Signature journey
Wild East Serbia
Serbia's least-visited mountains from Niš: Sićevo Gorge, Pirot's kilims, the ridges of Stara Planina and the pyramid of Rtanj
- No payment now
- Private, on your dates
- Planned by our own team
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Travel style
- Private
- Pace
- Active
- Walking
- Demanding
- Stays
- Superior · Classic
- Starts and ends
- Niš Constantine the Great Airport (INI)
- Guiding
- EnglishAll languages on request
- Price
- From €2,090per person, based on 2 guests travelling together · indicative
Route & days
Day by day
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Day 1 Arrival in Niš
Your driver meets you at Niš Constantine the Great Airport. In the evening, walk with your guide through Niš Fortress and along the riverside to the old taverns of Kopitareva street.
- Niš Constantine the Great Airport (INI)
- Niš
- Niš Fortress
Included: Private airport transfer, guided evening walk.
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Day 2 Sićevo Gorge and Pirot
Follow the Nišava east through Sićevo Gorge, stopping at viewpoints above the river. In Pirot, visit a kilim workshop to see the red geometric rugs woven on upright looms, and taste the town's hard cheese and pressed sausage where they are made.
- Niš
- Sićevo Gorge
- Pirot
Included: Vehicle with driver, guide, workshop and producer visits.
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Day 3 Into Stara Planina
Climb into Stara Planina through its quiet stone villages to Babin Zub, the jagged rock crest with the mountain resort below it. The afternoon is free for a first walk in the high meadows.
- Pirot
- Stara Planina Nature Park
- Babin Zub, Stara Planina
Included: Vehicle with driver, guide.
Winding mountain roads.
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Day 4 The ridges of Stara Planina
A full day on foot with a local mountain guide, following the open ridges from Babin Zub towards Midžor, the highest peak of the range, with views far into Bulgaria. Strong walkers can continue to the summit in good weather.
- Babin Zub, Stara Planina
- Stara Planina Nature Park
Included: Mountain guide, picnic lunch.
Open ridges with no shade; fog can come in fast.
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Day 5 Knjaževac to Sokobanja
Drive down to Knjaževac, where two branches of the Timok meet beneath the mountain, for lunch and a stroll along the river. Continue to Sokobanja, a green spa town in the Moravica valley, with Rtanj on the skyline.
- Babin Zub, Stara Planina
- Knjaževac
- Sokobanja
Included: Vehicle with driver, guide.
Easier or optional: A tasting at a small winery near Knjaževac.
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Day 6 Rtanj
Climb Rtanj with your mountain guide, a steep, rocky ascent to the summit of Šiljak and the ruined chapel on top, with views across the hills of eastern Serbia. Back in Sokobanja, unwind in the town's spa or at the old Ottoman bathhouse.
- Sokobanja
- Rtanj
Included: Vehicle with driver, mountain guide, picnic lunch.
Slow roads to the trailhead. Steep, loose paths near the summit; no water on the upper slopes.
Easier or optional: Instead of Rtanj, easy walks to the Sokograd fortress and the Lepterija riverside park.
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Day 7 Back to Niš airport
After breakfast, drive to Niš Constantine the Great Airport for your flight home.
- Sokobanja
- Niš Constantine the Great Airport (INI)
Included: Transfer with driver.
Driving times are approximate and don’t include stops. Every day can be adjusted: tell us what you’d change when you enquire.
What’s included
Included and not included
Included
- 6 nights: Niš, Pirot, Babin Zub (2) and Sokobanja (2), with breakfast
- Dinners at Babin Zub and picnic lunches on the walking days
- Private English-speaking guide and a local mountain guide for the walks
- Private airport transfers and vehicle with driver throughout
- Kilim workshop and producer visits in Pirot (arranged on request, subject to availability)
Guiding in all languages available on request, subject to availability.
Not included
- Flights
- Other meals and drinks
- Spa treatments in Sokobanja
- Travel insurance
Why this journey
Why you’ll love it
- Sićevo Gorge and the kilim weavers and cheese makers of Pirot
- Two nights at Babin Zub and a ridge walk on Stara Planina
- The climb up Rtanj, the pyramid-shaped mountain of the east
- Two nights in the spa town of Sokobanja
- Start and finish at Niš airport
Signature moments
High pastures and quiet villages
Stara Planina is one of the emptiest corners of Serbia, where a few shepherds still bring their sheep to the high pastures in summer. Walking the open ridges above Babin Zub with a local guide, you may not meet anyone else all day.
What you’ll do
What you’ll do
Everything is arranged privately for your group. Hosts, guides and routes are confirmed in your offer.
Hosted experience · Day 2
Visits to local food producers
Meet the people who make Serbia's regional foods: cured meats, cheese, ajvar and more.
Producer visits and tastings as set out in your offer. Arranged on request, subject to availability.
Hiking & trekking
Moderate
5 hours on open ridges; longer with the summit of Midžor
Safety: Always guided. The ridge follows the state border: carry ID and don't cross it. Routes change with the weather.
With a private guide
Hiking & trekking
Demanding
About 4 hours, steep and rocky near the summit
Safety: Sturdy boots essential; skipped in wet weather, with an easier walk instead.
With a private guide
Where you’ll stay
Your stays · 6 nights
6 nights: Niš, Pirot, Babin Zub (2) and Sokobanja (2), with breakfast
Night 1
Superior comfort, chosen for your dates
- Superior comfort
Upgrade: Premium hotels in Niš on request
Nights 2–6
Classic comfort, chosen for your dates
- Classic comfort
Upgrade: 4-star hotels where available, on request
We name each stay, with its photos, in your written offer once availability is confirmed.
Before you choose
Is this journey for you?
A good fit if
Walkers and nature lovers who want wild, quiet mountains and village life away from the usual routes.
- Couples
- Friends
- Solo
Maybe not if
Anyone who doesn't walk: two days are built around mountain hikes, one of them steep. Not suitable in winter, when the high ground is under snow.
Pace and effort
Active. Two walking days, one moderate and one demanding, with short drives between bases. The Rtanj climb can be swapped for easy walks around Sokobanja.
- Hiking & trekking5 hours on open ridges; longer with the summit of MidžorModerate
- Hiking & trekkingabout 4 hours, steep and rocky near the summitDemanding
Tailor-made
Make it your own
Add a night in Niš at the end, or continue to the Iron Gates via Zaječar and Felix Romuliana.
Customise this journeyHow booking and payment work
From enquiry to voucher
We never ask for card details by email or on this website. Bank details are only sent in your personal offer or invoice.
- 1 You send an enquiry Free, with no obligation.
- 2 We send a written offer Availability and your final price, confirmed.
- 3 You accept the offer
- 4 You pay securely Card payment link (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro) or bank transfer.
- 5 We confirm your payment
- 6 You receive your confirmation and voucher
Wild East Serbia
Tell us when you’d like to come
We’ll check availability for your dates with our local partners and guides, then send you a written offer with the confirmed price. Asking is free.
- WhatsApp us
- office@love2travel.rs
- +381 60 40 80 510
- We send your first proposal within 2 working days.
Request a quote
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Individual services
Need something else?
For travellers who don’t need the complete journey, Travel2Serbia can also arrange individual services.
Tell us what you need- Airport & private transfers
- Hotels & accommodation
- Private guides
- Day trips & excursions
- Chauffeur / car with driver
- Activities & experiences