Into The Balkans: Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Group Tour
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Overview
The rolling hills and beautiful landscapes of Serbia & Bosnia provide a stunning backdrop to a journey rich in history and tradition. Lying at the crossroads of eastern and western cultures they present a fascinating mix of Ottoman influences, Austro-Hungarian history and a warm hospitality that cannot fail to captivate.
Beginning in Belgrade we’ll follow the course of the Danube and cross the beautiful heartlands of rural Serbia, as we journey through a landscape filled with ...
The rolling hills and beautiful landscapes of Serbia & Bosnia provide a stunning backdrop to a journey rich in history and tradition. Lying at the crossroads of eastern and western cultures they present a fascinating mix of Ottoman influences, Austro-Hungarian history and a warm hospitality that cannot fail to captivate.
Beginning in Belgrade we’ll follow the course of the Danube and cross the beautiful heartlands of rural Serbia, as we journey through a landscape filled with ancient fortresses and medieval churches. There will be opportunities to visit Roman ruins and Ottoman citadels, take boat rides along the Danube and visit stunning World Heritage monasteries.
After taking a train ride through the mountains we’ll cross into neighbouring Bosnia, where we will visit the stunning old town of Sarajevo and explore the remarkable ‘Tunnels of Life’ that helped Sarajevo through one of the country’s darkest periods. In Mostar we’ll discover the cultural centre of Herzegovina and visit the walled city of Pocitelj.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use a mixture of minibuses, 4WDs, boats and trains.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
On this particular trip we will be in comfortable and occasionally characterful hotels.
Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
DAY 1: TOUR STARTS IN BELGRADE (SERBIA)
DAY 1: TOUR STARTS IN BELGRADE (SERBIA)
The tour starts in Belgrade early this evening, in time to enjoy dinner and a short walk around the Serbian capital.
DAY 2: BELGRADE
DAY 2: BELGRADE
With a full day to explore the city we’ll take the opportunity to discover some of Belgrade's most important historic sites and attractions, including the Kalmegdan Fortress, Karadjordjevic Kings Palace and the stunning setting of St. Sava's Church, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
DAY 3: BELGRADE - DONJI MILANOVAC - KLADOVO
DAY 3: BELGRADE - DONJI MILANOVAC - KLADOVO
This morning we journey deep into the rich agricultural landscapes of the Serbian heartlands. Picking up the Danube once more we'll skirt the Romanian border, stopping off first to visit the historic site of the Golubac Fortress. There is very little to see inside so we will stop to marvel at the imposing exterior. From here we’ll continue to the mesolithic of Lepenski Vir, labelled as ‘the first city in Europe’, before spending the final part of the journey sailing on to Donji Milanovac by way of the famous Iron Gates Gorge. From here we’ll transfer to the town of Kladovo for the night.
Approx 4-5hrs driving distance
DAY 4: DONJI MILANOVAC - DERDAP NATIONAL PARK – NIS
DAY 4: DONJI MILANOVAC - DERDAP NATIONAL PARK – NIS
From the banks of Lake Derdap our journey turns inland today, as we head through the beautiful scenery of the Derdap National Park towards the Roman ruins of Felix Romulijan. Continuing on to Nis we'll have an opportunity to explore one of the oldest cities in the Balkans as we take in the vast Ottoman fortress and the Cele Kula (Skull Tower), built as a monument to the Serbian revolutionaries of the early 19th century.
DAY 5: NIS - PRIMA – PROLOM BANJA
DAY 5: NIS - PRIMA – PROLOM BANJA
After an early start we’ll drive to the ancient Roman city of Prima, founded by Justinian the Great in the 6th century. From here we’ll continue to the town of Lebane, where we’ll visit Radanska Ruža, the Rose of Radan, a social enterprise that works with regional farmers and employs local women to produce traditional and old family recipes using the fruit and vegetables harvested on the slopes of Radan Mountain. Here we will enjoy lunch and have the opportunity to meet some of the women involved in the initiative. After a tasty lunch, we’ll head out on a scenic journey through the timeless vistas abounding with mystics, healing waters and farmland. We’ll then drive on to Devil’s Town, a nominee for the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Tonight, we’ll stay in the nearby town of Prolom Banja.
