In the early morning, meet your guide on the Riva ─ Split’s main promenade ─ and then hop inside an air-conditioned coach and relax on the 3-hour journey to Medjugorje, a charming town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As you travel, hear from your guide how Medjugorje has been an important Catholic pilgrimage site since 1981, when apparitions of the Virgin Mary were reported.
On arrival, enjoy around three hours of free time to do as much, or as little, as you wish. Perhaps stretch your legs with a walk up Apparition Hill, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. The impressive cross on the hill’s summit makes the challenging climb well worth it. Depending on timing, attend a service at St James Church, recharge with lunch at a local restaurant (own expense), or relax and soak up the tranquility in the Garden of Contemplation.
When the time comes, join back up with your guide and continue to Mostar, around an hour away. Here, set off on foot to explore with your guide.
See the Old Bridge ─ a 16th-century bridge that was destroyed in the 1990s Bosnian war, but rebuilt in 2004 to symbolize unity between the town’s Muslims and Croats ─ and learn how the UNESCO-listed town has long been a mix of cultures and religions. Visit the Mosque of Mostar (own expense) and the town’s famous Turkish House (own expense). Then, make the most of 1.5 hours of free time to spend as you wish.
With your appetite sated, return to your coach and travel back to Split, where your day trip concludes at the original start point.