Balkan Hiking Tour – SRB-ALB-MAC
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Balkan Hiking Tour : Serbia-Albania-Macedonia
In cooperation with our great regional partners Intours and Macedonia Travel
Day 1 : Belgrade – Golija Mt-Biosphere Reserve
Arrival to Belgrade Airport Nikola Tesla and meeting with the professional hiking guide. Transfer to Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve with breaks for refreshment. Accommodation in eco lodges/hotel within the intact Golija Mountain natural environment, at the altitude of 1400 meters. Introduction into hiking rules and local customs. Traditional dinner, overnight. (D)
Day 2 : Golija Mountain Hike
After breakfast full-day hike along the Golija Mountain wilderness and intact nature, inscribed in the UNESCO Natural heritage sites. The air spa of Golija Mountain features thick pine forests, endless pastures, fragrant meadows, scattered villages, icy cold potable springs, spectacular vistas overlooking the whole south-west Serbia and the Dinaric ranges and the Jankov kamen higest peak – 1833 m…. Intense walk through the spectacularly beautiful protected wildlife of Golija Mt Reserve through the thick /almost impassable/ forests and meadows, 9 km trail Golijska river – Milosica – Jankov Kamen – Babica brdo, ranging from 1408 m to 1833 m above sea level. Break for box lunch and relaxation besides the potable mountainous springs. Afternoon return to the eco lodges, dinner, overnight. Intense hike of 9 km, 7 – 8 hours, altitude difference about 450 meter. Dinner, overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 3 : Golija MT – Kopaonik Mt/National Park
After breakfast drive through intact nature and wilderness of the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve and break for sightseeing of the Studenica Monastery – 12th century, the most prominent Orthodox Medieval Monastery in Serbia. Continue to Kopaonik National Park, the largest mountainous massif in Serbia which stretches in 80 km, direction north-east to south-west, with the Pancic Peak 2017 meters. Accommodation in the eco, 4 stars hotel. Introductory 1 hr hike to the area surrounding the hotel. Traditional dinner, overnight. (B, D)
Day 4 : Kopaonik Mt/NP Hike
After breakfast full-day hike along the Kopaonik NP/Mt, intense 13 km hike to the Metodje sanctuary /altitude 1540 m, the holy place and regarded among locals the spot with the healing water/, duration 6 – 8 hours, altitude difference 860 m. Start of the hike at the Karaman Greben ski track /1710 m/ and climb along the ski run to Mali Karaman (»Rtanj«), Kneževe bare and Gvozdac, continue to the peak of Veliki Karaman (Vučak 1936 m), which features unique monolith rock from where spreads magnificent panorama to the mountains of Rtanj, Jastrebac, Stara Planina Mt direction east, and far distant mountain ranges of Prokletije, Sar planina Mountain, Komovi Mt, Durmitor Mt /Montenegro and Albania/. Sharp descent hike beside the Karaman ski-lift to the Jaram pass (1788 m), and continue along the macadam road beside the spring and Zljeb peak (1720 m) direction southwest up to another spring and the bridge which leads to the 5 meters-high geyser of fresh water. Continue along the stream and the deserted mine to the break point. Well-marked trail leads across the stream and the thick pine forest to the Metođe Sanctuary and the nature reserve (altitude 1540 meters). Break for box lunch and relax. Return climb up to the Ledenice peak (1870 m) and further down to our hotel and the hike starting altitude of 1700 meters. Dinner, overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 5 : Kopaonik – Kosovo – Peja-Pec
After breakfast drive via Leposavic to Kosovo and Metohija, direction Peja/Pec. Break at the restaurant „Ujvara e Drinit“ for refreshment. Hike to the source of the White Drim River, and tour of the beautiful waterfalls. Continuation of hiking along the circling road which joins the magnificent landscape of the road Peja/Pec – Rozaje /Montenegro/. Lunch en route. Accommodation in 4 stars hotel in Peja, dinner, overnight. (B,box L,D)
Day 6 : Rugova Gorge – Gjakove
After breakfast drive to the Rugova Gorge/ Mountain. Visit to the Pec Patriarchate complex of four Medieval Orthodox Monasteries – UNESCO Sites. Continue to the Kucista mountain village, close to the border of Montenegro, and refreshment at Guri Kuq, from where starts hike along the mountain tracks up to the gorgeous Licenati Lake. Rest and lunch box with the Peja beer and the icy cold spring potable water. Return to the bus waiting in Kuciste, drive to Gjakova/Djakovica, with visit to the Visoki Decani Monastery, one of the most majestic and best preserved Serbian Medieval Orthodox Monasteries. Sightseeing of Visoki Decani frescoes, with enjoyment of wonderful hospitality of monks. Drive to Gjakove-Djakovica and accommodation in the “Carshia e Jupave” Hotel, which is exceptional example of traditional hospitality and serves fantastic food and the best wines of Kosovo. Overnight. (B,box L,D). For larger groups optional accommodation in Prizren hotel.
