You are in no hurry and you want to experience all the diversity that Serbia has to offer, from Vojvodina plains in the North, to the biggest gorge of Europe on Danube in the East, to enjoy mountains and intact nature in the West and to soak in relaxed atmosphere of the South, with getting to know Belgrade, of course. This ten day private tour is all of that and more.

1st Day – Meeting, Topola town, Oplenac royal mausoleum and village home stay

After #YourSerbiaHost meets you at the airport, bus/train station or wherever we agree to meet we will continue straight to Šumadija to town of Topola where renewal of modern Serbian state started in 1804. On the tip of Oplenac hill you’ll visit Royal mausoleum, church where 27 members of royal family are buried. From this point onward we are only enjoying Šumadija wine. Three wineries are on our list: Royal wine cellar, established in 1930s by Serbian king, then prominent Serbian winery Aleksandrović and as a highlight of wine exploration young winery Arsenijević where we’ll have a lunch, this young winemaker will be your host during the meal, guiding you through his wines and matching those with the food. Rest of the day we’ll spend in household House of Čolović where you’ll experience from firsthand how local people live in Serbian village, your hosts will be Ivan and his mother Snežana who will provide with warm hospitality, homemade food and local experience.

2nd Day – Zlatibor Mountain

Second day will start with reach and tasty homemade breakfast which is a treat for all senses. After you say goodbye to Ivan and his mother we’ll drive towards West Serbia and iconic Zlatibor Mountain where first stop is Stopića Cave, after the cave we continue to the village Sirogojno where the ethnological open-air museum Old Village is settled. From Sirogojno we move on to Gostilje waterfall where 20m water dropdown creates wonderful scene and cold water makes pleasant refreshment in hot summer days. Lunch and finish of the day is again in rural area at guesthouse Pećinar which is managed by the Pećinar family for six generations.

3rd Day – Sargan Eight train and Višegrad

After rich and tasty Zlatibor breakfast we head to Mokra gora town, where we’ll experience most attractive narrow track railway in this part of Europe, famous Sargan Eight train. When we finish with the train ride, we will cross to Bosnia to visit Višegrad with famous bridge over river Drina dating from the XVI century. Yugoslavian writer Ivo Andrić who wrote the novel with the same name Bridge over Drina won the Nobel Prize in 1962. Here you’ll enjoy a boat ride on Drina River with a local captain and lunch on Drina bank. After lunch we’ll return to Mokra gora and to Kustendorf ethnic village, which was created by our famous film director Emir Kusturica. This village is place of your stay in Hotel Mećavnik****.

4th Day – Working on some pottery, monastery Studenica

The day ahead of us will combine local experience in making pottery in village Zlakusa, famous for its pottery masters, with drive over picturesque Golija Mountain until we reach monastery Studenica from the XII century, considered for the most beautiful Serbian monastery (UNESCO list). Before we reach the monastery, we’ll have a lunch in a local place where they prepare best trout in the area, fresh from the pound. Overnight is in monastery Studenica guesthouse.

5th Day – Studenica, Žiča, Niš

In the morning of the fifth day we’ll explore Studenica monastery, its churches, architecture and frescoes, together with its spirituality and heritage for Serbian Orthodox church. From here we will get down to the valley of river Ibar, also known as The valley of kings, thanks to numerous endowments built by Serbian medieval rulers. Here we’ll stop for lunch in a special place, a local tavern ran by the same family for 200 years. After lunch next stop is monastery Žiča from the XIII century, which had unique purpose and that is why it looks different to other Serbian monasteries from the same period. Final destination for the day is Niš, economic and cultural center of south and third biggest city in Serbia. Overnight is in Hotel Sole***.

6th Day – Wine cellar, Felix Romuliana, East Serbia

Before we leave Niš we’ll visit one unique place -The Skull Tower, a memorial from the XIX century where skulls of Serbian revolutionaries were built-in to a tower by the Ottomans. From Niš we’ll continue to East Serbia, but first we will stop at wine cellar which has a unique way of aging wine, in amphoras, like Romans used to do in these areas. Here we’ll have lunch in combination with their wines. Next stop is Felix Romuliana, a UNESCO Roman palace from the IV century, built by Roman Emperor Galerius. Overnight is in Hotel Jezero**** on the Bor lake, here you’ll have a chance to relax in hotel’s pool.

7th Day – Iron Gate gorge, Belgrade

From Bor Lake we continue further to the very east of Serbia, to its border with Romania where the biggest gorge of Europe is located, the famous Iron Gate gorge. We’ll have a boat ride through the most beautiful part of the gorge to the Tabula Traiana, a Roman memorial table from the I century. After boat ride we’ll get back on the road and drive to a local household Captain Misa’s hill where we’ll have lunch typical for this area. After lunch we continue upstream till archaeological site Lepenski vir dating from 8000 BC and from here to Golubac fortress located at the very entrance to the gorge where Danube is widest on its whole flow (8km from side to side). In the evening we reach Belgrade and Hotel Jump Inn**** (two nights).

8th Day – Belgrade exploration

We’ll take you first to Belgrade fortress, the most iconic Belgrade landmark, then from the fortress we move to other part of the city, posh Dedinje, where Yugoslavian president Tito had his residence and where he was buried in 1980, in House of flowers. #YourSerbiaHost will explain how Tito’s cult was nurtured during his life, but also long after he was gone. From controversial Yugoslavian dictator’s tomb we’ll take you to a holy place, to St. Sava church, the biggest Orthodox temple in Balkans dedicated to true saint who was born in the XII century. When we finish this part of exploration we’ll take you to a local restaurant, where local food is prepared in modern manner. After lunch we’ll switch to the other side of the city, over the river to Zemun, old part of the city. Stroll along Danube promenade or walk to the Gardoš hill and drink in one of the local cafe’s will make you fill like a local.

9th Day – Fruška gora and Novi Sad

After breakfast we will continue straight to Vojvodina region and its sole mountain Fruška gora. Here we’ll visit monastery Krušedol from the XVI century and then we’ll continue to town of Sremski Karlovci, with several places worth to visit. Next stop is Petrovaradin and its fortress for which construction took 88 years. Lunch and gourmet part of the day is planned in a small wine cellar where wine maker is also a cook. He will serve his homemade food and match it with his fine wines. After lunch it’ll take only 15 minutes to reach Hotel Centar**** in Novi Sad where you’ll stay for the night.

10th Day – Departure

On the last day we’ll say farewell at the airport or we can take you to bus/train station in Belgrade (or Novi Sad). Depending on your travel arrangements you can spend some time exploring Novi Sad till we leave.

Few useful information

All accommodation facilities from the itinerary are 4* or 3* categorized (guesthouse in Studenica is more basic, but clean and comfortable with en suite bathroom), if you want more luxurious or less expensive accommodation please state that in the inquiry, but have in mind that 5* accommodation is available only in few places outside of Belgrade. If you want to customize the itinerary or you need transfer service to/from Belgrade before/after the tour please mention that in inquiry. Every additional service or customization of the itinerary can affect the price.