The Trumpet Festival in Guča

Abstract

To the sounds of the magical trumpet, echoing through the hills, making your blood race in your veins, with the taste of homemade food on your lips and the scent of plum brandy, a rest for the soul and body, in just one glance, such surreal beauty and untouched nature... Welcome! ...

Activities

Tour description

Travel Program:

Day 1 (August 7, 2019, Wednesday) – Čačak – Ovčar-Kablar Gorge

• Arrival in Čačak in the morning. Start the city tour with a visit to the Roman baths, an archaeological site from the 3rd and 4th centuries. Walk through the city center, passing the Cultural Center, City Hall, Gymnasium, and reaching the Ascension of the Lord Church, a foundation of Prince Stracimir, brother of Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja.
• Continue to Ovčar-Kablar Gorge, a stunning area home to the group of monasteries known as Little Serbian Mount Athos. Lunch by Lake Međuvršje, enjoying fish specialties in the peaceful natural surroundings.
• Visit Ovčar Banja. Catamaran ride through the meanders of the Western Morava River, with a stop at the Nikolje Monastery, one of the most beautiful in the gorge. Return to Čačak and check into the hotel. Free time until dinner. Optional dinner at the "Car Lazar" tavern, the oldest in the city, serving traditional Serbian cuisine with "music to the ears." Overnight.

Day 2 (August 8, 2019, Thursday) – Drvengrad – Andrićgrad – Drina River Cruise – Perućac – Vrelo River

• Breakfast. Departure for a day trip at 08:00 AM. After a short coffee break, drive through Užice to Mokra Gora. Learn about the Kremna Mystery and visit Drvengrad, a town created by filmmaker Emir Kusturica. Visit the ethno complex (Church of St. Sava, cinema, marketplace, etc.).
• Continue to Višegrad. Visit the UNESCO-listed Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, featured in Ivo Andrić’s Nobel Prize-winning novel The Bridge on the Drina. Enjoy lunch at Hotel "Višegrad" on the terrace with a view of the Drina River and the bridge.
• After lunch, explore Andrićgrad, another remarkable creation by Kusturica. Then, embark on a catamaran ride through the Drina River canyon, one of the deepest in the world. After 3.5 hours of scenic views, return to Lake Perućac for a panoramic tour of the Bajina Bašta Hydro Power Plant.
• Visit the Vrelo River, the shortest river in Europe. Take a 365-meter walk along its path. Free time. Return to Čačak via Tara Mountain. Hotel check-in. Overnight. (Optional dinner: roasted lamb or veal in Bajina Bašta or Tara).

Day 3 (August 9, 2019, Friday) – Zlakusa – Stopića Cave – Sirogojno

• After breakfast, visit Zlakusa, where we will explore a pottery workshop and learn about clay craft. Short break at the Terzić Avlija Ethno Village.
• Continue to Zlatibor, visiting the Stopića Cave. Then, head to Sirogojno, famous for its handmade Zlatibor craftwork. Visit the open-air museum, "Staro Selo," where traditional old houses are showcased.
• Optional lunch in Sirogojno with traditional dishes. Return to Čačak. Overnight.

Day 4 (August 10, 2019, Saturday) – Guča

• After breakfast, departure for Guča, the heart of trumpet music. Take a short walk around the town to soak in the atmosphere of the festival. Free time! Enjoy traditional food and trumpet music at the "Broćića Avlija" ethno restaurant. Return to Čačak. Overnight.

Day 5 (August 11, 2019, Sunday) – Takovo – Koštunići

• After breakfast, head to Takovo, the site of the Second Serbian Uprising led by Prince Miloš Obrenović. Visit the Uprising Museum, the wooden church of St. George, and the Kneževe Livade Memorial Park.
• In the afternoon, visit the eco-village of Koštunići. Free time for museum visits, relaxation by the lake, sports activities, and sampling local specialties, homemade juices, and various types of rakija. Return to Čačak. Overnight.

Day 6 (August 12, 2019, Monday) – Kablar

• After breakfast, depart for the peak of Kablar, where you’ll be amazed by the unreal view of the meanders of the Western Morava River, surrounded by the steep cliffs of Ovčar and Kablar. Enjoy the breathtaking sight of Šumadija, forested Ovčar, Jelica Mountain, Čačak, and Ljubić Hill.
• Visit a traditional farmhouse on Kablar, where the hostess will prepare local specialties paired with homemade rakija.
• Return to Čačak. End of program.