Day 7 : Gjakove -Valbona Valley/Mt – Prizren
After breakfast drive to North Albania, Valbona Mountain and Valley, close to Gjakove, via Bajram Curri. Refreshment en route. Continue drive along the fantastic landscapes of the Albanian Alps, and through the Valbona Valley, (25 km from Bajram Curri). Break at the restaurant beside the Valbona River source. Continue of hiking for about 3 hours. Lunch box. Return hike descending, for about 2,5 hours to the hike starting point, where our bus is waiting. Return to Gjakove and further drive to Prizren. Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 8 : Prizren – Orahovac – Velika Hoca village – Brezovica Ski-Tourist Center
After breakfast Prizren old town and charsi sightseeing tour, including visit to the old filigree shops which preserve traditional way of filigree jewel manufacture. Drive to the wine region of Orahovac/ Rahovec and the ethnographic village of Velika Hoca. Visit to the Stonecastle Wine Company, one of the largest wineries in the Balkans, with wine tasting and possibility to buy wines of extraordinary quality for very affordable prices. Visit to one of the small wineries in Velika Hoca village, and the old Winery of Visoki Decani Monastery. Traditional lunch. Return to Prizren and climb to the Kalaja Fortress, dominating over Prizren, with magnificent panorama of the whole region and the gigantic Sharr Mountain peaks. Descent hike back to Prizren /ca 20 minutes of hike/. Drive along beautiful scenery of Sharr Mountain to Brezovica Ski and tourist center. Hotel accommodation – good 3 stars, traditional dinner, overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 9 : Brezovica Sharr Mountain – Mavrovo National Park Macedonia
After breakfast half-day hike to one of the peaks of the beautiful Sharr Mountain, for abt 2,5 hrs, altitude difference 380 m. Walk along the fragrant meadows of Tzar Dushan, while enjoying magic vistas and fresh mountainous air. Traditional lunch. Drive via Kacanik Gorge to Macedona and further via Skopje, along the highway to the Mavrovo National Park. Good 3 stars hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 10 : Mavrovo – Prespa – Ohrid
After breakfast drive direction Ohrid and to the hiking point in the Galicica National Park. Hike to the Magaro peak (2,5 hours up + 2 hours down) which provides fantastic view over both the Ohrid and Prespa lakes. Drive on the other side of the mountain to Prespa lake, and visit of the ethno museum in Podmocani village, with traditional lunch. Drive to Ohrid and introductory tour of the old town-museum. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight in good 3 stars Ohrid hotel/exclusive Monastery Dormitory. (B,L,D)
Day 11 : Ohrid – Pelister – Skopje
After breakfast, drive to the Pelister National Park (1,5hrs) and easy morning hike to Jorgov Kamen and Crveni Steni locality, (3-4 hours trekking) Lunch in the Dihovo village at the foothills of Pelister Mt. Afternoon drive to Saint George Kurbinovo monastery (on the way) with over 20 sacred “healing” springs, and further to the Stobi archeological site. Gala dinner with wine tasting in Stobi winery. Drive to Skopje for overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 12 : Skopje – onward flight
Breakfast, flying home. If flight schedule time allows, sightseeing with tourist guide of Skopje (Mother Teresa memorial house, Macedonia square abundant of monuments and monumental buildings for project “Skopje 2014”, and over the Stone Bridge to the Old Town with remarkable cultural heritage from Ottoman and Byzantine period. (B)
Note : if departure time allows, instead of the Skopje proposed city tour, there is possibility to arrange visit to the Matka Canyon, inclusive the visit to the St Andrew Monastery and traditional lunch with live music for 35 EUR supplement
Price : 965 EUR per person /double occupancy/ Minimum 20 participants
Single supplement : 210 EUR
Included : tourist class A/C coach transportation, 1 HB and 1 FB in Golija 4 stars eco lodges, 1 HB and 1 F/B in Kopaonik 4 stars eco hotel, entrance fee for Kopaonik National Park, lunch on the day 5, 1 HB in the 4 stars Pec hotel, box lunch on day 6, 1 HB in the Djakovica 4 stars Hotel, wine tasting, box lunch on day 7, 1 HB in Prizren 4 stars hotel, wine tasting in Stone castle, traditional lunch with wine tasting in Velika Hoca village, 1 HB in good 3 stars hotel in Sharr Mountain – Brezovica tourist and Ski center, entrance fee for Sharr National Park, traditional lunch on day 9, 1HB in Mavrovo 3 stars hotel, entrance fee for Mavrovo National Park, entrance fee for the Galicica National Park, entrance fee and traditional lunch in Podmocani village, entrance fees for Ohrid churches, 1 HB in Ohrid good 3 stars hotel/monastery dormitory, entrance fee for the Pelister National Park, traditional lunch in Dihovo village, entrance fee for St George Kurbinovo Monastery, entrance fee for Stobi Archaeological site, rich traditional dinner with wine tasting in Stobi Winery, 1 HB in 5 stars Skopje hotel, full escort of professional hiking guides throughout the whole tour – in Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija, Albania and Macedonia, 24 hrs Panacomp Wonderland Travel Serbia + Intours and Travel Kosovo + Macedonia Travel Macedonia Logistics and support
APPLICATION DEADLINE : 90 days prior departure