Alpine Mountains, the Via Dinarica Trail, and Magnificent Kotor Bay
Hiking Montenegro and the Adriatic Coast
Our Montenegro specialist was quoted in the New York Times!
Read the Article
Read the Article
Overview
From soaring limestone peaks in the north to classic Venetian towns along the blue Adriatic, Montenegro is one of Europe's hidden gems—uncrowded and perfect for WT-style hiking. We'll hike our way from the alpine world of Durmitor and Biogradska Gora national parks to the gorgeous coast at the Bay of Kotor, Europe's southernmost fjord. Along the way, we hike sections of the Balkans' Via Dinarica, a “mega trail” from Slovenia to Albania (and named Best New Trail by Outside magazine in 2014), discover Montenegro's cultural patchwork, and sample delightful cuisine that reflects the region's blend of east and west. Our finale finds us hiking along the Bay of Kotor, one of the most spectacular settings on the entire Adriatic Coast.
Arrive: Sarajevo, Bosnia
Depart: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Highlights
- Enjoy storied Sarajevo, with visits to Sebilj Square and the historic Latin Bridge
- Hike in pristine Durmitor National Park, along magnificent Kotor Bay, and on the Via Dinarica
- Explore the ancient woodlands of Biogradska Gora and the Tara River Canyon, one of Europe's deepest gorges
- Discover Kotor, with its Greek, Roman, and Venetian heritage
- Sample the cultural tapestry of Montenegro's cuisines
Itinerary
In Sarajevo, a cultural melting pot since the Silk Road era, our walking tour brings us to the 16th century Ottoman quarter, with its maze of medieval alleys. The next day, we drive to Montenegro's Durmitor National Park via the breathtaking “road of a hundred tunnels.”
On the trails in Durmitor, a World Heritage Site, we're surrounded by a spectacular realm of saw-toothed peaks and deep canyons. The wild Tara River Canyon invites us for a fun morning of rafting on emerald-green waters (or choose a hike instead).
One of the last stands of ancient woodlands in all Europe is protected as Biogradska Gora National Park. Our hikes bring us through flower-filled meadows to the twin peaks of Komovi (8,159'). We'll have lunch in one of the traditional local shepherds' dwellings called katuns, a chance to sample the delicious local lamb.
We'll hike through forest and along panoramic ridges of Bjelasica, then view the superb Byzantine frescoes at Moraca Monastery, perched above the rushing Moraca River. At Lake Skadar National Park, one of Europe's most important bird habitats, a boat takes us across the lake to our waterside hotel. In Lovcen National Park, we hike through beech forests and summer pastures before heading to the medieval walled town of Kotor
Our last hike on the Via Dinarica brings us high above the bay to St. Andrew’s Fortress for stunning views of Kotor Bay. The next day we set out by boat to explore the bay, including the tiny island of Our Lady of the Rock, with its venerated 17th century church. Depart on Day 11 via Dubrovnik.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is a hiking journey with day hikes of four to six hours on most days over moderate to steep mountain terrain. The hiking itinerary is planned as we have described it in the preceding pages. However, as in any mountain trip, we will remain flexible with regard to weather and other local conditions in choosing our routes. And do remember that apart from the coastal areas, the tourism infrastructure in Montenegro is still in development and the services, facilities, and quality of hiking trails can be basic.
Although we are not at altitude, the trails can be rocky and narrow, and there is a lot of limestone, which can get slippery when wet. You will carry just a daypack on the hikes. Hiking boots that go above the ankle are recommended for the extra support, as well as hiking poles.
Temperatures are likely to reach the 60Fs and 70Fs during the day, with cooling breezes and occasional rain. During evenings in the mountainous interior of Montenegro, it can get quite cool, with evening temperatures as low as the high 40Fs and low 50Fs. In the mountains, the weather can change quickly from blue skies to cloudy, wet, and cold, so you should have rain gear and warm garments handy in your daypack. You are likely to experience a full range of weather conditions in Montenegro—pack accordingly, with layers for warmth and weather protection.
Rooms in the hotels and inns we stay in are not always of uniform or international size. However, our leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Please note that single rooms in European hotels tend to be small by US standards. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Client Testimonials
"Beautiful country with wonderful hikes, made all the better by our leader and guide!"
Cheryl H.
Forestville, CA
"Really great trip. Sarajevo is a fascinating city and Montenegro is beautiful."
Cheryl O.
Bedford, MA
"I have trekked all over; this is my 4th trip with Wilderness. This trip was top shelf in all ways—the guides, the group, the hiking, the natural beauty/history/culture, activities, etc."
Jan R.
Gresham, OR
"Loved this trip! The pace was perfect—around five hours of hiking each day, late lunch, several hours for rest, relaxation, exploration of the towns we were in, followed by evening dinner. We all agreed that this trip should be advertised as a culinary expedition: the variety and quality of meals was amazing!"
Lauren G.
Plymouth, MI
"Montenegro is a very unspoiled destination with spectacular scenery and wonderful people. Accommodations were lovely and the restaurants charming and atmospheric."
Lili H.
Taos, NM
"The trip exceeded our expectations. The diversity of the experience of hiking in the mountains and then along the coast was tremendous. We did not expect to see such jaw-dropping scenery and to experience so much local interaction, especially with regard to the array of meal experiences we had."
Lois B.
Concord, CA
"Montenegro is a beautiful country. On most of our hikes we were alone on clean trails with fantastic views. It felt like we were being shown an undiscovered part of the country."
Marcia A.
Del Mar, CA
"One of the best trips of my life! A wonderful mix of culture, history, nature, glorious scenery, outdoor activity, and relationships—in a part of the world that few can name or locate on a map."
Marguerite A.
Richfield, OH
"The Trip Leader's enthusiasm for the country and her wonderful personality contributed so much toward making this a fabulous trip."
Olivia A.
Bexhill-on-Sea, England
"This was a great trip. The planning and execution were perfect."
Peter R.
Santa Clara, CA
"We felt fortunate to experience the landscape and learn the history of a part of the world we knew little about. The scenery was breathtaking, the cultural aspects mind-expanding. Our guides were knowledgeable, considerate of our abilties and interests, and delightful."
Sara N. & George D.
Seabeck, WA
"An excellent trip with a variety of hiking, beautiful scenery and cultural experiences. Much to my surprise I enjoyed the cultural and unusual dining experiences."
Susan Y.
El Cajon, CA
"Fantastic variety on the trip between Sarajevo, the Montenegro mountains, and the coast."
Suzanne & Brady M.
Friendswood, TX
"Our 8th WT trip overall. The design and execution of the trip whetted our appetite for more travel of this type."
Suzanne & Brady M.
Friendswood, TX
"This was an excellent trip in a relatively new country to travel in. The hotels were excellent, and the food was great."
Terry R.
Milwaukee, WI
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.