Fortified Manasija Monastery and Resava Cave Tour
Description
Uncover the magic of Serbia’s past and natural wonders on this one-of-a-kind tour to Manasija Monastery and Resava Cave. From awe-inspiring medieval architecture to spectacular limestone formations, this experience is a journey through time and nature you won’t forget.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your tour starts at your accommodation, and we head towards Pomoravlje District, known as the center of the last Serbian Medieval Kingdom, where monasteries still keep the enormous cultural and historical legacy and wealth.
Our first stop is Manasija Monastery, a stunning monument of Serbian medieval culture, built by Despot Stefan Lazarevic, son of Prince Lazar. Set in the peaceful hills of central Serbia, this 15th-century fortress-like monastery is a masterpiece of Serbian architecture and a symbol of cultural and spiritual heritage. Completed between 1406 and 1418, it features massive walls, 11 towers, and a trench. The most imposing is Despotova Kula, or Despot’s Tower. The Church of the Holy Trinity is a prime example of Morava style. Its frescoes are among the finest in Serbian art, especially the warriors in the choir, the prophets in the dome, and the idealized image of Despot Stefan offering a church model to the Holy Trinity. The site also preserves parts of the refectory and library. The scriptorium inside the library produced many manuscripts, and the ‘Resava orthography’ developed here influenced later scribes.
Next, we are set for an extraordinary experience. We will visit the Resava cave, one of the oldest in Serbia, which is approximately 80 million years old, with some of its formations dating back around 45 million years. Discover its spectacular formations of stalactites and stalagmites, formed over thousands of years, as you stroll through its fascinating chambers. The cave’s otherworldly beauty and intricate rock formations will leave you in awe, making it an unforgettable experience for both nature lovers and adventure seekers. The cave interior is filled with numerous and varied halls, channels, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and flowstone waterfalls. The system consists of three levels connected by artificial tunnels. You’ll hear exciting stories about the cave’s past and present, and you’ll see cave formations that take on some very unusual shapes.
Our next stop is Veliki Buk (also known as Lisine), a beautiful waterfall approximately 20-25 meters high, making it one of Serbia’s highest waterfalls. The surroundings are scenic and perfect for relaxation. This karstic waterfall is protected as a natural monument, and it’s most impressive during the autumn. There’s less water in the summertime, but it’s still lovely to visit, and very refreshing. Here, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Serbian lunch in a unique setting (not included in the price).
Your tour concludes with transportation back to your hotel/accommodation in Belgrade, where we'll arrive in the afernoon. End of services.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If you have booked the shared tour option, pick-up will be 15-30 minutes before the departure time. One day before the trip, not before 6 pm, we’ll send you an email with all the pick-up details. If you have booked the private tour option, the default departure time is 9:30. If you would like a different departure time, please contact us to let us know your preferred start time. Pick-up is possible from any hotel, Airbnb, or pension located within a 5 km radius of Republic Square. For pick-up locations more than 5 km from Republic Square, please get in touch with us directly. Important note: Depending on the traffic conditions, location of your hotel/Airbnb, the number and the positions of the pick-up locations on the day of your trip, we may ask you to walk to the closest pick-up point (never more than 7-8 minutes of walking from the place where you're staying). If you would like to start your tour at Belgrade Airport, you can do so with a supplement of 15€ (available only on private tours).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
- Remember to bring a jacket, as it gets cold in the cave even during the summer months.
- The tour includes an entrance to places of worship, and so will be asked to wear appropriate clothing.
- The child rate applies only when sharing with two paying adults.
- The minimum number for a shared tour to operate is three guests.
- At least 16 hours before the trip, we will inform you in case there are not enough guests on tour, and we will offer a choice between: 1) canceling the tour with no fees applied; 2) changing the tour date; 3) moving to another available tour.
Reviews(109)
Super informative! Konstantin was the perfect guide, eloquent, educated and gave us a lot of background knowledge. Thank you so much!
Vielen Dank für Ihr tolles Feedback! Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie die Tour mit Konstantin so genossen haben und viele interessante Einblicke mitnehmen konnten. Wir geben Ihr Lob gerne weiter und hoffen, Sie bald wieder bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen! Kind regards, Victor Tours Team
Everything was perfect. Driver was so profesional, cave is stunning and the waterfall, the perfect ending.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad the trip felt comfortable and easy-going, and we appreciate you sharing your experience. Kind regards, Victor TOurs team
We had a very nice day to the beautiful monastery, caves and waterfall. Marko our guide could tell a lot about the monastery. Very interesting. Lunch at the waterfall was super really a local experience.
Hartelijk dank voor uw mooie woorden! We zijn blij dat u zo’n fijne dag heeft gehad en genoten heeft van de verschillende stops. Fijn om te horen dat Marko het extra interessant maakte en dat de lunch een echte lokale ervaring was. Kind regards, Victor Tours Team
Thoroughly enjoyed the entire tour! Vlad, our driver/tour guide, was knowledgeable and an excellent communicator. All sites were impressive, but the Resava caves were spectacular and definitely a highlight! Vlad’s local knowledge of an excellent place to stop and eat lunch was superb and much appreciated. This tour is a must!
Thanks so much for the recommendation! We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed our tour. Hope to welcome you back on another tour soon! Kind regards, Victor Tours Team
We had a very informative day with Konstantin S as both driver and guide. His passion for the area and vast knowledge of the history of the monastery and the caves gave us a great insight into the middle country of Serbia. The drive through small villages, farmlands was an added bonus. Thank you
We had a very nice tour, saw a lot of eastern Belgrade! Our guide Marko was very friendly and was able to tell us all about the country and the sights we had visited. In short, a very nice tour that takes you into the nature of Serbia!
Very interesting visit to the cultural heart of Serbia, its Orthodox monasteries. The visit is supplemented by the passage into the heart of the Balkans, with visits to natural waterfalls and the Resava Cave, but the most interesting part is the history of this fascinating country. Bravo the Dragana Guide, cultured and balanced in its assessments. Very nice driver Dragan.
It waa a tour with loads of variety and we really enjoyed the monasteries, cave and the stop for lunch at the waterfall. Our guide Nevena was great and gave us a wealth of fascinating history and context about Serbia.
Guide Jovan Nikolic was very knowlegeable and pleasant, explaining in detail the geography, the history and economy of Serbia. It was a treat. The pickup was on time. There were only 3 in the group and the ride was good.
Very informative tour, great combination of history, architecture and nature. Very good guide. Highly recommended!
