts higher up, plus guesthouses back towards Foca. Options are limited and fill in summer. Ask early if you want to sleep inside the park rather than drive in each morning.

FOCAFLYSPIN · RIVER ADVENTURES

The park is one day of several.

Foca also has the rivers. Rafting the Tara canyon, fishing the Drina — most people who come for the park end up doing at least one of them.

SEE EVERYTHING →RAFTING THE TARA →