Highlights of Montenegro Walk

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

Walks involve a mixture of woodland and forest trails, open meadows and country roads. While not challenging, short sections are rocky. The walk around Kotor's walls will take place at a gentle pace but involves steps to the top. Walking boots are recommended.

Day by day breakdown

Day 214.0km/9.0miles

Day 314.0km/9.0miles

Day 410.0km/6.5miles

Day 55.0km/3.0miles

Day 62.0km/1.5miles

Day 713.0km/8.0miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

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Podgorica

Day 1
Arrive in Zabljak
Arrive in the high Balkan mountain town of Zabljak (1450m) and your 4-star hotel. (Staying at Hotel Polar Star, Half Board)
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Durmitor National Park
Swimming in the glacial Crno Jezero (Black Lake), walking through deciduous forest - keep your eyes peeled for various eagles in the skies above - and a picnic in the shadow of the Medjed Peak are just some of today's highlights as we explore the heart of the Durmitor National Park. Formed by glaciers, and traversed by a multitude of rivers, lakes and underground streams, the park is also home to one of the last virgin black pine forests in Europe with fauna including brown bear, wild cat, chamois and capercaillie. (Staying at Hotel Polar Star, Half Board)
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Day 3
Tara River Canyon
A feast for the eyes of both keen and novice photographers this morning as we stroll the woods and meadows up to the spectacular Tara River Canyon, the deepest in Europe (1300m) and arguably the most beautiful river canyon in the world. Part of the Durmitor National Park and a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it boasts 40+ tumbling waterfalls, 80+ large caves, rapids, lakes and dense forest harbouring an abundance of plant and wildlife. Enjoy a picnic at Curevac, then we transfer you to Kolasin where you spend the night with dinner included (Staying at Bianca Resort & Spa, Half Board)
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Day 4
Lovcen National Park
A scenic serpentine road takes us up (45 mins) to the Lovcen National Park with over 6,000 hectares of natural contrasts: imposing snow-capped peaks, stunning coastal views, 2000+ plants, 85 species of butterfly and over 200 bird types including many regal birds of prey. Besides its natural beauties, the park protects a rich, cultural and architectural heritage too, including authentic katuns - summer cottages for cattle breeders. We walk up to the mausoleum of Prince- Bishop Petar II Petrovic-Njegos - the ruler, poet and philosopher credited with having modernised Montenegro. We then continue to his birthplace - the picturesque mountain 'food' village of Njegusi, famous for its cheeses, honey and dried smoked hams, before a transfer to Perast and the Hotel Conte, your home for the next 4 nights. Dinner at the hotel is included tonight. (Staying at Hotel Conte, Half Board)
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Day 5
City of Kotor and Bay of Kotor
Wedged between brooding mountains and the gorgeous bay, the historic city of Kotor is a UNESCO listed Natural and Culturo-Historical Region. Within the ancient walls its labyrinthine streets reveal some of the finest examples of medieval architecture: Romanesque churches, Venetian piazzas, San Giovanni castle and other cultural monuments. In the afternoon we take a scenic drive south west to the coast. En route, we'll stop in Niksic, home to Montenegro's most popular (and only homegrown) brewery. This is followed by a relaxed afternoon on the water exploring the gorgeous sheltered Bay of Kotor and its postcard-pretty medieval villages, ancient coastal settlements and tiny man-made island of 'Our Lady of the Rocks' whose famous church is steeped in maritime history. (Staying at Hotel Conte, Half Board)
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Day 6
Lake Skadar and Godinje
A 90-minute drive this morning takes us past pretty coastal villages and wonderful mountain scenery, then on to the warm waters of Lake Skadar on the Albania-Montenegro border. Flanked by small orchards and vineyards, this is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula, and is one of the most important reserves for wetland birds in Europe. After a circular walk up to the wine village of Godinje - we'll take a boat tour on the lake to view the area's wild beauty from the water. Think verdant hills rising from the lake, old world villages peppering the shores, an abandoned 14th century monastery on its own tiny island and whiskered terns building their nests on floating water lilies. Choose your restaurant for tonight's evening meal, pay locally (Staying at Hotel Conte, Breakfast only)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7
Vrmac Mountain
Start the day with a 50 minute transfer to Trojica to begin today's hike to the top of Vrmac Mountain where we can enjoy views of Kotor Bay. We transfer you back to your hotel in Perast in time for dinner (included). (Staying at Hotel Conte, Half Board)
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Day 8
Leave Perast
Group transfer to Dubrovnik airport.
Meals included: Breakfast

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Show map

Essential Info

Visas

Montenegro

No visa required for British passport holders.

Vaccinations

Montenegro

There are no specific health risks.

Eating and Drinking

Montenegrin cuisine features heavy influences from the various cultures and empires that have come and gone over the centuries. Nearer the sea (and a little further inland) Italian influences are quite strong (think Italian style bread, cured meats, cheese, polenta, stuffed peppers, meatballs, etc.) while the more northern regions offer dishes more typical of the Levant and Turkey (sarma, musaka, pilav, pita, kebab, and Turkish sweets like baklava - these came largely via Serbia). You’ll also find more hearty, typically Central European dishes like Hungarian goulashes and even Austrian schnitzel.

Montenegrin wines typically come from the regions close to the Capital Podgorica and around Lake Skadar with many families in Montenegro actually producing their own wine for home consumption. The best growing conditions are in the south east and producers here have always been more oriented towards production for the domestic market. There is one large commercial producer, Plantaze who have opened their cellars to tourists and have a gift shop and information centre at the entrance to Skadar National Park - in Virpazar.

Weather

The dates run through September. The average temperature at this time of year is 21°C, with nights lower at 14°C. So it is worth having an extra layer for your top and bottom that you can take off as it warms up, and can be used when it cools off in the evenings. Rain can fall at any time of the year, although in mid-summer it is more likely to come as short, sharp thunderstorms.

Kotor

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Guided
Average daily distance on move on days: 9.8km (6.3miles).
No. of days Walking: 6
Terrain: Walks involve a mixture of woodland and forest trails, open meadows and country roads. While not challenging, short sections are rocky. The walk around Kotor's walls will take place at a gentle pace but involves steps to the top. Walking boots are recommended.

Starting in the mountainous north, we explore first the vast Durmitor National Park, with its glacial lakes, dense forests - with masses of endemic species - sparkling streams and fast flowing rivers. We visit the Tara Canyon (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the second deepest canyon in the world at 1300m, after Arizona's Grand Canyon) to survey one of nature's best-kept secrets from a viewpoint 1200m above the crystal clear Tara River, granting panoramic vistas over the whole plateau!

For the second part of our trip we head south, to the warm shores of the Adriatic - described by Lord Byron as 'the most beautiful encounter between land and sea' - where pretty coastal villages cling vertiginously to rock walls that jut dramatically from the sea. We stay in Venetian Perast, considered the prettiest town in Montenegro, and relax by the water's edge after exploring some of its 18 historic churches. For a totally different perspective, we'll also take boat trips around Lake Skadar (great for bird-spotting) and the shores of tranquil Kotor Bay with its famous islets.

Excellent choice for:

Flora & fauna, art & history, swimming opportunities, solo travellers, couples, coastal routes, high peaks, lake & river routes

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

Accommodation

Hotels

We've hand-picked high-quality 4-star hotels. Evening meals are included on all nights except for one where we've left you free to enjoy dinner at leisure at a restaurant of your choice.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

See all experts

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.