Sokolske mountains – along the roads of Podrinje, Rožanj peak 973 m

• Hiking
• One-day
• Autumn 2024
• Western Serbia

Sokolska planina, which is often referred to as Sokolske planine in the plural, is one of the four mountains that make up the Podrinje mountains group together with Jagodnja, Boranja and Gučevo.

Sokolska planina is the largest mountain range in the Radjevina-Jadar Podrinje area. It rises southeast of the town of Krupanj, is bordered by the Drina and Uzovnica rivers in the west, the Ljuboviđa river in the south and the Kriva river and Bogoštica in the northeast, and separates the regions of Radjevina (and Jadar) from Podrinje, that is, Azbukovica from Radjevina. The highest peak of the Sokolska mountain is Rožanj (973 m) and is located on the border of the municipalities of Osečina, Ljubovija and Krupanj.

On the slopes of the mountain, on a rock below the highest peak, there are the remains of the Soko grad fortress, and below it is the monastery of St. Nicholas - Soko.

The mountain most likely got its name from the old town of Soko, and the town from the multitude of falcons that roosted around it. By occupying the city, the Turks kept the native name Soko, which is the most important proof that the fortress existed before the arrival of the Turks. 

On this hiking tour, we will go to the highest peak of Rožanj, we will visit the city of Soko, the monastery of Soko and the ethno village of "Sokol huts".

Additional notes:

• Equipment for the Sokolske Mountains tour: standard for hiking tours, hiking shoes or sports shoes with a stronger sole, adequate clothing according to the weather conditions. Backpack, poles, enough water and some food (fruit, snacks...)
• Information about a hiking trail:
  • Length: 15 km
  • Total ascend/descend: 380/580 m
  • Category: easy-moderate
  • Duration: about 5 to 6 hours with breaks
• For the tour realization, it is necessary a minimum of 18 passengers
• Price is for members of "Explore Serbia". You can find membership information here. For those who do not have a membership card, the price is 3800 dinars.
• Transportation from Novi Sad: the surcharge is 1200 dinars.
• Own transportation: for this tour own transport is not possible, because the starting and ending point of the hiking tour are not the same.
• In case of insufficient number of registered passengers or unfavorable weather conditions, the deadline for notification of postponement or cancellation of the tour is 2 days before departure.

• Trip cancellations by passengers: 

  • In case of cancellation of the trip by the passenger, 5 or more days before the tour date, the Agency retains the amount of 20% of the reservation costs.
  • In case the traveler cancels the trip less than 5 days before the trip, the agency reserves the right to the entire amount. In case of replacement by another passenger who is found either by the passenger himself or by the Agency, 90% of the paid amount is returned to the passenger.
  • In case of illness of the passenger and cancellation up to 3 days before the tour, the paid money can be returned or the amount can be transferred for another tour organized by the Agency, and the traveler is obliged to send medical documentation about the illness in writing. In case of illness of the traveler and cancellation less than 3 days before the tour, in addition to sending medical documentation about the illness, the traveler is obliged to compensate the Agency for the incurred costs (transportation and travel organization costs), and part of the money can be refunded.

Attractions

On the slopes of the mountain there are the remains of the fort town of Soko, and below it is the Monastery of Saint Nicholas - Soko. Throughout the existence of the fortress, its suburbs protected by a palisade, and later by a wall, a fortification, expanded alongside this building. The monastery is the endowment of the bishop of Šabac Mr. Lavrenti. It was dedicated to St. to bishop Nikolaj Velimirović, which is celebrated on May 3. The church, in whose altar part of the relics of St. Bishop Nikolaj, was built in 1994 and belongs to the Moravian style. There is also a museum within the monastery complex.

Soko Grad has been declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Values. Soko Grad is a fortress that has never been conquered by battle but has always changed masters through peace treaties. It is one of the fortresses where the Turks stayed the longest. The town/fort rises on a rocky cliff above the monastery of St. Nicholas and the valley of the Sokolska river. This fort originated in medieval Serbia, but is best known for its role during the Ottoman occupation of Serbia, during which it became one of the most notorious torture centers for the Orthodox population. It was an impregnable fortress until 1862, when the Turks handed over the keys to this city to Prince Mihail Obrenović.

The organizer of the tour is the travel agency Explore Balkans doo. With this program is valid Rulebook on conducting tours by Explore Balkans doo. According to Article 79 of the Law on Tourism, protection is not provided for one-day tours in terms of travel guarantees.