Undiscovered Serbia – 9 days

0
  • 9 days
  • Small group
  • March - October
  • Activity level: Relaxed

DESCRIPTION

As much as you think that you already know all about it, Europe still has aces to get you! Serbia, for sure is one of those, with its wondrous nature, cultural immersion, lavish and illustrious heritage, cordial and generous hospitality. A visit to the heart of the Balkans shows why Serbia is seen as a “crossroad” of Southeast and Central Europe, and leaves long long-lasting emotional echo that will warmly call for you to return for more. Serbia for sure, is one of those, with its wondrous nature, cultural immersion, lavish and illustrious heritage, cordial and generous hospitality. A visit to the heart of the Balkans shows why Serbia is seen as a “crossroad” of Southeast and Central Europe, and leaves long lasting emotional echo that will warmly call for you to return for more.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the essence of the everyday gourmet life in Belgrade
  • Head into an underground adventure in beautiful Stopića Cave
  • Embrace the lavish beauty of the mighty Silver Mountain
  • Conquer the mysterious pyramid of Rtanj Mountain

FULL DESCRIPTION

Day 1: Welcome to Belgrade

Belgrade

Belgrade, the Serbian capital, one of the oldest European cities, adventurous and proud as it is, will welcome you with an open heart and show you its incredible historical and cultural wealth, vibrant night life and flavorous cuisine. Built where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet, Belgrade is a city of so many layers, and each one you discover will tickle your brain and hug your heart. Our guide on transfer will introduce you to it and give you all the essential instructions for the first day.

Overnight: Belgrade.

Day 2: Taste & Bike Belgrade Experience Tour

Belgrade

You can never really get to know Serbian culture and soul until you live through its local routine. That’s why the combined Taste & Bike Belgrade Experience® tour starts off with a daily ritual – a morning coffee at the oldest but really trendy Belgrade quarter, Dorćol. A decent dose of caffeine will push you up further through the day. Your next stop is at an old family bakery, a holy place for Serbs, and with some fresh bread in the bag, you will explore one of the oldest green markets in Belgrade, Bajloni. The entire place is covered with the scent of rural Serbia, so you can almost see the villages, cattle, and gardens where vegetables and fruits are grown. The first, walking part of the tour will also take you to the traditional, old school (with machines, décor, and ambiance untouched since the 80’s) pastry shop too, where sweets will reveal the rich Balkan heritage to you: a Serbian foundation with Oriental and European touch.

After a tasty morning, it’s time to burn some calories on a bike! Hop on your bikes by the Sava River and cycle towards New Belgrade and Zemun, different faces of Serbian capital. Crossing the River Sava over Branko’s Bridge, you will reach New Belgrade. Feel its energy while you bike along the wide boulevards and blocks, between skyscrapers and company headquarters! The Palace of Serbia, on its wide, flat plateau, stands out between the building blocks as a great symbol of communist architecture. Pleasant ride is going to take you to the bohemian Zemun set on the bank of Danube with marvellous fish restaurants. From Millennial tower you will feel the echo of Central Europe and get why Zemun is the city in the city (Belgrade). Refreshing breeze, the view of the Great War Island and the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube are highlights of the ride along the quay on our way back.

Overnight: Belgrade.

Day 3: Northern Serbia Highlights

NP Fruška Gora hiking – S. Karlovci with wine tasting – City of Novi Sad

Heading to the North, you will realize that Fruška Gora Mountain is the only thing that spoils the simple, colourful plain of the Vojvodina region. There, you will visit Novo Hopovo monastery, one of the 17 religious gems of the Serbian Orthodox Church hidden in the mountain. Built in the 15th century, this stone and brick monastery was the most important enlightenment centre in Serbia once: famous cultural and philological figure, Dositej Obradović lived and worked here.

The more dynamic part of the tour is about to follow. The two-and-a-half-hour hike with a couple of awesome viewpoints gives a full impression of idyllic Fruška Gora. We move on to Sremski Karlovci, which, with the Patriarchy Palace, St. Nicholas church, and the first Serbian modern gymnasium established in 1791 is justifying the informal title – museum town. One of the best sides of Karlovci is probably the wine production, so here’s a great occasion to visit a traditional winery and try a local sort of wine!

Vivid facades with a specific type of windows (kibic-fenster), one cannonball in a wall as a reminder, street musicians, and charming passages are signs that you are in Novi Sad and its picturesque downtown. This 2022 European capital of culture, a city with a true multicultural ambience, offers a long list of important sights worthy of attention that will make you fall in love with it.

