Stara Planina- The Old Mountain
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Stara Planina (Old Mountain) is located in east Serbia and spreads all
across Bulgaria. Join us and experience this magnificent mountain. We
will stay in three star hotel "Babin Zub", which is nestled right below
the same name mountain summit (1757 m). We will hike through the forest
and meadows up to the highest mountain peak on Stara Planina - Midzor
(2170 m). You can enjoy beautiful view from one of the highest peaks in
Serbia. |
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Just 30 km southeast from Nis you can find real paradise for hiking and
mountaineering. Suva Planina (Dry Mountain) is one of the most beautiful
mountains in Balkan. There is no many mountain peaks in Serbia that you
can compare with Trem, Sokolov Kamen... The summits are easy accessible
from southern sides but their northern parts are sharply cut. On the
summit you will find yourself at the age of cliff and you will enjoy
unforgettable view. We will hike to the highest Suva Planina summit Trem
(1810 m).
Beljanica Mountain belongs to the mountain range of the
Carpato-Balkanides. It is one of the largest karst areas in Serbia. The
mountain is mostly covered by beech and oak forest and grass vegetation.
Due to its limestone composition it is very reach with caves (more than
150) and other karst forms. The mountain plateau ranges at the altitudes
from 1000 to 1300m above see level.
Resavska Cave |
Cycling Sokobanja spa Resava gorge is an absolutely superb area of limestone cliffs with
numerous caves. Impressive gorge has an ideal trails for hiking and
mountain biking.
The Resavska Cave is the first cave to be prepared for visits in Serbia.
The length of the cave totals to 2,850 meters and the tourist paths is
800 m long. The air temperature is 14 Celsius and the average humidity
75%-80%.
The Resavska Cave consists of three floors of passages and halls
connected by artificial tunnels and decorated by pillars and coral-like
calcite deposits in various colors. Only parts of the first and second
floors (Upper and Lower Gallery) have been prepared for visits. An
underground river flows through the lowest floor (Third Gallery). The
visitor to Resava can tour its numerous halls with different cave
ornaments. The cave is very rich in cave ornaments of various shapes and
colors and is richer than other tourist caves in the concentration of
its decorations. |
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The Manasija monastery was founded by Despot Stefan Lazarevic. The
church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was erected and painted between
1407 and 1418. The monastery is surrounded by massive walls and towers.
Since the end of the XVIIth century Manasija monastery has been
assembling by educated monks who have fostered literary and copying work,
called the Resava School.
The Monastery fortress, made up to defend the monastery, especially from
the Turks, consists of 11 towers linked with huge walls and once, with
trenches. The towers are mostly rectangular, save two hexagonal ones and
one square-shaped.
Hiking on Svrljig Mt.
Grape harvest
Ravanica Monastery |
Hiking on Ozren Mt.
Soko Banja is situated in the valley created by Mt. Rtanj (1560 m) and
Mt. Ozren (1117 m), at an altitude of 400 m above sea level. This
renowned spa and climatic and tourist resort is one of the most
frequently visited places in our country. This might be due to the fact
that organized tourism started here nearly 150 years ago. The thermal
mineral springs of Soko Banja are radioactive aquatic thermal with
thermal alkaline water. The temperature of the strongly radioactive
water ranges between 28 and 45.50 C. Radon, the radioactive gas is also
used in treating patients. The spa helps in healing bronchial asthma,
chronic hepatitis, psychoneurosis, neurasthenia, lighter forms of high
blood pressure, chronic rheumatism, as well as sciatica and post
traumatic conditions.
Soko Grad is founded in 1st century by Romans to protect territory from
attacks. |
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The cycling tours are fully van supported so clients can easily choose
to ride as much - or as little - as they want. Daily tours are from 50
to 100 km long. Terrain is moderately rolling. There is no better way to
experience countryside, lovely villages, old water mils, monasteries,
local customs and people. |
Cycling
Sokobanja- Nis
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Hiking on Stara
(Old) Mt.
