Sainovina: Circular Hike Over Three Peaks

An organized circular hike starts in Sainovina and passes over three named peaks. In the wider regional area, Šljivovica offers wood art, traditional milling and the Rakijada for those interested in other discoveries. This lets you plan your stay around a day of hiking and regional cultural topics.

A Three-Peak Circuit

The circular hike covers about 14 km and around 450 metres of elevation gain. It starts in Sainovina and passes over Veliko brdo (1,087 m), Malinjak (1,019 m) and Savino brdo (1,133 m). Savino brdo is the highest of the three peaks, and Malinjak the lowest; Veliko brdo lies between them. The distance and elevation gain give you specific points of reference for planning your day. If you are travelling with children or several generations, you can compare these figures with your group's pace and hiking experience. If you would like to join the circuit as part of an organized hike, check in advance whether organized participation is currently available. The distance describes the route, while the elevation gain describes the ascent.

Wood Art and a Watermill in Šljivovica

The gallery and workshop of self-taught woodcarver Miladin Lekić are in Šljivovica, beside the Užice–Višegrad highway. Lekić makes unusual wooden sculptures using a chainsaw, chisel, hammer and file. This cultural topic therefore focuses on working with wood—a different emphasis from the peak circuit. For orientation, the gallery is on the main road leading to Sainovina and Šljivovica. Ask about visiting arrangements before planning a dedicated visit to the gallery.

The restored Tijanić watermill offers another insight into traditional crafts. It is more than 150 years old, still has its original millstone and continues to grind flour for the local population. The mill thus combines historic equipment with ongoing use. Academic painter Jelena Tijanić Savić occasionally uses it as an exhibition space. If you are planning a visit or exhibition, ask about visiting arrangements in advance.

Rakijada: Fair and Traditional Production

The Rakijada in Šljivovica is a fair dedicated to locally made rakija. At the festival, visitors can watch traditional production in a čučavac distilling kettle and visit a sales exhibition featuring healthy foods. This experience is tied to the festival and therefore differs from the year-round topics of woodcarving and traditional milling. If you would like to include the Rakijada in your travel plans, check the current event dates in advance.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to decide what matters most: if the circular hike is your main priority, Sainovina is the specific starting point. If you are more interested in wood art, the mill or the Rakijada, consider the cultural attractions in Šljivovica.

Discover more destinations: Gostilje, Ljubis, Bajina Bašta, Užice, Kremna, Divcibare, Rastište, Banja.

See the broader travel overview: Zlatibor District.