There have been plenty of stories this year about Serbia, though, not many of them have pointed out that Serbia is a great place for multi-activity holidays. That’s why it’s great to see this article by Doug Schnitzspahn for Women’s Adventure Magazine, discussing undiscovered destinations like Serbia. In . In fact, he talks about five spots, Lybia, Rwanda, Nicaragua, Myammar, and Serbia, noting that they are now open to thoughtful adventurers. It’s a well-worth reading article explaining why it’s worth going on an adventure holiday in Serbia, Lybia, Rwanda, Nicaragua, and Myammar. Here’s a short excerpt, but it’s worth reading the whole thing:
“Serbia is a sport playground on the verge of being discovered. Its winding mountain roads that dip into local villages make for some amazing cycling, especially in the southeast part of the country around the city of Nis, where you can break up the riding with excursions into the bowels of Resavska Cave or a visit to the fortressed walls of the Manasija monastery. If you choose to try mountain biking near the northern village of Mokra Gora, you’ll find an enticing network of trails that have yet to be discovered by fat tires.”
While I think the paper is worth reading, and makes a ton of good points, there are a few problems with it. First, Women’s Adventure Magazine is only recommending two operators that offer adventure travel with whitewater trips on the Tara River, and bike trips. I would also recommend walkingserbia, a British family offering guided walking holidays in central Serbia. And MTB Serbia, an online resource for mountain biking in Serbia. Whatever you’re looking for, this site will help you plan your next cycling break in Serbia.
Second, this article suggests that Serbia is still politically unstable – which isn’t true at all. It’s somewhat amazing just how much the press has misunderstood Serbia – which seems to get classified as “politically unstable” type country with too much frequency. Since the fall of Milosevic, Serbia has a democratically elected government. Serbia’s political and regulatory environment is stable, open and progressive. So, while this article tries to paint Serbia as “politically unstable” the reality is that Serbia is governed by a democratically elected, pro-reform, free market-oriented government.
Third, Doug Schnitzspahn is claiming that “it’s best not to talk about politics or the war” in Serbia. That’s ridiculous because many Serbian people would talk about politics or the war. They talk passionately and with fervour, and they don’t mince words. Take, for example, this recent post on VagabondJourney by Wade, a traveller, talking about Belgrade, war and bombing with a Serb. Here’s a short excerpt, but it’s worth reading the whole thing:
“What was it like in Beograd during the NATO bombing during the Kosovo war? The Dancer looked at me straight, and without hesitation answered, it was the best time of my life. I reckoned that he was around the same age as me. When I was a comfortably sheltered 18 year old university student in Connecticut, this guy was an 18 year old kid being bombed by fighter jets. There was a big difference between our late adolescences. The best time of your life? I questioned. Yes, they are dropping bombs and we are playing checkers. It was the best time of my life. We played checkers all day and then drank with the soldiers all night.”
Now we have another example as well. Tomas Hein, a London-based photographer who is visiting Serbia put up a blog post about NATO street, as he calls it. He talked about politics with a military guard: “We talked about politics. Kosovo was mentioned, America was mentioned. Chavez, Che Guevara, Hugo Morales and Fidel Castro.” So, once again: Travelers: Serbia is a progressive, stable and open country. Serbia is one of the last undiscovered tourist destinations in Europe, charming visitors with its beautiful countryside, and friendly passionate people. Many of them would talk about their country, politics or the war. They’ll ask about your country, and welcome discussions of their own.