How to Spend Three Days in Durmitor National Park
Before moving to Montenegro, I made a list of all the places I wanted to explore while living in this beautiful country. Since the entire country is over four times smaller than my home state of West Virginia, I am determined to check everything out on my list. One place I was especially excited to visit was Durmitor National Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 and is the largest protected area in Montenegro.
Durmitor National Park boasts the deepest canyon in Europe, Tara River Canyon, and Bobotov Kuk, which is officially the tallest peak in Montenegro. Throughout the park there are eighteen glacial lakes, known as the Mountain Eyes. Žabljak is a beautiful town nestled right outside of the park, and it makes a perfect base for hikers to stay. In the winter, you’ll find people there to ski or snowboard down Savin Kuk. There are also trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, which I can’t wait to attempt in the winter.
Our first stop while driving the Durmitor Ring. September 2025
When To Visit
The best time to visit Durmitor National Park is from late May to September, with July and August being the peak tourist months. Keep in mind that at higher elevations, snow and ice can persist well into the summer, making certain trails difficult to complete. In my opinion, late August or early September is the ideal time to visit: warm enough for hiking, cool enough to be comfortable, and hopefully less crowded. Of course, if you’re going to ski, you’ll have to wait until the winter months to visit! We visited Durmitor the last week of September and had perfect hiking weather, albeit a little chilly when the sun went away.
Dinaric Alps, Durmitor National Park. September 2025
Getting There
The drive to Žabjlak from Podgorica, the country’s capital, is about 2 ½ hours. Driving is the best way to see Durmitor, as it is quite large and has an amazing route around the park. I rented a car from Apex Car and would highly recommend them. The car was dropped off right at my door and picked up from there when I returned, all for a reasonable price. The road to Žabljak is a two-lane road with sharp twists and turns, requiring your full attention. Many local drivers speed and pass other cars, making it a bit overwhelming. Although it seemed daunting, the ride went smoothly, and I know others have driven the same route, even in the snow, and been fine!
Where to Stay
As I mentioned, Žabjlak is the perfect town to stay in while visiting. If you plan on camping or RVing, though, there are a few sites throughout the park.
Hostel Hikers Den: For the best low-budget option, Hostel Hikers Den is the way to go. It is located right in the heart of Zabljak, allowing for an easy walk to Crno Jezero and nearby cafes. This hostel is ranked as one of the best in the entire country!
Cottage Borje: These adorable A-frame cottages were ideal for our stay in Žabjlak. They are 5 kilometers away from the town, but this wasn’t an issue at all since we had a car. The cottages are great for the price and feel very rustic and cozy.
Casa di Pino EcoLodge: For a more luxurious feel, Casa di Pino EcoLodge offers a sauna, ski equipment rental, and breakfast. The classy lodge is a bit farther out, but it is still possible to walk/hike to Crno Jezero from there. If you’re looking for a higher-end chalet experience, Casa di Pino is for you.
Three-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Žabljak & Drive Durmitor Ring
Aim to arrive in Zabljak as early as you can. You can stop and walk around the town and browse local stores or cafes. I stopped at a shack called Olivera, just before the park entrance, and bought a lovely wool hat. It ended up saving my ears on our long hike the next day. Rakija, honey, wool sweaters, and more were also available there. We stopped and grabbed an espresso before beginning our drive through the park.
The Durmitor Ring is a 47-mile (85 km) loop circling Durmitor Park. Driving this route on your first day is a great way to get a feel for the park's landscape and everything it has to offer. The drive can be done in around 4 hours, but we drove leisurely, stopping often to take in the views and walk around. It ended up taking us 5 1/2 hours to get back to where we started. The best place to begin the Ring is Žabljak. The only gas station on the loop is located here, so make sure to fill up! They didn’t charge us until we got farther in the park, and it was 5€ for Durmitor National Park plus 1€ for being in the Tara River Canyon section. However, if being in the car for this long isn’t something you would want to do, scroll down to my ‘If You Have More Time’ section for alternatives!
View of the narrow road, Durmitor Ring. September 2025
The road seemed freshly paved, but it was extremely narrow with no guardrails for most of the time. When passing a car, you had to pull off the road, sometimes extremely close to the edge of a steep drop. Most of the cars were driving slowly, though, and we didn’t have any problems. Camper vans were driving throughout the park, so it can be done in larger cars, too. The farmlands were just as striking to drive through as the rocky peaks. We chose to drive counterclockwise, but the route is often driven clockwise. We picked up some homemade rakija (fig-flavored!) on our drive and stopped for a late lunch around 3:00 PM at a small Ethno village.
