Excursion Balkan Voyage

A journey through three Balkan countries - Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro - an amazing journey that will remain in your memory for a long time. This route involves getting to know the historical and natural attractions of three countries - Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Serbia. Tourists get a unique opportunity to explore the western part of the Balkan Peninsula - the Adriatic coast, picturesque mountains, unique canyons, waterfalls, and visit historical cities and ancient monasteries.

This multi-day excursion is new for the 2020 season, it is ideal for those who are interested not only in a seaside holiday, but also in getting to know the interesting history of the Balkans.

Description and program of the excursion "Balkan Voyage"

 Day 1  The first day of our program begins with arrival in Belgrade. Here you will find hotel accommodation and relaxation. 

Day 2 On the second day after breakfast we go on a tour of Belgrade. We will see such significant city attractions as fortress and Kalemegdan park. Although officially only the park is called Kalemegdan, through popular efforts it has been extended to the entire hill and fortress. Residents of the capital love to gather here in the evenings, dance, make appointments and dates. 

Let's take a walk along the central street called Prince Mikhailov, which in one of the sections adjoins Republic Square. There are many local attractions on the square: the National Theatre,

cultural center, the monument to Prince Mikhailov and the National Museum. 

Let's take a walk around the Skadarlija district, which in its spirit resembles the atmosphere of the French Montmartre. This is one of the oldest areas of Belgrade, which has always been considered “bohemian”, due to the fact that it attracted artists, musicians and all representatives of creative professions. Now Skadarlija is full of small cafes, restaurants and antique shops. By the way, the street here is paved with cobblestones, which adds a unique color to itetc. 

Let's also look at the Temple of St. Sava. Today it is one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in Europe. The temple was built on the site of the burning of the relics of the first archbishop of Serbia. The cathedral now operates solely on donations and is constantly being reconstructed. During your visit, we advise you to pay attention to the fresco located under the main dome and the cross on top, which is 12 meters high.

Having finished our walk around the capital of Serbia, we head towards Zlatibor. A picturesque road awaits us, and the further south we move, the more hilly the area around us will be. The distance from Belgrade is about 200 kilometers, and by evening we will arrive at the famous Serbian resort, where we will comfortably settle down and spend the night. 

Day 3  We will start our day with a delicious breakfast in traditional Serbian style and set out to explore the city. This region got its name from the unique species of “Zlatni Bor” pine trees growing here with yellow, golden needles. This mountainous area is incredibly beautiful, in addition, the local air has healing properties, which is why Zlatibor received the status of a climatic resort. The resort is also very rich in water resources; a huge number of fish live in lakes and rivers. We will take a walk around the lake and visit the market, which is the main place for shopping for farm products, hand-knitted woolen clothes and souvenirs.

Next we will go to the village of Mokra Gora on the slope of Mount Zlatibor. Here is the ethno-village of Kusturica - Drvengrad, which attracts many travelers from all over the world, along whose streets we will definitely stroll. This city is the embodiment of the famous director and his great love for his native country. Here Emir Kusturica realized his dream of an ideal village with small wooden houses, narrow colorful streets and charming small churches. This place is unlike anything else, and there is a feeling that everything around is scenery from the last century, everything seems so unreal. By the way, the covering of the squares and streets of Drvengrad is made of sleeper cuts, which gives it a special flavor.

Another local attraction is the amazing narrow-gauge railway Sharganska Osmica, the route of which forms the figure eight on the landscape. This is the only narrow-gauge railway in Europe, which once connected Belgrade and Sarajevo. The train journey lasts about two hours and includes stops at observation decks and Golubchi station (this is where Kusturica filmed episodes of the film “Life is a Miracle”). This trip will leave an unforgettable impression and bring a lot of pleasure not only to children, but also to adults.

After the trip on the Sharganska osmitsa, we will go to Sarajevo - the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a city where the architectural and historical influence of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires merges. It is in this city that today we will rest and spend the night, and we will begin getting acquainted with its history the next day.

Day 4After breakfast we go for a walk around the city. Sarajevo owes its name to the Turkic word “barn” - palace. The capital is located in a place where people have lived since Neolithic times. We can safely say that today Sarajevo combines the tastes of the East and the habits of the West. Locals are very proud of the city's rich cultural and historical heritage. It was here, on the Latin Bridge in June 1914, that the Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which served as one of the reasons for the outbreak of the First World War.

