Itinerary

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• DAY 1 - Arrival

  • Pick up a rental car at Dubrovnik or Podgorica airport and drive to Žabljak. It is a 190km/ 3h30 long trip from Dubrovnik airport and a 135km/ 2h30 long trip from Podgorica airport. Check in accommodation. Free evening.

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    Accomodation Standard option: Family Apartments in Žabljak, comfortable apartments with private facilities
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Žabljak in Žabljak

    

    Meals Included: /

    

    Activity Driving

• DAY 2 - Into the deep green

  • Today you will get to know the soul and mystical spirituality of Mount Durmitor. Isn't it really necessary, when we meet someone new - to look him in the eyes first?
    So today, after breakfast, you will head deep into the woods, towards the lakes. The road first leads you to the most famous and most marked lake – Crno Jezero (Black Lake). Lake in the shape of digit 8 - two circles that are almost completely separated in the months of drought. With a depth of over 60m and emerald colour, the smaller circle of the lake gives you the privilege to look into the soul of this magical mountain.
    After you dive into the soul of the mountain and get acquainted with its secrets and charms, just like Hansel and Gretel, we will go deeper into the forest ... And what a mystical sorceress she is! Always green, deep, and dark - that's why Black Lake got its name! Because of her, because of the dark colour of the forest around the lake, mirrored in its surface. Her paths are sprinkled with mushrooms, moss, and fallen trees. From its rich soil, fir and spruce trees, some up to a hundred years old, tend to the sky. And the air! Fresh, fragrant ... gentle and sharp, at the same time. Created to seduce you farther and farther, all the way to “Zminje Jezero” (Snake Lake).
    Don't worry too much. Indeed, there are no snakes here, but there is a clear and pure spring just a few steps from the place for lunch and rest. A beautiful little lake on the edges overgrown with water lilies and rare water grasses ... and snakes? Again, the magic forest is responsible for this name. Namely, they say that the dense forest of fir and spruce is so reflected in the water here that it leaves a picture in the lake that resembles snakeskin.
    After lunch, rest, and enjoying the silence and pleasant freshness of this hidden lake, you will set off, slowly back. Not missing the opportunity to turn off the road and visit another in a row, this time “Barno Jezero” (Pond Lake). It is located on a larger glade, mostly overgrown with wildflowers, orchids, lilies, wild hyacinths, and further on, a rare reed marks the edge of the lake. The braver ones, can carefully, walk on the peat bog all the way to the water's edge. But beware! This will most likely mean that you will return to the hotel with wet feet!

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    Accomodation Standard option: Family Apartments in Žabljak, comfortable apartments with private facilities
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Žabljak in Žabljak

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Hiking 4h-5h, ascent +250m / descent – 250m.

• DAY 3 - Bare Bear Peak (Međed)

  • The peaks that dominate the landscape! Can't you hear their call? You will visit them today! You will pass by your friend from yesterday - Black Lake, just to send it a friendly greeting and wish it a good day, but also to express your respect and tell its that you are invited today to visit the peaks from which its waters are coming.
    Don't expect to see those waters after leaving the lake. In fact, you need to take enough water with you today because you will not find any on the surface. Water has its own paths to the lake, underground paths, hidden from our view, out of our reach.
    And after the forest belt, you go out to an area without shelter. Low vegetation and shrubs, grass, and stone. Rocky trails lead us towards the peaks, but what you see is not the one where you headed to, but only a tump that obscures the horizon on your climb ...
    View of the boulder of the neighbouring peak, over a deep ravine, joining the walls of mountain peaks that we call passes ... View of the green canopy of the forest you just left ... Today you climb to 2,160 m above sea level. Due to the unsafe section that leads to the very top, you will walk around Međed (Bear Peak) to the “Previja” pass where you can enjoy rest and lunch.
    And then the descent. You are witnessing a time that inevitably affects this beautiful mountain. The old Bear is getting tired a little ... you see rocks and stones pouring down like waterfalls, flowing towards the plateau. There is no movement in our time dimension, but traces, wrinkles are there to talk about the real age of this Montenegrin giant and how it is slowly, imperceptibly decreasing ... collapsing. You move lower and lower, near the shepherd's huts where local shepherds keep sheep during the summer ... you return to the forest and finally, from the other side you come again to your wonderful friend - Black Lake.
    During the summer and autumn, when the weather is nice, the temperature of the lake water can be very pleasant. If that is the case - you can relax in the water of the Black Lake. After this, all the fatigue and tension in the muscles totally disappears. All that remains is a pleasure.

