The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Zlatibor - Skiing in Serbia’s Own Alps
| 29 December 2009 | By Laura Wolfs
During the bombardments of the 1990s, most resources of the resort were destroyed and it was only in 2008 that serious efforts were made to restore the old skiing infrastructure. The recently opened six-seater lift which carries you nearly 2km up to the mountain top of the Dinaric Alps is currently the biggest and most modern in Serbia. Nevertheless, the ski resort is relatively small with only three operating lifts.
Zlatibor is known for its beautiful nature and is a popular destination for weekend holidays all year around. It makes an excellent base for families with children who are just starting to ski where the thrills and spills of snowploughing and falling down will mean that the limitations of the 7km of pistes will not pose any problems.
The numerous lakes add to the stunning scenery and in years past also offered a very wet obstacle to inattentive skiers who occasionally found themselves swimming with the many wild birds. Safety standards are much improved now and a great effort has been made to spruce up the resort in general.
Fans of traditional Serbian cuisine will already know that Zlatibor is the place to go for some of the Western Balkans best Prsut and Kajmak and on a day off from skiing we definitely recommend going for a traditional meal at one of the nearby ethno-villages. A cheesy pastiche of the rural idyll they may be, but a great trip out nevertheless.
The Sargan Eight narrow guage railway which winds its way through the Dinaric Alps also makes for a fantastically scenic day away from the slopes – perfect for the day after the day you realised just how difficult learning to ski can be!
The atmosphere in Zlatibor is much more chilled than Kopaonik, so, if you are looking for a relaxing trip with your loved ones or a romantic get-away, Zlatibor will not disappoint.
The Mona Hotel, (www.monazlatibor.com, 031 841021) is without question the best hotel in town and has a full range of facilities including a quality spa. Prices per person per night start at 4,100 dinars half board and there are a range of promotional offers. The Mona also has self-catering apartments.
A cheaper choice is Zlatiborska Noc (031 572910) located in the holiday home area of Bela Zemlja, 8 km outside Uzice, where a standard twin bedded room will set you back from 2,400 dinars per person per night with breakfast thrown in.
Altitude of the resort - c.1,000m
Highest Peak - 1,496m
Total length of slopes - 7km
Total number of lifts - 3
Number of beginners runs’ (blue slopes) - 3
Intermediate (red slopes) - 2
Advanced (black slopes) - 1
Longest run - 2500m
Maximum difference in altitude - 373m