Sušica Canyon, Durmitor National Park. September 2025
From the towering mountains to the gaping canyons, the landscape transforms along the drive. I would highly recommend this drive to anyone visiting Durmitor National Park. For more information on driving the Durmitor Ring route and where to stop along the way, stay tuned for my next post: A Full Guide to Driving the Durmitor Ring. Click here to see my route with our additional stop at Piva Lake!
Overlooking Piva Lake, Plužine, Montenegro. September 2025
We returned to Žabljak after the sun had set, and we were both exhausted from spending so much time in the car. We grabbed some groceries from the store to pack for our big hike the next day, had some delicious ćevapi from Walter, and then called it a day.
Day 2: Choose Your Hike: Bobotov Kuk, Prutaš Peak, or Jablan Jezero
Tips for Any Hike:
Check the weather carefully
Pack layers
Confirm trail conditions before beginning a hike
Pack more water than you think you will need
Start early
Bring a map or have a map downloaded on your phone (service is often poor)
Let someone know when you leave, what trail you are taking, and when you expect to be back
Never hike alone
Option 1: Hike Bobotov Kuk
Distance: 10km, 17km, or 24km
Expected Time: 8-12 hours round trip, depending on route and fitness level
Starting Point: Mountain Pass Sedlo Parking Lot OR Žabljak
End Point: Mountain Pass Sedlo Parking Lot OR Žabljak
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult, depending on route and fitness level
Trail Marker: White circle with red outline
Beginning the hike to Bobotov Kuk. September 2025
Note: There are three different ways to do this hike: Sedlo→Sedlo (10km round trip), Sedlo↔Žabljak (17km round trip), or Žabljak→Žabljak (24km round trip)! The most popular way is to start and end at Sedlo Pass. The route from Žabljak is more difficult and takes more time. I highly recommend doing a combination of both if you’re able!
We chose to hike Bobotov Kuk starting from Sedlo Pass and ending in Žabljak to experience both routes. We got to the Sedlo Pass parking lot around 8:30 AM, which is 14km past Žabljak. When you get to the parking lot, a ranger will be there, and you will need to pay the 5€ park fee. From the parking lot, you will see a sign saying “Surutka Bobotov Kuk”, and this is where you will begin.
Ascent to Bobotov Kuk. September 2025
You begin with an uphill ascent, but will then follow a narrow trail through a pasture, with the rocky landscape towering above you on all sides. Eventually, you’ll reach Zeleni Vir, a small lake, and then you’ll begin climbing up the rocky mountainside. After you complete this stretch, you will be on the saddle, where the Sedlo Pass route meets the route from Žabljak. In the final minutes of the hike to the top, there are ropes attached to the rocks to help you make your way to the peak. The view at the top is amazing, so you’ll want to plan on spending time appreciating the rugged scenery from above.
View from the top of Bobotov Kuk. September 2025
After you get back to the saddle, you’ll begin to hike down the opposite side you came up on. For me, this was the hardest part of the hike. It’s a very steep mountainside with lots of loose gravel, so it is important to step very carefully and stay close to the ground. However, after you complete these two tricky kilometers, the remaining ten are much more manageable. We did have to hike at a quicker pace since we had gone too slowly on our way up. Unfortunately for us, as soon as we got to the saddle, it began to pour rain, making the path extremely slippery. It took us almost 5 hours to return, with only two short breaks. This is important to keep in mind on your way up!
(For a full guide with more information, check out my separate post on How to Hike Bobotov Kuk, which I’ll be posting soon.)
Option 2: Hike Prutaš Peak
Distance: 10km
Expected Time: 4-6 hours round trip, depending on fitness level
Starting Point: Dobri Do / Šarban Trailhead
End Point: Dobri Do / Šarban Trailhead
Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Marker: White circle with red outline
Prutaš Peak. September 2025
Note: Prutaš Peak can also be reached by a different route, Todorov Do, which makes for a shorter but more difficult hike. Most hikers opt to start at Dobri Do, and I would suggest taking that route as well!
Hiking Prutaš Peak is a great choice if you want a beautiful hike in about half the time as Bobotov Kuk. This hike still requires a high level of fitness, but it is a less risky hike. You will also have phenomenal views of Bobotov Kuk and the surrounding dramatic scenery, along with some herds of sheep along the way. Throughout the hike, you’ll see the unique layered rock pattern that first gave Prutaš Peak its name, and on clear days, you can see Tara Canyon in the North. When you get to Škrčko Ždrijelo mountain pass, you’ll want to keep left to head to the peak.
When you finally reach the peak, you’ll want to head about 15 minutes farther to have a great view looking over Škrčko Jezero. If you want to extend your hike, you can continue in this direction for the next 2.5km and reach the lake. If you choose to do this, add 1-2 hours to your expected time.