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    Accomodation Standard option: Family Apartments in Žabljak, comfortable apartments with private facilities
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Žabljak in Žabljak

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Hiking 6h-7h, ascent +800m / descent – 800m.

• DAY 4 - The power of creation

  • Today you leave the Durmitor National park and head to the Adriatic coast. After 2h of driving, you arrive at the Ostrog Monastery built by St Vasilije (Basil) in the 17th century. Stopping to visit the lower monastery – the Church of the Holy Trinity – you then take a 30-minute climb along the pilgrim’s path to the higher one. Set before the imposing backdrop of sheer vertical walls, the whitewashed walls of the upper monastery makes an inspiring sight. The relics of St Basil lie in the monastery, reverentially housed in a sepulchral sanctuary that is linked to another chapel by series of caves and passages. The walls are crammed with gifts and pleas from the pilgrims and the entire atmosphere of the monastery is exceptionally piety. Afternoon you drive to Kotor bay where you will settle down for the next four days in a waterfront hotel in Prčanj town.

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    Accomodation Standard option: 3- star Hotel Galia or Bokeljski Dvori in Prčanj
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Splendido in Prčanj

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Hiking 1h15, ascent +250m / descent – 250m.

• DAY 5 - The irresistible charm of Kotor town

  • In the shadow of the Lovćen Mountain, surrounded by an equally protective wreath of the Orjen and Vrmac Mountains, at the bottom of the most beautiful bay in Adriatic, lies the quiet and sleepy town of Kotor. Moving through the labyrinth of streets, additionally protected by defensive stone ramparts, you start the wheels of a special clock in your heart, which will continue to count only the hours until the next return in Kotor.
    You walk the walls of Kotor to St. Ivan Fortress, 250m above sea level. The mountain massif above you make a pleasant shade until noon, and the walk lasts just as long. You climb the stone steps, above the stone city. Cypresses, a small church with a bell tower, the red roofs of Kotor covering stone houses, streets that meander and flow into squares, the blue of the sea and mountains of blue-green tones - are just some images remaining in your memories. Seen from the opposite shore, in the evening, Kotor with its illuminated walls and reflection on the calm surface of the sea form the shape of a heart. As everyone in the world knows, it is a sign of love.
    After the walk, you have free time to wander and explore the town at your own pace. Enjoy lunch in some of the many restaurants, visit some museum, gallery, or shops. Afternoon, if you wish, we recommend you to drive to Perast town (20min/ 15km) and take a small boat to the Our Lady of the Rocks - a man-made island and a church on it (round boat trip costs approx. 5€ per person). This island was made by numerous sailors from this region, as a pledge for good luck and a happy return after overseas voyages.

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    Accomodation Standard option: 3- star Hotel Galia or Bokeljski Dvori in Prčanj
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Splendido in Prčanj

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Hiking 2,5 h, ascent +250m / descent – 250m.

• DAY 6 - Lovćen National Park Hiking

  • "Who on the mountain height doth take his stand,
    Sees more than he who stays upon the plain."
    
    Original:
    
    “Ko na brdu ak´ imalo stoji,
    Više vidi no onaj pod brdom.”
    
    Gorski Vijenac (The Mountain Wreath)
    1847, Petar II Petrović Njegoš (1813 – 1851) - Prince-Bishop of Montenegro and poet
    
    You drive high into the mountains along the serpentine road above Kotor. The road leads you to the village of Njeguši, widely known for its dried and smoked meat products (Njeguški Prosciutto) and cheeses. Each of the households in this tiny village is engaged in this business as a family. We advise you to taste and maybe even buy some of these products. After a sweet break - a little activity is needed. You will achieve this by hiking from Međuvršje to Njegoš's Mausoleum, which is located at the “Jezerski” summit. The trail is mostly wooded. The last leg is a stair consisting of 461 steps to the Mausoleum where the greatest son of Montenegro rests - Prince-Bishop Petar II Petrović Njegoš. Lived from 1813 to 1851 and ruled from 1830 to 1851, this philosopher, poet, bishop, and prince was and remains the most respected figure in Montenegrin history among all Montenegrins. The mausoleum is the work of the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović and was erected in 1974. The relics were transferred from a modest church on the same site, which was destroyed during the construction of the mausoleum.
    With a strong impression of omnipresence over the whole of Montenegro, both physically and spiritually, you walk back Međuvršje where you started your hiking trip. From there, drive back to your hotel in Prčanj.

