Main Info
Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
Continent | Europe |
Inclusions |
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Exclusions |
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- Standard package // Accommodation:
- 4 BB in Belgrade in Hotel Royal Inn 4* / Hotel Mark
- 4* / Hotel Amsterdam 4* or similar
- 2 HB 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
- Premium package // Accommodation:
- 4 BB in Belgrade in Hotel Saint Ten 5* / Hotel Hyatt
- Regency 5* / Hotel Hilton 4* superior or similar
- 2 HB 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
Itinerary
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.
You can never really get to know Serbian culture and soul until you live through its local routine. That’s why 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.
Heading to the North, you will realize that Fruška Gora Mountain is the only thing that spoils the simple, colourful plain of 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. More dynamic part of the tour is about to follow. The two-and-a-half-hour-hike with couple awesome viewpoints gives full impression about 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 informal title - museum town. One of the best
sides of Karlovci is probably the wine production, so here’s the 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 remainder, street musicians, and charming passages are a sign that you are in Novi Sad and its picturesque downtown. This 2021 European capital of culture, a city with true multicultural ambience, offers a long list of important sights worthy of attention that will make you fall in love
with it. Overnight: Belgrade.
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 emerald Drina River, wide Perućac Lake and Eastern Bosnia. 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 movielike 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 19th century.
Overnight: Zlatibor Mountain.
After 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 the 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 make 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 famil 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 selection of dairy or meat products. As the full stomach not allows any intensive activity, in the second part of the tour, more leisurely sights await. The Stopića Cave, river-type cave through which the Trnava stream flows, is known by its big tubs and is one
of the most beautiful caves of Serbia. After a short drive, you will arrive to 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.
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 Molitva viewpoint (Viewpoint Prayer) 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 scavengers and a very rare species of birds whose biggest population in Europe is right here. The wing span of this spectacular bird is about three meters, so you can get a visual image of the region, with unavoidable cheese, kajmak, prosciutto, buckwheat etc. After dazzling scenery and 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 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 13th and 14th century and 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 Studenica Monastery included in 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.
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 a half of the Balkans, including
Montenegro, the South 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 from 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 Western and Central part, we should cover Eastern Serbia as well. Comfort drive to the Rtanj Mountain would be the last part of the day. Overnight: Rtanj Mountain.
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.
Departure from Belgrade or connection to another
section.