FAM Trip: Discovering the Charms of Western Serbia
In collaboration with the Tourism Organization of Serbia (TOS), the “TU Events” agency organized a familiarization (FAM) trip across Western Serbia for travel agency representatives from Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Visitors from the former Yugoslav republics are consistently among the most numerous tourists in Serbia, ranking in the top ten countries for overnight stays in 2018. Recognizing this potential, TOS and TU Events hosted nine regional travel agencies from May 14 to 18, 2019, organizing an extensive tour of Belgrade and Western Serbia.
The participating agencies included:
Slovenia: Ojla, Marco Polo, and Mana
Croatia: Best Travel, Fantasia Travel, and Integral
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Dar Prirode, Lambada Travel, and MG Travel
B2B Networking and Belgrade Beginnings
Right after checking into the Mama Shelter hotel in the city center, a B2B workshop was held at the TOS premises, giving the regional guests an excellent opportunity to meet and network with their Serbian colleagues. The day continued with a tour of the National Museum and the Savamala district, concluding with a delightful dinner at the "Faro" restaurant in Beton Hala.
Tradition and Nature in the Zlatibor District
In high spirits, the group headed toward the Zlatibor district. Our first stop was Sirogojno and the open-air museum "Staro selo" (Old Village). Stepping into this ethno-village feels like traveling back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. The authentic Dinaric log cabins—with wooden, stone, and thatched roofs—showcase how people once lived, slept, and crafted pottery. The visit concluded with an excellent lunch featuring local specialties.
We continued to Stopića Cave, known for its impressive, spacious entrance illuminated by natural light and its characteristic tufa pools—limestone depressions where water gathers and cascades down.
Refreshed by traditional food and an engaging cave tour, we arrived at Zlatibor and checked into Hotel Mons. After exploring the Dino and Adventure Parks and strolling through the center, we spent the evening at Casa de Vinos, Zlatibor's premier wine restaurant, enjoying the chef's delicacies accompanied by live music.
The Untamed Beauty of Tara and the Drina River
The next day was reserved for Tara National Park and its surroundings. Neither rain, fog, nor cold weather could spoil the beauty of the park's untouched nature. We hiked through the forests to Mitrovac, Kaluđerske bare, and the famous Banjska stena viewpoint, learning about the protected bear population at the excellent visitor info center.
The journey continued to Lake Perućac. While the braver members of our group rafted down the Drina River, the rest of us boarded the "Grizzly" boat (operated by Tara Tours) to learn about the Drina Canyon cruises to Višegrad. We then enjoyed a fish lunch at "Dve lipe," a restaurant overlooking the iconic House on the Drina River—an absolute must for photography enthusiasts.
The afternoon included a tasting of traditional fruit brandies at BB Klekovača, the oldest distillery in Serbia, followed by a visit to the Rača Monastery, an endowment of King Dragutin Nemanjić. The excursion ended with a walk through Bajina Bašta and dinner at the "Studenac" restaurant on the banks of the Drina.
Drvengrad and the Nostalgic Šargan Eight
The sun greeted us on our final day in Western Serbia as we explored the beauties of Drvengrad (Timber Town) on Mećavnik hill. Created by renowned film director Emir Kusturica for his movie "Life is a Miracle", this utopian dream turned into a reality. The hotel-town is built from authentic log cabins brought in from surrounding areas and features restaurants, a cinema, an indoor pool, a market, a small church dedicated to Saint Sava, and streets named after famous figures like Ivo Andrić, Fellini, Bergman, Maradona, and Novak Djokovic.
Just below Drvengrad runs the "Šargan Eight" narrow-gauge railway. Visitors can ride the regular diesel train or charter a steam locomotive. Tickets are often sold out months in advance, and our train was packed with tourists from Slovenia, China, Germany, and beyond.
After the nostalgic train ride, we headed back to Belgrade, stopping for lunch at the "Vodeničar" fish restaurant in the village of Potpeć. We enjoyed fresh trout from the Petnica River—which flows right through the watermill—and homemade cornbread prepared using traditional, simple, and delicious recipes.
A Belgrade Farewell
Upon returning to the capital, the group checked into 88 Rooms Hotel and enjoyed a farewell dinner at the uniquely designed "Lorenzo & Kakalamba" restaurant. On their final day, the guests from Bosnia & Herzegovina had extra time to explore the Kalenić open-air market, the Temple of Saint Sava, and Ada Ciganlija.
There isn't enough space here to describe all the beauties of Western Serbia and Belgrade, but we hope this serves as a reminder of the natural, cultural, and gastronomic treasures of this region—and an invitation for those who have never visited.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all our hosts, guides, and organizers, especially Gordana Cvetković from the Tourism Organization of Serbia. To our dear guests from Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina: thank you for your trust, patience, and enthusiasm. We hope you took home unforgettable impressions of our country, and we look forward to seeing you again at another Serbian destination. Welcome back!