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    Accomodation Standard option: 3- star Hotel Galia or Bokeljski Dvori in Prčanj
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Splendido in Prčanj

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Hiking 3h, ascent +350m / descent -350m.

• DAY 7 - Hiking Vrmac – Another little walk along the sea shore

  • Starting from a tiny town of Muo, you hike on the Old Austro-Hungarian road, built with the stone technique of "dry masonry". The smell of the sea and pine trees ... And at the very end of the zig-zag climb - the path through the fern field to the backyard of grandmother-Radojka's house. From there you take a gravel road that follows the mountain ridge. The mountain divides the bay into the Bay of Kotor and the Bay of Tivat. The sound of crickets is following you along the way. On a gravel road, you are surrounded by low Mediterranean vegetation and exposed to the sun until you start a descent through the enchanted forest back to the shore. Uneven stone steps, a stone bridge, through a forest of miniature curved dark trees, all these lead you to the conclusion that this is a path of dwarves.
    And here you are, back to the first houses, densely packed along the sea. A town of Stoliv. Another small beautiful town, sandwiched between the sea and the mountains. The town is nestled in such a narrow space that only several rows of houses and one small road leading to Kotor could be built.
    There, on the pebble beach of Markov Rt, you can dip into the sea. A perfect finish of wonderful hiking. From there you take a public bus back to the Kotor/ Muo.

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    Accomodation Standard option: 3- star Hotel Galia or Bokeljski Dvori in Prčanj
    Luxury option: 4-star Hotel Splendido in Prčanj

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Hiking 6h, ascent +650m / descent – 650m

• DAY 8 - Time to say Goodbye

  • This Montenegrin hiking adventure ends today. After breakfast, you drive back to the airport where you drop off the car.

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    Accomodation /

    

    Meals Included: Breakfast

    

    Activity Driving

ACE keeps rights to change daily itineraries.

Tour Information

• What Will You See

  Durmitor, Žabljak town, Tara Canyon

  DURMITOR described on the World Heritage List in 1980. It is a strikingly beautiful natural park, one of the highest (2523 m) and probably the most beautiful mountain on the Balkans. The most famous is Black Lake, covered with ice and crystals of frozen snowflakes in the winter. You can swim in it in the middle of the summer. Between the steep hillsides or hidden in the green, thick foliage, are the magic beauties: Zmijinje, Barno, Riblje, Vrazje, Modro and the other lakes. Because of its geographical location and range in altitude, the park is under the influence of both Mediterranean and alpine micro climates.
  
  There are 17 glacier lakes called “mountain eyes” in the area of Durmitor.
  
  Vegetation zones, covering 17,000ha, include deciduous forest, coniferous forest, sub-alpine zones and Alpine meadows. The dominant species include Scots pine, Norway pine, silver fir, beech, occasional birch, mugo pine and juniper. The park supports a rich korstic flora with many rare and endemic species.
  
  Zabljak town is “moved up” to 1460 meters of the massive mountain of Durmitor. This small mountain town will be used as our base for exploring the mountain. Our hiking tours will start from the hotel.
  
  “The jewel of Europe”, violent, clear and wild River Tara is a huge water mass made of snow and rains. It rises from the mountain range in the northern part of Montenegro and it flows 140km in length. It meets Piva river and together they make the river Drina, one of the longest and water-richest rivers in the Balkans. For centuries, with its strength the Tara river has been hollowing out a soft limestone surface giving it a sculptural form full of gorges, large rocks or chasms.

