Off-Road Riding in Bosnia: What’s Allowed and How to Stay Safe from Landmines

Landmines in Bosnia: the numbers

The war in the 1990s left traces that still haven’t been fully cleared. According to the figures Bosnia and Herzegovina reported in 2025 under the Ottawa Convention, around 823 km² were still considered suspected mine areas at the end of 2024 – about 1.6% of the country. Of this, around 165 km² are recorded as confirmed hazardous areas.

The areas shrink every year, but they’re still there. They lie mainly along the former front lines – often in woodland, on abandoned fields, on slopes and around destroyed buildings. Roads and regularly used tracks have been cleared.

How to recognise minefields

Marked hazardous areas are identified by red warning signs with a skull and the words “Pazi mine!” (Beware, mines!) or simply “Mine”. Sometimes there are only red markings, tape or posts. But be careful: not every suspected area is marked, and old signs may have fallen over or become overgrown.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) publishes maps of known suspected areas. If you’re planning your own routes, it’s worth checking them before you set off.

The most important landmine rules

• Never leave known, visibly used tracks. No shortcuts across meadows, no lines of your own through the woods.
• If a track suddenly ends or becomes overgrown: turn back, don’t go looking for a way through.
• Keep away from abandoned houses, ruins, bunkers and overgrown fields.
• Don’t head into the bushes for a toilet stop or a break – stay on the track or at the roadside.
• Never touch suspicious objects.
• If you realise you’re standing in a marked area: stop, walk back exactly in your own tracks and call the police on 122.

Where are you allowed to ride off-road in Bosnia?

The legal situation is less uniform than in central Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina is made up of two entities – the Federation and Republika Srpska – plus the Brčko District, and matters such as forestry and nature conservation are regulated separately in each. A few basic rules apply everywhere, though:

• Public gravel roads and connecting tracks between villages are perfectly normal roads. The usual road rules apply here – including registration, insurance and a driving licence.
• Forestry roads may be closed. Respect barriers and no-entry signs, even if the track beyond looks tempting.
• National parks and nature parks such as Una, Sutjeska or Blidinje have their own rules. Only ride on roads that are open to traffic there.
• Meadows, pastures, hiking trails and private land are off-limits – and not just because of the landmines.

Respect for people and nature

Many gravel tracks lead through villages, across mountain pastures and past flocks of sheep. Ride slowly through villages, keep your distance from animals, close pasture gates behind you and say hello to people along the way. A legal, quiet exhaust isn’t just a requirement – it also helps make sure motorcyclists stay welcome here.

Why tested GPS tracks make the difference

The safest way to experience Bosnia off-road is on routes that have been ridden and checked beforehand – by people who know the area and its history. That’s exactly how the Bosnia Marathon is set up: for every riding day there are GPX tracks for a Rally route and a Classic route, all participants are tracked via OWAKA GPS, and an emergency team is out on the course. You concentrate on riding, not on route-finding.

Frequently asked questions