How the week fits together
Two Durmitor days come first. Piva and Niksic, Tara and Biogradska Gora, Ostrog and Podgorica, Cetinje and Lovcen, and Kotor and Perast fill the remaining five days. Every evening closes at the same accommodation in Zabljak.
The complete sequence of places
- Day 1 Zabljak, Black Lake and Savin Kuk
- Day 2 the full Durmitor Ring by Mala Crna Gora, Nedajno, Trsa, Pisca and Sedlo
- Day 3 Piva Lake, Pluzine, Piva Monastery, Krupac and Niksic
- Day 4 Tara Bridge, Biogradsko Lake and Kolasin
- Day 5 Lower and Upper Ostrog with Podgorica
- Day 6 Cetinje, the mausoleum on Lovcen and Njegusi
- Day 7 Kotor Old Town, the walls, Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Seven complete days out from Zabljak
Expand a day to see every stop in sequence. Road time and visiting time are shown separately, and each final section leads back to the parking area of the same Zabljak accommodation.
Day 1Zabljak, Black Lake and Savin KukBegin with the town centre, the entire path around Black Lake and the open ground beneath Savin Kuk. The short distances make this a substantial first day with an early finish at the original accommodation.A full day of short local journeys | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Park beside the centre and walk around Durmitor Warriors Square and the principal streets. Locate the food shops and restaurants useful for the week, then return to the vehicle and set off for Black Lake.
Drive from central Zabljak to the visitor parking at the entrance to Durmitor National Park. The surfaced woodland path begins there and reaches the first shore of Great Lake.
Circle Great Lake and Small Lake through conifer forest, open shoreline and the narrow connection between the two waters. Changing angles reveal Medjed and Savin Kuk before the path closes on the original stretch of shore.
Retrace the forest approach to the visitor parking and drive on to Ribnica below Savin Kuk. Leave the vehicle in the broad area beside the lower ski station for the final walk of the day.
Explore the meadow around the lower station beneath the steep face of Savin Kuk. The open plateau shows the summit line and adjacent ridges, and the walk concludes back at the lower-station parking area.
Drive straight from Ribnica to the week’s accommodation in Zabljak. The first outing ends at the base with the evening free before the full Durmitor Ring.
Day 2The full Durmitor RingThe second day completes the panoramic road through Mala Crna Gora, Nedajno, Trsa, Pisca and Sedlo. It is one continuous circle around Durmitor with its final kilometre back in Zabljak.A complete day on the 76-kilometre circuit | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Take the northern half of the ring from Zabljak to the scattered houses of Mala Crna Gora. The high plateau introduces the quieter side of Durmitor before the road drops towards Susica Canyon.
Follow the descent through Susica Canyon and climb towards Nedajno on the Piva plateau. Use the open canyon view for the first extended stop, then continue from the village towards Trsa.
Cross wooded and open upland from Nedajno until the road reaches Trsa. Take the main meal break in the village before moving into the southern portion of the circuit.
Travel from Trsa over the Pisca plateau with broad views towards Bioc, Maglic and the Piva Mountains. The green highland gradually gives way to the folded rock around Dobri Do.
Continue through Dobri Do below Prutas and Sedlene Grede, then climb to the pass at Sedlo. The highest section provides the principal mountain panorama before the descent towards Zabljak.
Descend beside the Poscan Valley and Stozina and follow the closing kilometres into Zabljak. The whole 76-kilometre ring ends outside the same accommodation after the complete panoramic circuit.
Day 3Piva Lake, Pluzine, Krupac and NiksicTravel through Savnik to Pluzine and Piva Lake, then continue south to Piva Monastery, Krupac Lake and Niksic. Once the town walk is complete, the route turns north and closes at Zabljak.A long circuit through Piva and Niksic | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Leave Zabljak by way of Savnik and finish the first drive beside Pluzine. The view over the turquoise reservoir explains the setting of the newer town built above the flooded original settlement.
Walk from the compact centre down towards the town beach and the edge of Piva Lake. Mountains rise directly from both shores, and the town circuit finishes back beside the original parking area.
Follow the southern lakeshore through short rock tunnels above the water. Pause at a roadside viewpoint with a full reservoir view, then continue towards Piva Monastery.
Enter the stone church to see the extensive painted interior and spend time in the monastery court. The whole building was transferred stone by stone when the lake was created, and the next drive begins from its entrance.
Continue south towards Niksic and turn west for Krupac Lake before entering the centre. Use the parking beside the developed shore as the starting point for a short waterside walk.
Walk beside the wide lake with open views to the low hills surrounding Niksic. Return to the vehicle at the same shore and continue into the town centre.
Begin at Freedom Square and walk to King Nikola’s Palace, the Cathedral Church of Saint Basil of Ostrog and the city park. Complete the compact circuit through the regular central street plan and return to the parking area.
Travel north through Savnik and finish at the same Zabljak accommodation. This closes a full Piva and Niksic day without moving the week’s luggage.
Day 4Tara Bridge, Biogradsko Lake and KolasinThe fourth day follows a single eastern line from Djurdjevica Tara Bridge to Biogradska Gora and Kolasin. Its return through the Tara Valley reaches the original room in Zabljak.A long journey through Tara Canyon and Bjelasica | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Head from Zabljak to the Tara and leave the vehicle beside the bridge approach. Start from the end that gives a clear side view of the concrete arches spanning the canyon.
Walk over the bridge to view the river in both directions and the five arches above the gorge. Return to the starting end and its parking area before taking the valley road towards Mojkovac.
Continue through the Tara Valley and Mojkovac, then turn into Biogradska Gora National Park. The road ends at the parking beside Biogradsko Lake and the beginning of its circular path.
