Trip to Serbia

Hi there,

For easter 2011, we joined a group of Bulgarians to trip to Tara national park in Serbia: ara's national park was established in 1981 and it encompasses Tara and Zvijezdamountains, in a large bend of the Drina River. The size of the park is about 220 square kilometers with altitudes varying from 250 to 1,500 meters above sea level. The park's management office is located in nearby Bajina Bašta.

The national park consists of a group of mountain peaks with deep picturesque gorges between them. The most striking of these gorges is the Drina Gorge, with its sheer drops from 1000-250 meters and extensive views of western Serbia and nearby Bosnia. The area is also characterised by karst caves, pits, springs, and breathtaking vista points.

Forests account for three quarters of this national park's area, some of them being the best preserved and well-kept in Europe. Tara also boasts a rare endemic Tertiaryspecies, the Picea omorika, or Serbian Spruce, which is now protected in a small area of the park. Because of its rarity and scientific importance, it has been placed under national protection. Locally, Tara is home to many different species of wildlife, including brown bears, chamois, roe deer, lynxes, otters, wolves and others. More than 100 bird species also make their temporary or permanent homes on the slopes of the mountain: the golden eagle, the griffon vulture, the peregrine falcon, the Eurasian eagle owl, the black grouse, among many others.

The Tara National Park can be reached from Bajina Bašta directly (by the Bajina Bašta - Kaludjerske Bare road), from Perućac via Bajina Bašta (by the Perućac - Mitrovac road) and from Kremna (the Kremna - Kaludjerske Bare road). The Drina Gorge, which is an integral part of the park, can be toured by boat.

Tara National Park is home to Mitrovac, a children's recreational center and several hotel facilities, including Hotel Beli Bor, Hotel Omorika (a large hotel with many conference services), and Hotel Tara.

To reach Tara, we left at 07.15 from Sofia through Nis, Krusevac, Krajevo (where we had a wonderfull lunch directly on the road) Uzice to reach Tara montain and our refuge in the montain. Nice after 12 hours drive in Microbus (special thanks to the driver Ivelin). After a good dinner with some BG rakia, we went to bed with a lot of expectation of the discovery of the national park and the pick of velika stolitsa at approx 1700 m.

Next day discovery of the park, ascencion of the pick and for that we cross the border of Serbia to Bosnia, we are at 50 km from Sarajevo. 

The day after we went for culture trip. We started with the visit of the most visionar in Serbia: http://www.kremansko-prorocanstvo.com/ have a look. Then we had a trip with train on the fabulous 8 in the moutain and then left for Emir Kostarica Etno Village http://www.serbiatouristguide.com/live/Destinations/Villages?contentId=625 quite cool if you want to stay for the night no problem there is a hotel there.

Next day back to BG, with a special cross to Zlatibor for a Serbian Banitsa.

Enjoy!