Music and Gastronomy Adventure in Guča – Serbian Cultural Celebrations

It is widely known that through food, travellers can get a true sense of a destination’s heritage, culture and traditions.

The small rural town of Guca, population 2000, in western Serbia plays every August the host to the annual Guča Trumpet Festival, also known as the Dragačevski Sabor, near the city of Čačak, in the Dragačevo region. The Guča festival is not only the largest traditional brass music festival in Eastern Europe but also the largest Roma festival in the world. In 2016, 500,000 visitors made their way to the town of Guca both from Serbia and abroad. Elimination heats are held earlier in the year and only a few dozen brass bands qualify to compete…..

Starting in 2017, “Dragacevske trube”, one of the 2016 top seeded brass bands became partners with the Guca Municipality and the local community and created special Serbian Cultural Celebration packages – a Music and Gastronomy Adventure in Guca. The special Guca Music and Gastronomy Adventure packages provide the uniquely fun experiences for visitors to this remote and unspoiled region, a memorable chance to prepare and take part in a Serbian celebration evening, performing music with local musicians-brass players and enjoying food grown and prepared by the guests and the local community.

4 days Guca Music-Folklore-Culinary Package

Day 1 Morning departure from Belgrade by high tourist class bus/van and drive to Guca /apr. 3,5 hrs/. Arrival to Guca, cordial welcome by hosts serving homemade rakija/juice and accommodation at the Konak u Guci Boarding House /good 3 stars facility, double and triple rooms with facilities/. Lunch.
14.00 Meeting with music and folklore instructors and coordinators at the Trumpet Museum. Introduction into the music and folklore elements followed with video presentation of the Guca Brass Festival. Creation of 2 teams : West Serbia (WS) and East Serbia (ES). Both teams have 2 hours of brass and other traditional instruments /drum, tube/ playing and 2 hours of folklore dances classes, conducted by local professional musicians of “Dragacevske trube” orchestra, and folklore instructors and choreographers.

17.30 return to accommodation, free time for individual activities or sightseeing of Guca
20.00 Dinner, welcome speech of Guca hosts. Overnight.

Day 2 After breakfast at 08,00 departure to the Dramlic Family Household for rakija making course – double distillation and master class of trumpet /each team have 1,5 hrs of playing on trumpets and traditional instruments/. Lunch.

14.00. Excursion to Dragačevo area – visit to the Sretenje and Sveta Trojica Monasteries in Ovcar-Kablar Gorge. Optional hike to the peak of the Ovcar Mt, 985 meters, from where spreads magic panorama of the mountains of West Serbia – Rudnik, Zlatibor, Kopaonik. /From April to November there is possibility of ferry ride along the West Morava River with tour of the St Nicholas Monastery – Nikolje Monastery/.
18.00 Cooking Master class
Participants will learn to prepare Corn bread, Buckwheat pie, Cabbage Casserole and Pie with dry plums /under supervision and assistance of experienced local chefs/. When dishes are ready, all take part in decoration of the dining room, and choose traditional costumes they will wear during the evening music competition and folklore performance.

20.00 Festive dinner – the fantastic food is also served for this special evening. After this delicious meal participants play instruments and dance kolo and other performances in front of local hosts and the unbiased and fair-minded jury. Proclamation of the winner team. Concert of “Dragačevske trube” Brass Orchestra. Overnight.

Day 3 8.00 Breakfast and check out from the Konak u Guci accommodation.
9.00 Visit to the Gastro Shop which sells traditional souvenirs and authentic products /homemade slatko, rakija…/
10.00 Departure for Zlakusa village famous for numerous potters whose ceramic products are used in the best restaurants of Serbia for slow food cooking.

10.30 – Pottery manufacture workshop conducted by local potter Velimir Velja Šunjevarić /1 hour/.
11.30 Drive to Belgrade. Upon arrival Belgrade sightseeing tour : the Parliament, Republic Square, Saint Sava Orthodox Cathedral. Accommodation in centrally located 3+/4 stars Belgrade hotel. Farewell dinner with live music in Skadarlija Restaurant. Overnight.

Day 4 After breakfast free time for individual activities until transfer to Belgrade Airport. Departure flight and end of program and services.

