Montenegro Lakes & Mountains

Day 1 - Fly London to Dubrovnik. Group transfer to hotel in Kotor.

On arrival at Dubrovnik airport there will be a single group transfer to your hotel in Kotor. This is timed to fit the group flight, please check with us for further information.

The drive to Kotor takes around 1½ hours in total but you reach the Croatia/Montenegro border after around 20 minutes. Continuing on, you reach Herceg Novi (about 50km from Dubrovnik) and enter the Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor) at the end of the 28km inlet. Kotor lays in one of the most majestic settings in the entire Adriatic at the foot of Mount Lovcen and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On reaching your hotel you will have time to settle in before your guide will take you, in the early evening, on a short introductory walk in the Old Town where you will enjoy a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Hotel Porto In Or Hotel Monte Cristo, Kotor

Day 2 - Walk to Sveti Ilija via Fortress Vrmac - 5-6 hours, 8km, approximately 700m/2,297ft of ascent/descent. Cruise in Boka Bay.

Mount Vrmac is situated like a barrier between the innermost part of the Bay (Bay of Kotor), and the outermost (Bay of Tivat). After a short transfer to the start of the hiking trail you begin your walk first ascending through a pine forest on a good path to the Fortress Vrmac. From here you follow the mountain ridge for around two hours with a little ascent and glorious views of both bays. Your next real ascent is towards the end of the ridge where you fork right to reach the highest point of Mount Vrmac, Sveti Ilija at 785m/2,575ft. You are rewarded with 360 degree views over both bays and all the surrounding mountains that rise up out of the sea creating a dramatic panorama. The descent down to sea level follows an old shepherd's trail quite steeply to a deserted yet pretty village of Donji Stoliv. There's an active well here, on a hot day you can pump up some of the cool refreshing water to douse yourself. You may take another path down and either way you will arrive at the sea and then enjoy a boat cruise of Boka Bay. You will have a chance to visit the magical island which houses a church dating back to 1630 called Our Lady of the Rock. The island is manmade and probably at its base has hulls of ships from the Venetian fleet and those of the defeated Turks from the battle of Perast in 1654. On the edge of the Verige Strait you'll visit Perast, an old seafaring town which once housed enormous fleets of the Venetian Republic and the town's legendary maritime skills attracted the attentions of Peter the Great of Russia. In the 18th century many of his noblemen studied at the naval academy. Now Perast is a sleepy town with a delightful atmosphere and some beautiful examples of baroque architecture and its faded mansions giving the barest hint of its illustrious past. You'll then return to Kotor for a rest and a shower before your evening meal.

Overnight: Hotel Porto In Or Hotel Monte Cristo, Kotor

Day 3 - Walk from Kosmac Fortress to Ogradjenica Monastery, descend to Sveti Stefan - 4-5 hours, 13km, 150m/500ft of ascent and 560m/2,100ft of descent. Visit old town of Budva.

After breakfast you transfer to a coastal path high above the town of Budva around 45 minutes from Kotor. The road rises up above the town and you start your walk near the ridge from the fortress of Kosmac.

Along the fantastic path overlooking the coast, you walk from the fortress towards the monastery of Ogradjenica. This is fairly easy going walking on good paths, farmers' tracks and shepherds' trails that sometimes cut inland to gentle fields with scents of abundant wild herbs. You arrive at the small monastery of Rustovo where beside the old Orthodox Church there is a little Russian wooden church devoted to the holy Russian royal family Romanov. The nuns here use the wild herbs to produce essential oils and balsams. It's a nice spot for a picnic lunch. You then continue your downhill walk on a farmer's track with slow switch backs presenting panoramic view points at regular turns down to shoreline of Budva and the famous hotel-island of Sveti Stefan. Your final steps to the shore are taken on the stairs of Jegor Stroganov who built them for more than a decade by hand and stone by stone. His energies were well spent and as you descend you will appreciate his feat. Sveti Stefan, was once a village fortified in the 15th century to defend against the Turks. Tito had it turned into a luxury hotel which in the 1960's hosted films stars and royalty until it fell into decline as the former Yugoslavia broke up. It is now thriving again as a recently refurbished luxury resort. Skipping the pricey cocktails you head to the old town of Budva to explore the walls which circle the entire core of the town, with narrow streets and attractive small squares, the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing and well-earned beer. Transfer back to Kotor.

