On 28th June 1914 in Sarajevo, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were shot dead by Serbian nationalists. The outcome was a European-wide mobilisation and ultimately the outbreak of the First World War. Nearly eighty years later, the city was once again at the centre of world attention as it held out against the Bosnian-Serbs during the longest siege in modern history in which more than 10,000 people were killed.

Our tour to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is timed to coincide with 100th anniversary of the momentous assassination and we will stand as close as possible on the very spot that it occurred. Leading the tour will be Maj Gen John Drewienkiewicz who served here for 18 months between October 1996 and September 1998: firstly as Chief of Staff to the NATO mission and then as Commander of the NATO support operation in Zagreb. He returned for a second time between 2002-2005 when he was heavily involved in uniting the three armies that had fought against one another into one Bosnian Armed Force. Through his intimate knowledge of the city, its history and its people John will introduce you to its culture and many of the fighters and civilians that endured the terrible siege.

Day 1 - Vienna.
Fly from London and spend the afternoon in Vienna's Military Museum, viewing its WW1 Collection, including the Gräf und Stift Double Phaeton Limousine in which the Archduke was riding when he was assassinated. Check-in to our hotel for one night.

Day 2 - Siege of Sarajevo 1992 – 1995.
Fly Vienna to Sarajevo. We view aspects of the siege including the airport and the tunnel which was for much of the war the only link with the outside world. Check-in to our city centre hotel for two nights followed by a guided tour of the Old Town.

Day 3 - Assassination.
Drive to Franz Ferdinand's Residence at Ilidza and follow his route in to the Old Town and from there along river to Latinski Most (Latin Bridge), the scene of the assassination. Then visit the Assassination Museum. Enjoy lunch in the Old Town (perhaps a 'Cevapi', mutton sausages in pitta bread). Drive to the heights overlooking Sarajevo, which housed much of the 1984 Winter Olympics, to walk 1992-1995 Front Line including the Jewish Cemetery and Pale Transit Road. We enjoy drinks from the rotating viewing platform at the top of the Unis Tower. We take dinner at Jez, an underground restaurant which stayed open throughout the war.

Day 4 - Konjic.
Visit the 'Tito Bunker', a massive underground nerve centre for the defence of Yugoslavia. Return down the mountain track following supply route into Sarajevo (if negotiable) and visit the site of the NATO Balkan HQ Ilidza. Transfer to the airport for our return flight to London via Vienna.