Tara National Park and the Drina

Tara National Park, in the mountainous west of Serbia near the Bosnian border, is a beautiful wilderness of dense coniferous forests, deep river gorges, and dramatic clifftop viewpoints, home to bears, and rare relict spruce. It rises above the stunning emerald-green Drina River, which winds through steep canyons, and is famous for one quirky, much-photographed sight: a tiny wooden house perched improbably on a lone rock in the middle of the river, an icon of the region.

What you actually see

• The Drina river house - the tiny house on a rock midstream.
• Banjska Stena - the dramatic clifftop viewpoint over the canyon.
• The forests and wildlife - the dense woods, bears and rare spruce.
• The emerald Drina - the green river and its gorges.

When to go

May to October for the best weather for hiking, viewpoints and river activities; autumn brings beautiful colour to the forests. The mountain weather is cooler, so bring a layer, and the roads are best in the warmer months.

Honest expectations

It is remote, in the far west near Bosnia, so reaching it takes a few hours' drive from Belgrade or Zlatibor, best with a car. The famous Drina river house is a quirky photo spot rather than a major attraction, best seen from the viewpoints or a boat. The park's real reward is its wild forests, dramatic gorges and viewpoints, a beautiful, uncrowded escape.

Nearby

The Zlatibor mountain resort and the Sargan Eight heritage railway are nearby.