Circle the entire lake through mature beech and fir woodland, with occasional open views towards the slopes of Bjelasica. The walking route returns to the same shore beside the parking area.
Drive from the national park to Kolasin and leave the car near Fighters Square. The square, pedestrian section and adjacent streets form a compact town-centre route.
Walk around Fighters Square and along the centre’s main streets to the town park. Have lunch before returning to the vehicle for the journey back along the Tara.
Travel through Mojkovac and past Tara Bridge to the same Zabljak accommodation. The day ends at the base after a coherent circuit through canyon, forest and town.
Day 5Lower and Upper Ostrog with PodgoricaVisit the two Ostrog complexes separately before continuing to Podgorica’s Stara Varos and modern centre. The return towards the mountains begins after both parts of the capital have been walked.A particularly long monastery and city day | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Set off early from Zabljak through Savnik and Niksic and finish at the parking beside Lower Ostrog Monastery. Holy Trinity Church and the residences occupy one site and provide the first distinct visit.
See the church and walk through the lower monastery court. Return to the nearby vehicle and drive uphill to the upper complex in the face of Ostroska Greda.
Approach the white cliff buildings from the upper parking and visit the cave churches. Finish at the viewpoint over the Bjelopavlici Plain, then descend to the vehicle and continue to Podgorica.
Drive down from the monastery to the Stara Varos quarter of Podgorica. Leave the car nearby and begin the old-town walk at the Clock Tower and the stone bridge over the Ribnica.
Pass from the Clock Tower through Stara Varos to Starodoganjska Mosque and the meeting of the Ribnica and Moraca. Complete the walk at the stone bridge, then move the vehicle towards the modern centre.
Walk from Independence Square through Bokeska Street and continue to the Moraca riverbank and Millennium Bridge. Return to the central parking area to close the city visit.
Begin the direct journey north to Zabljak. The fifth day closes at the parking area of the same accommodation after the long return.
Day 6Cetinje, the Lovcen mausoleum and NjegusiCetinje receives a complete historical circuit before the ascent to Jezerski Vrh and a final visit to Njegusi. The return to Zabljak begins only after the village centre and birthplace have been explored.A very long day in the royal capital and on Lovcen | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Travel through Niksic and finish beside Court Square in Cetinje. Use the nearby parking as the start and end of the royal capital’s museum and monastery route.
See King Nikola’s Museum on Court Square, followed by Biljarda and Cetinje Monastery. Together they explain the royal household, state history and spiritual centre before the walk closes at the original parking.
Drive through Ivanova Korita to the final parking below Jezerski Vrh. From there the visit continues on foot through the tunnel and up 461 steps.
Enter between the monumental granite figures and visit the mausoleum interior. Continue along the rear path to the circular viewpoint, then descend by the same staircase to the parking area.
Descend to Njegusi and walk through the village centre to the birthplace of Petar II Petrovic Njegos. Finish with lunch in the village before returning to the vehicle for the northern journey.
Travel back through Cetinje and Niksic to the same Zabljak accommodation. Park there and end the day after completing the Cetinje, Lovcen and Njegusi circuit.
Day 7Kotor Old Town, the walls and PerastDevote the final day to Kotor and Perast. Begin with the Old Town and part of Kotor’s walls, then continue to the palaces of Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks before driving back to Zabljak.The longest return journey to the Bay | Night at the same Zabljak accommodation
Travel through Niksic and Grahovo and descend to the Bay. Leave the vehicle at Benovo and follow the Skurda on foot to Kotor’s North Gate.
Enter at the North Gate and link Saint Luke’s Church, Saint Nicholas Church and the Maritime Museum in Grgurina Palace. Continue to Saint Tryphon Cathedral and Arms Square before walking back towards the walls entrance.
Climb the stone route to Our Lady of Remedy for a full view over the tiled roofs and inner bay. Return down the same steps, leave by the North Gate and walk back to Benovo.
Continue along the Bay to the parking at the entrance to Perast. From there one waterfront street joins the palaces, Saint Nicholas Church and the pier for the islands.
Follow the waterfront past the stone palaces to the main square and the tall bell tower of Saint Nicholas Church. Continue to the pier while looking across Verige and the two islands offshore.
Sail from Perast to the artificial island and visit the church and its small museum of maritime votive art. Take the return boat to the same pier and walk back through Perast.
Collect the vehicle at the entrance to Perast and begin the direct return to Zabljak. The week finishes at the same address used for every night.
Before booking, compare the hire price, deposit terms, luggage space and exact collection location.
Four choices that make the itinerary work
These are seven return outings from one mountain address. Each place follows naturally from the previous one, and the closing section of every day leads back to Zabljak.
Book the same Zabljak accommodation for every night and leave the luggage there during each day out.
Use the first day for Black Lake and Savin Kuk and the second for every kilometre of the panoramic ring.
Podgorica, Cetinje, Kotor and Perast all contain complete walks instead of short stops beside the vehicle.
The last section of each day names the road back to the same accommodation in Zabljak.
What to arrange for the seven days
- Keep one Zabljak room and its parking area for every night.
- Give the full 76-kilometre Durmitor Ring its own day.
- Take suitable clothing for the visit to Ostrog.
- Wear footwear suited to Lovcen’s staircase and Kotor’s stone walls.
- Set off early for Podgorica, Cetinje, Lovcen and the Bay.
Who this week-long plan suits
The itinerary is for travellers who want one mountain base, two strong Durmitor days and five worthwhile journeys across the north, central region and the Bay. The luggage remains in one room while distant destinations receive enough time.