Overnight: Belgrade.

Day 4: Vivid Western Serbia

Drina River – NP Tara Mountain hiking – Wooden Town – Zlatibor Mountain

The following three days are saved for an exciting and unforgettable adventure in Western Serbia, the most vivid region in the country. You will spend this amazing time surrounded by stunning nature, delicious cuisine, and friendly, hospitable people. The route leads along the gorgeous Drina River and an isolated and unique house made of logs on a river stone, House on the Drina. Don’t miss your chance to take some lovely photos of this widely famous attraction.

After a ride through attractive landscapes with mind-blowing views, some walking will do you good. A hike to the astonishing viewpoint Banjska Stena at the Tara National Park rewards you with an exceptional panorama from the mighty cliffs over the emerald Drina River, wide Perućac Lake, and Eastern Bosnia. A short break for lunch will refresh you enough just before a visit to the enchanting ethno-village Drvengrad (Wooden Town), built by famous director Emir Kusturica. All the objects at this movie-like setting are made of natural materials, mostly wood, hence the name. With head and soul full of impressions, you’ll finish the day on Zlatibor Mountain, the royal health resort in Serbia, officially established at the end of the 19th century.

Overnight: Zlatibor Mountain.

Day 5: Zlatibor Rhapsody®

Tornik Hill with cable car and hiking – Sirogojno Old Village – Stopića Cave

After a rich mountain breakfast, you are ready for Zlatibor Rhapsody®! Go aboard the Zlatibor Gold Gondola Lift, which brings you a great opportunity to enjoy the majestic view from Zlatibor’s highest peak – Tornik. Experience the stunning scenery of the lush Zlatibor meadows and the tranquillity of the Ribničko Lake. Don’t forget to bring your camera and take some fantastic photos! Astonishing landscapes of Western Serbia will be a perfect backdrop for your hike down the Tornik Hill, giving you a chance to truly get the beauty of Zlatibor – wavy hills with colourful flowers and herds of sheep slowly grazing over the pastures.

Not trying mouth-watering local delicacies would be called a sin. That is why we’ll take you to a family restaurant where each piece of furniture is a part of a six-generation heritage and where it will be hard to choose between the best trout, homemade pastries and pies, and a selection of dairy or meat products.

As the full stomach does not allow any intensive activity, in the second part of the tour, more leisurely sights await. The Stopića Cave, a river-type cave through which the Trnava stream flows, is known for its big tubs and is one of the most beautiful caves of Serbia. After a short drive, you will arrive at Sirogojno Old Village, mostly famous for its open-air museum and prominent Sirogojno sweaters made of raw wool. You will see the ethnological exposition of the distinctive outdoor complex and learn about the history of the architecture, housing and the everyday family and cultural life, as well as the economic and social relations among people in the mountainous area of the region.

Overnight: Zlatibor Mountain.

Day 6: Uvac Lake - Studenica Monastery – NP Kopaonik

Uvac Lake meandering and hiking – UNESCO’s Studenica Monastery – NP Kopaonik Mountain

This day is dedicated to mind-boggling views and epic photos, which for sure will become lifelong memories. It is dedicated to the Uvac Special Natural Reserve, a stunning example of Mother Nature being the ultimate, ingenious creator. Here, you will discover many masterpieces of nature, but the most attractive ones are the unreal meanders of the Uvac River. During the boat ride along it, you can understand how this miraculous canyon was patiently carved for a long time and how the curves in some places turn at an angle of 270 degrees. Climb up to the Ledeni viewpoint (Icy Viewpoint), which brings you a chance to feel the full power of this river-maze. Another great gift of nature here is the Griffon Vulture. It is a special kind of scavenger and a very rare species of birds whose biggest population in Europe is right here. The wingspan of this spectacular bird is about three meters, so you can get a visual image of the grandiosity of this bird. After the unforgettable boat ride, you are ready for a picnic lunch, authentic for this region, with unavoidable cheese, kajmak, prosciutto, buckwheat etc. After dazzling scenery and a dynamic morning, it is time to slow down and absorb the peace of one of the most famous monasteries in Serbia. On our way to Kopaonik Mountain, you will visit the Studenica monastery. Get to know the medieval face of Serbia. This complex of 2 churches, monastic facilities, hermitages encircled by fortification, treasures priceless collections of Byzantine paintings dating from the 13th and 14th centurie,s and of essential importance for Serbian people as today as in the past. It is one of the largest and richest Serbian Orthodox monasteries with an outstanding universal value, and it represents a milestone in the history of art. All this has the Studenica Monastery included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Being in awe by the magnificent landscapes, lean back in your comfortable seat and enjoy the ride towards Kopaonik National Park.

