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Active Montenegro: Mountains, Coast & Lakes

Overview

Hike, ebike, raft and kayak: Journey through mountains and lakes to the Adriatic

Montenegro packs plenty of adventure between the peaks of Durmitor and the Adriatic coast. With a local tour leader guiding the way, ride e-bikes across mountain pastures, hike to Crvena Greda above a glacial lake, and tackle the Tara River’s rapids through Europe’s deepest canyon. The pace eases as we kayak on Skadar Lake and spend time in medieval Kotor, but there’s just as much to savour ashore. Making pastries with a mountain farming family and tasting wines at the Pejanović family winery, we meet the people keeping Montenegrin recipes alive – with appetites well earned.

Key Information

Travel Style Classic: The quintessential Exodus adventure, pairing iconic sights and cultural discovery with comfortable stays: Classic
Activity: Multi-Activity
Activity Level: Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Trip Code: VMT
Ways to Travel: Classic, Guided Group
Countries: Montenegro

What's Included

All accommodation: 7 Comfort nights (hotels)
All breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Hike, bike and paddle through Montenegro’s mountains, lakes and Adriatic coast

E-bike and hike through Durmitor National Park, passing limestone peaks and glacial lakes

Raft the Tara River beneath the steep walls of the Tara Canyon

Active Montenegro: Mountains, Coast & Lakes

Kayak across Skadar Lake, paddling among waterlilies and watching for birdlife

- Taste homemade mountain specialities, make traditional pastries and sample local wines

Itinerary

First Destination: Zabljak
Next Destination: Budva

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Aleksandar Rafailovići
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Aleksandar Rafailovići (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Aleksandar Rafailovići (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Zabljak
Next Destination: Budva

Begin your adventure in Žabljak, a mountain town in northern Montenegro surrounded by the peaks of Durmitor.

Around 6pm, say zdravo (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Montenegrin welcome by arranging a group dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Want more time in Žabljak? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Our first full day takes us into the Durmitor mountains by e-bike, following a 28mi (45km) section of the Durmitor Ring. One of the most scenic mountain routes in Montenegro, it takes us across high plateaus and open pasture, passing mountain villages beneath the limestone peaks.

There are climbs along the way, but a little electric assistance helps us tackle them, with viewpoints providing good reasons to pause and appreciate the scale of the landscape.

After, we are invited into the farm home of the Pavićević family, where we join our host to have a go at making traditional local pastries, before tucking into our creations.

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Head to the Tara River for a rafting adventure through one of the deepest canyons in Europe. From water level, the scale of the landscape becomes clear: steep rock walls rise above us, with forest covering the canyon slopes.

Working together on the paddles, we navigate stretches of whitewater, then enjoy the quieter intervals between rapids. These calmer moments give us time to look up and appreciate the landscape that makes the Tara such a rewarding place to raft.

The river changes with the seasons, with spring snowmelt generally bringing stronger flows. After our time on the water and a scenic lunch at a riverbank restaurant, we return to our hotel.

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to the village of Mali Do for our 6mi (10km) hike into Durmitor National Park. Our objective is the summit of Crvena Greda, a limestone peak rising above the glacial waters of Jablan Lake.

The trail climbs gradually before becoming steeper as we approach the mountain. With our tour leader guiding the way, we continue upwards for views over Jablan Lake and across the surrounding peaks and plateaus.

After descending, we travel to the stunning, glacial Black Lake. Here, we pause for a picnic lunch and free time beside the forest-fringed water – remember your swimwear if you fancy a dip – before returning to our hotel.

Accommodation:Polar Star/Nordica/Hotel Aleksandar (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Bid farewell to Žabljak and travel through Tara Canyon, stopping upon the grand arches of Đurđevića Tara Bridge to gaze over the river we experienced by raft.

Continuing to Biogradska Gora National Park, we encounter a different side of Montenegro’s mountains. This protected area preserves ancient woodland, with trees reaching around 500 years old, alongside a beautiful glacial lake, Biogradsko Lake.

For lunch, we head to Savardak, a unique restaurant that serves traditional Montenegrin cuisine from the dome of a mountain pasture cottage (or a savardak).

Full, we transfer to Morača Monastery, a 13th-century Orthodox monastery known for its frescoes, for an exploration, before continuing to our hotel in Rafailovići, near Budva, exchanging the mountain landscapes for the Adriatic coast.

Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Hotel Aleksandar Rafailovići
Meals included:Breakfast

Journey to Virpazar for a guided kayaking experience on Skadar Lake, the largest lake in the Balkans. Paddling gives us a closer perspective on this wetland landscape, known for its waterlilies and abundant birdlife. Following our guide, we take time to appreciate the lakeside scenery and watch for birds as we move across the water.

We then continue to Mond Winery in the wine-growing region of Crmnica. Here, the Pejanović family have dedicated their lives to preserving the food and wine heritage of Montenegro, using traditional techniques, handwritten recipes passed through the generations and locally sourced ingredients. A wine tasting and lunch showcase their work.

Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Hotel Aleksandar Rafailovići (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

With our mountain and lake adventures behind us, today is a free day to enjoy the Montenegrin coast at our own pace. We might spend time by the sea in Rafailovići, head into Budva, or take the included transfer to Kotor and wander its old town independently, exploring the winding streets and waterfront at leisure.

For those keen to see more, an optional excursion takes in Njeguši and Kotor, combining time in the mountain village with a visit to the coastal town.

In the evening, we gather again for dinner at a restaurant in Budva: a chance to compare favourite moments from the week and toast our adventures together.

Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Hotel Aleksandar Rafailovići (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

You’ve cycled through the Durmitor mountains, rafted the Tara River and kayaked on Skadar Lake, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort.

Upgrades are available on nights 5, 6 and 7 of this itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: This active adventure combines hiking, e-biking, rafting and kayaking across Montenegro’s spectacular mountains, lakes and coastline. Expect some longer scenic road journeys, varying temperatures between the mountains and coast, and a flexible itinerary that may occasionally be adapted due to weather or local conditions. All specialist activity equipment is provided, and a moderate level of fitness is recommended.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time on Day 1; there is a welcome briefing around 6pm
Airport: Tivat Airport (TIV)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately three hours’ drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Montenegro

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Montenegro. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Montenegro combines a sunny Adriatic coastline with dramatic mountain landscapes, creating ideal conditions for active adventures. Summers are warm and dry, while spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures for walking, cycling and sightseeing. Coastal areas are generally warmer, while temperatures are cooler in the mountains.

Spring (Apr-Jun): Mild temperatures, wildflowers and fewer crowds.
Summer (Jul-Aug): Hot, sunny days, ideal for coastal exploration and outdoor activities.
Autumn (Sep-Oct): Warm weather, quieter trails and excellent sea temperatures.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Visit the Pavićević household to learn traditional pastry-making techniques and sample local specialities. This provides a direct connection to local culture, supports local families and helps preserve regional culinary traditions.