Largely unexplored and Europe’s best kept secret — Durmitor National Park in Zabljak region.

It’s so unheard of that even people who throng Kotor’s coastline just visit Zabljak on a day-trip and that’s such a shame.

Some of the largest mountains, blue gacial lakes, canyons and forest are located right here in Durmitor National Park.

For me, it is these mountain peaks and access to the most gorgeous region with thick forested pine trees as you hike some of the last virgin black pine reserves in Europe called Crna Poda.

You’ll get to hike through canyon cliffs and be awestruck by how stunning these peaks look.

When I visited the park in June, my main aim was to hike some of these peaks, see a different side of Montenegro and spend time in a Hikers Hostel which has been raved about,

After visiting Croatia and Bosnia, I was stunned by the landscapes in this small country and later found out that they have a very diverse terrain with more than 50 peaks above 2,000 metres (which is crazy!)

If you’re like me where you love landscapes, quiet contemplative episodes after being done with the beach crowds, Durmitor National Park might just be the right place to relax with some walks, hikes, and rafting.

Here’s a complete itinerary and what to do when visiting Durmitor National Park in Montenegro in 3 or 4 days.

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How to get to Zabljak, Durmitor National Park?

here’s how to get to zabljak in durmitor national park and a complete itinerary in 3 or 4 days

To get here, it can be a bit of a challenge as there’s no direct buses. I found the best way to get here is to catch the bus from Kotor or Podgorica to Nikšić and head towards Zabljak.

The total journey if you’re doing Kotor-Nikšić-Zabljak would be around 3 hours. You can book your tickets on 12go or GetByBus.

You could also opt to rent your own car here and just make it a DIY trip. A lot of people were doing that as well after coming from Kotor or Podgorica!

It’s amazing that you’re able to to reach the mountains in three hours right from the beach and that’s the biggest draw to Montenegro.

Also Read: 8 Wildly-Epic Hiking Trails in Durmitor National Park, Montenegro

Where to stay in Zabljak?

a view of the hiker’s hostel and sunset views in zabljak town

Hiker’s Hostel (recommended!)
Casa di Pino Eco Lodge (perfect for privacy and cottage vibes)
Dormire Apartmans (another great option as well!)

Also Read: 7 Days Montenegro Itinerary Of Mountains & Beaches (After Croatia!)

Tours Worth Considering

you can also visit durmitor national park on a day trip. Pic was taken on my way while cycling around the countryside.

Durmitor National Park Day Trip: Don’t have time? This tour will take you to all the top spots in a day! Great introductory trip for first time travellers to Montenegro!
Tara Rafting In Half-Day: Yup, this rafting was worth the detour to visit one of the largest canyon in Europe!
From Kotor: Hiking Day Trip in Durmitor Massif & Dining: If there’s one tour you have to do if you’re short in time, this might be it. You get to hike to the summit of Prutaš in Durmitor massif on a hiking day trip from Kotor. Experience views from the top of the world, and indulge in dinner at a local farm.

A 3 or 4 Day Adventure Itinerary in Montenegro

Day 1: Staying in Žabljak

scenes of zabljak nearing durmitor national park

The wintry scenes of Zabljak draw visitors from Bosnia and Serbia who often come to the slopes to ski for cheap. But in summer season, it’s a haven for hikers.

You’ll notice Montenegrins are a charming lot, they’re particularly tall. Fun fact: they’re one of the tallest people after the Dutch.

The town is situated at 1,436m above sea level and it is the tallest town in the country. The roads are in pristine condition and the landscapes almost out of this world especially if you’re on a road trip or even walking by foot.

Staying in the Hostel Hikers Den

A highlight on its own but from various towns in Montenegro — everyone has been raving of the Hostel Hikers Den in Zabljak run by Alex and his brother.

If you love the mountains, and want access to tips, way of life and to figure out your whole plan in Zabljak, you have to stay at this hostel.

There are private rooms if you don’t feel like hostelling it up and also access to hiking boots for free with knowledge and intel about the terrain by Alex himself.