Overnight: Kopaonik Mountain.

 

Day 7: NP Kopaonik

Secrets of the Silver Mountain®

The Silver Mountains of Serbia are widely adored for their astonishing natural features and a large number of sunny days, both optimizing incredible days of adventure from hiking to mountain biking. The lush, forest hills, fresh-smelling pine trees, incredible terrain variety and landscape create a fantastic ambiance for watching a once-in-a-lifetime sunset from one of the spectacular viewpoints. So come with us and reveal the Secrets of the Silver Mountain®!

Your hiking route begins at the centre of the tourist complex Konaci. You will pass by the famous ski bar Pajino Preslo and cross several important tracks of the Kopaonik ski centre. Don’t miss your chance to look out for some blueberries on your way. Pančić’s peak, the highest peak of Kopaonik mountain, rises above your entire hiking trail with an altitude of 2.017 metres. Move further to the magnificent point Nebeske stolice (Heaven’s chairs). Once at the top, the extraordinary view of almost half of the Balkans, including Montenegro, the southern half of Serbia, and Kosovo, will leave you speechless. Nebeske stolice is also an archaeological site situated at an elevation of 1.800m. Locals say it is dedicated to St. Prokopios, the protector of the miners. An old Christian basilica fromthe  5th or 6th century with a specific plan and an early Christian mosaic was found at this site. Ring an old church bell and make a wish. The legend says it will come true. Lunch break and free time.

To make a balance, after the Western and Central parts, we should cover Eastern Serbia as well.  Comfort drive to the Rtanj Mountain would be the last part of the day.

Overnight: Rtanj Mountain.

Day 8: Rtanj Mountain

Conquering of “mystic pyramid”

The best closure of Serbia eye-opening adventure is “conquering” the Rtanj Mountain. A hike to the Šiljak peak, 1.570 metres high, is quite a pulse-raising activity. Due to its specific and unique look, mountain Rtanj has numerous legends and anecdotes surrounding its existence, and at the same time, today scientists try to prove that Rtanj was once a pyramid. While hiking up, hear some of the stories about this mountain. It will certainly make the journey endlessly interesting even before you reach the peak. During the planned breaks on your way up to reach the top of the pyramid, the guides will introduce you to the natural and less natural features of fascinating Rtanj and let you get to know it just as the locals do. Once the hill is conquered, immerse yourself in the magnificent view of Serbia. Confirm or bust the local myth and see in person if the capital city of Belgrade and the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube can really be seen from a 200 kilometres distance. While at Šiljak, the summit of the mountain, you will see the remains of the chapel built by Greta Minh in 1934, in honour of her late husband, Julius, an owner of the coal mine located at the base of the mountain back in the day. The building material of the chapel had been brought up on donkeys, and it was built by the miners from the coal mine at the time.

Head back to Belgrade. This ride will be the ideal time to summarize all of the wonderful memories from this great trip.

Overnight: Belgrade.

Day 9: Departure day

Belgrade

Departure from Belgrade or any non-listed airport.

If you are departing from Belgrade a few days after the tour ends, you can book additional nights with us. Departure transfer to the listed airport is included. Private transfers to non-listed airports are available on request. Please check the options with your local expert.

 

PRICING & INCLUSIONS

Price – Shared tour

Forget about crowded buses with 40+ passengers – our shared tours are designed as small-group experiences. With a maximum of 18 travelers (often just 4–6), you’ll still enjoy a personal journey that offers comfort, connection, and the best value for money.

  • ADULT:€ 1,755
  • CHILD (2-12yo):On request

Private Tour

Enjoy the freedom of a private tour, where the vehicle and guide are reserved exclusively for you or your group. With complete flexibility to shape the itinerary at your own pace, this option guarantees comfort, privacy, and the best value for money in terms of a fully personalized experience.

