Balkans Explorer MULTI-CENTRE HOLIDAY 2018
WELCOME TO the Balkans This holiday uncovers some hidden highlights of former Yugoslavia, enjoying a wonderful variety of walks and sightseeing in Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. There is a variety of walking and touring, giving you a fascinating mix of walks, unmissable sights and hidden gems. Montenegro Described as 'the Pearl of the Mediterranean', this small country (it's only two-thirds the size of Wales) is full of wild beauty, including crystal-clear lakes, tumbling rivers and majestic mountains. In summer, the air abounds with heady scents of conifers, wild herbs and blossoms. The country's rural areas are ideal locations for getting off the beaten track and exploring on foot, with stunning vistas to be enjoyed from many routes. Meaning 'Black Mountain', Montenegro has long sat on the border between East and West. This geographical position has contributed to the development of a rich cultural history, with both Christian and Islamic influences, and it is a fascinating place for anyone with some level of interest in European history - both recent and more ancient - to visit. Serbia Like its neighbour Montenegro, Serbia has a wealth of cultural heritage. Located centrally within the Balkan states, it too lay between various empires and different faiths. Wars between the competing powers saw considerable migration of different peoples. This has led to an abundance of cultural exchange and today it is a country and society that is multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-faith. Serbia is also a country of lush, wooded hills, rugged landscapes and dramatic gorges, all waiting to be explored. In mountainous areas, experience ancient traditions and ways of life that coexist with modern life. The warmth and friendliness of the welcome from the locals will long remain in your memory. 2 Call 0345 470 7558 or visit hfholidays.co.uk This holiday has a dedicated tour guide and a number of local guides to give you the best insight to the area that you are visiting. Bosnia & Herzegovina With a history of permanent human settlement that traces back to the Neolithic age, Bosnia & Herzegovina is known not only for its rich cultural heritage but also its stunning natural environment. The country has a variety of landscapes, from the mountainous regions in the centre and east of the country to the flat land in the northeast. Its largely rural hinterland, with picturesque mountainscapes, contrasts with historic centres such as Mostar. Much like its fellow Balkan states, Bosnia & Herzegovina is an intriguing blend of 'east meets west', with influences from both the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires still being felt today in its culture, architecture and cuisine.
ACCOMMODATION All our chosen hotels are 4-star and have comfortable en-suite bedrooms. HOTEL BIANCA RESORT & SPA Mirka Vešovića, Kolašin Montenegro Tel: +382 20 863 00 Our holiday starts in Kolasin in the Hotel Bianca. This exclusive resort provides all the sophistication and comforts of a world-class hotel combined with a chalet ambience and the elegance of a private residence. Kolasin is home to the restless Rivers Tara and Moraca and is surrounded by mountains. HOTEL MONA Naselje Jezero 26 31315 Zlatibor Serbia Tel: +381 31 841021 Hotel Zlatibor Mona is surrounded by beautiful pine trees, located in the very centre of Zlatibor, a mountain region situated in the western part of Serbia. The name Zlatibor means 'Golden Pine' ('zlati' = golden, 'bor' = pine) - you'll see why from the many pine trees in the area. HOTEL POLAR STAR Borje bb P5, Borje 84220 Montenegro Tel: +382 67 609 444 The Polar Star, which was renovated in 2015, has been designed in a traditional mountain style, surrounded by unspoilt wildlife, meadows and mountain ranges. The hotel is located in Borje, 4km from the centre of Zabljak, on the road to the famous bridge on Tara. HOTEL MOSTAR Kneza Domagoja, Mostar 88000 Bosnia & Herzegovina Tel: +387 36 322-679 This newly built hotel is the perfect finish to your holiday. Mostar is the main cultural centre of the Herzegovina region of the country. It is also known as the city of flowers and there is plenty to see when out exploring. Call 0345 470 7558 or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3
Guided Walking ITINERARY Our Multi-centre Holidays let you sample Europe's hidden delights through a mix of walks and hand-picked attractions. Walks: 5-8 miles on good paths with some rocky sections. Up to 1,500ft of ascent in a day. Day 1: Arrival day Kolasin, Montenegro You will be met at Dubrovnik airport for the transfer to Kolasin resort, driving through the beautiful canyon of Moraca River to enjoy the contrast between the steep, dark cliffs and the light-green river. There will be a refreshment stop at the Moraca Monastery, one of the oldest This holiday is a combination of walking, sightseeing and touring as detailed in the itinerary below. orthodox monasteries in Montenegro. From here we ll take a beautiful coastal path to a café for well-earned refreshments (5 miles/8km; 100ft/30m ascent and 1,200ft/360m of descent). Hotel: Hotel Bianca Resort & Spa Meals: Dinner 4 Call 0345 470 7558 or visit hfholidays.co.uk
Day 2: Kolasin, Montenegro After breakfast, we take a jeep safari to Bjelasica Mountain, reaching a height of 1,750m where small wooden cabins serve national cuisine. After lunch we take a walking tour of Lake Biograd, located in the heart of Biogradska Gora National Park. Lake Biograd is the biggest and most attractive of seven glacial lakes scattered across the national park. We return to the hotel by jeep. Hotel: Hotel Bianca Resort & Spa Day 3: Kolasin Zlatibor, Serbia This morning we proceed to Serbia with a stop at Uvac Special Nature Reserve where we walk to a viewpoint overlooking the Uvac Canyon. We continue walking along the bank of the River Uvac, an area famous for its Griffon vultures, which we'll undoubtedly spot during this walk. There is also a huge variety of local birdlife along the way. Later, we transfer to Zlatibor. Hotel: Hotel Mona Zlatibor Day 4: Zlatibor, Serbia Today we enjoy a walking tour to the summit of Mount Cuker (altitude of 1,359m). From the top, we'll have spectacular views of Zlatibor and Ribnicka Lake. After lunch, we enjoy a train ride on the Šargan Eight, a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Serbia, before we return to our hotel. Hotel: Hotel Mona Zlatibor Day 5: Zlatibor Zabljak, Montenegro Breakfast is followed by a transfer to Zabljak stopping along the way to visit Husein-paša s Mosque in Pljevlja, regarded as one of the most beautiful sacral monuments of Islamic architecture in