The Magic of Montenegro – A Road Trip

Being a lot more off the radar than a lot of holiday destinations, most visitors to Montenegro must admittedly feel they are taking a risk. But then didn’t some of the most incredible things known to man demand risk too? Check out our Montenegro road trip guide below to see what taking such a risk could bring!

Tivat to Komovi

Landing in at Tivat airport where you can pick up your Indigo hired car to take you on a 3hr trip to Komovi. Check in and there you will find a hikers/bikers paradise. You can explore the rich beech and coniferous forests, a whole host of lakes, springs and rivers between the magnificent mountains Bjelasica and Prokletije.

Durmitor National Park Visitor Centre is the place to go to when you are planning your adventures and of course one must take into account the weather too.

Nevidio Canyoning tour is the best adventure you could go on in Montenegro. This beautiful canyon is just like natural aqua-park.

Komovi to Grebaje Valley

Grebaje Valley is an excellent idea for a day trip from Kolasin and has marked hiking and biking trails.

Kolasin to Crno Lake

Crno Lake is only 3km away from the centre of Zabljak, Malo (Small) and Veliko (Big) Lakes merge into Crno (Black) Lake. This lake is specific for its dark blue shade of water, which often seems black, and the effect is created by the Lake’s depth and the dense Durmitor pine forest surrounding it.

Nearby (22mins, 8km) and not to be missed is the high altitude of the Zminje lake which is 1.520m, and its greatest depth is 7,7m. It is surrounded by a dense forest of spruce and other conifers, and is located at the spring of Mlinski Mill.

So much for a long hard look at nature but how about (if the season is right) taking in the habitat at ludicrously fast speeds by ski. Watching the delighted skiers at Kolasin 1450 makes you realise that novice or expert this sport can be fun for all the family.

Or if water sports are more your thing Waterfall Rafting Centre is conveniently located in the heart of the Piva Regional Nature Park. Here you will bliss out at the uninterrupted sounds of nature from the rippling waterfall to perfectly pitched birdsong. TV is out while mindful reflection is in.

Kotor

Moving onto Tucson with Bizanti Palace which is a medieval building that survived two big earthquakes in 1667 and 1979 maintaining its endearing allure.

In Kotor Old Town you will find the enchanting Boka Kotorska (The Bay of Kotor) and in particular encounter the Sea Gate (Morska vrata) that opens out into the rest of the city, full of adventure and surprises. This includes the Square of Arms, or you can hear the story about the Clock Tower and the Pillar of Shame. And then take in the Pima palace, where you will hear about the life in households of Kotor centuries ago.

Good for the soul is a simple prayer at St. Tryphon Cathedral (even if it is just to ask God to lay off on the rain during this itinerary).

And the tour continues to see the Maritime Museum and The Bokelian Navy Square ending on the Karampana well, cast in a coin for good luck! So it is hardly surprising that the area deserves its appearance in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Standing out is Chedi Lustica Bay renowned for its luxury and scenery too, between the Adriatic Sea and the magical mountains, being central for the marina too.

Nearby is Mamula Fortress which has never actually shot a round in attack or in defence. It served as a prison in both world wars, with the Nazis making it into a concentration camp, but its destiny will soon be changed into a luxury hotel.

Herceg Novi and Budva

Another must-see is the Blue Grotto for both nature lovers and photographers. Setting off from Herceg Novi the boat will take you to Zanjice beach and the effort is worth the exquisite reward. If you are brave enough you can swim in the dark waters of ravishing blue crystalline water. Or if you are more of an expert in the water then diving at Rose will be an ethereal experience.

And as if we haven’t touched upon some superb landscapes, mountains, lakes, and National parks already one of the last highlights has to be Lipa Cave with striking stalactites and stalagmites (yes, when the tights go down, the mights go up!) It is beautiful but perfectly safe too and you can soak in the cooler subterranean air with a cool beer (don’t forget to have a dry driver).

Budva Old Town Museum began its life in 1962 and housed some interesting excavation finds. This was literally blown open when an earthquake struck in the 70s and these 4,000 objects have found their way into the collection.

Ulcinj

Sometimes the ladies in the party just want their own space and this is just where Ladies Beach in Ulcinj comes in. As well as being a chick spot it boasts of miracle cures using a mixture of sulphur from an underwater spring, radium and sea salts. Put it all together and there is a claim that this environment will cure many maladies and in particular help women with fertility issues.

And if all this pampering makes you feel a tad peckish there is an excellent local restaurant, Dulcinea, nearby:the fish and shellfish seem superb and are locally sourced as are the organically grown herbs.

Barbarossa Pirate Bar is hidden deep in Ulcinj’s castle with narrow pathways adding to the conspirational air just to find the place: try a Barbarossa or Cervantes if you dare (Dry driver alert!)

As ever, the saddest moment on any road trip is having to give those hire car keys back to Indigo and take the flight home. But after a few sniffles why not try looking through our destination blog with other ideas worldwide.

With Montenegro’s rapidly shifting altitudes, relying on public transport can be deleterious at best! Thankfully here at Indigo Car Hire we can arrange the perfect rental for you.

Check out our main Montenegro car hire page and look at some of the services we offer there, including:

Rich Jevons was first published in the Yorkshire Post at the tender age of fifteen. After graduating at University of Humberside, Rich covered the visual and performing arts for a wide range of regional, national and international magazines, journals and newspapers. He has interviewed the likes of Patrick Stewart, Colin Baker and Christopher Eccleston. Currently, he is writing copy on road trips around the world, all from his office in Wortley, Leeds