The Vrbas Adventure Resort (VAR), created with funding by the European Union, stretches south of Banja Luka and covers 800 square kilometers around the Vrbas River. To say it offers a wide range of adrenaline-pumping possibilities would be an understatement. But, frankly, many destinations around the world offer outdoor activities. What makes the VAR unique is the fact that very few European cities offer such a variety of soft and hard adventure activities ranging from rafting, canoeing, and kayaking to climbing, hiking, horseback riding, or simply sight-seeing. Best of all, everything can be experienced less than 40 kilometers from Banja Luka’s city center. The Vrbas River originates at the foot of Vranica Mountain in central Bosnia. It flows for 250 kilometers before spilling into the Sava River near the town of Srbac. The 31-kilometer section from the Bočac dam to the center of Banja Luka is where adventure seekers should strap on their helmets and harnesses. This is where the World Rafting Championships were hosted in 2009. This event served as the Vrbas’s coming-out party, paving the way for this patch of Mother Nature to become a whitewater dream. The heart of the VAR is the small settlement of Krupa na Vrbasu. This community of 3,000 people, located 25 kilometers south of Banja Luka, collectively decided that their best chance for development was to embrace the green policy introduced by several local NGOs. This initiative, partly funded by the city of Banja Luka and the European Union, has been an eye-opener for locals. The realization that Krupa na Vrbasu has it all – waterfalls, watermills, and a rich cultural and historical heritage – but simply needed to protect it, has given an infusion of hope, pride, and sustainability to the region.

Top 10 VAR Destinations

The Rafting Center

Run by the Rafting Klub Kanjon, the Rafting Center is located near the Tijesno Canyon. All rafting journeys begin and end here. There is a riverside café and restaurant, which is the place to be in the summer.

Tijesno Canyon

Tijesno means tight, and tight it is. This five-kilometer-long, 400-meter-deep canyon was the site for the 2009 World Rafting Championship. The access to Tijesno Canyon is as impressive as the canyon itself. Whether by raft or steep-but-secure steps, any level of adventure can be accommodated.

Natural Stone Bridge

This natural stone bridge, created by erosion, hovers over the Vrbas River two kilometers northeast of Krupa na Vrbasu. There are eight climbing routes on and around it. This spot has also been designated as the trailhead for hikes along the Kočićeve Staze (trail), which leads to the Gomionice Monastery 60 kilometers away.

The Krupa River Watermills

Five out of the seven ancient watermills, nestled between roaring falls, are still functional. They still grind grains every day as they have for hundreds of years. One can observe the old practice and buy a kilogram or two of fresh-ground, organic-wheat flour.

Strikina Pećina (Uncle’s Cave) and Krupa Springs

Immediately above the source of the Krupa River, a tributary of the Vrbas, is Strikina Pećina. Thought to be the source of the Krupa Springs before an earthquake dislocated the source several meters lower. A four-kilometer path follows the river from its source to the Krupa River waterfalls and mills.

The Krupa Monastery

It is thought that the Krupa Monastery was built in the early 13th century. Excavations show an older sanctuary – proving there was a basilica here in the 6th or 7th century, when Christianity first appeared in the region.

Švrakava

Adventure seekers only. With its multitude of waterfalls, cascades, and a challenging 300-meter canyon, this has become a hotspot for canyoning. If canyoning isn’t your speed, Švrakava still caters to nature lovers, who just want to hang out.

Greben Ruins

The ruins of the Greben medieval fortress – first mentioned in 1192 – are on the ridgeline of Greben Gorge, just above Krupa na Vrbasu. There is an easy five-kilometer footpath from the Krupa Monastery to the ruins. The trail offers some of the best views of the Vrbas Valley.

Zvečaj Ruins

The remains of this medieval fortress are approximately 18 kilometers south of Banja Luka on the southern slopes the Vrbas’s left riverbank. Zvečaj was first mentioned in 1404, when Duke Hrvoje Vukčić made an agreement with the city of Dubrovnik. A two-kilometer trail, starting from the main E661 highway, leads to the ruins of Zvečaj.

Log Cabin Church

A typical, western-Bosnia-style, wooden church sits in the village of Tovilovići – not far from Krupa na Vrbasu. There are no written documents about its origins. It’s well worth a visit though … especially by bike along the winding country roads.