Meet the untouched nature, experience Stara Planina Mountain, its extraordinary beauty, power and charms hidden in intertwined natural and anthropogenic motifs. There is no monotony here, but only the strength and wildness of the mountain and a unique feeling that a stay in this undiscovered area gives you.

The Balkan mountain range (Balkan) lies partially in Serbia, and mostly in Bulgaria. It is about 600 km long, and from 30 to 50 km wide. It stretches from Vrška Čuka in the north to the Black Sea in the east, and it’s the extension of the southern Carpathians.

Harmoniously blended intact nature, interesting history, and rich tradition have made the mountain a perfect place for vacation. Especially attractive and significant natural sights on Balkan include the Bigar stream valley, Midžor (the highest peak), the impressive rocks of Babin Zub, the Temštica River meanders, to name a few.

Balkan is a protected area, and it is classified as a national park. Village landscapes resemble dreamlike images, such as the ones of a long forgotten paradise!

Tour plan:

Departure in front of the hotel in Niš at 07:30 a.m. Driving on the highway to Pirot and further into the heart of the mountain. In an easy walking tour with a total length of 7 km, we will visit one of the most beautiful viewpoints on Stara Planina Mountain – Kozji Kamik viewpoint. We will visit a medieval church dedicated to the Saints Peter and Paul, with frescoes dating back to 12th century. The church is distinguished by its location in the rock, and by the famous fresco of Christ the Youth. The fresco is unique in Serbian fresco-painting since it represents Christ as a partially bald youth. This 2 km long route is not difficult, and it requires basic level of physical fitness.  We continue our trip to Vrelo village where we visit the Spring of Jelovica River, Lunch break. Transfer to Slavinja village, where is located Slavinjsko grlo (canyon), a unique natural rarity, where water cascades from one “pot” to another. Return to Vrelo village where is located our accommodation, guest house “Vrelo”. Dinner. Overnight stay.

Breakfast. Transfer by off-road vehicles to Arbinje in a length of 16 km. The upper part of the Dojkinačka River, known as Arbinje, is considered as the most beautiful river valley in Serbia. Start of the circular trekking tour to Arbinje Waterfall.  The tour lasts about one hour. Return to the vehicles. Transfer to Ponor. Ponor is perhaps one of the most magical places of the entire “Stara planina” National Park, a karst depression without surface water flow. We tour Ponor with lunch break in nature. After that, we return to Dojkinci village. Before the village, we visit Tupavica Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in this part of Balkan Mountains. Return to Niš in the evening hours. The end of the program.

Details:

  • Transportation by high class minibus
  • One night at the guest house “Vrelo” (1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 rooms)
  • All planned hiking tours
  • Off-road vehicle drive
  • Mountain guide services
  • Tourist guide services
  • Trip organization costs
  • Food
  • Individual expenses

Sneakers, a few pairs of socks, T-shirts, a hooded waterproof parka, sweatshirt, back up clothes and shoes, sunglasses, a cap, suntan cream. It is also recommended to take candy bars, nibbles, refreshing beverages and water. Put everything into a small backpack.

Guest house “Vrelo” is located 1.5 km in front of the village of Jelovica in a beautiful environment dominated by the Dojkinačka and Jelovica rivers. The Visočica River canyon with all the other elements that make up the ambient whole stands out in particular. Vrelo village is located at an altitude of 730 m. A special feature of Vrelo is that due to air currents, there is never any fog here, so it is a kind of air spa.

Cash: cash, up to 7 days before departure, or in instalments – the first instalment is 50% upon registration, the rest of the following month by depositing a check in dinar equivalent at the mid-rate of the National Bank of Serbia on the day of payment. This program was made on the basis of 8 registered passengers. In the event of changes in the monetary market (or the market of goods and services) or an insufficient number of registered passengers, the travel organizer reserves the right to correct prices, change the program or cancel the trip no later than 5 days before the start of the trip.

The organizer of the trip is travel agency Lord Travel, licence number OTP 211/2021-A issued by the Business Register Agency as of 30 November 2021. Lord Travel is insured by an insurance policy against responsibility for travel agencies in case of insolvency and liability in case of damage to the traveller, number 2700924, by the insurer KOMPANIJA DUNAV OSIGURANJE ADO Belgrade. The policy is valid from 01 October 2021 to 01 October 2022. In this program, travel agency Lord Travel applies their general terms and conditions of traveling, which are included in signing up for the trip.

The organizer of the trip is travel agency Nature Travel Office, licence number OTP 19/2023-A issued by the Business Register Agency as of 10 March 2023. Nature Travel Office is insured by an insurance policy against responsibility for travel agencies in case of insolvency and liability in case of damage to the traveller, number 3000001622, by the insurer MILENIJUM OSIGURANJE ADO Belgrade. The policy is valid from 07 February 2023 to 07 February 2023. In this program, travel agency Nature Travel Office applies their general terms and conditions of traveling, which are included in signing up for the trip.