Durmitor (Žabljak)

UNESCO-listed Durmitor National Park, where the Black Lake mirrors limestone peaks and the Tara River Canyon is Europe's deepest, with ziplining at the Tara Bridge, canyon rafting and the Piva Lake loop.

Durmitor National Park lies in northwestern Montenegro and was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1980. The base is Žabljak (around 1,450 m above sea level, one of the highest towns in the Balkans). The park combines limestone mountains, eighteen glacial lakes and two deep canyons: the mountains include the highest peak, Bobotov Kuk (2,523 m), the Savin Kuk ski area and the Ice Cave, with the Black Lake right on the edge of Žabljak; to the north, the Tara River Canyon plunges about 1,300 m, making it Europe's deepest, spanned by the Đurđevića Tara Bridge; to the west is the Piva valley, where the emerald Piva Lake and the Nevidio Canyon both lie on the Durmitor Ring. Seasons: Jun–Sep is best for hiking, rafting and driving the loop, with cool days but peak crowds in Jul–Aug; Dec–Mar is ski season, with lifts at Savin Kuk and Javorovača. In spring, high mountain roads are often snowbound – the Sedlo Pass usually opens around late May, and snow may close roads again after October. Getting there: About 2.5 hours' drive from Podgorica and about 3 hours from Kotor; long-distance buses run to Žabljak, but the park's sights are spread out, so driving or joining a local tour is most convenient. Allow 2–3 days: one for the Black Lake and the Ice Cave or a climb of Bobotov Kuk, one for driving the loop over the Sedlo Pass to Piva Lake, and one for the Tara Bridge, ziplining and rafting on the Tara. Park entry costs about €3–5; register for hikes and watch out for afternoon thunderstorms.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries