Montenegro holiday, mountains, rivers & canyons of the north
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from mid-April to end October.
| Options tariff on request.
Description of Montenegro holiday, mountains, rivers & canyons of the north
On this Montenegro holiday, leave the crowds on the coast behind and explore inland, discovering the mountains, rivers & canyons of the North. This eight day, tailor made trip is a chance to enjoy some of the best active, outdoors experiences available in Montenegro as you explore the mountains, beautifully clear lakes and deep gorges with raging rivers in this small and spectacular Balkan country.
Meet the welcoming people of northern Montenegro, too – famous for their warm hospitality – and learn about a lifestyle that has deep roots in the past while enjoying modern comforts at friendly, locally owned accommodation. Feast on fresh, organic food, hike through ancient forests, swim in Lake Skadar, try some white water rafting on the Tara river and simply relax and enjoy the views over Montenegro’s dramatic landscapes, as you drive from one beautiful spot to another.
This is an ideal adventure for a family or group of friends, available from 15th April to 15th September. Car rental, all accommodation, a day’s cruise on a private boat on Lake Skadar, guided hikes to lofty peaks and tranquil lakes, guided rafting, insurance and 24/7 assistance is all included in the price. You will also enjoy breakfast each day, three lunches and four dinners, all as part of the holiday price. There are optional activities that you can choose from, too, at extra cost.
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Reviews
2 Reviews of Montenegro holiday, mountains, rivers & canyons of the north
Reviewed on 30 May 2023 by David Shafer
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We really enjoyed Montenegro. Such a great variety of things in a small country. We had 9 days, but definitely wish we had more time. The weather limited
the amount of hiking we could do in Durmitor and Prokletije National Parks, but we were still glad we could we went to both. Shkoder Lake was definitely a
highlight for us. We really enjoyed most of the places we stayed and the hosts were very friendly and helped us appreciate the country even more.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It would be easy to underestimate the amount of time needed to drive to different parts of the country, especially away from the coast. Although some new
highways are under construction, most of the highways are narrow and winding. Also, many of the highways and streets have few signs. The reason for
mentioning this is often had to stop several times when we were near places we were going to stay to get more directions. The itinerary provided to us
included GPS coordinates, but it was not always obvious which local road to take. More thought needs to be put into the itinerary provided.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. The places that we stayed were all locally owned. Our hosts were friendly and generous, insisting, for example, that we sample their house wine. We did
not spend a lot of time along the coast or Kotor Bay. From what we say, we understand why there are concerns about sustainable development. We visited
Kotor and we hoped we were early enough in the year to avoid the crowds, but the traffic was terrible and the city very crowded because of a cruise ship that
was in port.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We really appreciate how quickly our itinerary was put together for us. We had a business trip to Vienna, Austria and had already decided to visit Montenegro
afterwards. It is only about a week before we left on our business trip that we learned about this trip through Responsible Travel.
Reviewed on 11 Aug 2017 by Joanna Simmons
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
White water rafting on the clear Tara River, stopping off for a beer at a riverside bar on the Bosnian side. The local honey served everywhere in the north
and the fresh pomegranate juice in the south. Friendly hosts who always lay on far too much food! Staying in a quite hamlet near Pluzine, getting a taste of
rural life, watching the cows being milked in the garden amongst the fruit trees and bee hives. The dramatic Prokletije National Park, where few tourists
go, but where the hiking is amazing and the views wonderful. Tasty priganice doughnuts for breakfast. The edges of Lake Skadar, fringed with lily pads
where herons stalk. Watching swallows skim over the river and between the arches of the old bridge in Rijeka Crnojevica. Seeing tiny jellyfish-like
creatures in the water while kayaking on the river Crnojevic. The sunshine! Endless mountainous scenery. The relaxed and friendly feel to the country.
Tasty fruit brandies and cheap beer!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take swimming gear to Cerne Jezero, the lake in Durmitor National Park - in August it was warm enough to swim in. Take a two litre water bottle per
person if you're hiking in summer - even at higher altitude it's hot and you'll sweat! Go outside hot July and August if you can, especially if you're down in
the south, where the temperatures can reach 40C and the views across Skadar Lake are obscured by haze and smoke for mountain wild fires. Download a
good road map, check routes each night at accommodation where you have Wifi or even invest in a SIM for Montenegro once here, so you can use data
roaming - a paper map isn't usually detailed enough and it's easy to get lost. Don't eat meat in the heat! There's a risk of food poisoning if you try meaty
things when it's really hot - we know, we got it! Finally, come hungry! Montenegro hosts are generous and meals are large, and they do love a potato!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. Beyond the coast, Montenegro is not that developed. We stayed in a homestay, B&B and mountain cabins and felt our money went straight into local
hands. All guides were local, too. The water was safe to drink, so we took water bottles and didn't have to buy bottled water, cutting back on waste.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. The country is beautiful and this trip felt like a bit of an adventure, as we were driving around and exploring. We saw a lot of the country and the
itinerary was planned to avoid the over-developed coast, a good thing, and took us to little-visited parks like Prokletije, which was really beautiful. The drive
times were sometimes fairly long and some roads are narrow and steep-sided, so not for the faint hearted, but we enjoyed touring around. The country isn't
swish, but that's a good thing! All accommodation was comfy and characterful, but not at the luxury end of the spectrum, and the hosts were all really
welcoming, funny, chatty and kind. Our kids got sick on the last day and our B&B host let us stay in the room as long as we wanted, helped us pack a picnic
and was incredibly sympathetic. Finally, this trip is brilliantly backed up by Nikola, who organised the itinerary, answered any questions once we were in
the country and checked in throughout the trip. His support was really appreciated.
Read the operator's response here:
Responsible Travel
Planet
This tour was designed specifically for small groups and we constantly vary the route and itinerary to minimize direct impact on this sensitive area. Our staff monitor this area regularly to maintain paths, trail markers and remove refuse.Accommodation is in local “farm stay” or ethno village when available or in hotel or guest house selected for its high eco-rating (I will forward this, we will need to score them) and excellent valid corporate social responsibility policy. Accommodation providers are given support and advice from our staff on all aspects of providing excellent facilities and services in line with the principals of sustainability. All service providers are encouraged to promote the “Reduce, Recycle, Re-use” principals of waste management.
Transfers are provided by recognized service providers licensed by the government of Montenegro. All vehicles are eco-rated and chosen for their respective high compliance. This itinerary was designed to minimize excessive vehicle travel and to promote interaction with the natural environment. Guests are given options to reduce their carbon footprint on the tour and educated on the principals of responsible travel.
People
By travelling with us you will ensure ongoing economic benefits, alternative employment and income opportunities for local people and local businesses.As this itinerary includes travel through remote regions of the country it provides an excellent opportunity for unique interactions between visitors and the local people. Visitors support the local people by both being a guest and through the purchase of their local products.
Visitors contribute to the education of local people and stakeholders by providing a cultural exchange between the guests and the hosts. It can foster understanding between people, this increases the chances for people to develop knowledge, mutual sympathy, tolerance and understanding and to reduce prejudices and promote the necessary sense of global brotherhood.
Tourism also helps to raise local awareness concerning the financial value of natural and cultural sites. It can stimulate a feeling of pride in local and national heritage level and interest in its conservation.
All our guides are local to the region and are personally selected for their specific knowledge of the areas flora and fauna. They are passionate about the environment and ensure that guest follow the simple principal of leave no trace, only footprints.
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