What do you picture when you imagine camping in rural Serbia? We can almost guarantee you that it’s not infinity pools, air conditioning and sunset wine tasting on the terrace. Lala Vineyard is here to shatter your misconceptions.
Situated minutes from the Fruška Gora national park, this is Serbia’s wine country and Lala Vineyard is, as the name suggests, positioned right in the heart of the surrounding vines. Despite centuries of experience in the art of wine production, Balkan winemaking has only gained recognition on the international stage in recent years, with some of the most exciting examples born in this very region. Offering the opportunity to explore the fruits (literally and figuratively) of the area is key to the philosophy of Lala Vineyard – designed as a full sensory experience rather than just a place to stay.
Opened in 2021, Lala Vineyard is Serbia’s first glamping experience. It’s the brainchild of Serbian native Olja Nicholl, who understood a growing demand for luxury, experience-based tourism in Serbia, following on from successful experiences in neighbouring Croatia and Montenegro.
Far from the middle of nowhere, Lala Vineyard enjoys a very desirable location in the heartland of the Balkans, just 1.5h to the Hungarian border (3h from Budapest), 1.5h to the Croatian border, an hour from Belgrade, and close to the borders of both Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania. Like most good things, getting to the site itself involves a little more effort down a narrow dirt track (the team is actively petitioning the local authorities to improve ease of access), which might prove a little intimidating for some drivers – not least our taxi driver, who refused to go beyond the main road. Patience is a virtue, however, and we were rewarded with a scenic walk, looking out over the expanse of the national park. A sign of good things to come.
Lala Vineyard offers an extra boutique experience with just four safari tents, each offering uninterrupted views across the countryside. The emphasis here is on quality rather than quantity, providing a true luxury experience where many other glamping resorts have tried and failed.
Your tent is your retreat space at Lala Vineyard and each one has been designed for the maximum relaxation of its guests. King-sized beds are dressed with high-quality linens, the mini bar is stocked with local wines to try, there’s a Nespresso machine, and the bathroom has a fully-functioning shower and environmentally-friendly toiletries; No painfully low-pressure camping showers here.
Perhaps the most surprising feature is that the tents are air-conditioned, offering a cool resting place even in the height of August when we visited.
We love it when a hotel has thought of the little things that a guest might want, and this is something that Lala Vineyard has done really well. Bathrobes, slippers and towels are provided for the pool area, blankets and insect repellent for those evenings on the terrace, and an umbrella in case the weather happens not to be in your favour.
Lala Vineyard is a perfect hybrid between an experiential retreat and a jump-off point for exploring the local area, of which there is plenty to discover. If you can tear yourself away from the pool for an afternoon, there are hiking and cycling trails nearby, picturesque picnic spots, and plenty of water sports on offer at the nearby Danube.
Equally, we loved the fact that at Lala Vineyard the experience can come to you through partnerships with like-minded local businesses. We enjoyed a sunset meal on our terrace featuring the flavours of the area and paired perfectly with a Serbian wine.
The resort’s pool bar carries a carefully curated list of local wines to host your own private tasting alongside local cheeses and charcuterie. And Lala’s breakfast continues the theme of showcasing the best of Serbia with a selection of cheeses, meats, yoghurt, cereal, and fruit picked from Lala’s own orchard.
The real pièce de resistance at Lala Vineyard is, of course, the heated saltwater infinity pool, from which guests can enjoy 180 views of the Fruška Gora beyond, as far as the Danube. We can think of few better ways to spend an afternoon than by a pool nestled within a vineyard, a chilled glass of white wine from those very vines in hand. And even if you’re not staying at Lala Vineyard, you can enjoy the experience of the pool with day passes on offer (but trust us – you’ll want to stay the night).
Tourism in the Balkans is growing exponentially, with many visitors looking for something less well-trodden than the overrun towns of Dalmatia. And Serbia has all the makings of a perfect destination, from its stunning countryside primed for adventure tourism to Belgrade’s famed nightlife. For music lovers there’s Exit – one of Europe’s biggest dance festivals – which takes place every July in Novi Sad, just 20 mins from Lala Vineyard.
Our advice is to strike while the iron’s hot and there are still plenty of free beds by the pool. Lala Vineyard may be Serbia’s first glamping resort, but it certainly won’t be the last; The country saw a surge in tourism last year compared to pre-Covid rates and shows no sign of slowing down. And if the rolling vineyards of northern Serbia are on your bucketlist, we can think of the perfect vantage point from which to see them.
For best rates and special experience packages, book directly on Lala Vineyard’s website. The resort is open from April – October.
We stayed
One of four luxury glamping tents, priced at ~150eur per night for bed and breakfast.
This was a press stay – all opinions are our own.
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