Balkan Incoming DMC Travel news, destinations and options in Balkan region
When thinking about our next journey, we want to see beautiful places, try extraordinary meals, meet guest loving people but we also want to do amazing things so we can circle the whole experience.
As Balkans offers many different countries, cultures, and varieties it is always a great destination for planning your vacation.
That is why we have chosen great things to do in each country we represent.
SERBIA
Drive along The Šargan Eight
When you are coming to Serbia and a well-known region of Zlatibor be sure not to miss a Šargan Eight, the most attractive tourist-museum railroad in Europe.
It was a link between Europe and the Adriatic sea from 1925 to 1974. The ride forms the form of the number “8”, and hence the name – Šargan Eight. The leading idea behind the construction of the Šargan 8 was that šargan 8a railway should be built in a way that would enable trains to reach the top of the mountain.
From Mokra Gora to Sharingan Vitasi Station you will pass through 22 tunnels, over five bridges, master the altitude difference of 300 meters and all on a total distance of 15,440 meters. The main station is next to the famous Wooden Town built by Emir Kusturica.
It is a very colorful ride, many are regarded as the most beautiful ride in Europe and climbing over the mountain Šargan was an engineering masterpiece.
The duration of this tour is about 2 hours but the experience and memories you will collect lasts for the lifetime.
ROMANIA
Get inside the Castle of Grof Dracula
Bran Castle situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Brașov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia.
If you are a fan of Bram Stoker books and admirer of mystery and adventure, then this is the right place for you.
The famous writer invented a vampire that became not only more famous the writer himself, but also the most famous vampire in The whole world. Grof Dracula.
Though he exists only in stories, that does stop tourist coming all over the world to hear about him an to admire to his gorgeous castle. Since 1920, Bran Castle has become a resident of the Kingdom of Romania. Castle Bran was the main home of the Queen of Mary and was richly decorated with various items from the time of its management, including the traditional furniture and tapestries it was collecting, in order to highlight the Romanian craftsmanship and skill.
Nowadays Castle is open for tourist offering adventure but also a rich historical and cultural heritage.
MACEDONIA
Explore the Ohrid Lake
Ohrid Lake is one of Europe’s largest and deepest lakes. It is on the western border between Macedonia and Albania. The town of Ohrid is in Macedonia, an ancient settlement with Roman ruins, an appealing lakeside promenade, waterfront cafes, a medieval fortress, and magnificent vistas. The old world atmosphere and lakeside beauty of the town draw many tourists from far and near.
Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, and in 2010, NASA named one of Titan’s lakes after it. Most of the lake’s plant and animal species are endemic and unique to Ohrid. Sports fishing attracts many passionate fishermen from Macedonia, Europe and even from the world.
The crystal clear water of the lake just one more reason to dive in the adventure on this gorgeous lake.
It coast is rich in history and the most beautiful way t revel it is by boat. Cruising tours are organized offering variety routes for tourist, such as cruising around the lake, or visiting St. Naum, or perhaps the old city Of Ohrid.
SLOVENIA
Take a ride through The Postojnska Jema cave
One peaceful town in Slovenia called Postojna, under its surface, hides enormous treasure, Postojnska Jama Cave.
It has been formed by Pivka River and this marvels creation is still in progress.
24,340 m long karst cave system Postojna Jama is the second-longest cave system in the country (following the Migovec System) as well as one of its top tourism sites. Every day millions of tourists visit this wonderland leaving it almost mute by its beauties.
The world’s first railway in an underground cave was opened in Postojna Cave in 1872 and drive in it is included in several tours.
Some of the tours are combined with walking through the gorgeous halls reveling astonish rooms. One of them is Concert Hall, known for its exceptional acoustics, has sufficient space for 10,000 people. Symphony orchestras, octets, and a variety of soloists perform here.
This the only place where you can see the most precious brilliant in the form of a cave formation and a baby dragon, a rare animal whose replicas you may buy in the souvenir shop located nowhere else but in the cave itself.
After a wide range of tours and tourist offer, you may relax in some of the numerous cafes and restaurants in the complex.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Try Rafting
For those more adventurous types, a must do activity is definitely rafting on beautiful Bosnian rivers. Surrounded by wild beauty and mountains of Zelen Gora and Sutjeska, river Drina is born by crystal clear mountain rivers Piva and Tara.
