The Spirit of Serbia
Discover the rich culture, long held traditions, fascinating history and natural beauty of Serbia.
Serbia is one of Europe’s most culturally rich and proud nations, and for centuries has been influenced by both the east and the west in equal measures. Often misunderstood, it is a land of long held traditions, with a strong national identity and a complex, yet fascinating history. On this cultural highlights trip, we delve right into the country’s heart to uncover the diversity of the ‘real’ Serbia. This trip contrasts vibrant Belgrade and historic Novi Sad with visits to wine cellars and traditional wineries, UNESCO heritage sights and monasteries, the stunning Uvac Special Nature Reserve and the chance to ride the famous Sargan 8 train.
You will be part of Serbian Traditional Wedding ceremony from the beginning of 20-th century, in which our guests will be active part on brides or on brooms side. There are plenty of opportunities to experience the warm and heart felt hospitality of the Serbian people as well as their delicious cuisine.
After meeting at Belgrade Airport in the afternoon, we transfer by bus to the picturesque town of Sremski Karlovci, known as the cultural, historical and educational center of the Serbs. We will visit one of the most famous wine cellars and we will have the opportunity to taste 3 sorts of the famous Fruska Gora wines, followed with a short introduction to the rich traditions of wine production and Vojvodina lifestyle. Transfer to Novi Sad, the capital of Serbia’s northern province of Vojvodina. Check in hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast. Half day sightseeing tour of Novi Sad visiting sights such as the city hall, the cathedral, Liberty Square, the historic center of town, as well as the Petrovaradin Fortress to enjoy the best panorama views of the city. We will then transfer to Jagodina in Central Serbia. Check in the hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast. . Continuing to Monastery Manasija (1407-1418) which was the defendant of the despot of Stefan Lazarevic, born in a short silence of liberty, between the heavy defeat in Kosovo and the debt slavery. In the sacred space, the despot enclosed the church with high walls and even higher towers, where he worked at the far famous Resavska repetition school , and in the court shall be eaten with silverware. We will take a short transfer to the nearby Ravanica Monastery and explore one of the most famous mediaeval monasteries of Serbia. Completed in the 1370’s, this orthodox monastery still remains a pilgrim’s destination today. It is considered a cultural monument of exceptional importance due to the monastery being the final resting place of Prince Lazar, who died in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 and is highly regarded in Serbian history, culture and tradition of the Serbs. Continue the road to Resavska cave – a monument of nature, as a natural good of extraordinary significance, is among the most famous and the most spectacular speleological objects of Serbia, rich in variety of crystal ornaments (stalactites and stalagmites), and is over 2,800 meters deep. At afternoon we will drive on to Vrnjacka Banja to the Queen of all Serbia’s spa towns where we will stay overnight in a hotel.
Departure to Kraljevo, monastery of Zica in which seven Serbian kings were crowned. The monastery was founded by King Stefan Prvovencani, the First-Crowned, at early 13th century and received St. Sava as the first Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219. We will drive along the Ibar River Gorge and visit the Studenica Monastery complex, a UNESCO Heritage site. Founded in 1190, the Studenica Monastery is the magnificent mother church of all Serbian shrines as it is the mausoleum church of Stefan Nemanya who was the most powerful and prominent ruler of the Serbian Mediaeval State. Here we will have a sightseeing tour of the well-preserved 13th century monastic complex. Continuing through Zlatibor Mountain. Check in hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer to the Uvac Special Nature Reserve for a half day visit. Here we will enjoy a boat ride. Departing to the rafting from the Krstac locality (about 5 km from Sjenica), rafting with the Uvačko (Sjeničko) lake in the length of about 12-13 km, observation of white-headed vultures and other birds on the nests and in the flight. This colony is the largest colony of Griffin vultures in the Balkans. Visit to the Ice cave in the length of about 700 meters and return to the place of departure. The entire excursion lasts about 3.5 hours. Capacity of one boat is 12 persons (including guards / guides). Driving back to Zlatibor. Overnight.
