North Montenegro Walking Break
North Montenegro Walking Break
North Montenegro Walking Break
6 Days Starting in Kolasin, Montenegro and ending in Žabljak, Montenegro
Visiting: Kolasin, Bjelasica, Crna Glava, Biogradska gora National Park, Lake Biograd, Bobotov Kuk, Žabljak
Tour operator:
Tour code:
159
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
80-80
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
This is a short version of our Summits and Lakes of North Montenegro self guided walking holiday which features two of the most untouched natural environments in Europe, including the beautiful Biogradska Gora, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of the last three primaeval rainforests in Europe and Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Kolasin
Location: Kolasin
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Čile or similar
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrival from the airport (Podgorica, Tivat or Dubrovnik) by public transport (or a private transfer, upon request). On the way to Kolasin, you will pass through the impressive Moraca Canyon where you can take a break and visit the 13th-century Moraca Monastery. The Moraca Monastery is one of the best-preserved Serbian medieval orthodox monasteries. Overnight in Kolasin.
Day 2 : Bjelasica Mountain
Location: Bjelasica
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Katun Vranjak (private rooms, but shared facilities!)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, after breakfast, you will start your walking. The path leads you to the heart of the Bjelasica Mountain. The hiking is mostly uphill and on pastures and grassland. At the end of your invigorating first hike, you’ll arrive at the Katuns or Shepherds’ huts, which are traditional mountain houses found all over Northern Montenegro. Traditionally, rural farming families close their village homes and move to these simple cottages during the summer months. Life in the katuns is rustic and simple and you will have a chance to feel the Montenegrins’ real rural life.
Walking for the day: 6-7h, 16km ↑950m ↓250m
Day 3 : Crna Glava Summit (2,139M)
Location: Crna Glava
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Katun Vranjak (private rooms but shared facilities!)
Meals Included: Breakfast
During this day’s walk, you will hike the gentle green slopes and summits of Bjelasica. This is a circular walk heading to Crna Glava, the peak of Bjelasica, passing by two lovely mountain lakes. There are excellent views to the shepherds’ villages below your trail as well as to the surrounding mountains. On the way back you will have time to take a short break and taste the crystal clear water from the Biogradska river’s spring, the main water supply for Biogradsko lake.
Walking for the day: 6-7h, 16km, ↑700m ↓750m
Day 4 : Biogradska Gora National Park And Biogradsko Lake
Location: Biogradska gora National Park, Lake Biograd
Accommodation: local guesthouse private en-suite rooms. Optional upgrade to Zabljak or a similar 3 or 4-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The first part of today’s hike passes through the highlands of Lica mountain – heading to the hidden shepherd’s village of Goles Katun where you can stop for lunch or try a selection of home-made products. The forests are the most important natural feature of the park, as the 1,600-hectare woods are one of the last three primaeval forests in Europe so that you will be passing by 400 to 500 years old trees.
On arrival at Biogradsko Lake, you will have plenty of time to relax and take a walk around the lake. We will then transfer you to Durmitor National Park through the canyon of the river Tara. Before you arrive in Zabljak, which is located in the heart of Durmitor National Park, you will be able to view one of the most beautiful bridges in this part of the world – Djurdjevica Tara bridge.
Walking for the day: 5h, 12km, ↑350m ↓950m
Day 5 : Durmitor Circular Walk
Location: Bobotov Kuk
Accommodation: local guesthouse private en-suite rooms. Optional upgrade to Zabljak or a similar 3 or 4-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Option 1: The Bear Summit circuit
The Bear Summit circuit. After breakfast, you will take a trail that passes by the Black Lake and then up into the mountains, hiking through a changing landscape of fir forests and low alpine vegetation. Your destination is the Previja Pass (2,145m), located beneath the heights of Mount Medjed (Bear) (2,287m), where you will enjoy a scenic lunch enjoying the majestic vistas below. While bear and wolf are rarely sighted in the park, there is a chance of spotting chamois on the high mountain slopes and fox, weasels and badger. After your lunch break, you will head back down to Black Lake, following a trail that takes you via a shepherd’s camp at Lokvice, before returning to the accommodation.
Walking for the day: 6-7h 13km, ↑800m ↓800m
Option 2: Jablan Lake (1,791m)
One of the most charming lakes of Durmitor National Park, Jablansko lake is also the highest in Durmitor (1791m). The trail to this lake is well-marked, but it is one of the paths least used by hikers. You will enjoy the calm and quiet as you pass through woods and pastures and can even take some time for a refreshing swim in Jablan lake. You will also enjoy excellent views from the trail to the most prominent lake in Durmitor – the Crno (Black) lake.
Walking for the day: 5-6h, 14km, ↑450m ↓450m
Option 3: The Three Lakes Tour
The last circular walk by the three Durmitor lakes is a relaxing one, with an optional rest/swim in Crno Jezero (the Black Lake). The terrain is flat, and a path leads through a fir and pine forest. You will see Barno, Zminje and Crno lakes, Barno being the smallest and Crno the biggest during this hike. Return to your accommodation.
Walking for the day: 4-5h, 12km, ↑150m ↓150m
Day 6 : Departure
Location: Žabljak
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departure on your own, or optional private transfer to your departure airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Accommodation for 5 nights in hand-picked 2 to 3-star hotels or family-run guesthouses as listed in the itinerary (including 2 nights in a simple but charming mountain lodge, private rooms but shared facilities and no electricity!)
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Meals
5 breakfasts
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Daily luggage transport to the next accommodation of one bag of up to 25 kg per person
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All internal ground transfers and baggage transfers as listed in the programme
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24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
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Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack
Including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
What's Not Included
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Airfare and connecting land transfers
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Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
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Travel insurance
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Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
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Any items not explicitly mentioned in the programme
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, international flights are not included
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Difficulty and terrain
Appropriate for regular walkers. Requires a reasonable level of fitness. The trip covers an average of 14 km (6 hours) of hiking per day. Average daily elevation gain is 500 m. Most of your walks will be on unpaved timber roads and hiking trails, although a few sections may include walking on asphalt. Most – but not all – of the trails are well-marked and signposted. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms). If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
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When to go
This trip is available from June until September. In early June there could be occasional patches of snow in the higher parts of the mountains. July and August are the busiest (and the hottest!) months, and it is preferable to book as early as possible. The flexibility of self-guided holidays and the fact that there are no fixed dates allows you to start your trip at any time of the season. Please indicate your desired starting date when booking. Usually, you can expect excellent 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. It can become quite hot in July and August, and you must take enough water for your walks. You can expect cold nights in the Durmitor Mountains, and on higher altitudes, it is possible to have light snowing in April, May, October, November.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
This will be provided on all documentation
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes we can, please contact us for details
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All guides are English Speaking
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.