Most people travelling to Montenegro only take time to visit the famous Kotar Bay and the popular summer destination of Budva. But those who have some extra days to also explore the interiors of this Mediterranean country instantly fall in love with its pristine nature. There are no less than five national parks in Montenegro, which cover around 10 percent of its territory. It sounds almost unbelievable that such a small country features so much beautiful environment. A must-visit destination for all of you adventure lovers out there.
As local professionals, at Ekorna Travel Agency, we specialise in tailor-made trips to the countries of ex Yugoslavia and hiking in the Balkans is one of our strongest suits. Get in touch for your personalised tour of all or selected national parks in Montenegro. We will organise flights, accommodations and most importantly – professional hiking guides. Join us in discovering the magical natural beauty of this unique Balkan country.
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DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK
Let’s start with the big guns. Durmitor is easily the most famous of all national parks in Montenegro, also featured in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The dramatic limestone mountain range of Durmitor contains almost 50 peaks, the highest one being Bobotov Kuk (2523 meters above sea level). As you can imagine the area is a prime hiking destination with more than 150 kilometres of well-maintained trekking paths. Even if you are not a hardcore alpinist, you can still enjoy the beauties of Durmitor National Park by taking lighter walks, like the one that circles the gorgeous Black Lake, the largest of the 18 glacial lakes also known as “the eyes of the mountains”. Another popular activity is rafting on the emerald Tara River that flows through the deep canyon of the same name. You can also visit the park in the winter when in turns into a popular skiing resort.
PROKLETIJE NATIONAL PARK
If you want to avoid the crowds that usually cover Durmitor in the summer months, you might consider the less visited and therefore wilder Prokletije Mountains, which translates as the Accursed Mountains. There is nothing haunting abort them, unless you count their beauty. This untamed mountain range is the southernmost and the highest part of the Dinaric Alps and stretches across the border with Albania and Kosovo. The extreme hikers might want to take a challenge and trek the epic 192-kilometres long Peaks of the Balkans hiking trail that circles the Prokletije through all thee Balkan countries.
Explore the beauties of national parks in Montenegro
BIOGRADSKA GORA NATIONAL PARK
The third one of the northern national parks in Montenegro is the tranquil Biogradska Gora National Park which stretches across the area of 54 square kilometres. There are six glacial lakes within the park: five of them require some hiking as they lie at an altitude of 1820 meters above sea level, while one of them (the gorgeously green Biogradsko Lake) is easily accessible and popular with tourists who normally spend the night at the nearby town of Kolašin while taking a group Balkan Tour. The deep woods of the Biogradska Gora represent one of the last three large virgin forests in Europe and are also protected as UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve.
LOVĆEN NATIONAL PARK
Closer to the coast and therefore more easily accessible is the Lovćen National Park which towers behind the Bay of Kotor and is closely connected to the country’s cultural heritage. Mount Lovćen (1749 meters) also known as “the black mountain” actually gave the country its name, Crna Gora or Monte negro in Italian. Daily excursion from Kotor which among other sights includes a visit to the royal town of Cetinje is a popular trip also featured in our week-long tour of Montenegro. Our experienced guide will take you on a panoramic road-trip over the Kotor Bay all the way to the top of the park’s second highest peak, Jezerski Vrh (1657 meters) where you can visit the mausoleum of national hero Petar II Petrović Njegoš.
LAKE SKADER NATIONAL PARK
The last one on the list of national parks in Montenegro is the magical Lake Skader which – according to the legend – was created by the tears of a pixie. This dolphin-shaped lake shared with the neighbouring country Albania is the largest body of water in the Balkans and the one of Europe’s most important bird-watching destinations. The steep mountains around the clear lake full of water lilies make a popular stop between the coast and nation’s capital Podgorica. The best way to explore the Lake Skadar National Park is by taking a boat trip which usually also include traditional lunch.
As you can see, Montenegro is a perfect destination for everyone seeking more active holidays, travelling in small groups or as individuals. Get in touch with us to organise the perfect tour of national parks in Montenegro which can easily be combined with cultural sightseeing or even extended to other Balkan countries. This amazing little country has it all – the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, high rigged mountain ranges, deep pristine forests and numerous lakes just waiting to be discovered. Travel to Montenegro with local experts!
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