  OSTROG Monastery

  The monastery of Ostrog is placed against an almost vertical background, high up in the large rock of Ostroska Greda, from which a superb view of the Bjelopavlici Plain explodes. Ostrog Monastery is the most popular pilgrimage place in Montenegro. The Monastery was founded by Vasilije, the Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina in the 17th century. He died there in 1671 and some years later he was sainted and proclaimed a wonderworker. His body is enshrined in a reliquary kept in the cave-church dedicated to the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple. The present-day look was given to the Monastery in 1923 -1926, after a fire which had destroyed the major part of the complex. Fortunately, the two little cave-churches were spared and they make the essential value of the whole monument. The frescoes in the Church of the Presentation were done towards the end of the 17th century. The other church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, is placed within a cave on the upper level of the monastery and was painted by Master Radul, who successfully coped with the natural shapes of the cave and laid the frescoes immediately on the surface of the rock and the south wall. Around the church are the monastic residences, which together with the church building and the beautiful scenery make this monument an agreeable place to stay in.
  
  The orthodox Monastery of Ostrog is the most frequent visited one on the Balkans. It is visited by believers from all parts of the world, either individually or in groups.
  
  It represents the meeting place of all three confessions: the Orthodox, the Catholics and the Muslims, because it is believed that the enshrined body of Saint Vasilije Ostroski makes miracles work. According to the stories of pilgrims, by praying by his body, many have been cured and helped in lessening the difficulties in their lives.

  Kotor

  The old town of KOTOR is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this part of the Mediterranean. It was succeeded in preserving its original form, so typical of towns between the XII and the XIV century. The asymmetric structure of the narrow streets and squares, combined with the numerous valuable monuments of medieval architecture, contributed to Kotor being placed on UNESCO’s “The world natural and cultural inheritance” list. The cultural inheritance of this town is enriched by the unique architectural styles and the ambient atmosphere. The fortification system of Kotor, which protects it from the sea, is actually a wall 4.5 km long, 20 m high and 15 m wide, and is preserved as one of the world’s historic values.

  Lovcen National Park

  Directly behind Kotor bay rises Mountain Lovćen, the black mountain that gave Crna Gora (Montenegro) its name; crna/negro means ‘black’, and gora/monte means ‘mountain’ in Montenegrin and Italian respectively.
  A relatively small area offers numerous and various forms of relief, emphasized in the central part of the mountain, where most of Lovćen summits rose. Its slopes are rocky, with numerous holes, pits and deep depressions, giving the landscape a distinctive look. View from Lovćen peaks leaves an unrepeatable and unforgettable visual impression.
  Most of the sacral objects and interesting ethnographic material in Lovćen is concentrated in the area of Ivanova korita and village Njeguši, famous for fantastic ham and cheese. Climbing up to the mausoleum of the greatest Montenegrin poet, Bishop, and prince Petar Petrović Njegoš (1813. -1851), represents a highlight of the visit to the National Park. The mausoleum is the most important work of the great Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. The chapel is the most impressive part of Njegoš mausoleum. It is nine meters high with the arch covered in mosaic with 200.000 gold-plated tiles.

• Accommodation & Meals

  Standard option: Three nights in the Family Apartments located in town of Žabljak. The apartments are very comfortable. Breakfasts will be served in the next-door restaurant. Four nights in a family-run hotel Galia or Bokeljski Dvori. Both hotels are located in a coastal town Prčanj, 50 meters from the sea and a small pebble beach. Two brothers with their families run those hotels. They are from a family with gastronomy tradition. The breakfasts are served in the hotel's restaurants.
  
  Luxury option: Seven nights in four-star hotels. The hotel in Žabljak is located at the main square of the small mountain town. The hotel in Prčanj has a private beach, an open-air swimming pool and a nice restaurant above the sea.

• What is Included

  Tour cost for Standard option is 910 Euros, for Luxury option is 1.440 Euros and includes:

  • seven lodgings

  • seven breakfasts

  • Car rental with unlimited milage from day 1 to day 8. Basic insurance package. For 2 people- car class Opel Corsa. For 3 people- car class Opel Astra, for 4 and 5 people- car class Opel Zafira, for 6 to 9 people- car class Opel Vivaro

  • booklet with maps and detailed route instructions provided

  • GPS trails

  • 24h telephone support

  The price is based on double/ twin room occupancy and minimum group size of 2 people. Single person departure supplement Standard option- 210EUR, Luxury option- 970EUR

  Single room supplement Standard option- 120EUR, Luxury option- 530EUR

  High season supplement (from 1st of July to 31st of August), Standard option-- 140EUR, Luxury option 260EUR.