Price : 475 EUR per person – double occupancy – Minimum 15 participants

Included : transportation with high tourist class bus/van, 2 full-boards in Konak u Guci Boarding House /double-triple rooms with bathrooms/, delicious homemade food, all music and folklore and culinary and pottery workshops as per itinerary conducted by local professional musicians and folklore instructors and gastronomy chefs, 1 BB in Belgrade 3+/4 stars centrally located hotel, farewell dinner with live music, 24 hours English professional guidance and support of Panacomp Wonderland Travel

5 days Guca Music-Folklore-Culinary package

Day 1 Morning departure from Belgrade by high tourist class bus/van and drive to Guca /apr. 3,5 hrs/. Arrival to Guca /brass metropolis/, cordial welcome by hosts serving homemade rakija/juice and accommodation at the Konak u Guci Boarding House /good 3 stars facility, double and triple rooms with facilities/. Lunch.
14.00 Meeting with music and folklore instructors and coordinators at the Trumpet Museum. Introduction into the music and folklore elements followed with video presentation of the Guca Brass Festival. Creation of 2 teams : West Serbia (WS) and East Serbia (ES). Both teams have 2 hours of brass and other traditional instruments /drum, tube/ playing and 2 hours of folklore dances classes, conducted by local professional musicians of “Dragacevske trube” orchestra, and folklore instructors and choreographers.
17.30 return to accommodation, free time for individual activities or sightseeing of Guca
20.00 Dinner, welcome speech of Guca hosts. Overnight.

Day 2 After breakfast at 08,00 departure to the Dramlic Family Household for rakija making course – double distillation and trumpet master class /each team have 1,5 hrs of playing on trumpets and other traditional instruments/. Lunch.
14.00. Excursion to Dragačevo area – visit to the Sretenje and Sveta Trojica Monasteries in Ovcar-Kablar Gorge. Optional hike to the peak of the Ovcar Mt, 985 meters, from where spreads magic panorama of the mountains of West Serbia – Rudnik, Zlatibor, Kopaonik. /From April to November there is possibility of ferry ride along the West Morava River with tour of the St Nicholas Monastery – Nikolje Monastery/.
18.00 Cooking Master class – Participants will learn to prepare Corn bread, Buckwheat pie, Cabbage Casserole and Pie with dry plums /under supervision and assistance of experienced local chefs/. Dinner, overnight.

Day 3 After breakfast / 08,00/ departure /09,00/ to Zlakusa village, famous for numerous potters whose ceramic products are used in the best restaurants of Serbia for healthy slow food cooking.
09.30 – Pottery manufacture workshop conducted by local potter Velimir Velja Šunjevarić /1,5 hour/.
11,30 Visit to the Potpec Pecina Cave whose entrance and the cave jewelry belong to the the most monumental natural phenomenon in Serbia. Return to Guca and lunch.
15.30 Trumpet Master class and Folklore course /1,5 hrs each/
19.00 Preparation for dinner – participants with their hosts take part in decoration of the dining room, and choose traditional costumes they will wear during the evening music competition and folklore performance.
20.00 Festive dinner – the mouthwatering food is also served for this special evening. After this delicious meal participants play instruments and dance kolo and other performances in front of local hosts and the unbiased and fair-minded jury. Proclamation of the winner team. Concert of “Dragačevske trube” Brass Orchestra. Overnight.

Day 4 8.00 Breakfast and check out from the Konak u Guci accommodation.
9.00 Visit to the Gastro Shop which sells traditional souvenirs and authentic products /homemade slatko, rakija…/
10,00 Drive to Belgrade. Upon arrival Belgrade sightseeing tour : the Parliament, Republic Square, Saint Sava Orthodox Cathedral. Accommodation in centrally located 3+/4 stars Belgrade hotel. Free time for individual activities. Farewell dinner with live music in Skadarlija Restaurant. Overnight.

Day 5 After breakfast free time for individual activities until transfer to Belgrade Airport. Departure flight and end of program and services.

Price : 525 EUR per person – double occupancy – Minimum 15 participants

Included : transportation with high tourist class bus/van, 3 full-boards in Konak u Guci Boarding House /double-triple rooms with bathrooms/, delicious homemade food, all music and folklore and culinary and pottery workshops as per itinerary conducted by local professional musicians and folklore instructors and gastronomy chefs, 1 BB in Belgrade 3+/4 stars centrally located hotel, farewell dinner with live music, 24 hours English professional guidance and support of Panacomp Wonderland Travel

APPLICATION DEADLINE : 60 DAYS PRIOR ARRIVAL