Alpine Mountains, the Via Dinarica Trail, and Magnificent Kotor Bay
Hiking Montenegro & the Adriatic Coast
Overview
From the soaring limestone peaks of the north to classic Venetian towns along the blue Adriatic, Montenegro is one of Europe’s hidden gems—and perfect for hiking and cultural discovery. We’ll start in glacier-carved Durmitor National Park in the Dinaric Alps and make our way down to the splendid coast at the Bay of Kotor, Europe’s southernmost fjord. Along the way, we hike sections of the Via Dinarica, a Balkan “mega trail” from Slovenia to Albania, and discover Montenegro’s cultural patchwork and unique cuisine that reflects the region’s blend of east and west. Our finale finds us hiking a high trail along the rugged Bay of Kotor, one of the most spectacular settings on the entire Adriatic Coast.
Arrive: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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 Trail
- 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, we’ll explore the medieval alleys of the 16th century Ottoman quarter. The next day, we drive to Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park, home to pristine peaks and the wild Tara River Canyon, Europe’s deepest and longest.
On our hikes, we’ll be surrounded by jewel-like mountain lakes. The swirling jade-green waters of the Tara River invite us for a morning of optional rafting, and one evening, we’ll have dinner at a family farm.
In Biogradska Gora, one of the last large stands of old-growth forest in Europe, we’ll take the trail above the old village of Kljuc for panoramic vistas. On our hike across the rocky ridges of the Dinaric Alps, we’ll stop for lunch at a katun (traditional shepherds’ dwelling). These wooden cabins were built by nomadic herders who stayed in high pastures with their cattle during summer grazing.
Our last hike in Biogradska Gora brings us into the gentle landscape of the Bjelasica Mountains, a realm of deep forests, small villages, and tranquil lakes. At Lake Skadar National Park, one of Europe’s most important bird habitats, we boat across the lake to our waterside hotel.
From the UNESCO-listed walled town of Kotor, the jewel of Montenegro’s Adriatic Coast, we’ll hike on the Via Dinarica high above Kotor Bay for stunning views, then boat out into the bay from the picturesque fishing town of Perast. 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 ranging from 2 to 5 hours on most days over moderate to steep mountain terrain. The hiking itinerary is planned in advance, but as with any mountain trip, we need to remain flexible with regard to weather and other conditions in selecting our daily hiking 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.
Average Hiking Day
- 6-7 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 1,500' ascent/descent
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.
To get the most out of this trip, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Daily brisk walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises.
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
"Exceeded my wildest expectations. The views, the company, the guides, the hotels, the food. 5 Star all the way!"
Cathy H.
Poquoson, VA
"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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