Rivers Drina and Tara are top destinations for rafting. Thanks to wild streams and persevered nature, there has been an expansion of this sport in recent years.
Rafting is an event in nature that requires active participation and follow-up of skipper’s instructions. Programs offered for the market in Bosnia and Herzegovina are completely safe and leave a strong impression on the participants and remain in long memory. A rafting event, besides recreation and adventure activity in the open, is a movement for the preservation of rivers and nature in general. Rivers rafting in Bosnia and Herzegovina are also holding on Una, Neretva, Vrbas, Krivaja …
Everyone who has ever tried rafting has come back to feel again that unforgettable experience.
ALBANIA
Meet the coast
Albanian cost is widely known for its beauty. Long beaches, crystal clear water will mesmerize everyone who sees it.
Although there are plenty of larger beaches with hotels, and restaurants there is something you should also be interested in. And that is wild camping.
As it is legal in Albania there are so many amazing places you can enjoy in peace and quiet.
The southern Albanian coast is a wild camping paradise, especially during the off-season when beaches are deserted and the weather is perfect. Called the Albanian Riviera, it runs along the Ionian Sea across from southern Italy.
Another thing you shouldn’t miss if you are wearing your bathing suit is visiting thermal springs. These are natural water springs which produce some of the cleanest water and one of the most popular are Benja thermal pools.
The water is a pleasantly warm temperature and is heated by the geothermal activity beneath the ground.
All you need to do is to enjoy.
BULGARIA
Go for skiing
Bulgarian tourism is probably most recognizable for skiing.
There are about 12 ski centers in Bulgaria and Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo are the most visited among them.
The ski season lasts from December until May, which makes Bansko the resort with the longest ski season in Bulgaria. Bansko has more than 120 facilities of various categories of accommodation for tourists who are visiting this impressive place.
Closest to Sofia is Borovets, the country’s oldest ski resort. It’s best for intermediates with pine-forested pistes that could pass for the Alps.
Pamporovo ski resort is situated in the east, a 1.5-hour transfer from Plovdiv. It’s a quieter, more family-friendly resort with some good ski schools.
The mountains are higher in relation to the mountains in other Balkan countries, hydrothermal and mineral springs than in other countries, valleys and basins have been turned into large flower beds, which they rarely meet in Europe.
Thanks to its great mountains Bulgaria is not only suitable for winter sports but also for hiking and walking.
MONTENEGRO
Spend a day in Porto Montenegro
The Montenegrin San Tropez is a luxurious complex called Porto Montenegro. Situated in the south coast this tourist complex offers modern buildings, luxurious apartments, big yachts but also smaller boats and some more reachable condos.
If you find yourself in Montenegro and want to spend a day in a classy way go straight ahead in Tivat and enjoy the rich offer of Porto Montenegro.
Shops, cafes, restaurants, amazing pools, and hotel are enough that thousands of people visit Porto every day. The village contains a marina with 450 berths for yachts from 12 to 180 meters long, luxurious Regent Porto Montenegro 5 star hotel, a nautical museum, yachting club, residential business space, outdoor swimming pools, etc. This village was built in the part of the city which locals call Arsenal, and once it was a naval technical and repair institute “Sava Kovačević”.
CROATIA
Visit Krka National Park
Krka National Park is situated east of Sibenik and is one of Croatia’s most beautiful reserves. It covers a total area of 109 km² of the loveliest sections of the Krka River, and the lower course of the Čikola River.
Inside of this magnificent wonderland are waterfalls, lakes, islands, monasteries, and Roman relics and the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Monastery Krka founded in 1345.
The national park is an unaltered area of exceptional natural value, including one or more preserved or insignificantly altered ecosystems. There are eighteen species of fish inhabit the Krka River.
Brown trout and Dalmatian barbel gudgeon are a couple of fish that can be found in the ecosystem. Park is a home for numerous birds of prey in the area.
The most attractive tourist parts of Krka National Park are:
- Roški Slap, located near Miljevci which is is the second most popular attraction of the Krk and the sixth waterfall of the river Krka.
- Skradinski Buk which is one of the most attractive parts of the park is a massive, clear, natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and cascades at the other.
- The island of Visovac which was founded during the reign of Louis I of Hungary. The island can be visited by a boat tour from Skradinski Buk.
Nature is so astonishing that it cannot be described by words, nor pictures. You have to see it to understand the significance of this masterpiece.
Get ready for adventure.
