Trails and Itinerary's
"Beautiful country We’d recommend it & Vista Trails wholeheartedly!"
S Brickell May 2010
Montenegro offers a vast variety of walks everything from gentle strolls to full mountain hiking. The choice of fantastic trails is endless and the itinerary's will delight and enthrall you.
We specialise in tailor made walking holidays and offer a selection of personally organised itinerary's providing some of the best walking in Montenegro.
For our group itinerary's please look at our Group Travel page.
Guided / Self Guided
You can choose to go self guided using excellent map and trail information or use the services of your host Hugh or we can book a local guide.
"The trail info was generally very good. So helpful to have photos of what it looks like on the ground" Rowlands May 2010
National Park Explorer Itinerary's
Great Value inclusive of transfers
These two itinerary's are based on Montenegro's two most famous National Parks.
Durmitor - During the months of May to October escape to the high mountains of Durmitor National Park, a walking mecca with a variety of easy walks along beautiful lakes to peaks that will challenge even the most adventurous of walkers.
Lovcen - The iconic Lovcen national park home to King Petar's Mausoleum offers history and great walking with fantastic views of the coast line of Monetenegro.
Multi Location Itinerary's
Our Multi Location Walks take you on a journey to discover old forts, Royal Palaces, tiny hamlets and the remote wild beauty of Montenegro. Itinerarys are available at any time between 1st April to 31st October.
NEW for 2012 - SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS ITINERARY
FORTS AND LAKE SKADA DISCOVERY ITINERARY
KING PETARS FOOTSTEPS ITINERARY
"Thank you Hugh & Sarah for a fantastic 12 days in Montenegro. The walking was spectacular and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting Durmitor & Lovcen National Parks. We were so looking forward to it and your itinerary did not disappoint. Once again thank you for all your efforts" Hardy July 2010
"Every day was interesting and enjoyable. Among the highlights were the wonderful wild flowers, the interest and history of Cetinje and Kotor and the four national parks which we visited. We are telling all our walking friends what a good time we had" Williams May 2010
Single Centre Holidays
Coastal Mountains Hotel Single Centre - Enjoy the best walking Montenegro has to offer based beside the sea in the small town of Tivat. You can escape the throng and discover the stunning views as the mountains meet the sea, wonder at the marvels of the ancient fortified town of Kotor and enjoy the wild beauty of the National Parks as they change each season. Available from 1st April to 31st October.
Coastal Mountains Villa Maslina Single Centre - ALL INCLUSIVE Enjoy the same beautiful walks as the Coastal Mountains Single Centre but stay at the private Villa Maslina or Villa Mallo. Villa Maslina is a beautifully converted stone olive mill with 6 stylish ensuite bedrooms, private pool, sun terraces, games area and fantastic views across Boka Bay and the Adriatic. The Villa is available for groups of 6 people or more to book exclusively on an all inclusive basis. It is a great base from which to walk and you can relax beside the pool after an enjoyable days exploring.
Villa Mallo is a three bedroom luxury villa with private pool and roof top sundeck, with wonderful sea & mountain views. Ideal for individuals, couples or groups of up to 5 people.
Both are available from 1st April to 31st October.
" Nothing was too much trouble, Hugh is a real enthusiast and did so much to make our holiday a success - one of the best we've ever had. Hugh's kindness and warmth made our stay in Montenegro so memorable" Robinsons June 2010
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COASTAL MOUNTAINS SINGLE CENTRE ITINERARY
The Trails!
Below is a short description of just some of the walks that are readily accessible to give you an idea of what you can discover.
Lustica Peninsula
Straight from the door our walk takes us along coastal paths with fantastic views of the Adriatic, Boka Bay and the Island of Mala Gospa. At our backs the iconic Lovcen Peak rises to 3000 feet. We pass several Historic churches of the Orthodox faith and climb up to a land mark fort, ruined now, that was built firstly by the Turks and subsequently re built by the Austro Hungarians. The views are spectacular! The climbs are moderate for this part of the walk on an old stone road with a gentle gradient.