DAY 6: PROLOM BANJA – PRISTINA - GRACANICA (KOSOVO)
DAY 6: PROLOM BANJA – PRISTINA - GRACANICA (KOSOVO)
Today we continue south crossing the border into Kosovo and onto the capital Pristina. We’ll have lunch at a restaurant in the main square and take the chance to have a quick look around the city centre. From here we’ll head to Gracanica to visit the Serbian Orthodox monastery constructed by King Stefan Milutin in the 14th century. We’ll then head to our hotel for the chance to relax for the rest of the afternoon.
DAY 7: GRACANICA - PRIZREN – GRACANICA
DAY 7: GRACANICA - PRIZREN – GRACANICA
We continue south towards the slopes of the Šar Mountains and the historic old city of Prizren, the country’s cultural capital. The drive to Prizren also stops at the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Visoki Decani, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits at the foot of the Prokletije Mountains.
Approx 4 -5 hrs driving distance
DAY 8: GRACANICA - NOVI PAZAR (SERBIA)
DAY 8: GRACANICA - NOVI PAZAR (SERBIA)
Today we’ll visit the beautiful 13th century Sopocani Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and undoubtedly the most important in the region. Continuing on towards Novi Pazar, a rich centre of Serbian Bosniak culture, there’ll be an opportunity to soak up the distinctly Turkish vibe of the city’s bustling bazaars and mosques later this afternoon.
DAY 9: NOVI PAZAR - UVAC LAKE - MECANVIK
DAY 9: NOVI PAZAR - UVAC LAKE - MECANVIK
Heading towards the verdant and forested Western Serbia today we’ll pass through alpine ski resorts like Zlatibor en route to the small town of Mokra Gora. En route we’ll stop at Uvac Lake for a boat trip along the river (please note that due to falling water levels in Uvac Lake the boat trip might not be possible), followed by a visit to the forbidding ‘ice cave’. Along the way we hope to see the griffon vulture! We’ll spend this evening in a characterful hotel in Mecanvik, a traditional Serbian village that was created by director Emir Kusturica for his film ‘Life is a Miracle’.
DAY 10: MECANVIK - SREBRENICA - SARAJEVO (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA)
DAY 10: MECANVIK - SREBRENICA - SARAJEVO (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA)
With packed lunches in hand we’ll catch the newly renovated Sargan Eight railway through the mountains to the village of Vitasi - a fitting farewell to the stunning scenery of Serbia. From here we’ll drive through Tara National Park following the course of the Drina river before crossing the border into Bosnia & Herzegovina. We’ll first head to Srebrenica, where we will be able to pay our respects at the memorial centre, before completing the drive on to Sarajevo, Bosnia’s lively capital.
DAY 11: SARAJEVO
DAY 11: SARAJEVO
Today we’ll take a tour of the old town to learn a little something of the city’s rich past. We’ll then visit the remarkable Sarajevo Tunnels, constructed during the Siege of Sarajevo at the height of the Bosnian war of the 1990’s. Located under the UN held airport, these ‘Tunnels of Life’ provided the only route in or out of the city, allowing food, supplies and humanitarian aid into the besieged city.
DAY 12: SARAJEVO - MOSTAR
DAY 12: SARAJEVO - MOSTAR
This morning, for those that wish, we’ll head out on rough roads to the mountain village of Lukomir which enjoys a reputation as the most isolated settlement in Bosnia and one of the longest continually inhabited places in Europe. Alternatively, for those looking for a more relaxed morning, you can stay in Sarajevo to soak up more of the rich ambience of this captivating city. This afternoon we’ll take the train to Mostar, the cultural capital of the Herzegovina region, arriving in time for dinner and an evening stroll through the old town. A visit to Lukomir is dependent upon the weather. If it is raining or foggy on the day we will visit the excellent National Museum instead.
