 Poster: A snowHead
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TR : Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12-19 March 2023
National Express Cardiff to Gatwick North
£51 r/t
Package with Crystal Holidays
Flights
Transfers
Ski Carriage
1-week HB at Hotel Forest
6-day Lift Pass for Jahorina (part of a 'Buy One, Get One Free' promotion)
£599
Day to day costs
Food on aeroplane
Lunches on mountain, Pale, Sarajevo
Bar bill at Hotel Forest
Taxi to Sarajevo
4 t-shirts
Tip to Hotel serving staff
£341
TOTAL = £991
After a very successful and uneventful trip to Vallnord Pal-Arinsal, Andorra with Crystal Ski Holidays in December 2021 we chose their services again, this time a last minute deal to the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics venue of Jahorina in the Dinaric Alps of Bosnia and Herzegovina
During my time working at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana (Big Mountain as it was then) and Keystone Resort in Colorado in the early 2000s I was very fortunate to ski and socialise with two medalists from the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics Games, Bill Johnson and Steve Mahre respectively
Bill Johnson won Gold in the Men’s Downhill and Steve Mahre won Silver in the Men’s Slalom both held at the neighbouring resort of Bjelasnica (also offered by Crystal)
Jahorina hosted the Women’s Alpine events
So this area has been on my radar for some time, and with the introduction of both resorts into Crystal's portfolio for the first time this Winter and warming temperatures and rain in the Alps we headed East
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ski-resorts/bosnia-and-herzegovina-ski-holidays/jahorina/
https://www.oc-jahorina.com/en/
https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Jahorina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the last holdouts in Europe where smoking is still permitted indoors in public spaces, which along with the 80s soundtrack in the background transports you back decades overnight
There’s talk that this will change soon, the smoking not the music!
So if that's something you can't handle, stop reading and don't consider visiting
Travel to resort was easy with the plane half empty and the transfer taking under an hour
We drove through the centre of Sarajevo on the way to resort and it looked great
Nerys & I stayed at the newly opened off-mountain Hotel Forest on the outskirts of Pale in the Republika Srpska
It was their second winter of operation and the hotel was excellent
Very comfortable; a great ski room with drying facilities; entertainment on the Friday night
There were 7 Crystal guests in total
It was a 15-20 minute van ride to and from resort, departing at 9am and returning at 4pm each day
Pale, an important forestry and mill town in the region, is a 15-20 minute walk from the hotel and has some good restaurants and bars
Also some interesting architecture, old and new
Our HB meals were advertised as buffet, but with so few guests we were served breakfast and dinner table d'hote style
Breakfast
Unlimited coffee, tea, juices
Bread and preserves
Choice of eggs served with bacon, ham, sausage
Polenta
Bread and cream dish like bread & butter pudding
Dinner
Choice of two soups
Choice of two salads
Choice of four main dishes - normally pork, chicken, fish and vegetarian
Choice of two desserts
Food was very good and plentiful
Massive servings
Service was fantastic with most of the staff speaking fluent English
Jahorina is a fabulous medium sized resort with 47km of piste and a vertical drop of 584m (1900 - 1316m)
Well laid out runs which interconnect
Brand new gondolas, covered chairs. A very comfortable experience
Days 1 + 2 were wall to wall sunshine and great Spring conditions
Days 3 + 4 it snowed with 10-15cm each day
Day 5 was bluebird with a lovely covering of new snow all over the mountain
Loads of off-piste between runs and excellent tree skiing
This would be a fantastic resort during a good powder cycle with almost no competition for off-piste
Day 5 (Friday) was appreciably busier than Mon-Thurs but we never queued more than a minute or two
And that was only at the start of the day
We took Day 6 (Saturday) off and got a taxi to Sarajevo for the day
This was one of the major draws for the holiday, the opportunity to combine a city visit with skiing
Sarajevo didn't disappoint
It was fascinating
Departure from the hotel on transfer day was 2pm and if you really wanted to you could ski the in the morning
There's also night skiing
But that would only suit those staying on-mountain
The cost of food and drink on mountain was very cheap
Coffee under £2
1 litre bottle of sparkling water for £3
Wine by the glass and beer for £2.50
Pizza £8
Cevapi (pita bread with salad and beef kofta) £8
We'd love to return, and next time we'd visit the other resort nearby (Bjelasnica) and see Sarajevo at night after skiing
Highly recommended
Images and vids here on my Instagram account
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqK8sGvjJpA/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNdOxLjHKB/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqPoWOij0aJ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqSf_l7jEqA/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVA1uOD-6K/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqXPS01DbFu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZxye6j-va/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqceoYkjB-X/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqfJ7aUDlvD/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqhr0Q_jU4j/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqkIYYFjePG/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqk99G5jw-N/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqm68CgDlfY/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqxN6lRsLJb/
