Durmitor National Park in Montenegro - Mini Travel Guide
Welcome to our mini travel guide to visiting the Durmitor National Park, located in Montenegro! Keep scrolling for more info on how to get here, how long you should spend exploring the Durmitor National Park, and most importantly - some of the top places to visit and things to do!
About the Durmitor National Park
Where is the Durmitor National Park?
The Durmitor National Park is located in the north-western corner of Montenegro in Europe, within the Dinaric Alps.
About the park
The park was established in 1952, and covers 131 square miles (339 square kilometres). Making the Durmitor National Park not only the largest of Montenegro's five national parks, but also the largest protected area in Montenegro.
What's in the Durmitor National Park?
It is home to the country's highest peak, Bobotov Kuk, at a height of over 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). Along with over 40 other mountains which are all higher than 2000 metres! Easily making the Durmitor park one of the best places for hiking in Montenegro.
Furthermore, it also has 18 glacial mountain lakes and Europe's deepest canyon - the Tara River Canyon! And is home to a range of wildlife - from over 160 different bird species to wolves, bears and eagles!
We spent a couple of weeks exploring this beautiful area in our campervan so here's our mini travel guide to visiting the Durmitor National Park in Montenegro...
Visiting the Durmitor National Park
The Durmitor National Park Entrance Fee
There is an entrance fee for visiting the Durmitor National Park, and costs the following amount depending on how long you're planning on spending there...
- One (1) day ticket: €3
- Three (3) day ticket: €6
- Seven (7) day ticket: €12
More information on the Durmitor National Park Fees can be found online here.
Where to pay the Durmitor park entry fee
The entrance fee is to be paid at the entrance to the park at the Black Lake (Crno Jezero), located on the wide path/road to Black Lake. Therefore, depending on where you enter the park you may not have to pay the entrance fee.
When we visited the Durmitor National Park we didn't see anyone or anywhere to pay the entrance fee.
Places to visit in the Durmitor National Park
There are of course loads of stunning places to visit in and around the Durmitor National Park. But here we are a few places that we would recommend visiting...
Sedlo Pass and the Prutash Grand View
The Sedlo Pass is a scenic, panoramic mountain road that passes right through the Durmitor National Park, connecting Piva Lake and the town of Žabljak.
The road is 32 miles (52 km) long and reaches up to 1,907 metres in elevation. Plus it is the highest road pass in Montenegro and is filled with beautiful views along the way!
Such views include the Prutash Grand view which is at about half way along the drive, and the Sedlena Greda mountain peaks which look like a sadle. Furthermore, there are several starting points for different hiking trails along the Sedlo Pass.
We drove from the Piva Lake towards Žabljak and I think this direction has the best views especially of the Prutash Grand view and Sedlena Greda!
Crno Jezero (Black Lake)
One of the best known glacier lakes in both the Durmitor National Park and Montenegro is Crno Jezero, or what is also called the Black Lake.
This beautiful lake is just a 40-minute walk outside of the town of Žabljak, and is actually made up of two lakes connected by a narrow path - the main lake is Veliko Jezero (great lake) and then behind is Malo Jezero (small lake).
You can hike around the whole lake which takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, and is approx. 3.5 km long. There are also lots of other hiking trails in the surrounding forests and mountains, which tend to begin and end here at Crno Jezero.
Sušičko Jezero (Seasonal Lake)
Sušičko Lake is a mountain lake that sits at just over 1,160 metres in elevation above sea level, and is sits nestled in the Sušica Valley within the Durmitor National Park. The lake is surrounded by mountain peaks and is a really beautiful spot - I'd say it's pretty much picture perfect and actually looks like it could be in Switzerland!
It is a seasonal lake, meaning that in the hot summer months the water actually dries up and the lake completely disappears - meaning you just see a pretty green meadow in the middle instead (alike the photo). However, it's still a lovely place and would recommend visiting if you have time and are up for the drive there...