  The tour is available from April to November

  Longer or shorter options are available

• General Info

  • Travel Information

    For stay up to 90 days in the Republic of Montenegro, EU, American, Australian, Canadian tourists no longer require a visa. All distances in Montenegro are given in kilometers. 1 mi=1,61 km, 1km =0.62mi, 1ft=0.3m/ 1inch=2.54cm

    Weather Information

    Weather is difficult to forecast but, normally, you can expect nice weather in Montenegro from April to November.
    
    Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland. There is a chance of sporadic rain in spring and autumn, though generally this is in the form of short showers. You can expect cool nights in the Durmitor Mountain and on higher altitudes it is possible to have light snowing in April, May, October, November.

    Packing suggestions

    Casual summer/ autumn clothing is recommended for most occasions. You may wish to bring a sweater and some jacket for the mountain, comfortable hiking shoes, (walking poles optional but could be helpful for some hikes like the Bear Summit circuit), rain jacket, plus trainers or sandals for relaxing.
    
    You should also bring some water bottles, sun protection cream (high protection factor 30 and above), insect repellent, sunglasses, sun hat, and a lip salve with sun protection. Also bring a swimsuit for swimming opportunities on the trip.

    General Information

    Currency and Exchange

    Local Currency: Montenegro use Euro as a local currency.
    
    Where to Exchange: Banks or ‘forex’ offices in main towns/cities. Most of change offices are open from 8am to 8pm
    
    ATM Availability: Generally widespread but limited in more rural areas. You will find ATM in Kotor and Zabljak.
    
    Credit Card Acceptance: Accepted in major restaurants and hotels. The most widely excepted credit cards are VISA, closely followed by MasterCard.
    
    Travellers Cheques: Travellers cheques can be exchanged for the local currency but only in some banks.
    
    Banks are generally open from 08:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays.
    
    In smaller towns it is useful to have enough cash.
    
    Most of the shops are open from 9am to 9 pm and remain open through lunch.

    
    Restaurants: The main meal is taken at lunch from 1pm to 3pm. Restaurants serve dinner in the evening from 8pm till 11pm.

    Electric Current

    In Montenegro electric current is 220 volts, 50 HZ. To use American or British electrical appliances a plug adapter is necessary. Electric plug used in Montenegro is type C (the same one is in use in, Croatia, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, Hungary, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Bulgaria, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey, Vietnam, etc.)

    Telephone

    Telephone plug used in Montenegro, Croatia, is US RJ-11 phone plug

    Telephoning Home

    Most of the telephone cards (AT&T…) do not work here. The most convenient way for telephoning home is to use your mobile phone. Note that telephoning from Montenegro will involve roaming charges, so please double-check with your mobile provider at home about the rates and conditions.

    To make a direct international call, first dial 00 or + (code to access international line) then the country code, the area code and local number. The country code for Austria is 43, Australia is 61, Norway 47, Great Britain is 44, USA and Canada 1, France 33, Germany 49…. To make a national call just dial area code and local telephone number.

    
    ACE Emergency phone (24h available) +381 (0)64 24 76 311.
    

    Language

    Official language in Montenegro is Montenegrin but English is widely spoken specially in a bigger towns. Latin Alphabet is in used but in some areas you can find also Cyrillic.

    INSURANCE

    Travel insurance is highly recommended for all clients whilst on a tour organized by ACE. Clients together with their personal property including baggage are at all times solely at their own risk. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel Insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover. Clients making their own arrangements should ensure that there is no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities included in their tour. Clients should satisfy themselves that any travel insurance is what they require and should arrange supplementary insurance if need be.

    Responsible Travel

    Before you come on the tour please read and respect ACE Responsible Tourism Policy

    Personal Expenses

    MEAL PLAN

    Meals other than those included in the itinerary are paid for separately by traveler. Examples of some costs are provided below:

    • Coffee / Tea- 0.8 – 1.5 Euro

    • Soft drink - 1.5-2 Euro

    • Bottle of beer - 1.5-3 Euro

    • Bottle of wine - 5-15 Euro

    • Two course meal - 8-15 Euro

    • Three course meal - 15-25 Euro

    Local fares in small towns

    Tipping

    Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this part of the world. Gratuities for the staff of the ACE Adventure is discretionally but always appreciated by the staff and we will be happy to provide guidelines.