Zelengora and the Sutjeska National Park lakes from Kalinovik: park rules and guest offers

From Kalinovik and the surrounding villages, a host can take guests to Zelengora and the lakes of Sutjeska National Park, either for a day or with a night out. The park's rules and fees are taken from the Public Institution Sutjeska National Park (JU Nacionalni park "Sutjeska"), and the Kalinovik details from the Municipality of Kalinovik (Opština Kalinovik) and the Tourist Organisation of Republika Srpska (Turistička organizacija Republike Srpske).

In short

• The park covers parts of the municipalities of Foča, Gacko and Kalinovik, 16,052 ha in total, and is managed by JU Nacionalni park "Sutjeska" Tjentište (Law on Sutjeska National Park, Official Gazette of RS 121/12). It was declared in 1962 and is the oldest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina (NP Sutjeska).
• Zelengora's highest peak is Bregoč, 2,014 m (Tourist Organisation of Republika Srpska, Zelengora).
• The park says sheep, goats and cattle graze Zelengora's pastures from May to September and herders live in katuns, the summer shepherd settlements (NP Sutjeska, Mount Zelengora).
• According to the park's website, camping is allowed only in designated places and with the park management's approval (NP Sutjeska).
• The 2026 decision on fees on the park's website is marked "nacrt" (draft), so confirm amounts with the park before you sell a package (Decision on fees, PDF).

The mountain and its lakes

The park's Zelengora page lists the lakes Orlovačko, Gornje Bare, Donje Bare, Borilovačko, Štirinsko, Kotlaničko and Crno jezero (NP Sutjeska, Mount Zelengora). The same page calls Zelengora physically undemanding and recommends it for family holidays, easy walks, cycling on marked trails and swimming in the lakes. The park also mentions picking herbs, berries and mushrooms, which needs a paid permit under the fee decision (see below).

The Tourist Organisation of Republika Srpska says Kalinovik municipality takes in parts of Treskavica, Visočica, Prenj, Lelija and Zelengora and the Zagorje plateau (Tourist Organisation of Republika Srpska, Kalinovik). The municipality's highest mountains are Treskavica (2,088 m), Lelija (2,032 m) and Zelengora (2,014 m) (Municipality of Kalinovik, Geography). Check marked trails and licensed mountain guides for tours from Kalinovik with the Tourist Organisation of the Municipality of Kalinovik.

The park describes katuns as temporary summer settlements where herders keep livestock and make traditional dairy products (NP Sutjeska, Mount Zelengora). In summer a katun is someone's home and workplace, so agree a visit with the family that runs it before you put it in an offer.

Park rules a host should know

Fees are set by the Decision on the Amount and Method of Collecting Fees, published on the park's price-list page as the 2026 price list. The document is dated 23 July 2026 and marked "nacrt" (draft) (Decision, PDF). According to it:

• entry to the protected area (protection zones II and III) is 20 KM per adult per day, a season ticket 200 KM and a family annual ticket (up to five people) 300 KM;
• a tent pitch is 30 KM per day, a fire at a marked site 20 KM per day, car parking 10 KM per day;
• a permit to collect mushrooms and medicinal or edible plants is 10 KM per day or 100 KM per year per person;
• sport fishing is allowed on the Sutjeska and Hrčavka rivers and on Donje Bare and Orlovačko lakes from 1 May to 31 October, with a 30 KM daily permit;
• commercial photography and filming need the park management's approval, and use of the protected area's name and logo on products, in advertising or business documents is subject to a contract with the park.

Fees are collected by a park ranger or authorised person at entry points or the information centre.

The Municipality of Kalinovik lists Orlovačko and Borilovačko among the lakes on its territory (Municipality of Kalinovik, Geography), and the park's decision allows fishing on Orlovačko but not on Borilovačko lake. Guests staying by Borilovačko (Jugovo) lake will therefore ask where they may fish. Before promising a guest a day of fishing, ask both the park and the Tourist Organisation of the Municipality of Kalinovik which permit applies on which lake.

Ideas for an offer

• Guided day trip to the lakes. The park's price list offers a park guide for an Orlovačko jezero and Bregoč route (8 to 10 hours) and a group excursion "Zelengora (Orlovačko, Kotlaničko, Štirinsko)". The host can provide breakfast, a packed lunch, the drive to the trailhead and dinner on return, and book the guide through the park or the Tourist Organisation of the Municipality of Kalinovik.
• Local products for breakfast and the trail. Kalinovačka kuća, a business unit of the tourism organisation, sells products from Kalinovik. Honey is also offered by beekeepers such as Pčelarstvo Bozalo and Pčelarstvo Đorem, rosehip jam by Gazdinstvo Višnjevac, and dried mutton by Udruženje uzgajivača ovaca "Kalinovačka stelja".
• A night on Zelengora. Accommodation on the platform on Zelengora includes Katun Zelengora, a mountain house at 1,550 m, about 500 m from Jugovo lake and 800 m from Orlovačko lake; Luxury chalet Zelengora, on the shore of Jugovo (Borilovačko) lake; and the log cabin San tri gorske vile Zelengora. The park's website also offers a mountain hut near Orlovačko lake for four people, without electricity (NP Sutjeska); when booking, check that it is still let and where the key is collected.
• Summer katun visit. In summer, by arrangement with herders, guests can watch milking and cheese-making and buy products. If you serve or sell food yourself, registration and hygiene rules apply, as described in the compliance articles in the knowledge hub.
• Hiking weekend. A tour on Zelengora, Lelija or Treskavica for experienced guests, with a licensed mountain guide.

The sources say nothing about the state of the gravel roads, driving times to the lakes or whether a katun is occupied in a given week. Check these every season before you promise guests anything.

Safety

The park publishes no information on mobile coverage on Zelengora. Before they set off, give guests a map and the host's phone number, agree a return time and make sure they know whom to call if they are late. The ambulance number is 124 and the police number is 122 (NP Sutjeska). See also the knowledge-hub article on guest safety when hiking, cycling and riding.

Who to contact

• JU Nacionalni park "Sutjeska" (Sutjeska National Park), Tjentište, 73311; reception +387 58 233-118, reservations +387 58 233-130; office@sutjeskanp.com, and for enquiries and bookings tourism@sutjeskanp.com (sutjeskanp.com).
• Turistička organizacija opštine Kalinovik (Tourist Organisation of the Municipality of Kalinovik), Karađorđeva 37, 71230 Kalinovik; +387 57 623 002; took.kalinovik@gmail.com (took.ba).

Sources

• JU NP Sutjeska: Mount Zelengora
• JU NP Sutjeska: Orlovačko jezero mountain hut
• JU NP Sutjeska: Decision on the amount and method of collecting fees, draft, 23 July 2026
• JU NP Sutjeska: Price lists
• JU NP Sutjeska: Contact
• Law on Sutjeska National Park (Zakon o Nacionalnom parku "Sutjeska", Official Gazette of Republika Srpska No. 121/12)
• Municipality of Kalinovik: Geography
• Tourist Organisation of Republika Srpska: Kalinovik
• Tourist Organisation of Republika Srpska: Zelengora
• Tourist Organisation of the Municipality of Kalinovik