Montenegro. We take time for a walking tour on the Tara Djurdjevica Bridge, a concrete arch bridge spanning the Tara River (2km). After settling into our hotel in Zabljak, our group will take a walk around the Black Lake. Hotel: Hotel Polar Star Day 6: Durmitor Ring After breakfast we are transported around Durmitor, stopping at Curevac where we can view the Tara River and the deepest canyon in Europe. We then continue via Mala Crna Gora, Susica Lake, Nedajno, Trsa and Sedlo Pass, stopping for shorter walks along the way back to our hotel. Hotel: Hotel Polar Star Day 7: Zabljak Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina Today takes us to Mostar for a city tour, including a visit to the well known old bridge spanning the River Neretva. The original Ottoman bridge was built in the 16th century, and has since been rebuilt, becoming a symbol of freedom. We also visit the Turkish house Biscelica. There's also free time for you to explore Mostar independently. Whatever you choose, a visit to the Karadjoz- Begova mosque is highly recommended. The mosque's large dome and high minaret make it the largest in the region. Hotel: Hotel Mostar Day 8: Departure Day Breakfast and transfer to Dubrovnik airport. Dietary Requirements All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. If you have any special dietary requirements, including vegetarian, we strongly recommend you advise us before you travel. On arrival, please confirm your request to our agent who will ensure that, where possible, your requirements will be met. Call 0345 470 7558 or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5
WALKING SAFETY Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry water with you on walks, and more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a hydration pack which allows drinking without the need to frequently stop. This can then be filled up from additional water sources as required. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for preexisting illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on 020 8732 1220 or email holidayservices@hfholidays.co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Changeable weather is possible throughout the year, so our advice is to come prepared comfortable all outdoor eventualities. clothing You will need: waterproof jacket and overtrousers ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles small rucksack water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses In addition to the above, the following are recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch 6 Call 0345 470 7558 or visit hfholidays.co.uk You may also wish to consider bringing: walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents camera personal first aid kit Footwear: We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Montenegro: Montenegrin and English Serbia: Official language is Serbo-Croatian, although you will hear Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian and Albanian Bosnia: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Currency: Euro Money: Access to emergency money, preferably via a credit card, is very important as you never know when an emergency may arise. Electricity: 220-230 Volt AC with round two round pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. FLIGHT INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Dubroknik Airport. From the UK we offer flights from several airports which may arrive at different times.. Please note that meals are not provided on most European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call 0871 360 2750 and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays
RECOMMEND A FRIEND AND SAVE 50 Do you know someone who would enjoy our holidays as much as you do? Invite them to book a holiday and you ll receive 50! If you recommend HF Holidays to a friend who subsequently makes their first ever booking with us, we will give you 50 off your next holiday for each person recommended. Plus, as a welcome, we will also give your recommended friend or friends 50 per person off their holiday, meaning savings for everyone! Claim your 50 in three easy steps When your friend books a holiday, ask them to mention at time of booking your name and address. If they have never travelled with us before, we will give them a discount of 50 per person. We will send you a 50 voucher off a future HF Holidays break for each friend you have recommended. Terms & conditions apply, visit hfholidays.co.uk/raf for details. PATHWAYS FUND Last year guests donated 19,500 to our Pathways Fund and we spent 25,000 on projects. For more information on the projects the Pathways Fund has supported, plus how to donate, please visit hfholidays.co.uk/pathways HF Holidays continues to work in partnership with the Family Holiday Association to provide Feel Good Breaks designed to reward families who could not otherwise afford it with the gift of a break in the outdoors and the chance to spend quality time together. Help us continue this work by donating to the Pathways Fund. JOIN US TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW HF Holidays is the only UK holiday provider that s a co-operative. We re owned by our members who help shape our business for future generations. Join our award-winning and sociably responsible society that s passionate about helping others to enjoy holidays in beautiful countryside. For a minimum purchase of 100 1 shares you can benefit from: Members loyalty scheme earn points on your holidays and use as a discount on your next holiday Member-only events and holidays Members come first with advance registration for the holiday you want 10% discount at our country house bars 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor 15% discount at Rohan 25% discount at Hi-Tec Annual interest on your shares ALREADY A MEMBER? There are many ways for you to further your support: Help choose our Board Attend member events Encourage others to join us Increase your shares at any time Top up to 1,000 shares to become an investment member with enhanced benefits Give membership as a gift To join or increase your investment call our Membership team on 0208 732 1290, email membership@hfholidays.co.uk or visit hfholidays.co.uk/membership Call 0345 470 7558 or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7
Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY hfholidays.co.uk For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: 0345 470 7558 (local rate) +44 (0)20 8732 1250 (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. Email: info@hfholidays.co.uk Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or between the hours of Friday 7pm to Monday 9am are: +44 (0)7918 737777 or emergency@hfholidays.co.uk