Black Lake, Savin Kuk and the lakes of the Jezerska Plateau from Žabljak

Set off from Žabljak in the morning on the old paved road towards Vražje and Riblje lakes, then continue to Bare Žugića. You will return to the lakes after this first visit. The prepared directions end at the road access to the burial ground and do not take the car across the meadow among the monuments. Stopping here depends on finding an available space clear of the carriageway. If there is no space at the approach, do not leave the car in the narrow traffic lane.

Walk in from the road, follow the visible rows of stecci and look at some of the more finely worked tombstones in the central and northern sections. Allow 35 minutes for the visit, including the walk in and back to the car.

Continue along the same local paved road to Riblje Lake. The stopping point is beside the road between the lake and the grassy rise with the Grčko Groblje burial ground. The directions do not take the car onto the archaeological site. There is no confirmed formal car park here, so use only an available roadside space that leaves the road clear.

Walk up the low grassy rise to the tombstones first. After looking around, return to the road and cross towards the northern shore of Riblje Lake. The 70-minute allowance covers both sites, the approaches and the return to the same car.

From Riblje Lake, continue towards Vražje, whose pale water comes into view below the road among grassy slopes. Leave the car at the roadside approach, and do not drive down the tracks across the pasture to the water.

Walk down to the shore, follow a short stretch on that side of the lake, then return to the car. Allow around 45 minutes for the approach, time by the water and the walk back. After the open plateau countryside, drive on towards Virak and the foot of Savin Kuk.

The driving destination is the base of the ski centre, beside Durmitorsko Sijelo. This stage uses only the first two-seat chairlift, Savin Kuk I, which climbs to roughly 1,907 metres. Before setting off, ask the operator whether the first lift is running, which ticket you need for both directions and when the last descent leaves. The general summer timetable lists the last departure from the base at 15:00 and a descent time of 15:30. The centre’s 16:30 closing time does not mean you can still board then.

Get off at the first lift’s upper station, take a short break nearby and return to the base on the same lift. Allow 75 minutes for parking, both rides and the short stop. The second lift and the 2,313-metre summit are outside this plan. If the first chairlift is not running, spend more time at the lakes. Hiking to the summit requires several hours and a separate plan.

The summer 2026 price list gives an adult fare of €10 for Savin Kuk I. It does not say whether this covers both directions, so confirm the return journey when buying your ticket.

After riding down, stop for lunch at Durmitorsko Sijelo, the restaurant beside the lower station. You do not need another drive for the meal, which comes before the day’s longest walk around Black Lake.

Allow about an hour and fifteen minutes to order, eat and rest. The restaurant serves local cuisine and has a terrace at the foot of the mountain. Outside the summer season, check that the kitchen is open before you arrive.

From the foot of Savin Kuk, drive back towards Žabljak and on to the public car park on the approach to Black Lake. From there, walk to the main shore and start the lake circuit.

Allow two and a half hours for the whole visit. The lakeside circuit is about 3.5 kilometres. Adding the walk from the car park and back brings the total to about 4.8 kilometres. The trail goes through woodland, with roots, rocks and some short, steeper sections. Take the full circuit only when it is open and passable. If a stretch is closed, flooded or damaged, retrace your steps rather than cross an obstacle just to complete the loop.

Day admission to Durmitor National Park costs €5 per person. Parking is charged separately by the hour, with any part of an hour charged in full. The published parking operator’s tariff lists €3 per hour from June to the end of September and €1.20 from October to the end of May for Black Lake. Allow for three chargeable hours for this visit, costing €9 in summer or €3.60 during the other period.