GENERAL INCLUSIONS

Valid both for Standard and Superior package

  • Transportation:Airport arrival and departure transfers; Transportation as per the itinerary with modern, comfortable vehicles tailored to your group size
  • Entrances and Tickets:Tara NP, Wooden Town, Stopića Cave, Sirogojno Old Village, Uvac Lake Natural Reserve
  • Experiences:Taste & Bike Belgrade Experience tour®; Wine tasting in Sremski Karlovci; Zlatibor Gold Gondola ride; Uvac Lake meandering and picnic lunch;
  • Meals: 8 x breakfast; 1 x picnic lunch; Additional meals included in our experiences;
  • Additional:Professional English-speaking tour guidance throughout the tour; VAT, accommodation taxes and city taxes; Tour logistics and organization with dedicated service and care; 1 bottle of water (0.5l) daily for each passenger
  • Accommodation:
  • Standard package:4 BB in Belgrade in Hotel Royal Inn 4* / Hotel Mark 4* / Hotel Amsterdam 4* or similar; 2 BB on Zlatibor Mountain in Hotel Palisad 4* standard / Hotel Mir 4* or similar; 1 BB on Kopaonik Mountain in Hotel Chalet Vrhovi Kopaonika 3* superior / Hotel Angella 4* or similar; 1 BB near Rtanj Mountain in Hotel Rtanj Balašević 3*, mountain apartment or similar
  • Superior package:4 BB in Belgrade in Hotel Saint Ten 5* / Hotel Hyatt Regency 5* / Hotel Hilton 4* superior or similar; 2 BB on Zlatibor Mountain in Hotel Palisad 4* superior / Hotel Buket 4* superior or similar; 1 BB on Kopaonik Mountain in Grand Hotel & Spa 4* superior / Gorski Hotel & Spa 4* superior or similar; 1 BB near Rtanj Mountain in Hotel Ramonda 4* superior or similar

NOTICES

  • Tips and porterage services are not included in price
  • Final choice of the hotels depends on current availability. The tour organiser reserves the right to change the hotel due to availability reasons but guarantees the same category, service quality and similar location of the accommodation unit
  • Minimum age requirement for our tours: 12 years old
  • The tour organiser reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour due to unexpected slow-moving traffic at international borders. These changes will not affect the basic itinerary
  • It is the responsibility of the passengers to get acquainted with visa requirements of all the countries they are travelling to or will be in transit
  • General Travel Conditions issued by Tour Operator d.o.o. and reconciled with YUTA standards are valid for this programme

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

What is EXPERIENCE MORE?

EXPERIENCE MORE  is at the core of our travel philosophy, elevating each tour beyond the ordinary. These carefully curated moments enrich our itineraries, offering deeper insights and unique perspectives of every destination. From exclusive cultural encounters to hidden local gems, EXPERIENCE MORE ensures each journey is unforgettable and engaging.

I'm a solo traveller, is there a single supplement?

Yes, there is a single supplement – if you’re travelling alone and you’d like to join our guaranteed departures, just select the single room option during the booking process. The system will automatically add the single supplement to your total price.

Are airport transfers included in this tour?

Airport arrival transfer is included in this tour. However, as most of our clients decide to extend their trip within their own organisation, transfer to the airport at the end of the tour is not included in the overall price (except for the Belgrade Airport transfer, which is included in the tour price on Day 9 after check-out). If you would like us to organise a departure transfer on their behalf, you are welcome to book the departure transfer during the checkout process, or simply contact us.

Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

Yes, we will easily arrange additional overnights upon your request. If you are looking to book only one additional night before, or after the tour, you are welcome to choose the option during the checkout process. If you are arriving few days before the tour departure or you would like to extend your stay after the tour end, get in touch with our agents, and they will help you with booking your pre or post tour accommodation at the same hotel as the one that is already booked for your stay.

What is cancellation policy?

CANCELLATION BY THE GUEST

In case of cancellation by the guest, refund policy will be applied by the terms stated in the list below. The guest is obligated to send official written cancellation notice. Given refund policy will be applied from the time of receiving the notification in writing. The shown refund amount represents a percentage of the total tour price.

For cancellation up to 60 days before departure – 100% refund.
For cancellation from 59 days till 46 days before departure – 90% refund.
For cancellation from 45 days till 31 days before departure – 80% refund.
For cancellation from 30 days till 16 days before departure – 70% refund.
For cancellation from 15 days till 8 days before departure – 50% refund.
For cancellation from 7 days till the day of departure – 0% refund.

Beside all standard reasons, cancellation policy will also apply if tour participant cancel the tour with a reason that includes medical ground, visa issues, jury service etc.

Is there a minimum age requirement to join your tours?

To ensure the best experience for all guests, our tours are suitable for participants aged 12 and older. For families with younger children, we rather offer some of our excellent private family tours, tailored to provide an experience that kids genuinely enjoy.

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