Ovcar-Kablar gorge and Serbian holy mountain

Not far from Čačak, in Western Serbia, lies one of the true gems of the country, the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge. Nestled between the mountains of Ovčar and Kablar, and carved by the West Morava River, this area includes Ovčar Spa, renowned for its thermal waters and serene natural surroundings. This natural beauty, featuring the region’s most breathtaking viewpoints, is further enriched by ten monasteries that document the spiritual life of the Serbian people through history. This is why the area is dubbed the “Serbian Mount Athos,” a designation we will explore in depth during this day trip designed to immerse you in the past and uncover how the city evolved during this bustling historical period.

Our Ovcar-Kablar Tour departs from the parking lot at the Museum of Yugoslavia—House of Flowers—at 08:00 AM. The drive to the city of Čačak takes just over an hour via the Miloš the Great motorway. In Čačak, we will first visit the Roman baths, view a giant ficus tree, and take a stroll through the city center. After a short break, we continue to Ovčar Spa, located at the heart of the gorge. The spa is rich in thermal-mineral water believed to have been used for healing purposes since Roman times and is popular today for treating sports injuries, skin diseases, rheumatism, and more. Until the 19th century, the spa was known as the Annunciation Spa due to the nearby Annunciation Monastery, which sits on the land housing the spring itself.

Our tour officially begins at the Annunciation Monastery, situated on the left bank of the West Morava at the base of Mount Kablar. Founded in 1602 by the abbot Nikodim, as the inscription above the entrance attests, the monastery’s church is dedicated to the Annunciation. Despite the modesty of its frescoes, due to the scarcity of resources at the time of painting, they represent some of the finest examples of wall painting from the first half of the 17th century. 

After visiting the monastery, part of our group will proceed on a hiking trail to the summit of Kablar. The trail is 6 km long with a constant ascent lasting about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Along the way, we’ll visit Ilinje Monastery, constructed as a dependency of the Annunciation Monastery through the efforts of Saint Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović.

At the monastery, we’ll take a short break before continuing to the summit, where we’ll meet up with those who opted for transport to the viewpoint. The panoramic view from atop Kablar, overlooking the meanders of the West Morava and the landscape from the viewpoint, is worth every step. The vistas from this vantage point, a source of inspiration for many photographers, will become a lifelong memory. After a pause to enjoy the summit, we’ll descend via another trail (about 1 hour and 20 minutes) to Nikolje Monastery, located on the riverbank. We’ll learn about its turbulent history from the nuns who reside and serve there.

After we leave the monastery Nikolje we’ll stop for a late lunch at one of the riverside restaurants or Ovčar Spa before heading back to Belgrade. Our return to the city is scheduled for late evening. This concludes our program.