- Hiking in Montenegro -

Foreword

Exploring Montenegro on foot is a pleasure. The picturesque landscapes, mild climate, and rich history of the country will immediately captivate you. Montenegro is a small Balkan country, but boasts beautiful nature, rich culture, and the warm hospitality of its people. It is known not only for its clean sea and beaches, but also for its excellent conditions for active hiking.

Hiking in Montenegro

8 days

Day 1: Arrival in Montenegro

Flight to Podgorica. Transfer to the hotel. After checking in at the hotel, we invite you to a gentle walking tour of Petrovac. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Hike to Rezhevici Monastery near Petrovac

We hike along the scenic health trail along the Adriatic Sea to Rezhevici Monastery.

According to legend, the order to build the first monastery church here was given by King Stephen the First Crown himself (son of Stephen Nemanja), who passed through the village with his entourage in 1226, drank local wine, and spent the night there. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built to commemorate the royal overnight stay.

One hundred years after the construction of the first temple, a second church was built nearby, dedicated to St. Stephen.

And in the 17th century, both churches were painted by the famous fresco master Strahinya of Budiml. The fragments of this painting that have survived to this day are of great cultural value.

The walking distance is approximately 8 km. Difficulty level - easy.

Day 3: Excursion to Budva (optional)

Budva's Old Town is home to amazing ancient sights, unique in their design and preserving the history of the distant past.

According to archaeological excavations, the first settlement was established here in the 5th century BC, and until the 20th century, life was centered in the Old Town.

You will see the best sights of Budva's Old Town worth visiting in Montenegro. Fortress walls, the citadel, historic cathedrals and temples, ancient gates, and museums – this visit promises to be fascinating.

After visiting the Old Town, you will take a relaxing boat trip to the islands of St. Stephen and St. Nicholas.

The total driving distance is approximately 50 km.

The walking distance (Old Town) is approximately 3 km. Difficulty level - easy.

Day 4: Hiking in Lovcen National Park

Today you will visit Lovcen National Park and the famous Lovcen Mountains, which are over 1,700 m high and have several peaks. You will climb the "Babina Glava" peak, offering a magnificent view of the Bay of Kotor.

On one of the peaks, called "Jezerski vrh," is the mausoleum of the Montenegrin ruler and thinker Peter II Njegos. This mountain offers breathtaking views of the Montenegrin "Stone Sea," as the mountain ranges in northern Montenegro are called here.

At the foot of the Lovcen Mountains lies the famous village of Njegushi, the birthplace of the last 300-year-old dynasty of Montenegro's lords/princes, who bore the surname Petrovichi-Njegoschi. The village of Njegushi is also famous for its "pršut," charcoal-smoked pork ham. You'll visit a private prosciutto farm and have the opportunity to sample and purchase local specialties.

The total driving distance is approximately 120 km.

The walking distance is approximately 10 km. Difficulty level: medium.

Day 5: Hike in Biogradska Gora National Park

Biogradska Gora is the oldest national park in the country. Biogradska Gora lies between the valleys of the Tara and Lim rivers in the center of the Bjelašica Mountains, between alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks.

The park is home to an ancient relict forest, home to more than 2,000 plant species (including 85 tree species) and approximately 200 bird species.

Lake Biogradsko is the most famous of the national park's five lakes. It lies at an altitude of 1,085 meters above sea level and has a depth of 12 meters. You will drive along the Moraca Canyon, stopping for two or three photos, to Biogradska Gora National Park.

First, you will visit a small museum with examples of the flora and fauna of Biogradska Gora National Park. Then, you will hike around the lake. After the hike, you will have free time for lunch at a lakeside restaurant. Afterwards, you'll take a shorter route back to the hotel via the new highway.

The total driving distance is approximately 280 km

The walking distance is approximately 3.5 km. Difficulty level - medium.

Day 6: Excursion to Kotor Old Town with Boat Trip in Kotor Bay (Optional)

Today, another highlight of your trip awaits you.

Deeply nestled in an impressive bay between the Adriatic Sea and the mountains and surrounded by a large city wall, Kotor has retained its medieval charm.

Be captivated by a beautifully preserved old town, which is in no way inferior to its Croatian neighbor, Dubrovnik.

Afterward, you'll board a boat in the Bay of Kotor, explore the baroque town of Perast, and travel to the monastery island of Our Lady of the Rocks (including a museum visit).

You'll then disembark the ship in Tivat and have free time for lunch.

The total driving distance is approximately 85 km

The walking distance (Old Town) is approximately 3 km. Difficulty level - easy.

Day 7: Excursion to Lake Skadar National Park with Boat Trip (Optional)

Lake Skadar is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula.

A boat trip along the Cernojevica River, which is part of Lake Skadar, is like immersing yourself in a fairytale, in nature, in harmony, in history.

For true connoisseurs of beauty and nature, everything at Lake Skadar is interesting: changing landscapes, fresh, "delicious" air, ancient monasteries scattered across the islands, fortresses, rare birds soaring above them, fish that swim against the boat, and the purest fresh water.

You will take an unforgettable boat trip from the town of Virpazar along the lake and then along the Crnojevica River to the small settlement of Rijeka Crnojevica.

Afterwards, you will have lunch with fish dishes at a restaurant on the riverbank.

The total driving distance is approximately 90 km.

The walking distance is approximately 1 km. Difficulty level - easy.

Day 8: Return home

Check-out. Transfer to the airport.

Hikes:

The difficulty level and fitness requirements are generally easy to moderate.

However, you should have a good level of surefootedness.

We recommend sturdy, ankle-high hiking boots