Splendours of Serbia

Day 1 London to Belgrade,

Serbia. Fly by scheduled flight to Belgrade. On arrival transfer to the Hilton Belgrade Hotel for an overnight stay. Meet for dinner this evening at the hotel. (D)

Day 2 Belgrade & Zlatibor.

Located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, the capital of Serbia is one of the oldest settlements in Europe and known as the “White City” for its large fortress which sits on a white ridge above the two rivers. After breakfast at the hotel, join a guided walking tour of the city. See the impressive fortress and Kalemegdan Park with its views of the rivers, Saint Sava Temple and the House of Flowers, the resting place of former Yugoslavian President Josip Tito. Following the guided tour, journey south to the town of Topola where we will enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at the Aleksandrovic winery. This afternoon, visit the hilltop St George’s Church in Oplenac, founded by King Peter I of Serbia, its interior is adorned with beautiful Italian Murano glass mosaics. Continue to the mountain resort town of Zlatibor where we will check in to the Bor Hotel for a three night stay. Meet for dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Zlatibor & Drvengrad.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Mokra Gora where we will board the scenic narrow-gauge Sargan Eight heritage railway for a train ride to Sargan-Vitasi. Once part of a line that connected Belgrade to Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Coast, this restored section of the railway winds through the picturesque mountain scenery through a series of tunnels and viaducts. Continue to the village of Drvengrad, which translates as “Timber Town”. Built as a film set by Serbian director Emir Kusturica, it features traditional log-cabin style architecture including a church dedicated to Saint Sava, an art gallery and a library. Here we will have time to explore the village and savour the beautiful mountain scenery before enjoying a local lunch. Return to our hotel in Zlatibor where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Meet for dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Sirogojno & Ljubis.

This morning travel to the village of Sirogojno, featuring the traditional wooden architecture of the region and an open-air museum where we will learn about the almost forgotten crafts and trades that were a feature of rural life in late 19th century Serbia. Continue to the small village of Ljubis where we will enjoy a local lunch before returning to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax or further explore the mountain resort of Zlatibor. Meet for dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Kraljevo & Nis.

After breakfast this morning, check out of the hotel and journey to the town of Kraljevo where we will find the early 13th century Zica Monastery. Founded by the first Serbian archbishop, Saint Sava, and built between 1208 and 1230, it was here that the first King of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crowned, had his coronation. Torn down and rebuilt several times during Ottoman rule, we will discover the history of the building during a guided tour. After the tour, enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local vineyard before continuing our journey to Nis. Check in to the Hotel Ambasador for our two night stay. Following some free time, meet for dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Devil’s Town.

Located on the slopes of Mount Radan, Djavolja Varos, or Devil’s Town is an unusual rock formation featuring hundreds of towering soil figures, carved over many centuries by erosion from the highly acidic local waters, and topped by stone blocks. During our visit this morning we will discover this intriguing site and learn about the many myths and legends that surround it. After lunch at a local winery, return to Nis. Later this afternoon there will be the option to join a walking tour of the city to see the Ottoman-era Fortress and Mediana, the remains of a Roman villa built for Constantine the Great and destroyed by Attila the Hun’s army in 442AD. Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Gamzigrad & Belgrade.

Check out of our hotel after breakfast and enjoy a scenic drive north to the town of Gamzigrad. Here we will visit Felix Romuliana, a UNESCO World Heritage Listed complex of ancient Roman palaces and temples bult by Emperor Galerius in 298 AD and named after his mother Romana. On a guided tour we will discover the remains of this once luxurious, imperial palace, before continuing to the National Museum in Zajecar. Here we can admire many of the archaeological findings from the palace, including preserved mosaics and a marble bust of Galerius. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue the journey back to Belgrade where we check in to the Hilton Belgrade Hotel for an overnight stay. After some free time to relax, meet for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Belgrade to London.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London. (B)