Tara National Park: A Day Trip From Zlatibor
Tara National Park is one of the best full day trips you can do from Zlatibor. By car it takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half each way, depending on where you start and how often you stop. The drive itself is part of the reason to go, with quiet forest roads and viewpoints that open up as you climb.
The park is covered in dense spruce and pine forest. It is also home to the rare Pancic spruce, a tree first described here in the region, which grows in the higher, cooler parts of the park. You do not need to hunt for it to enjoy the forest, but it is a nice detail to know as you walk.
The main viewpoint
The highlight for most visitors is Banjska Stena. From this viewpoint you look down over the Drina river canyon and the green water of Perucac lake far below. The drop is steep and the view is wide, so it is worth the drive on its own. Give yourself time here, and hold on to children near the edge.
Beyond Banjska Stena there are more viewpoints and short walks scattered through the park. You can make the day as active or as relaxed as you like. A few points to plan around:
- Start early, the roads and viewpoints are quieter in the morning
- Bring water and some snacks, services are spread out
- Wear comfortable shoes for the short walks to viewpoints
- Fill up on fuel before you leave, stations are not on every corner
- Treat it as a full day, not a quick stop
Making it easy
Because it is a longer drive, an early start makes the whole day better. You reach Banjska Stena before the crowds, you have the light for photos, and you are not rushing the return in the evening.
We host guests at Apartman Bolero in Zlatibor, about 500 m from the center with closed garage parking, which makes an early departure simple. You can leave at dawn, spend the day at Tara, and come back to somewhere quiet without hunting for a parking space when you return tired.
