Montenegro: From the Bay of Kotor to the Highlands

Arrive in Kotor at any time. The city is compact, so drop your bags and head straight for the Stari Grad (Old Town). An evening walk is the best way to get oriented, tracing the narrow limestone streets and finding the main squares before the day-trippers return tomorrow.

A boat trip from Kotor's port is the standard way to see the bay. The route passes several small islands, including the artificial Our Lady of the Rocks, before docking at the historic town of Perast. Spend some time exploring its quiet, stone-palace-lined waterfront before the return trip to Kotor around midday. The afternoon is free for independent exploration—options include sea kayaking or visiting the Maritime Museum.

The day is a long overland push from the coast into the highlands. The first leg runs south to the seaport of Budva for a walk through its Venetian-walled Stari Grad. From there, the road turns inland, climbing for roughly 90 minutes to the Ostrog Monastery, a 17th-century pilgrimage site built dramatically into a vertical cliff face.

The final two-hour drive cuts through the rugged landscape of Durmitor National Park. A stop at the Black Lake for a short walk breaks up the journey before arriving in Žabljak for the night.

A two-hour drive from Žabljak leads to Biogradska Gora, one of Europe's last remaining primeval rainforests. The main activity is a walk around the glacial Biogradsko Lake, a straightforward loop through pristine forest. After lunch inside the park, there's time to rent a boat or kayak for a different perspective on the lake and its surroundings. In the late afternoon, it's a short one-hour drive to the mountain town of Kolašin for the night.

The morning is spent exploring the backcountry around Kolašin via 4x4. The off-road tracks climb through mountains and forests, accessing viewpoints not reachable by conventional vehicles. After lunch, a bus makes the 60km journey south to Podgorica, the capital. The afternoon is for exploring the Stari Grad (Old Town), a former medieval stronghold built by the Turks in the 15th century. Its ruins and the old Ribnica bridge offer a look into the city's layered history.

The route concludes in Podgorica. Pack out and arrange onward transport from the hotel. There are no planned activities, allowing for a departure at any time of day.