Montenegro Hiking Tours and Walking Holidays

The Bay of Kotor gives you sea views on almost every walk. Old military and trade paths climb straight out of the towns. From Orahovac, a zig-zag trail rises past the ruined Vranovo Brdo fortress and descends to Perast.

The Vrmac ridge separates the Bay of Kotor from the Bay of Tivat. Our walks cross its summit, Sveti Ilija, and pass the old Vrmac fortress. An old military zig-zag trail then drops to Kotor. Our Vrmac Ridge guide has the full route.

The Ladder of Kotor is the old trade route to Cetinje, with more than 70 bends above the town. Keep climbing and you reach Lovćen National Park and the Njegoš mausoleum on Jezerski vrh. Our Kotor to Lovćen hiking guide covers the full climb. Our coastal trip also walks through the olive groves of Old Bar and above the Budva riviera to Sveti Stefan.

Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans. Walking here is lower and gentler, through farmland, vineyards and old villages.

The Kotor to Lake Skadar trip ends with a walk from Cetinje to Rijeka Crnojevića. This village sits on a river that feeds the lake, with an arched bridge across it. Our Bay of Kotor coastal trip includes a loop walk to Godinje, an old wine village. You can stop there for a glass of Vranac and fish from the lake.

For a bigger day, Mount Rumija (1,594 m) rises between the lake and the coast at Bar. From the top you see Lake Skadar, the Adriatic and the Albanian Alps. The usual route from the village of Tuđemili takes 4 to 6 hours there and back. Read our Mount Rumija guide before you go.

Durmitor is Montenegro's high limestone country, with Žabljak as the base. Easy paths link Black Lake with Zminje and Barno lakes through pine forest. Bigger days climb to Crvena Greda, one of the park's best viewpoints. Another climbs from the Durmitor Saddle (1,900 m) to the ridge below Bobotov Kuk, with one short hands-on section.

The Tara canyon lies within the park and is more than 1,300 m deep. From the Ćurevac viewpoint you look straight down into it. Our Tara canyon hiking guide covers the rim walks.

Biogradska Gora is quieter and greener. A mostly flat loop of about 3.5 km circles Biograd Lake under beech, fir and spruce. Some of these trees are over 500 years old. Higher up, trails cross the Bjelasica ridge and the katuns, the shepherds' summer pastures. On the family trip you pick blueberries and raspberries on the way. See our Biogradska Gora guide.

Prokletije, the Accursed Mountains, runs along the border with Albania. It is Montenegro's wildest range, with steep rock walls above the valleys near Plav and Gusinje. Our Northern Majesty trip walks the ridge from Volusnica to Talijanka (2,057 m). Next day it climbs to the Krošnja cirque and the Šuplja vrata stone arch in the Karanfili range. That day is demanding and partly unmarked.

The Peaks of the Balkans is a 192 km loop through Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Our 8-day guided trip walks part of it. You start walking in Kosovo's Rugova valley and cross the high Jelenak pass. You enter Montenegro on the ridge, then walk from the Grebaje valley to Theth and Valbona in Albania.

Each border crossing on foot needs a permit, applied for in advance. Permits are a separate step from the trip, and the rules change. Check the current requirements when you set your dates. Our Peaks of the Balkans page has more on the route.

Two trips on this page run either way: Kotor to Lake Skadar and the Northern Majesty mountain trip. Self-guided, you walk at your own pace with support behind you. You start with an orientation meeting, and your luggage moves ahead to your next stop. The northern trip adds GPX tracks, maps, a roadbook and a local phone with a 24/7 service line. The Kotor to Lake Skadar walk includes entry tickets to Lovćen and Lake Skadar national parks.

The Peaks of the Balkans, family and Bay of Kotor coastal trips run guided. On the Peaks trip a local English-speaking guide walks with you. In Prokletije, paths, phone signal and rescue access thin out, so we recommend a guide there. On the coast and in Durmitor, confident walkers manage well on their own.

We grade each trip easy, moderate or challenging. The family trip is easy. Its walks include a three-hour lakes walk in Durmitor and a 10 km ridge walk with 400 m of climbing.

The Kotor to Lake Skadar route is moderate. Walking days take 3.5 to 5 hours and cover 6.5 to 17 km. The biggest climb is the day up the Ladder of Kotor, with 1,130 m of ascent in 6.5 km. The Bay of Kotor coastal trip is also moderate.

The Northern Majesty and Peaks of the Balkans trips are challenging. On the Peaks trip, the main trekking days run 6 to 8 hours. The day from Grebaje to Theth covers 21 km, with a steep 900 m descent after the Peja pass. You need the fitness for several long days in a row. Tell us how you walk at home, and we can swap in easier days.

May, June, September and early October suit most walkers. June and September give you long days, open high routes and fewer people than August. The coastal hills have the longest season, from March to November.

Durmitor is best from June to September. Its high routes, like those in Prokletije, can hold snow into June. Biogradska Gora is good from May to October. July and August are reliable in the mountains but hot on the coast. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so start early and aim to finish by about 2 pm.

In October the forests turn gold and red. Early snow can close the highest trails late in the month. Families do best in May, June and September, when midday heat is lower. Our month-by-month hiking guide has the full picture.

Podgorica airport is open all year and suits trips to Lake Skadar and the northern mountains. Tivat airport serves the Bay of Kotor and is busiest from spring to autumn. Dubrovnik in Croatia is another option for the coast. In summer, allow an extra hour or two for the border. Airport transfers are optional, and we can arrange them for you.

You sleep in small hotels and guesthouses, in a double or twin room with breakfast. On the Kotor to Lake Skadar route, you stay in Perast, Kotor, Njeguši, Lovćen National Park and Cetinje. The last night is in Rijeka Crnojevića or Podgorica, as you prefer. The family trip uses wooden chalets in Durmitor and two nights at shepherds' summer pastures. On the Peaks trip you stay in local guesthouses, including the oldest in Theth. Most lunches and dinners are yours to choose.

Every trip on this page is a starting point. Tell us your dates, who is coming and how far you like to walk each day. We plan the route, book the overnight stops and arrange your luggage transfers. Ask us which routes suit a self-guided trip.

You can join regions, for example the Vrmac ridge and Lovćen with a few days in Durmitor. Add rafting on the Tara, a boat trip on Lake Skadar or a final swim in the Adriatic. See our multi-day tours for more ideas. When you are ready, send us your plan and we reply with a suggested itinerary.