Tara Mountain - A hidden treasure of Serbia

When it comes to travel in Serbia, most people think about parties, city breaks and concerts taking place in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Until recently, few tourists from abroad even traveled to Serbia's mountainous areas, most of them were hunters and anglers. But now, an increasing number of people are discovering some of the remote areas, such as Tara, a mountain located in the southwest of the country, on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Tara is not quite easy to reach. It takes almost three hours drive using mountainous roads full of curves and bumps to get there from Belgrade. From Sarajevo, it would take somewhat less.

If you come from Belgrade, you will have a chance to see the city of Valjevo, mountains, and monasteries above that city and eat in restaurants on the mountain tops of Povlen or next to Drina river. Just like Tara, it is a great place for hiking, but with much fewer amenities.

After a bit more than two hours of driving, you will reach the town of Bajina Basta. Entering the city you can spot a famous House on the Rock, a log cabin which is placed in the middle of turbulent rapids of the Drina. There is a parking next to the main road where you can hire a boat to there. Also, in Bajina Basta you can hire a raft, stand up paddleboards, mountain bikes, ATVs, and other equipment for activities in the wild.

Tara is most known for its forests, meadows, viewpoints and waters. It has several resting locations with places to stay.

Kaludjerske Bare - its 20 minutes drive from Bajina Basta. Most people stay here. There is a big resort run by the Serbian Military, which has a lot of amenities including swimming pools, saunas, fitness, and else. There are also numerous chalets, bungallows, aparthotels and restaurants, along with two convenience stores and a filling station. Kaludjerske Bare is a starting point for several marked hiking trails, which come along deep pine forests and creeks, but also meadows.

Perucac (20 min drive from Bajina Basta following the Drina upstream) - its an artificial lake with a hydropower plant. There is a hotel, few aparthotels and restaurants, activities include climbing, hiking, stand up paddling, angling. There is also famous Vrelo falls.

Mitrovac (25 minutes driving past Pericac up the mountain). The area with one more artificial lake Zaovine, few fabulous viewpoints, children's recreational areasand a lot of forest which is also brown bear's habitat.

Predov Krst - the most remote area, placed on Tara's west slopes, close t the Bosnian border. It is in the deep wilderness, with lot of forests, the favorite resort for hunters.

Southern to Kaludjerske Bare is the area known as Mokra Gora. The area is considered "serbian Switzerland" thanks to its pristine appearance as mountain hamlets, old museum railway and a lot of wooden object around where people can stay and/or eat.