Option 3: Hike to Crvena Greda
Distance: 7.5km
Expected Time: 2-3 hours
Starting Point: Bosaca Trailhead, near Momcilov Grad Restaurant
End Point: Bosaca Trailhead, near Momcilov Grad Restaurant
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Durmitor National Park. September 2025
If you want an easier, quicker hike for Day 2, taking this hike to Crvena Greda will be your best choice! This hike starts at a grassy area with multiple paths. You’ll want to take the widest path, which will take you to a crossroads. Here, you’ll continue straight. Just under two kilometers, you’ll get your first view of Jablan Jezero. Some routes take you down to Jablan Jezero, but that hike will require a higher level of fitness and more time–the route will add 2.5 more kilometers to your trip. You’ll be provided with beautiful views throughout your entire hike. When you reach your highest elevation of over 2,000m, you’ll have a very different view than you would atop Bobotov Kuk. Instead of rocky terrain, you’ll be able to see numerous green trees covering the mountains. I recommend packing a lunch and relaxing at the top!
Post-Hike:
After we finished hiking Bobotov Kuk on Day 2, it was already 7:00 PM. We opted to go back to our cottage and get cleaned up before driving back into town. While in Žabjlak, you will definitely want to take advantage of one of the local restaurants. I would highly recommend eating at Restaurant Oro. You can try Montenegrin traditional food, such as kajmak (a thick, soft cheese) or ajvar (a roasted red pepper condiment) . Both can be spread on their delicious domaći hljeb (homemade bread). Other great choices include teleća čorba (veal broth), Durmitorski kačamak (a filling cornmeal porridge), or Dormitorska pastrmka (fresh, local trout).
Day 3: Visit Đurđevića Tara Bridge and Explore Crno Jezero
On our last day, we hopped in the car and took the twenty-minute drive to Đurđevića Tara Bridge. This bridge has an interesting history: It was partially destroyed in 19442 to stop, or at least slow, the Italians from invading Yugoslavia. However, it was rebuilt in 1946. Although we didn’t have time to go ziplining or rafting, we still wanted to go here and look down at the deepest canyon in Europe.
The view of Tara River Canyon from Đurđevića Tara Bridge. September 2025
For an even better view, you can hike up to Čurevac Viewpoint. Keep in mind that this trail is northwest of Žabljak, while the bridge is to the east. The hike to the viewpoint is around 2 km round trip and is an easy yet rocky walk. It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes, and the sweeping view is worth it. The trail begins at this parking lot.
Next, we headed toward Crno Jezero, which translates to Black Lake. You can park your car here for 2€, and then take the easy 15-minute walk to the water. Since we had already been awake for a while, we decided to stop and have breakfast at Nacionalni Restoran Crno Jezero, which has both outdoor and indoor seating overlooking the lake with the mountains in the background. Make sure to try the priganice, a traditional Montenegrin dish made of fried dough balls. They remind me a bit of funnel cake, but instead of powdered sugar, these are often eaten with honey or jam. I also ordered Turkish coffee, which has become a favorite of mine since I moved here.
Crno Jezero, Durmitor National Park. September 2025
After breakfast, we walked the three-mile loop around the lake. It’s a beautiful hike that hugs the shoreline and lets you see the lake from every angle. There are some steps along the way, and the terrain is rocky, but we did not find the hike to be difficult. You’ll get to walk through the towering black pine trees, which gave the lake its name, as they reflect onto the water. Despite this, the lake had a beautiful blue shade while we were there! We finished the loop in about one hour, including our stops for photos along the shore.
Boats and kayaks on Crno Jezero, Durmitor National Park. September 2025
Something interesting about Crno Jezero is that it actually consists of two lakes: Malo Jezero and Veliko Jezero, meaning Little Lake and Big Lake. In the drier seasons, a narrow strip of land becomes exposed, dividing the lake into two separate parts. Even though we were there in late summer, the two lakes had already merged back into one.
View while walking around Crno Jezero. September 2025
After we finished the walk, we decided to sit on the shore and soak up the sun. If you’d rather be more active, you can rent rowboats or kayaks to take out on the lake for 10€ per hour or swim in the designated areas. You can also fish for 20€ per day. We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting by the lake, allowing us to relax and take in the last moments of our time in Durmitor National Park before returning to Podgorica.
If You Have More Time…
Try out these other hikes:
Take a ride on the Savin Kuk ski lift
Zipline over Tara Canyon
Go rafting on the Tara River
Bike the Durmitor Ring road
Try out Via Ferrata
Visit the Stećci sites
Tips for Visiting:
Plan Ahead
Respect Nature
Bring Your Camera
Carry Enough Water
Be Prepared for the Weather
Me on the top of Bobotov Kuk! September 2025
Whether you came to hike the peaks or relax by the lake, Durmitor has a way of offering something for everyone. Take your time and enjoy one of Montenegro’s most beloved places.