Sarajevo
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqphPrtPmZW/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqsBMHNpETf/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CquStFrqnvS/
Lots of background reading if you're interested
https://archive.md/2pwuF
https://archive.md/tjCt1
https://archive.md/j2oWF
https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/travel/sarajevo-ski-guide-a4327231.html
https://www.vogue.com/article/sarajevo-bosnia-travel-guide
https://www.afar.com/magazine/as-a-traveler-how-do-you-walk-sarajevos-bridge-to-the-past
https://www.afar.com/magazine/sarajevo-a-european-capital-reborn
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/city-local-travel-tips-sarajevo-bosnia-and-herzegovina
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2018/10/how-spend-long-weekend-sarajevo
https://archive.md/KFTCp
https://archive.md/gbEMt
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 9-04-23 9:06; edited 4 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Really interesting report, thank you! We met someone this year who also raved about skiing in Bosnia so it's now firmly on the list.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thank you very much Mike.
I've always been fascinated by the Balkans and their history (I have Greek routes) and Sarajevo is definitely on my list of places to visit.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| ElzP wrote: |
| Really interesting report, thank you! We met someone this year who also raved about skiing in Bosnia so it's now firmly on the list. |
My pleasure
Well worth a visit
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| franga wrote: |
Thank you very much Mike.
I've always been fascinated by the Balkans and their history (I have Greek routes) and Sarajevo is definitely on my list of places to visit. |
You're welcome
Now skied Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro
Loved all of them
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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As always, a fascinating trip report. Thank you.
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| Hurtle wrote: |
| As always, a fascinating trip report. Thank you. |
Thanks very much
A very different ski holiday
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Excellent review thanks
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Henwc wrote: |
| Excellent review thanks |
Pleasure
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Thanks for the report, it's great to have these hidden gems highlighted. Sounds like a dream on a good powder day.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Interesting.
I hope they fix the tobacco thing - I remember how badly places smelt, not something I hanker after.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
| 4 t-shirts |
... so you've now "been there and got the t-shirt?" 
Really interesting report about a place I'd never heard of, thanks.
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You know it makes sense.
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| phil_w wrote: |
Interesting.
I hope they fix the tobacco thing - I remember how badly places smelt, not something I hanker after. |
We got used to it tbh
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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It is not how bad the places smelt but how bad your clothes and room smelt the following day
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| countryman wrote: |
| It is not how bad the places smelt but how bad your clothes and room smelt the following day |
Indeed
Weirdly not too bad
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks for the report, very interesting, will check your pics on Insta.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
| franga wrote: |
Thank you very much Mike.
I've always been fascinated by the Balkans and their history (I have Greek routes) and Sarajevo is definitely on my list of places to visit. |
You're welcome
Now skied Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro
Loved all of them |
@Mike Pow
Really interested in these exotic destinations.
Did you also make it reports on the others? If yes, could you add links please?
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 3-04-23 18:30; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| johnboy wrote: |
| Thanks for the report, very interesting, will check your pics on Insta. |
Thanks very much
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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All about the t-shirts! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Mike Pow, nice report, thanks. Poignant reference to Bill Johnson. His story is a sad one.
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| The Flying Snowplough wrote: |
| @Mike Pow, nice report, thanks. Poignant reference to Bill Johnson. His story is a sad one. |
Thanks
Yes a very sad story
I was doing the split time on the gate above where he crashed
Really bad to watch after spending time with him and watching him train so hard for his comeback
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
| phil_w wrote: |
Interesting.
I hope they fix the tobacco thing - I remember how badly places smelt, not something I hanker after. |
We got used to it tbh |
Presumably you're also used to it to an extent from spending time in Japan?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
| phil_w wrote: |
Interesting.
I hope they fix the tobacco thing - I remember how badly places smelt, not something I hanker after. |
We got used to it tbh |
Presumably you're also used to it to an extent from spending time in Japan? |
Yes
Not so much these days
And only in really small places out of the big resorts
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FAQ