DAY 13: IN MOSTAR
DAY 13: IN MOSTAR
This morning we’ll head to the ancient walled town of Pocitelj where we can climb to the top for stunning views of the surrounding countryside. From here we’ll continue to the beautiful Kravica Waterfalls before taking lunch at a nearby restaurant by the river Trebižat. We’ll then return to Mostar in the afternoon for a guided tour of the medieval city, affording us the opportunity to see the beautiful Stari Most (Old Bridge), built by the Ottomans in the 16th century and easily the most recognisable of the town’s landmarks. We’ll round off the day with some wine tasting and our final dinner together at a nearby vineyard.
DAY 14: TOUR ENDS IN MOSTAR
DAY 14: TOUR ENDS IN MOSTAR
The tour ends this morning after breakfast, those on the suggested group flights will be transferred across the border to Dubrovnik in time for the flight home.
Approx 3hrs driving distance
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Royal Inn Hotel, Belgrade
Built in 1883, Royal Inn Hotel is not only the oldest hotel in Belgrade, but also stands on one of the city's oldest streets, home to a stunning array of protected architecture. From here guests have easy access to the old town and some of the main sights, as well as a great selection of restaurants and shops.
The 97 rooms are nicely decorated with simple, modern decor, and offer a good selection of amenities and en suite bathrooms. There is a good on site restaurant and bar/cafe which serves tasty cocktails in the evening.
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Supporting Pristina Bear Sanctuary
Near Kosovo's capital, we aim to visit the Prishtina Bear Sanctuary, home to brown bears rescued from illegal and cruel captivity in Kosovo and Albania. Here we plan to take part in an educational tour to learn about the recent changes to the law and what this means for the native bears of the region. Tourism directly supports and funds the sanctuary.
A Serving of Traditional Serbian recipes
On this tour we have the opportunity to visit and enjoy lunch at Radanska Ruža, the Rose of Radan, a social enterprise in the Serbian town of Lebane, which supports regional farmers and employs local women to produce traditional recipes from the fruit and vegetables harvested on the slopes of Radan Mountain. The driving force behind Radanska Ruža is Slobodanka Pavlovic, who for many years tried to create jobs for women in her community. She was particularly concerned with those women who, due to a lack of qualifications or work experience, a physical disability or simply because they were older or single parents, nobody wanted to employ. With the idea that they should simply do what they have been doing for generations, cook traditional family recipes, she made her breakthrough in 2015 when she employed five women. Now more than 30 women work in the busiest months, processing around 100 tons of vegetables from up to 50 small farmers in the traditional way, completely by hand. The aim of Radanska Ruža is to produce solely organic products and to secure employment for the workers all year round.
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
If travelling to/from the start/finish of the tour from another European country you might also want to consider reducing your carbon footprint by travelling there by train. We are unfortunately not (yet) in a postion to help with you with the actual booking of the train tickets but lots of good information can be found here - www.seat61.com
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| JU 381 | London Heathrow (LHR) 13:30 | Belgrade Airport (BEG) 17:10 |
| BA 845 | Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) 13:05 | London Heathrow (LHR) 14:55 |
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour, UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Serbia, Kosovo or Bosnia.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Or alternatively you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries.
Below is just a small sample of what you could do. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your individual requirements.
Novi Sad
An hour north of Belgrade lies this welcoming cultural city which is well known for its elegance and café culture. Allow 2-3 days.
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The Balkans have a continental climate meaning that summers are typically hot and dry while winters are bitterly cold. We have scheduled our trips in the region to avoid both of these extremes but please bear in mind that changes in global weather patterns combined the variety of landscapes through which this trip travels will mean that you should come prepared for any eventuality. In general though it would not be unreasonable to expect that most days will be warm/hot with daytime temperatures in the range of 25 - 35C.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour. It is also one of the few trips we offer where vegetarians can be easily catered for!
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A £200 (or equivalent) deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 2106 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.