Breakfast. Drive to Mokra Gora where we will take the Sargan 8 Train ride through the well-preserved environment of the Mokra Gora Nature Park. The Sargan Eight is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Serbia, running from the village of Mokra Gora to Sargan Vitasi station. From Sarajevo to Belgrade, the railway with a gauge of 760 mm (2 ft 5 15⁄16) originally ran from 1925 to 1974 and was an important connection. The route goes from Mokra Gora to Sargan Vitasi passing through 22 tunnels, over five bridges and climbing 300 metres. Departure for Mecavnik. Drvengrad – ‘’Mecavnik” wooden ethno complex of famous director Emir Kusturica. Drvengrad is an ethno village built in urban style. There is the entrance gate on one of its ends and on the other a small wooden church built in Russian style dedicated to St. Sava. In the center there is a square with the ground made of wood and surrounded by authentic log cabins transported from regions in Serbia and Bosnia. We will then drive to visit the Old Village Sirogojno open air museum where we will get the chance to tour the museum and see the best representation of the Dinaric highlander’s heritage and way of life. Returning to our hotel in Zlatibor. Free time for individual activities. Overnight.
Breakfast. Driving toward Kosjeric where you will be part of Serbian Traditional wedding. This part of the program was conceived with interactive participation of guests in a wedding ceremony. Ambience and customs are from the first half of the twentieth century. Wedding ceremony starts at 11.00 am, and last till 2.00 pm. Within those tree hours you will see folk customs, traditional costumes and with music, food and drink, you will be part of customs which are from today’s point of view, rather comic. If somebody is interested, there is possibility of purchasing a costumes or other traditional products After the ceremony has finished, in good mood, we will continue towards Belgrade. Check in the hotel. Free time. Overnight.
Breakfast. Whole day sightseeing tour of Belgrade including: Avala with Tower witch is 204 meters high, and was the tallest building in former Yugoslavia and the Balkans, the House of Flowers (former Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito`s memorial house), Dedinje the wealthiest part of Belgrade, panoramic tour of The White palace. The White Palace was commissioned by command of King Alexander I with his private funds as the residence for his sons Crown Prince Peter (the future King Peter II), Prince Tomislav and Prince Andrej. After Royal Palace we are going to see park known as Karadjordje’s park and St. Sava’s Temple, the biggest orthodox temple in the Balkan, National Theatre, Parliament, Republic Square & Kalemegdan Fortress. The Belgrade Fortress is a kind of museum of the past of Belgrade in the open. It originated in the long period from the 1st to the 18th century, from the Roman castrum, through the Byzantine castle, the medieval Serbian capital, to the Austrian and Ottoman artillery fortifications. Departure to Zemun tour: tour begins in front of the Post Office where you will discover the history of this city, and then continues through Magistar’s Square, Gospodska Street and Masarik’s Square, down to the river, and numerous restaurants on the coast. The most special thing about this part of the city is spirit of taverns. You can feel it on every step and it leaves no one indifferent. Tour continues to the highest spot in Zemun, where you will enjoy breathtaking view of the whole city. Passing by Karamata’s house and Nikolajevska Church you will get to well-known ’’White Bear’’ – the oldest house in Zemun and the only preserved example of Balkan architecture in this part of the city. An inevitable spot of the tour is one of the most significant symbols of Zemun now days – Madlenianum. After visiting the gate of the old fortress road continues to Franciscan Monastery and St. John Church, to the Town park, Zemun gymnasium and the House of Aviation. While walking through Zemun you will walk through the history of the city. This is the story of cobble, quay, fishermen, the smell of the old and the new, the combination of incompatible. Rich up to Gardoš, one of three hills on which the historical core of Zemun was built. The neighborhood preserved its old looks, with narrow, still mostly cobblestoned streets. Gardoš rises on the right bank of the Danube and is the natural lookout to the area across the river. Free time. Optional – we can organize lunch/ dinner in one of the restaurants near river. Back to Hotel. Optional visit Night clubs and feel nightlife on which Belgrade is famous for. Overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer to airport. End of services.
Package price includes:
- Meet & assist at Airport
- Bus transfers (From arrival to airport to departure from airport)
- English Speaking guide,
- Entrance fees to mentioned touristic sites (wine cellars, Resava cave, Monasteries, Uvac, Sargan 8, Mecavnik, Sirogojno, sightseeings Novi Sad, Belgrade, Wedding)
Package price do not include:
- Flight Ticket to Serbia
- Lunches and dinners during the trip
- Tips for drivers, hotels or guides
- Anything else not mentioned in the (Included in package price) list above