Exploring Montenegro

Go Get Lost Reviews

4.9

Rated 4.9 out of 5

Based on 110 Reviews

Excellent89%

Very good10%

Average1%

Poor0%

Terrible0%

Tour Type:

Walking and Hiking

Comfort Rating:

Casual/Premier

Activity Level:

Easy/Moderate

Duration:

4 Days

Experience the wild beauty and untouched landscapes of this hidden and undiscovered Balkan gem! We’ll start on the stunning Adriatic coast with its fjord-like bays dotted with medieval villages, then move inland to the breathtaking beauty of Durmitor National Park in the Dinaric Alps. Famous for its towering scenic peaks, numerous glacial lakes and massive canyons, all surrounded by dense forest. Durmitor offers trails for every level, from beginner to expert.
The history and culture of Montenegro is as rich and varied as its landscapes. Overrun and ruled by numerous peoples over the centuries, Montenegro exhibits traits from the ancient Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Goths, Avars, Serbs, Slavs, Byzantines, and Ottoman Turks. This amazing history has resulted in a fascinating mix of culture, language, food, and traditions.
This is the perfect extension to our Discover Slovenia & Croatia hiking tour.

Click the thumbnail to view larger image.

Day 1 - Kotor

This morning after breakfast we'll board our private coach for the short, scenic drive down the coast. Within an hour we'll be crossing the border with Montenegro, and not long after that we'll arrive in Kotor. Located in one of the most beautiful bays in the world, Kotor is an ancient town of merchants and sailors, surrounded by mountains. It's somewhat off the tourist track of the Croatian coast, but that means it provides a more realistic idea of Balkan culture. Lacking the elegance and polish of the more refined tourist towns like Dubrovnik and Split, Kotor has the unsophisticated atmosphere of an authentic working Balkan town. The old town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval settlements in Europe, typical for the 14th century. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments have included Kotor in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Kotor Old Town is full of stone houses, lovely little churches, and charming cafés.

We'll enjoy a hike this morning on one of the mountains surrounding Kotor, with stunning views over the town and the bay. The famed "Ladder of Kotor" hike has several variations, from easy to challenging. We'll do a hybrid hike today, using the ancient town walls along with the Ladder trail to provide some panoramic views of the town, the bay and the surrounding mountains.

We'll finish up our morning hike at one of Kotor's small local restaurants, enjoying yet another facet of Balkan cuisine. After lunch we'll check into our hotel, then have the rest of the day to rest, relax, or wander at your leisure. You're free for dinner tonight, it should be exciting to get lost in Kotor and find the perfect "out-of-the-way" place to relax and enjoy the local cuisine.

Today's hike is rated EASY to MODERATE with a total distance of only 1.9 miles, hiking time of 2-3 hours, an elevation gain of 768 feet, and 792 feet of elevation loss. The hike starts at an altitude of 20 feet and tops out at 788 feet. The trail surface is mostly sandy and rocky. Parts of it are steep but we set a slow pace in order to enjoy the views. You can also turn back early in the walk to explore the town on your own.

Non-Hiking Ideas: If you decide to opt out of today's hike, you can easily spend the day wandering Kotor's charming streets.

Day 2 - Durmitor National Park

After breakfast this morning we'll head north to the interior of the country to Durmitor National Park, a stunning limestone massif rising out of the Dinaric Alps. This breathtaking national park was formed by glaciers and is crossed by rivers and underground streams. Durmitor has over 50 peaks towering over 2,000 meters above sea level. with Bobotov Kuk topping out at 2,525 meters. Numerous glacial lakes, locally known as “mountain eyes”, cover the landscape. Despite its many attractions, Durmitor is best known for the spectacular canyons of the Draga, Sušica, Komarnica and Tara Rivers, the latter stands out as Europe's deepest gorge. Durmitor is a popular tourism destination, known for superb hiking, climbing, mountaineering and canoeing opportunities. The nearby town of Zabljak is Montenegro’s primary ski resort. Besides the extraordinary landscape beauty and the fascinating geological heritage, Durmitor National Park is also home to an impressive biological diversity. At the habitat level, a rare old-growth stand of European Black Pine deserves to be mentioned. Large mammals include Brown Bear, Grey Wolf, and European Wild Cat. Among the 130 recorded birds are Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Capercaillie. Likewise noteworthy is the rich fish fauna, which includes the endangered Danube Salmon. The park is inhabited by farmers and shepherds, traditionally using the high-altitude meadows as summer pastures.
The best part is that we get to spend the next two days exploring this spectacular area!

Today, time permitting, we will have two short hikes. The first will be on the Curevac trail which runs along the edge of the spectacular Tara River Canyon, the deepest in all of Europe. It's a fairly easy walk, some small hills along a peaceful route crossing pastures and woodlands. The abrupt appearance of the massive Tara River gorge is nothing short of astonishing, with our trail skirting the edge of it for over a mile. We'll find a good spot in this idyllic landscape to stop and have our pack lunch while gazing at the scenery. After lunch we have a variety of hiking options, our mountain guides will determine which might be best for our group and the conditions. Eventually we'll come down off the mountain and head back to Zabljak and our hotel on the outskirts of town.

Tonight we'll sit down to a group meal featuring local specialties and vintages from the area. The term "farm to table" might have been invented here in rural Montenegro. The average Montenegrin table is generally laden with meat, fresh cheese, homemade bread and salads made from fresh vegetables. Also present are richly flavoured dishes such as stews, smoked fish, and Montenegrin food classics like kacamak, a type of maize porridge...and priganice, a sweet pastry.