The road to the Sušičko Jezero has numerous hairpin turns and is very narrow, even with some rather scary drop off edges! Two cars can just about get past each other at certain points, so I would only recommend this spot and drive if you're a confident driver who is also good at reversing... Luckily, Tristan is a very competent driver and even managed to drive our 7m long, 3m high campervan through this road, so it's definitely possible if you're up for it.
Piva Lake and River Canyon
Seen to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Montenegro, Lake Piva is a must visit place. Head here for its vivid turquoise colour and stunning views of the surrounding mountains, Piva and Komarnica canyons! Plus you can go swimming and even fishing there.
It is in fact an artificial lake and was created in 1975 after the Piva River was dammed to generate hydrologic power. Furthermore, it is considered to be the largest reservoir of drinking water in the Balkans.
Piva Lake sits at 675 meters in elevation above sea level, making it the highest artificial reservoir in the world! It is also 45 km long, and in areas its over 200 meters deep.
Zminje Jezero
If you have time, then we would also recommend visiting another lake just outside of Žabljak called Zminje Jezero.
This small lake is nestled right in the middle of a dense spruce forest in the Durmitor National Park and has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains including the rocky Crvena Greda mountain.
Is about a 1 hour walk each way from the town of Žabljak, with the trail route being fairly easy and enjoyable through the forests.
Tara Canyon
At 1300 metres deep, the Tara Canyon is Europe's deepest canyon! Plus the Tara River is the longest mountain river in Montenegro. It is also one of the best places for rafting and canoeing in both Montenegro and the Balkans!
Things to do in the Durmitor National Park
Scenic Drives
If you have a car / vehicle to use when exploring the Durmitor National Park, then we would highly recommend driving the Sedlo Pass from Piva Lake to Žabljak. You can easily spend a day slowly driving this mountain road, whilst stopping to enjoy the views along the way.
Hiking
There are loads of hiking trails in the Durmitor National Park, that are also well signposted with red and white way markers painted onto rocks/trees to direct you along the different paths. Although, I would also recommend downloading the maps.me app and the local map of the area as all of the park’s hiking trails are clearly displayed on there - just encase you get lost. Plus you can use it without any internet connection!
Swimming
In the warmer, summer months (June to September), you can swim in several of the park's glacial lakes including the Black Lake. However, at please note that there are no lifeguards so only enter the water if you are a confident swimmer.
Rent a boat
At the Black Lake (Crno Jezero) you can rent a boat to row around the lake at around €8 EUR for 1 hour.
Skiing
Žabljak is a ski resort during the winter season and there are usually about 120 snowy days a year. So it's a perfect place to head in Europe for a cheap ski or snowboarding trip! More info on how to get to Žabljak.
Mountain Biking
In the summer months, mountain biking is also a popular activity in the Durmitor national park! There are lots of different cycling trails here and there are places in the town of Žabljak where you can hire mountain bikes and e-bikes too, if you don't have your own.
Canyoning
Canyoning is a high-adrenaline activity, involving passing through canyons and narrow riverbeds and some swimming, walking, climbing and rappelling. There are several activity operators in the local area who offer guided canyoning tours.
Rafting
The Tara river is one of the best places for rafting and canoeing in this part of Europe, and is another must-do adrenaline activity in Montenegro! Alike canyoning, there are lots of different river rafting tours available in the area - with some even offering multi-day trips.
Ziplining
There are couple of different ziplining options in the Durmitor National Park, with the main one being the Red Rock Zipline over the Tara Canyon bridge! Head here for a 45 second adrenaline rushed ride, where you'll be flying at 170 meters above the canyon over a distance of 350 metres. It costs 20€ per person to do - more info is available on their website here.
Or you can ride Montenegro's longest zipline 'Zipline Eko Piva' at 1,400 meters long which runs over Piva Lake!
Wildlife in the Durmitor National Park
The Durmitor park is home to a wide range of wildlife - from 163 different bird species to approximately 50 types of mammals. Plus, apparently some of the best varieties of butterflies in Europe can be found here!
