Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Montenegro - Kolasin - Zabljak - Kotor - Buljarica
100% customisable for you
Start your Montenegro road trip with a direct flight to the country’s capital city, Podgorica, which takes just under three hours from London.
Once you’ve landed, pick up your hire car at the airport and begin the scenic one-and-a-half-hour drive north to Kolasin. As well as driving through the interesting city of Podgorica, you’ll pass the dramatically beautiful scenery of Moraca Canyon. Be sure to make a stop at Moraca Monastery, situated in the heart of the canyon.
Continue on to your mountain-style hotel in Kolasin, where you’ll spend the next two nights surrounded by forests and peaks. There’s also a wellness area for anyone keen to start the holiday horizontally.
Kolasin sits at around 3,300ft above sea level and has long been a gateway to Montenegro’s mountain landscapes. In winter it’s a ski town; in summer, it’s all hiking trails, river canyons and deep green forests.
Today is yours to explore. Head into Biogradska Gora National Park, where ancient woodland, glacial lakes and winding walking trails reveal one of Europe’s last primeval forests. Keep an eye out for deer, foxes and birds of prey overhead.
Fancy something more hands-on? We can arrange a visit to a traditional Montenegrin farm where mornings begin with milking cows and end with homemade cheese tasting. Not your average countryside lunch stop.
Today’s drive to Zabljak takes around two-and-a-half hours, but you’ll want to take your time to enjoy the scenery. Follow roads tracing the Tara River Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe and second only to Colorado worldwide. At its highest point, the cliffs plunge around 4,300ft down towards the river below.
You’ll spend the next two nights in a cosy alpine-style chalet within Durmitor National Park. There’s a hot tub in the garden for post-hike recovery and mountain views from almost every angle.
The following day is free for exploring. Hike through pine forests, seek out glacial lakes or simply breathe in the fresh mountain air and congratulate yourself on choosing Montenegro before everyone else catches on.
Feeling adventurous? A private rafting trip on the Tara River can also be arranged, complete with waterfalls, wild swimming spots and riverside barbecues.
Swap mountains for sea views today as you drive around three-and-a-half hours south towards the Lustica Peninsula.
The route itself is part of the fun, winding dramatically towards the Bay of Kotor, where mountains crash straight into the Adriatic. It’s one of those drives where you’ll find yourself pulling over every ten minutes for another photo.
Your base for the next three nights is a small apartment-style hideaway tucked into a traditional village among olive and pomegranate trees. Spend the rest of your day settling in and enjoying an early night before tomorrow’s adventure.
Today you’ll explore the Bay of Kotor from the water on a private boat trip – easily the best way to see it.
Cruise past sleepy waterfront villages like Perast and Prcanj, glide through the narrow Verige Strait and stop off at tiny islands scattered across the bay. There’s time to visit Our Lady of the Rocks, a 17th-century church sitting improbably in the middle of the water, as well as plenty of opportunities for swimming.
If you like, we can also arrange a kayaking trip to the mouth of the bay.
Today is free for you to explore more of the bay and the surrounding mountains. Wander the old streets of Perast or Herceg Novi, stop for octopus salad beside the water or tackle the famously winding road climbing above Kotor towards Lovcen National Park. The views over the Bay of Kotor from up here are worth every hairpin bend.
After breakfast, hop back into the car and continue south along Montenegro’s Adriatic coastline towards Buljarica, a journey of around two hours, depending on beach stops along the way.
You might want to pause in Budva to explore its lively old town or detour to postcard-perfect Sveti Stefan, Montenegro’s famous fortified island connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand.
Your final stay is a stylish sea-view villa near Buljarica Beach. Once you’ve unpacked and settled in, stroll along the waterfront before enjoying a seafood dinner.
One of Montenegro’s standout natural wonders awaits today: Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans and home to hundreds of bird species.
Head out on a boat trip, gliding through reed-filled channels and peaceful open water, spotting pelicans, herons and cormorants along the way. Stops for swimming and a traditional lakeside lunch are also part of the plan.
The following day is intentionally flexible. Lounge by the sea, visit the atmospheric old town of Bar or head further south towards Ulcinj, where vineyards, seafood taverns and broad sandy beaches give the coast a different feel entirely.
Today, drive around an hour-and-a-half back to Podgorica Airport, where you’ll return your hire car and catch your flight home. You’ll likely leave Montenegro wondering why more people aren’t talking about it yet. Probably best to keep it that way.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