Today's first hike is rated EASY with a total distance of around 2 miles, hiking time of 1-2 hours, an elevation gain of 230 feet, and 300 feet of elevation loss. The entire hike is between 5000 and 5300 feet of altitude. The rolling trail alternates between country roads, pastures, and woodland paths. The trail surface can be quite rough and rocky, requiring better than average hiking balance skills. The second hike is yet to be determined, but it will most likely be in the same difficulty range as the first.

Non-Hiking Ideas: If you decide to opt out of today's hike, you could spend some time exploring the very small town of Zabljak, just a 15 minute walk away, or you might go for some quality down-time at the hotel, it's just outside of town and has an awesome pool with an excellent view of the mountains.

Day 3 - Bobotov Kuk

An amazing day of hiking awaits us! This morning after breakfast we'll have a short drive to the trailhead of famed trail to Bobotov Kuk, the highest peak in the Durmitor Park. The landscape here is dramatic, to say the least. Towering rocky mountains, sheer cliffs, deep canyons and glacial lakes provide endless scenic views. There are many hiking routes on Bobotov Kuk, our mountain guides will determine which best suits us for the conditions of the day. Suffice to say, regardless of the trail we choose, you'll have stunning views of the rugged peaks and valleys as you hike today. There may be an option to take a side trail to the summit of Bobotov Kuk, which, although very steep, provides unparalleled views of the entire Durmitor Park and Dinaric Alps!

Upon meeting our coach, we'll begin the scenic journey back to the coast, crossing into Croatia and checking in to our hotel in Dubrovnik in the late afternoon. You'll have the rest of the day free to hang out in town and prepare for your flight tomorrow.

Today's hike is rated MODERATE with a total distance of 3.6 miles, hiking time of 3 hours, an elevation gain of 1255 feet, and the same of elevation loss. The hike starts at an altitude of 5673 feet and tops out at 6768 feet. The trail surface is mostly rocky. If part of the group is able to do the summit spur, the hike will be considered CHALLENGING, with a total distance of 4.7 miles, 2337 feet of ascent, topping out at around 8278 feet with 2341 feet of descent.

Non-Hiking Ideas: If you decide to opt out of today's hike, you can spend the morning at the hotel or in town, then meet the group later as they descend the mountain and depart for Dubrovnik. Or if you want to do some very easy walking, picturesque Black Lake is less than a mile away on foot, and the trails around the lake vary between 1 and 3 miles, depending on which route you choose.

Day 4 - Doviddenja

Today your Go Get Lost Explore Montenegro trip will end after breakfast in the hotel. You can easily take a taxi to Dubrovnik's nearby international airport for your homeward flight, or elsewhere if you are continuing your journey.

HOTELS

Due to availability at the time of booking, hotel listed may change to similar hotel

Kotor - 4 Star Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro: Located in the heart of the medieval, seaside Old Town of Kotor. Situated on the town’s main square, it occupies a significant portion of the town’s walls. The hotel is decorated and designed to revive Kotor’s rich history and cultural inheritance, including art-adorned interiors inspired by the sea. And still, this historic boutique hotel - built within UNESCO-protected walls - offers all the modern comforts you need. At Cattaro Hotel, it is their aim to deliver the experience of a lifetime, while introducing the world to the best of the City of Kotor and Montenegro. Their clients inspire them to raise the bar, improving service with each passing day. Rooms at Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro offer air conditioning, a minibar, and a refrigerator providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi.

OR

Kotor - 4 Star Hotel Vardar: Hotel Vardar is situated right on the entrance of the Old City of Kotor, on the main city square. The long lasting hotel tradition is continuing to live on as Hotel Vardar, after the reconstruction and renovation, opens its doors to the guest who want real vacation, finest service, complete satisfaction. The renewed Hotel Vardar meets all the standards of the five stars ranked hotel regarding services and design. The old and the new are blended in an unusual way. The comfort of the rooms, the variety of services, the dedication to details... they created this hotel to satisfy the most demanding guests. Hotel Vardar’s terrace has always been the traditional meeting place in Kotor. A perfect way of getting to know local people, catch their daily rhythm, notice their closeness and joy. The view from the Hotel Vardar’s terrace spreads around the Square of Arms, main city square. Picturesque by day and vivid by by night, it's the perfect place to enjoy good company and pleasant conversation. Wellness is an integral part of the hotel, with a Turkish bath and sauna and professional massages, just the thing after a week of hiking.

Zabljak - 4 Star Hotel North Story: Luxury Chalets Perched on a hillside a few miles outside of town, the North Story is a gorgeous little property with all the comforts you'll need after a day in the mountains, like a hot tub and sauna. With an outdoor pool and fireplace, it's a perfect gathering spot to talk over the days adventures.

• 1 Night, Double Occupancy Accom at a 4-Star hotel in Kotor (or similar)
• 1 Night, Double Occupancy Accom at a 4-Star hotel in Zabljak (or similar)
• 1 Night, Double Occupancy Accom at a 4-Star hotel in Dubrovnik (or similar)
• 3 Breakfasts
• 3 Lunches
• 1 Dinner
• Guided hikes as listed, 1 in Kotor and 2 or 3 in Durmitor National Park
• Group arrival transfer from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
• All transportation as per the itinerary
• All tips for waiters and coach drivers (EXCEPT for your primary local tour leader)

• Meals not specified in itinerary
• Beverages at meals unless specified in itinerary (all group meals include water and wine)
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption and Medical Insurance (strongly recommended), call for details
• Single supplement charge
• Items of a personal nature; phone calls, laundry, etc.
• Domestic and International airfare
• Any costs associated with options or free time
• Gratuity for your primary local tour leader