Full-Day Montenegro Canyons and Ostrog Monastery Excursion

Kotor Serpentine

10 min

We start very early in the morning as the day is quite long ahead of us! The gathering is at our agency in the Old Town of Kotor and the tour begins at 7 am. Customers from Budva and Tivat are transported to this starting location via minivan. As we leave the town, we join the 19th century Old Austro-Hungarian road with 25 serpentines to ride up the Lovcen mountain and make photo stops on the 5th and 25th serpentine of full panoramic Boka Bay that will make our jaws drop!

Njegusi

45 min

First break is at Njegusi village where the best prosciutto is made by a local family. Tasting famous strong brandy Rakija in the morning before breakfast is mandatory and traditional in Montenegro, so do not think about the hours and join the party.

Cetinje

45 min

After homemade breakfast at the mountain of Lovcen, we pass by Old Royal Capital Cetinje, important historical town of Montenegro.

Moraca River Canyon

10 min

We soon enter thrilling and intimidating canyon of Moraca. This 1.000-meter-deep crack in the sky-ripping rocks will leave you breathless, as the mighty river of Moraca runs down its way, seeing no sun in this part of the stream. And yes, we will stop here to embrace the power of nature and to take few photos, but no camera lens can capture what our senses can feel and remember.

Moraca Monastery

30 min

Next stop shows much brighter side of the river, located above a waterfall Svetigora, decorating this area proudly from the 13 th century – truly, a piece of art, Moraca Monastery. Short visit to this Serbian Orthodox Monastery is enough to feel the centuries-built piece and strong religious energy, as many pilgrims on their spiritual journey visit it all year around.

Tara River Canyon

30 min

Scenic drive through Kolasin and Mojkovac takes us along Tara river, and soon we spot the landscape changing - the river is getting deeper away, the mountains rise again, and pine trees are getting taller and much bigger than normal. We are entering the deepest canyon in Europe, Tara River Canyon and Durmitor National Park! Even so Tara creates deeper canyon than Moraca, it is less dramatic and more vivid with colors and life happening around (in difference to Moraca, where you see mostly drama and bare rocks). Tara is the pride of the country, being the longest (144km) and cleanest river (totally drinkable) in Montenegro. Locals advise that the best way of experiencing Tara is by rafting, that this “Tear of Europe” is perfectly suitable for.

45 min

Today, we will explore the river by walking across the famous Djurdjevica Tara Bridge, or/and, for the adventurous ones – with zip-lining across the canyon (optional – ask your tour guide in the advance). Another piece of art, this time in form of a bridge, will get your emotions mixed with the outstanding beauty and tragic story to follow. As you stand above almost 200 meters above the water admiring the color of Tara, remember your tour guide’s story how this, once the highest concrete motorway bridge in all of Europe built in 1940., was destroyed by its own constructor during WW2, shortly after it was finished. Beauty and curse somehow always go together.

Crno Lake

1 hour

Now, prepare your fairytale receptors to explode, as we go for the real gem of the region and a place of “how hikers imagine paradise”- the majesty of Black Lake!
Being the biggest of the 18 “Mountains eyes” glacial lakes and with stunning nature dose for both summer and winter tourism, and the Black Lake wins the beauty pageant every time, leaving all other highlights of Durmitor National Park slightly behind. Take an hour to explore and unite with this exquisiteness.

Zabljak

45 min

After hiking and soul-charging scenery, the next best thing in the mountains is the food. Do not miss trying traditional dishes at a local restaurant, ask your tour guide for a recommendation.

Ostrog Monastery

30 min

As we turn from the main highway towards Ostrog Monastery, the road narrows down to size of one lane and goes high up to the mountain where this 17 th century Serbian Orthodox sacred place dominates. Hearts are pumping from the road but also from the vibrant energy of the monastery and pilgrims who are walking up the mountain on foot. People from many different countries come to venerate the holy relics of the saint Vasilije Ostroski and to ask for help and healing. There are a lot of documented evidence of miraculous healing after visiting and praying here.

Slano Lake

10 min

To reach back to the coastline, we take the road through the second biggest city in Montenegro, also known as the beer town, Niksic, and make a quick stop above Slano Lake for some photos.

10 min

More rocks are to come before we see the Adriatic Sea again and have a stop above Risan Bay to make last sunset photos today.If everything went by the plan, somewhere around 9 pm we should arrive back to Kotor.