The small Southeast European country Montenegro on the Adriatic Coast is, with its unspoiled nature and fantastic landscapes, a hiker’s paradise. In this “land of the black mountains”, far from the crowded cities, one can satisfy a longing for undisturbed peace and still encounter something significant and authentic.
Where is the wild beauty of Montenegro best enjoyed? There is no doubt about it: in the five national parks of Durmitor, Biogradska Gora, Lake Skadar, Lovćen and Prokletije. Many signposted hiking routes are found in these untouched natural paradises, which are ideal not only for leisure walkers and families with children, but also for seasoned mountain hikers and climbers.
In particular, the Durmitor National Park, with its proud peaks, crystal-clear glacial lakes and fragrant mountain meadows, offers the enthusiastic hiker a great experience. Most roads start on the shore of the mystical Black Lake, or “Crno Jezero” in Montenegrin. A walk around the lake, surrounded by rugged cliffs and dense forests, is a must for all Durmitor visitors. Along the circular route, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the lake, which does not appear so black in bright sunlight, but rather a calming turquoise or emerald green.
More adventurous hikers and nature lovers can make their way halfway along the Crno Jezero to the Snake Lake (Zminje Jezero). This lake is smaller, quieter and darker than Crno Jezero and is hidden deep within the forest. There are no snakes, but the flora is magical. Experienced hikers follow this path through the dense forest up to the beautiful plateau Crepulj Poljana (1650m above sea level), which is covered with grass and wild flowers. On the plateau, two abandoned mountain huts have long since been reclaimed by nature. The shadows of giant trees invite the weary hiker for a break. One tip for experienced mountain hikers at this point: the steep path leads to the popular hiking destination Škrčka Jezera, where you can spend the night in a comfortable mountain hut. This is an unforgettable hiking tour.
The four other national parks also offer spectacular hiking possibilities. In the Biogradska Gora National Park, the Bjelasica Mountains, with their gentle landscapes, invite hikers to discover their ancient deciduous forests, mountain streams, glacial lakes and valleys with scattered alpine settlements. For nature lovers who would like a shorter tour, the hiking trail around the Biogradsko Jezero mountain lake and through a mysterious forest offers a memorable experience.
All of the numerous hiking trails of the Lovćen National Park lead through dense beech forests and over old, well-preserved Austro-Hungarian army routes. The viewpoints offer fantastic panoramic views down to the Adriatic Sea on one side and over to the spectacular mountainous landscapes in the hinterland of Montenegro on the other side. Nestled in the valleys you will also see beautiful examples of traditional country architecture.
Hiking tours through the mountains around Lake Skadar are quite different. They pass through old villages where the farmers still grow their wine in the traditional way. It seems like a journey back in time! In addition, the Skadar Lake National Park is a well-known bird sanctuary of European importance where you can quite often see rare Dalmatian pelicans. An inside tip is to take the hike to the village of Poseljani, which, with its authentic architecture, old water mills and typical stone bridges, will leave an unforgettable impression on any hiker and nature lover.
And finally, consider the option of Prokletije National Park, founded in 2009 (also known as “the cursed mountains”). The hiking infrastructure is still under construction here. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, this area is a paradise for experienced mountain hikers with high alpine ambitions. On steep and stony mountain paths you look up to countless high, rugged peaks and down into the valleys of Grebaja and Ropojana, which are deeply engraved by the ice ages. Silence, mysterious glacial lakes, gorges, waterfalls and prehistoric drawings are other phenomena to be discovered in this area.
When hiking in the national parks of Montenegro, a new adventure awaits you on every trail. There, you’ll be invited by shepherds to taste their homemade schnapps. You’ll walk through lunar landscapes and meet nobody for hours. Sooner or later you’ll ask yourself: am I in Europe or another world?
Welcome to Montenegro: Wild Beauty!
If you would like to experience the untamed beauty of Montenegro through hiking, please visit montenegro.travel for more information.
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