Overnight: Hotel Porto In Or Hotel Monte Cristo, Kotor

Day 4 - Visit Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic Njegos on Mount Lovcen. Tour the old capital, Cetinje. Train ride to Kolasin.

Today you explore the history and culture of Montenegro visiting some key sights and ending with an unforgettable train journey!

After breakfast you'll drive out of Kotor and up and up on a modern switchback road affording spectacular views of the entire gulf and it's worth a picture stop near Krstac. Your first stop is at the top of Mount Lovcen with its twin peaks. On top of one of the peaks, Jezerski (1657m), is the mausoleum of the revered Petar II Petrovic Njegos. This to Montenegrins is their equivalent of Mount Olympus. While this isn't strictly speaking a walking day you'll still need to climb 461 steps from the car park! Njegos was a Prince-Bishop, he lived from 1815-51, he was heralded as an intellectual, was a scholar, a philosopher and a poet, and apparently stood 6ft 8in tall, an imposing figure in every sense and for Montenegrins a divine hero. His epic poem 'The Mountain Wreath' is considered a masterpiece of Slavic literature and was later adopted as the national epic of Yugoslavia and indeed it was his influence on Montenegro and its neighbours that bore the first seeds of a common code of law and principles that would unite Slavic people.

You then visit the old capital of Cetinje, 670m/2,198ft. While much of Montenegro was under Ottoman rule Cetinje resisted. Several times brutal battles were fought with the Turks and each time they were ultimately repelled, and again for Montenegrins the city holds a particular attachment. It's a pretty mountain town set in a plain in the shadow of Lovcen with around 20,000 inhabitants. On a tour of the city you can enjoy a visit to the monastery dating back to the 15th century (Njegos was educated here) and seeing all the embassy buildings that still stand in faded grandeur, including the British Embassy completed in 1912 but abandoned in 1916 as for once the city capitulated and came under the occupation of Austro-Hungary. There are also the former Russian, Italian, and French embassies all with distinct architectural styles exported to this extraordinary small mountain city that held capital status for 500 years. With some free time there are plenty of pleasant streets to peruse and to grab some lunch in one of the many eateries.

Descending out of Cetinje you drive to Podgorica, the current capital city, and to the train station to catch your train to Kolasin. Within the circles of train lovers, this section of the train line that runs from Bar-Belgrade rates as one of the most impressive as the line runs high above canyons and crosses a 198m high bridge and through countless tunnels. After just over an hour you reach Kolasin.

Overnight: Four Points By Sheraton Or Hotel Bianca, Kolasin

Day 5 - Trek in the Biogradska National Park. Walk from Vranjak to Katun Goles - 3-4 hours, approximately 10km, 125m/410ft of ascent and 195m/640ft of descent.

After a good breakfast at your hotel, you transfer to the mountain pasture Vranjak in Biogradska National Park. It takes around an hour up a bumpy track to your starting point at one of the local refuges, 1,765m. Your walk begins along a dirt road soon heading into alpine meadows with a multitude of flowers and pleasant views in every direction. The scenery is enchanting. After approximately two hours you walk along a gentle ridge with spectacular views into the valley with Biogradska Lake below. This is a great spot for a snack and a rest to take in the views. You'll then descend down, through a pasture with forest either side for around 1½ hours to reach Katun Goles, an idyllic shepherd settlement in a bowl shaped valley with gorgeous views all around. A traditional lunch is served after which you can relax and enjoy the surrounds.

If you have gas left in the tank you can walk up to a saddle facing Katun Goles, 1,890m, for panoramic views around Biogradska and as far as the high peaks of Durmitor National Park in the distance. It's a sublime place and the simple accommodation only adds to the charm, and the feeling that this is a privilege and one of the highlights of your trip as you get into the tranquillity of Montenegrin mountain lifestyle. Your hosts are a local family who in the summer set up home to graze their livestock in the rich pastures. These settlements are called a "Katun" and they provide a very warm welcome with simple accommodation in wooden cabins, and excellent hearty homemade traditional dishes.

Overnight: Katun Goles

Day 6 - Descend to Biogradska Lake - 2 hours, 500m/1,640ft of descent. Transfer to Zabljak via Tara Canyon viewpoint. Afternoon walk to Black Lake - 1½ hours.