In the 15th century, after the Ottomans captured the Kingdom of Bosnia, a massive conversion of Bosnians to Islam began. This is a unique precedent in European history. These days, the majority of the local population is Muslim, in addition, the country is now receiving a lot of financial assistance from the Gulf countries for the restoration and construction of mosques, some of which we will also definitely look into. 

We will also visit the Yellow Bastion, which attracts with its chic observation deck. It offers a breathtaking view not only of the central areas of Sarajevo, but also of the Igman region, where the Bosna River originates. It’s best to take the best panoramic photos of Sarajevo from here, because in clear weather the entire capital will be visible at a glance.  Afterwards we will go to the Mercale market, notorious for its events of 1994-1995. Here you can buy souvenirs, handmade items, sweets and coffee. Interesting fact - Bosnia and Herzegovina is in tenth place in terms of coffee consumption per capita in the world.  

After walking around the city and enjoying its unique flavor, we leave for Mostar. Along the way we will enjoy beautiful landscapes and tunnels, of which there are a great many. We will arrive in Mostar in the evening, where we will check into a hotel for rest and overnight.

Day 5 After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we go on a sightseeing tour of Mostar.

The most important attraction and beautiful place is the bridge over the Neretva River. Built in the 16th century, standing for almost 420 years, it was blown up by a falling bomb during the war, but then reconstructed and to this day colors the city center.

Mostar is a beautiful and large city, listed under the protection of UNESCO. About 100 thousand people of different faiths live here, so you can also see Catholic cathedrals and mosques.

Annual bridge diving competitions are held in Mostar - this event is watched by thousands of city residents and guests.

Narrow ancient streets with various souvenirs will remind you of the true spirit of the east.

After an exciting walk through the city we are heading back to the road, because real waterfalls await us ahead!

Excursion to the Kravice waterfalls - a national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Truly beautiful and inspiring for every tourist with their unusual natural beauties. The Trebižat River originates in the center of the country, with a length of 51 km, which forms the second longest river in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One part of it runs underground, the second - in the open air, flowing like a waterfall into a beautiful emerald-colored lagoon. Sleeves of white water fall from a 25-meter height, shimmering with hundreds of rainbows into the azure water.

There are a lot of fish in the lake, but fishing is prohibited - this is a nature reserve. Be sure to bring swimsuits and towels as swimming is allowed in the lake. The water is clean and transparent, very pleasant to swim. You are allowed to jump into the lake and stand under the falling streams of water. The photos turn out great! Nearby there are places to change clothes, restaurants and cafes where you can have a snack and drink refreshments! Here we will spend about 1.5 hours.

After enjoying the beauty and swimming, we will head to the city of Trebinje.Driving along the Trebišnjica River we will see a unique irrigation system for grape fields. The huge wheels are still used by monks to water their plantations.

And also the monastic grape fields and the famous Bosnian Duvan - how tobacco grows (Herzegovina flor), which was smoked by Joseph Brus Tito and Stalin. Surprisingly, local residents sell bags of this tobacco without examinations or permits.

In Trebinje we will have a sightseeing tour of the old part of the city, a visit to the Herzegovina Museum, a tour of the 18th-century Osman Pasha Mosque and the 16th-century Arslanagic Bridge.

A very beautiful sunny town will especially amaze you with its hundred-year-old plane trees. Be sure to visit the local homemade food market. Here you can buy very cheap homemade products: olive oil, cheeses, oils, vegetables, prosciutto and much more. And you will remember homemade cheeses from a leather bag for the rest of your life!

There will also be time to visit Dučić Park and the Church of the Transfiguration.

After getting acquainted with the beauty and history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we leave for Montenegro. After the border and passing through the city of Herceg Novi, a nunforgettable ferry crossing across the bay and a sea of ​​impressions from the surrounding beauty awaits us!  Afterwards we drive through the Bay of Kotor and past coastal villages, heading to the Budva Riviera.

In the evening we arrive in Budva and check into a hotel. We will no longer have to move and we will stay in the same hotel for all remaining vacation days. 

Day 6 Free day that can be devoted to seaside recreation and relaxation on the Adriatic coast.