Montenegro
A country that has only recently begun to emerge from the shadow of a turbulent past, Montenegro is blessed with a staggeringly rich abundance of natural and cultural attractions.
One of Europe’s newest countries, with a history that dates back to the Byzantine Empire of the 9th century, Montenegro can boast an incredible diversity of highlights for its size. Byron once wrote; “When Pearls of Nature were sown, it was with a full hand that they were cast on this soil”, and Montenegro is indeed a country with a lot to offer the visitor.
Covering an area of just under 14,000 square kilometres it enjoys some of the most picturesque coastline anywhere in the Adriatic, whilst the mountains of its northern regions include the stunning landscapes of Durmitor National Park and the Tara River Canyon, the deepest in Europe. In recent years the country has regularly featured in the listings of the world’s top tourist destinations, its stunning beaches and well-preserved historic towns providing it with an enviable mix of culture and beauty.
Home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, captivating old towns like Budva and Cetinje and a landscape that includes the stunning Kotor Bay and the ancient forests of Biogradska Gora National Park, Montenegro provides a spectacular destination for both active adventures and cultural breaks.
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What to do in Montenegro
Cycle Lovćen National Park
Mojkovac
Encompassing the highest section of the Lovćen Mountain massif, this stunning national park straddles the landscapes of south-western Montenegro, overlooking the breathtaking landscapes of Kotor Bay and the Adriatic. Dominated by the twin peaks of Mount Lovćen and the mausoleum of Petar II Petović-Njegoš, the park is rich in both natural and cultural attractions. Created to protect the area’s heritage as much as its flora and fauna, Lovćen National Park is sprinkled with old villages and traditional wooden cottages, providing a wonderfully picturesque setting for a scenic bike ride. The meandering serpentine road that leads from Kotor Bay to the old village of Njeguši snakes its way down some 1,600 metres from mountain to coast, offering great views of the coast, the bay and Skadar Lake, the largest on the Balkan Peninsula.
Explore Lipska Cave
Lipska Pecina Cave
Sitting on the eastern edge of the Lovćen Plateau, close to the Belveder Pass, the Lipska Cave is believed to be the largest in the entire Balkans. Stretching from the village of Lipa and extending into the mountains that lie along the Adriatic coast, the cave system has so far been explored along over 3,500 metres of its length. Filled with passages, cavernous chambers and an underground river, the cave’s underground treasures first came to light in 1839, before later being explored by elements of the Austro-Hungarian army (if graffiti dating back to 1905 is to be believed). Today the caves sit on private land and are open only for private tours, a two hour excursion that explores the limestone caverns by lamplight and in the company of a local guide
Raft the River Tara
Budva Riviera
The Tara River carves its way through the deepest river canyon in Europe. Part of the Tara National Park, the river flows across 82 kilometres of some of the most impressive landscapes in Montenegro, where the canyon walls in some parts tower 1,300 metres above the Tara’s meandering course. The sheer volume of water channelling down from the mountains of the Durmitor National Park also makes this one of the most exciting rafting rivers in Europe. You can choose anything from an exhilarating half-day excursion, to a three day adventure that explores the entire navigable section of the Tara Canyon, negotiating its grade III and IV rapids all the way down from Sljivansko in the Durmitor National Park to Šcepan Polje close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. All equipment is provided and all rafting excursions are accompanied by professionally qualified and experienced guides.
Wander in Old Cetinje
Cetinje
One of Montenegro’s most historic towns, Cetinje is the country’s old royal capital. Surrounded by a ring of limestone mountains, the town can date its heritage back to the 15th century, when it became the centre of Montenegro’s religious and cultural development. Its position at the heart of the country’s Orthodox traditions has instilled it with a rich sense of history and today Cetinje is home to several museums and a number of beautiful old buildings, including the 18th century Cetinje Monastery. The most famous Serbian Orthodox monastery in Montenegro, the monastery in Cetinje is believed to hold a number of significant religious relics, including the remains of St Peter of Cetinje and the right hand of John the Baptist. Other notable attractions include the 15th century Vlaška Church, the National Museum of Montenegro and the Royal Montenegrin National Theatre, ‘Zetski Dom’. Cetinje also boasts some of the oldest libraries in the country.
How to book a trip
Where to stay in Montenegro
How to book a trip
Suggested Itineraries
How to book a trip
Montenegro Travel Guide
Lipska Pecina Cave
Sitting on the eastern edge of the Lovćen Plateau, close to the Belveder Pass, the Lipska Cave is believed to be the largest in the entire Balkans. Stretching from the village of Lipa and extending into the mountains that lie along the Adriatic coast, the cave system has so far been explored along over 3,500 metres of its length. Filled with passages, cavernous chambers and an underground river, the cave’s underground treasures first came to light in 1839, before later being explored by elements of the Austro-Hungarian army (if graffiti dating back to 1905 is to be believed). Today the caves sit on private land and are open only for private tours, a two hour excursion that explores the limestone caverns by lamplight and in the company of a local guide.
Cetinje
One of Montenegro’s most historic towns, Cetinje is the country’s old royal capital. Surrounded by a ring of limestone mountains, the town can date its heritage back to the 15th century, when it became the centre of Montenegro’s religious and cultural development. Its position at the heart of the country’s Orthodox traditions
has instilled it with a rich sense of history and today Cetinje is home to several museums and a number of beautiful old buildings, including the 18th century Cetinje Monastery. The most famous Serbian Orthodox monastery in Montenegro, the monastery in Cetinje is believed to hold a number of significant religious relics, including the remains of St Peter of Cetinje and the right hand of John the Baptist. Other notable attractions include the 15th century Vlaška Church, the National Museum of Montenegro and the Royal Montenegrin National Theatre, ‘Zetski Dom’. Cetinje also boasts some of the oldest libraries in the country.
Mojkovac
Lying on the western bank of the Tara River, north of the Bjelasica Mountains and close to the old mining town of Brskovo, Mojkovac was the site of a famous military victory by the Montenegrin army over a superior Austro-Hungary force during World War I. Today though it is more renowned for the nearby landscapes of the Biogradska Gora National Park, a spectacular natural haven of ancient forested hills, high mountains and glacial lakes that lies a short distance to the south of the city. Nestling amongst Montenegro’s central mountainous region, Mojkovac is ideally situated as a base for exploring the park, as well as the nearby 17th century monastery of St. George in Dobrilovina, one of the most important cultural monuments in the area.
Budva Riviera
Covering a 35 kilometres stretch of Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, the glorious Budva Riviera extends out from the charming town of Budva, one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic. One of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, the Budva Riviera is blessed with some of the finest beaches in Montenegro, scattered along a coastline that is sprinkled with sheltered bays, quiet inlets and small islands. Some of its more famous beaches include those of Mogren, Jaz, Becici and Sveti Stefan, the latter of which has long been a haunt for the rich and famous. The island of St. Nikola provides a particularly attractive destination for a boat ride and a picnic. Conveniently located just a kilometre offshore from the town of Budva itself, the island is a natural haven of sandy beaches, hidden inlets and a rich covering of Mediterranean flora.
How to book a trip
Montenegro Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders do not require a visa to visit Montenegro, although your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Montenegro, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
