Your Serbia adventure in a nutshell

Day 1 – Arrival

Transfer to your central Belgrade accommodation. Enjoy a 2-3 hour guided walking tour through the centre of Belgrade (time permitting) through which you will get a sense of the city’s lively and fun spirit. Enjoy an evening meal at a well known kafana (bistro) in the Skadarlija Bohemian Quarter.

Overnight in Belgrade.

Day 2 – Gradac River Hike 

Depart at 9am for a monastery visit followed by a river hike en route to our next stop, Trešnica. We’ll arrive at the peaceful 13th century Celije monastery by 11am for a brief visit to hear a little about its history, before continuing downhill to the crystal clear waters of the Gradac river. We’ll pause at a traditional rural ethno household on the river’s edge to enjoy a lunch of grilled trout, freshly caught from the river you’re sitting by.

After charging our batteries we’ll head into the deepest and most beautiful parts of the Gradac gorge for our river hike (4-5 km), crossing the stream approx. 20 times, with water up to our knees at some points (optional swimming stops during the warmer months of the year). At the end of the hike we’ll drive to Trešnjica Gorge (approx. 90 minutes), where a hearty meal of homemade dishes will be waiting for us at a local farmhouse.

Overnight in Trešnjica.

Day 3 – Canyoning in Tribuca

Today is the most active and adrenaline-fuelled day on the itinerary as we head to the beautiful Tribuca for canyoning.

We’ll fill up on a delicious breakfast at our accommodation before travelling approx. 45 mins to a rural household where we do wetsuit and safety gear fitting. Then the fun begins! With five waterfalls for abseiling (from between 5m and 20m), wild swimming, jump offs and a bit of climbing for good measure, this is the most active day on the itinerary. No prior experience needed, you’ll have a qualified guide with you at all times.

The canyoning itself takes about four hours with the final workout being a walk back uphill, where cool beers and some snacks will be waiting.

Overnight in Trešnjica.

Day 4 – Exploring Trešnjica gorge

Today will be a little more laid back, but we’ll still be out and enjoying Serbia’s unspoilt natural beauty. Trešnjica canyon is not only very picturesque but it’s also one of only two locations where you can see the griffon vulture, with its three-metre wingspan, in its natural habitat (the other location is Uvac.)

17 pairs of griffons  inhabit this magnificent canyon at present and if we’re lucky we’ll see them. Depending on the season, we can go berry picking, learn how to scythe at harvest time, sign up for a local cooking lesson or find our zen with some forest bathing (aka shinrin-yoku0.

Dinner will be very much a ”local” delicacy – pig on the spit, known as pečenja.

Overnight in Trešnjica

Day 5 – Kayaking the Drina river

Kayaking down the beautiful Drina is one of those classic, must-do Serbian experiences. You’ll have Bosnia on your left and Serbia on your right and crystal-clear water beneath you. In the warmer months we allow plenty of time to swim (if you are feeling brave, it’s still very cold even in July) or to simply lie back in your kayak and reflect on the awesome adventure you’ve had so far.

Depending on the speed of the river flow (and dam outlet upstream), we’ll cover approximately 13 kilometres which will take about 3-4 hours (excluding time for swimming/chilling). No prior experience of kayaking required, the kayaks we use are beginner friendly and you will have an experienced guide leading the activity.

We’ll have developed a healthy appetite while paddling, so lunch will be enjoyed at a simple kafana in the town of Bajna Basta before making tracks to Tara National Park (roughly 60 minutes by car).

Overnight in Tara National Park.

Day 6 – Hiking in Tara National Park

Tara National Park sits above the Drina River in the westernmost corner of Serbia with a maximum elevation of 1600 metres. It is an area of exceptional natural beauty with conditions that have barely changed since the Tertiary period. Over 60% of the park features forest of spruce, fir, beech or pine; ranking as the best preserved and highest quality forest complex in Europe.

After breakfast at our accommodation we’ll make way to our starting point. This pleasant hike is 12km in total with about 4km as a loop trail (approx 2 hours each way). You’ll walk through  forests, meadows, ridges and stop at the spectacular Banjska Stena viewpoint where, hang on a minute, weren’t we kayaking down there yesterday? Yes you were. You’ll stand looking at Bosnia to your right and Serbia to your left and the beautiful Drina flowing beneath you.

Towards the end of the hike, we’ll break for lunch and meet an interesting family who have left the trappings of modern life to make their home on the mountain, living self-sufficiently by producing their own food. Our afternoon will be spent on Zaovine Lake with either a sightseeing boatride or stand-up paddleboarding and swimming.

Overnight in Tara National Park.

Day 7 – Šargan 8 train and return to Belgrade

All aboard the Šargan Eight! Go back in time as you ride in charming wooden carriages on a unique narrow-gauge rail line. The railway was built during the Yugoslav era as a solution to travelling the challenging, mountainous terrain of western Serbia. One short segment of line between Mokra Gora and Šargan-Vitasi was particularly troublesome. Covering a mere 3.5km horizontally, the height difference of 300m made it impassable for an ordinary train. So, engineers devised a clever solution by creating a loop resembling the number eight to connect the two stations. Known as the Šargan Eight, this 13.5km loop features 22 tunnels and ten bridges and viaducts along its course. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views as we pass through steep cuttings and along rocky gorges with stops at some of the more interesting viewpoints.

After the train ride, we’ll make our way back to Belgrade, arriving in the early evening for one last night together and free time to shop and eat.

Overnight in Belgrade.

Day 8 – Transfer to Belgrade Airport

The next day, your guides will ensure you’re at Belgrade Airport in good time to make your flight home.

Prices are £ Sterling per person and include all transport, all activities, all accommodation, breakfast, dinners and all guiding (drinks and lunches not included).

Book for 2024 and get a £50pp discount!

Please note, on this holiday, accommodation is clean and characterful – do not expect luxury! If for any reason the first choice accommodation is not available, we will let you know about the alternatives well in advance of your holiday.

Zeleni Cardarci Etno Selo

Trešnjica Mountain Hut