We continue up and reach the ancient oak forests at the top of the hill with signs of the wild boar rooting for acorns. Following a stone wall centuries old we gently descend on a grassy track into the main Olive growing region of the peninsular. It is like entering the past with tiny farms and small fields of Olive trees enclosed by dry stone walls. On reaching the tarmac we turn to the left and walk on mainly level bye ways through the farms and historic stone villages. A gravel track takes us down to the sea and the beach at Mirista to finish our walk. Pick up from here by Villa transport.
Vrmac Fort to Tivat
This is a walk can be reduced in length to suit the walker.
Starting from the Tivat/ Kotor old road a small winding lane takes us up on a gentle gradient towards the Vranac Fort. Arriving at the top we take a breather and then meander along the ridge through the oak woods. Coming out onto a gravel/stone track we find ourselves on a narrow spit of hill between two steep drops, the views are amazing to the left the Adriatic and to the right a sheer drop to the Boka Bay and the walled town of Kotor with its ramparts and red roofed buildings. Our walk continues rising gently to the peak and then descending on a series of grassy switch backs through woods to the historic stone village of …. With its newly restored houses and church. We continue the long descent and finish at Big Ben café by the sea in Tivat. Pick up from here by Villa transport. The route can be shortened at the start and finish to suit the walker.
Kotor Walls and Our Lady of the Rock
Montenegro is proud of its UNESCO Heritage Site and Kotor does not disappoint. We start off with a guided tour of the town and coffee in one of the many café’s. Leaving the town behind we climb up a series of paths and stone steps. This is a steep climb but has many resting points with amazing views over Kotor Marina and the many luxury Yachts moored there. Reaching the top we find a small church and fortifications as Kotor by its strategic nature has played a defensive role over the centuries. The walk down is unforgettable as the red roofs loom closer.
Our transport takes us to Perast a wonderfully preserved stone town by the sea with its Captain’s houses and from there we can take a boat to the Island of Our Lady of the Rock with its unique history (boat ride and admission extra).
Lovcen
We drive up to the centre of this iconic peak stopping to look at the jaw dropping views on the way (45 mins). The local café is a place for coffee before we start our walk to the forgotten and hidden village of Markovi. Walking up hill to start with we follow the grassy tracks along hidden donkey trails on mainly level to undulating ground. The trails rises uphill at the end of this section when we arrive at the fort. Another great edifice this one is perched on the extreme edge of Lovcen Mountain with as you have guessed views to the Adriatic. The path divides and we can follow the transversal trail across the side of the mountain on goat tracks to the hidden village or return by a different route to our starting point. If we take the transversal we come down steeply to the village of Magistori an unforgettable place absolutely silent with the purest air imaginable. Herdsman with their flocks still live up here in the summer and the whole place is in a time warp. The trail takes us down in a series of switchbacks and some clambering over rocks to the mountain village below here we pick up the road and our transport back to the Villa.
For a shorter less arduous walk Lovcen has many trails all well marked and we can plan a route to suit your ability.
Skadar Lake
We travel further today along the coast with great views of Stefi Stefan and the coastal scenery on the way. Stopping in the ancient capital of Cetinje we have coffee and a wander round the monastery before starting our walk on the town boundary. An option on this route is to visit ME largest cave Lipska and have a guided tour at the start of the walk.
Our route takes us steadily downhill on donkey tracks through a verdant valley of small farms growing a huge variety of crops on small plots. Wild thyme grows luxuriantly everywhere and the smell pervades our walk. Leaving the villages behind we continue downhill on a variety of small roads and tracks until the amazing site of Skadar Lake spreads before us. The tiny village of Rijeka Crnojevica gives a welcome rest stop and its centuries old pack horse bridge shelters beside a good café for a cold drink or ice cream. There are signs here of the old Yugoslavia with some commemorative monuments. We climb up above the village and take a round walk on tiny tracks through the surrounding hills with views of the lake finishing back at Rijeka. Transport back to the Villa from here.