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Tour cost includes:
- 6 nights charming private country pensions or hotels
- six breakfasts and four dinners
- four lunches
- service of two guides
- full van support
- use of bicycles and walking poles
- use of inflatable boats and lifejackets
- snacks and refreshing drinks during the hiking tour
- bathing in hot spring in old Turkish bath
- wine and brandy tasting in Sicevo Village
- photos from this tour burned on CD (we will mail you after the tour)
Single room supplement 70 Euro.
Longer or shorter options are available
The tour is available all year-round
We could organize transportation to/ from the tour starting point. |
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Tour Schedule
One can choose walking, cycling or combo option for this
tour. Here you can find some samples of our daily tours. We will set up
the schedule to meet your abilities and desires.
Itinerary 1
Arrival and check in to hotel Babin Zub (1570 m) on Stara Planina
Mountain. Afternoon - hiking to spectacular Babin Zub Peak (1757 m) - 3
hours of hiking. Longer or shorter tour available.
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Cycling Vrmdza Loop
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The old water-mill
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Itinerary 2
We will hike through the forest and meadows up to the highest mountain
peak on Stara Planina - Midzor (2170 m). You can enjoy beautiful view
from one of the highest peaks in Serbia. Total time of hiking - 7 hours.
Longer or shorter tour available.
Itinerary 3
Cycling from hotel Babin Zub, on the small roads and through the forests
of Stara Planina and Svrljiske Planine mountains and countryside, to
Sicevo village - local vine center. Check in at B&B on Svrljiske Planine
Mountain. Tour distance - 80 km - mostly downhill. Longer or shorter
tour available.
Itinerary 4
Cycling from Pirot town, following beautiful Jerma River. Visiting
Sukovo and Poganovo Monasteries, Zvonacka Banja spa, Bela Palanka town.
Tour distance - 80 km. Longer or shorter tour available
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Itinerary 5
Cycling by Nisava River, and Kutinska Reka River, to beautiful Donji
Dusnik village nestled below Suva Planina Mountain massif. Tour distance
50 km. Longer or shorter tour available.
Itinerary 6
We will hike to the most spectacular and the highest mountain peak on
Suva Planina (Dry Mountain) - Trem (1810 m). Hiking time - 6 hours.
Longer or shorter tour available.
Itinerary 7
Hiking to Sicevo village and visiting local vine cellars. Going to
Sicevo we will stay on a narrow path which follows the edge of the
Sicevo George. In Sicevo we will taste local wine and brandy. Going
back, as usual we go a different way- through the vineyards and orchards
back to the chalets where we started this tour. Hiking time - 2- 3
hours
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Wine Tasting in
Sicevo Village
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Manasija Monastery |
Itinerary 8
Hiking to Soko Grad (Soko Grad is founded in 1st century by Romans to
protect territory from attacks). There is not much left from Roman town
in present. Ruins of Soko Grad have typical Serbian medieval fortifying
site. After hike you can relax your muscles in hot bath. You can choose
to bathe in hot springs in Moravica River or go to old Turkish bath.
Itinerary 9
Cycling to Manasija Monastery. We ride on a quite local road from hotel
Lisine to Despotovac town. A few kilometers from Despotovac is 15th
century monastery Manasija. After visiting monastery we will cycle
toward village of Panjevac, Sladaja and back to the hotel. It is a
fantastic loop ride 48 km long through picturesque countryside, forest
and villages.
Itinerary 10
Hiking to Resavska Cave. The tour starts from the hotel Lisine. We will
take a short (one hour) but nice hike to the Resavska Cave. The walking
path goes over the hill which lays between our hotel and the cave. One
needs about 40 minutes to visit the cave. From the cave we will walk
back to the hotel.
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Itinerary 11
Rafting on the Nisava River. Our chalets in the Sicevo Gorge
represent a perfect base for river touring and exploring Nisava river.
There is not better way to relax or cool your self down during summer
warm. There are several different tours available. |
Rafting on the Nisava River |