Enjoy your traditional Montenegrin breakfast in the idyllic scenery of Katun Goles and get ready for hiking descent to the Biogradska Gora National Park, which features a glacier lake and an ancient forest. This is Montenegro's first national park established in 1952 and the forests here enjoy strict preservation control with no introduction of new species, no pruning, no planting and no removal of dead wood - you really will find it just as nature intended. Around 30% of the park is primeval forest and has been protected in practice since 1878 when it was given as the preserve of Prince Nikola Petrovic when Kolašin was liberated from Turkish rule. The park is only 54 sq km yet has incredible diversity of flora and fauna due to its untouched environment which is home to over 220 plant species, over 120 species of birds, 86 tree types and even 3 kinds of trout in its lakes! Also protected are Roe deer, red deer, grey and golden eagles and brown bears but you would be lucky to get anything more than a fleeting glimpse of those, thankfully perhaps in the case of the brown bears!

Leaving Katun Goles you first walk up the track before entering the forest for a steep descent of approximately 500m. You'll be walking around beech and silver fir trees and ducking under those that have fallen on the path. You may also recognise Sycamore, Maple and European Ash especially when you get down to the lake. Some of the trees are more than four hundred years old and more than 60m/200ft high, this after all is one of only three preserved virgin forests in Europe.

Upon arrival at the lake, there is the chance to learn more about the National Park in the small information centre after you have explored the educational trail around Biogradsko Lake. Then you head up with your bus to Tara Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe and the second deepest gorge in the World after the Grand Canyon. After pausing for lunch near the stunning bridge crossing of the River Tara you will continue in the direction of Durmitor National Park which along with Tara Canyon is included in the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. After checking into your hotel in Zabljak, in late afternoon you will have a relaxing walking tour around the famous Black Lake (Crno Jezero), your first taste of this beautiful national park.

Overnight: Ski Hotel or Hotel Zabljak or Hotel Zlatni Bor, Zabljak

Day 7 - Transfer to Durmitor National Park. Walk from Momcilov Grad to Black Lake via Jablan Lake and Bosaca - 4-5 hours.

Today you head out of Zabljak after breakfast to embark on a beautiful walk to Black Lake in the Durmitor National Park. Having transferred from your hotel to Momcilov Grad your path takes you first to Jablan Lake - the highest in Durmitor at 1,791m/5,876ft. The lake takes its name from the Jablan plant that blooms in profusion during June, carpeting the trails and meadows with a rich covering of pretty yellow flowers. Next to the lake there is a small spring where you can top-up your water bottles with the refreshingly pure mountain water.

From Jablan Lake you head towards the small settlement of Bosaca and, as you emerge from the woods below Razana Peak, you will enjoy wonderful panoramic views of Durmitor National Park resplendent with lush Alpine-like pastures, glacial lakes, pine forests and dramatic limestone mountains. In fact, there are over 50 peaks higher than 2,000m/6,500ft within the Park's boundaries. Reaching Bosaca there's time to rest awhile and enjoy the lovely scenery and charming architecture of the village. Walking on, your path takes you next to Zminje Lake and then on again to Black Lake passing abandoned old mills along the way. Stopping to appreciate the natural beauty of Black Lake - encircled by pine trees and overshadowed by Medjed mountain - you continue on, completing the walk back to your hotel in Zabljak.

Overnight: Ski Hotel or Hotel Zabljak or Hotel Zlatni Bor, Zabljak

Day 8 - Drive and walk to Curevac summit, 1,626m/5,335ft, to view Tara Canyon. Afternoon transfer to Herceg Novi.

After breakfast this morning we will make the journey to visit the summit of Curevac which is arguably the best viewpoint to fully appreciate the beauty and scale of the Tara Canyon. It's a short but scenic drive through the forest from Zabljak followed by a 30 minute hike to the summit of Curevac, 1,626m/5,335ft.

It may also be possible to arrange some optional rafting on the Tara River. Speak to your guide about this if you are interested.

Returning to Zabljak you will then transfer back to the coast for your last night. It takes around 2½ - 3 hours to get to Herceg Novi at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. Mount Orjen sits above the town that has had a fortress since 1382 and has been fought over ever since. The old town is attractive and interesting, the perfect place for your last meal together and if you are missing your mountain walks you will compensated by cobblestone streets and plenty of steps! You might even have time for swim in the sea before you head out for dinner.

Overnight: Hotel Palmon Bay And Spa Or Similar, Herceg Novi

Day 9 - Group transfer to Dubrovnik Airport. Fly to London.

After breakfast there will be a group transfer to Dubrovnik Airport in time for your flight to London.