Birds include golden eagles, the peregrine falcon and three-toed woodpecker. Whilst large mammals include the Eurasian brown bear, grey wolves, the Balkan Lynx, European wildcats, wild boars, deer and chamois.
As the park is home to bears, you should should be wary and ensure that you keep a safe distance in case you see them and take the necessary precautions. However, it is unlikely that you will come across a bear, as they usually hide deep in the forests.
Brown Bear Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash
Eagle Photo by Syed Ahmad on Unsplash
Grey Wolf Photo by Federico Di Dio photography on Unsplash
When to visit the Durmitor National Park
For hiking the mountains
All of the hiking trails are open and accessible after the winter snow has melted, so if you're wanting to visit the Durmitor park for hiking then visit between May and October... Although July to September brings the best weather, it also means higher prices and more tourists. So if you want to avoid the crowds, visit from May to July.
For swimming in the lakes
Most of the glacial lakes in Durmitor National Park are ideal for swimming between July and September.
For skiing and snow!
The main town of Žabljak is a ski resort during the winter season and there are usually about 120 snowy days a year. So if you're looking to visit the Durmitor national park for a skiing or snowboarding trip then head here between December and March.
Where to stay
Žabljak
At 1,450 meters above sea level, the town of Žabljak is the one of the highest towns in the Balkans, and is the main town within the Durmitor National Park.
It is a popular destination with tourists and there are lots of accommodation options there too! There are grocery shops and lots of cafes and restaurants located in Žabljak.
Plus from the town centre, you can easily walk 20-30 minutes to the park entrance at the Black Lake. And from here you can then do day trips to the different locations listed above, so it's a convenient place to base yourself if you want to explore the Durmitor National Park.
We explored the Durmitor National Park in our campervan, and stayed on campsites and farmstays in and around the area of Žabljak.
Getting there and around
How to get there
The Durmitor National Park is fairly remote and there isn't an international airport nearby. The nearest of Montenegro's two international airports is Podgorica Airport.
Furthermore, there aren't any train lines that run to this area so it is only accessible by road. Therefore you can get there either by driving or by bus...
Driving
The following times are based on driving to the Durmitor's main town, Žabljak;
- From Podgorica (Montenegro's capital city and main international airport) - Approx. a 2 hour drive
- From Tivat (on the coast and Montenegro's second international airport) - Approx. a 3 hour drive
- From Kotor Bay (on the coast) - Approx. 2 and 1/2 hours drive
By Bus
The town of Žabljak is actually fairly easy to reach by bus. There is a daily bus from the following cities: Podgorica, Nikšic, Pljevlja and Mojkovac.
There is a bus line from Podgorica to Pljevlja and Zabljak
If this isn’t possible, there are 6 buses that run from Podgorica to Žabljak each day. The journey takes 2.5 – 3 hours and costs just 10 EUR. You can use busticket4.me to check the timetable and book your ticket.
How to get around the Durmitor National Park
By Car
The easiest way to not only get to the Durmitor National Park, but also to get around it, is definitely with a car!
Therefore, we recommend either by using your own vehicle or hiring a car when in Montenegro to be able to fully explore the park.
By Tour Group
Alternatively, you could join an organised tour group to explore the Durmitor park.
There are of course loads of tour options to choose from - From day trips from Podgorica or Kotor Bay, to activity trips within the park.
We always book any tours or activities through GetYourGuide - an central online marketplace to search for and book tour guides, excursions and activities for locations all around the world! We find that it's a really great way to find unique experiences and also compare multiple options, from price to reviews.
How long to spend in the Durmitor National Park
We would recommend allowing at least 4 days to see the highlights of the Durmitor National Park. But you could easily spend a week here and still have plenty to do and see.
Overview
So, is the Durmitor National Park worth a visit?
We would 100% say YES!
What was our favourite place we visited?
Overall, it would have to be the Black Lake / Crno Jezero - it's such a beautiful spot surrounded by the mountains and forests. Plus the hike around it was really great, and an easy place to visit too.
Comment below if you have any questions, and we'll be in touch soon! Or get in touch online here.
Helen + Tristan
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