He tries to ensure you’ve a group to go with if you’re a solo traveller planning on hiking any of the trails.

Exploring Durmitor National Park

the black lake of durmitor national park — worth a great short hike around the lake

The fact that this national park is walking distance from Zabljak town — about 30-40 minutes is what makes it so fascinating.

The entrance to the park is 5 euros and you can easily spend half a day here exploring all the various trails and lakes.

Black Lake is the deepest and and biggest of the 18 glacier lakes in Durmitor National Park. It consists of Veliko and Malo Jezero (Big Lake and Small lake) which depth goes down to 24.5m and 49.5m.

You could easily do a circular walk around the lake which will be around 5km long and take you 1 hour and 20 minutes.

It was one of the most laidback walks that I did while taking in all the pine-tree forests of Montenegro.

There’s also a really nice cafe there to chill called Nacionalni restoran Crno Jezero to have lunch and take it easy.

Have an amazing dinner at Restaurant Or'O

One thing great about Zabljak is how reasonable the prices are — it’s not touristy at all like Kotor

The best restaurant we went to was Restaurant Or’O — you get an entire plate of trout fish, potatoes and vegetables for 10 euros. The prices were unbelievable considering how fancy this place looks.

It was wholesome to be able to have a comfortable meal when the sun dips behind the mountains.

Day 2: Tara Canyon Rafting & Visiting Piva Canyon Viewpoint

Rafting through some of these rapids has got to be one of the most thrilling adventures we took in Montenegro.

The Tara Canyon is is known to be second deepest canyon in the world, right behind America's Grand Canyon at 1,333m.

You could opt for a rafting tour that takes care of everything for you. More than the rafting tour, it was the drive towards Sedlo Pass that was jaw-droppingly stunning.

It is known as the famous P14 road that is incredibly windy and long stretching up to 52 km.

The Sedlo Pass also stands at 1,970m and it is also close to the starting point for the trek up to Bobotuv Kuk.

On your way to the canyon, there’s the Piva Canyon viewpoint. The views were dramatic and drop dead gorgeous! We stopped countless times where you can buy olive oil, wine and local products from the farmers and shepherds themselves.

Day 3: Hiking Planinica (2,330m) or Bobotuv Kuk (2,525m)

a view of bobotuv kuk from above — a bit too early in the season in may when it was covered with snow

If you want to see wild horses, cows and mountains goats and explore the mountain trails of Montenegro — these are two hikes that are absolutely worth it while in Durmitor National Park.

Bobotuv Kuk is the highest mountain in Durmitor National Park and it easily one of the toughest trek compared to the smaller mountain Planinica.

If you’re not a confident hiker and you want splendid views, Planinica is easily one of the most gorgeous hikes in Montenegro.

It still takes 7 to 8 hours in total covering a distance of 12km almost similar to Bobotuv Kuk but bad weather has caused many deaths at Bobotuv it should not be attempted.

A lot of people from the hostel ended up hiking Planinica and it is a gorgeous hike likened to views of Bobotuv and you get to the emerald beauty of Škrka Lakes Valley.

Day 4: Easier Hike to Tara Canyon Viewpoint or Biking around to the Devil Lake (Vražje Jezero)

the devil lake in zabljak, a great stop if you have a car or a bicycle to explore

cycling in durmitor national park and zabljak is quite amazing — look at these cute houses.

The road from Savnik to Devil Lake was easily some of the most gorgeous views I experienced.

You can rent a bike at the hostel and bike 10km to see this side of the country. It was freeing to be able to see the local life in full swing and the countryside of Durmitor National Park.

There are also some medieval stones and shrines called Stecci. They have been UNESCO World Heritage since 2016 but sadly there’s not much information here about what they mean. It’s almost like a mini stonehenge.

On the other hand, I also spent time hiking to the viewpoint of the Tara Canyon from Zabljak. You can also start from Curevac which is shorter and it will take you 30 minutes from the car park.

I would suggest loading Maps.Me on your phone before setting off on these trails and sometimes they’re not very well marked.