Bosnia-Herzegovina has an image problem. Devastated by civil war in the 1990s, the country is in serious need of a PR drive as most travellers still associate it with its bloody current history. Murmur it, but its essentially full of concealed gems and it has an unexplored feel welcomed by intrepid travellers. Couple a trip with a visit to Croatia and you’ll discover none of the holiday maker hoards that swamp the Dalmatian coast.

Our introduction to the country incites an, “Are you sure were in Bosnia?” reaction.

The Kravice Waterfall is an Eden-like wonder of multiple chutes gushing into a turquoise lagoon, where visitors can enjoy a refreshing swim in the sealing heat of summer. The falls are encrusted with grass and moss, and are besieged by luscious green hemp, figs and poplar trees, more akin to a scene Id expect to see in Hawaii instead of war-scarred Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Medjugorje

We are making a transient stop at the village of Medjugorje, a pilgrimage site where Catholics arrive by the busload “and all because some children playing in the close by hills said they saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1981 ( a claim which has since been rejected by the Vatican ).

Theres a statue of Jesus Christ with a consistently weeping knee, which fervent spiritual people caress and mop with tissues, apparently to use to fix sick family. Medjugorje is also home to the tackiest collection of souvenirs in the world. Fact. There’s no better spot to buy miniature statues of the Virgin Mary attached to a tiny box of earth from the hills where Jesus’s mother was spotted. You’ll be able to find in Medjugorje some good Medjugorje hotel.

Mostar is the country’s main attraction, a photographers dream of charming cobbled streets and stone homes, slowly reconstructed to resemble its pre-war charm during a multi-million-pound nip n tuck.

The cities iconic bridge graces the front covers of most Bosnia-Herzegovina manuals, its misty mountains providing the dramatic backdrop. The first 500-year-old Old Bridge was destroyed in 1993 in the war, symbolising the breakdown of the former Yugoslavia, as it was thought of as a mark of unification between the east and west.

When the bridge was devastated, the people of Mostar cried like they’d lost their families, local guide Amela tells us on a walking tour of the city’s Turkish-style old city.

Rebuilt and re-opened in 2004 using 1400 of the first stone bricks to hold onto its UNESCO world heritage standing, the bridge is famous for its buff Speedo-clad, oiled-up divers who jump 25m jump from it into the turquoise waters of the Neretva, a convention that started in the Sixties.

The tradition is celebrated with an international diving competition on the last Sat. of every July. If you want making the plunge, be cautious “an Aussie guy died last year doing the jump. Though the water is 6m deep, there are powerful currents that can make it deadly if you are not a trained diver.

Blend a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina with a visit to Croatia. Dont miss these gems.

Split : The important city’s UNESCO classified treasure is the Diocletians Palace, built by the Roman emperor two thousand years back as his assisted living home. When the Romans deserted the site, the palace stood abandoned for many years till refugees rushed to the town in AD614 and started living in it. To this day, it remains home to bars, shops and studios, where hanging washing flutters above crumbling windowsills.

Dubrovnik : Dubrovniks pretty Old City, well-preserved city walls and postcard-perfect harbour make it one of Croatias top visitor destinations. Unfortunately, this indicates that its flooded with visitors in the summer months. Expect to pay unreasonable London prices for food and drinks, as writes tagza.com.

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