Durmitor, Tara And Ostrog, 13 Hours

Montenegro: Durmitor, Tara & Ostrog Monastery Day Trip runs through Gray Line Montenegro. Rated 4.7 across 2,645 reviews. Runs 13 hours. From $120.

Overview

This is a 13-hour loop out of the Bay of Kotor that packs most of northern Montenegro into a single day: two photo stops on the bay, a breakfast halt in Nikšić, the Tara canyon and Đurđevića Tara Bridge, a hike around Black Lake in Durmitor National Park, lunch in Žabljak, and a final stop at Ostrog Monastery before the long drive back. Gray Line Montenegro runs it with a professional English-speaking guide and transport by minivan or minibus from Kotor, Budva, Tivat or Herceg Novi.

The day starts with a short photo stop at Perast, where the islands of Our Lady of the Rocks and Saint George sit in the bay, then climbs to a viewpoint above Risan Bay. After the drive inland and breakfast at Nikšić near Salty Lake, the route crosses into mountain country, passing pine and deciduous forest toward the bridge over Tara Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe. Black Lake is the walking highlight, on a 4-kilometre trail, followed by Žabljak, the highest town in the Balkans at 1,450 meters, for a traditional lunch.

The listing pitches the tour as a perfect introduction for first-time visitors, and that is a fair description of what it delivers. It is a long day with a lot of driving on winding roads, as one reviewer cautioned, but most describe it as a well-run way to cover serious distance. Note that the national park entrance fee and all food are paid separately.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup and Perast stopMeet at the selected point in Kotor, Budva, Tivat or Herceg Novi, depending on the option booked. A 20-minute drive brings the first photo stop at Perast, for 10 minutes, followed by another photo stop at the Bay of Kotor.
2. Drive to NikšićAbout 1 hour on the road to Nikšić, the second biggest city in Montenegro, with a photo stop at the artificial Salty Lake and a breakfast break. Food and drink are not included.
3. Tara River photo stopAfter roughly 80 minutes of driving into the mountains, stop for photos at the Tara River, near Đurđevića Tara Bridge, completed in 1940 and 172 meters above the canyon floor. The Đurđevića Tara Bridge over the Tara River canyon is free to visit, with no ticket or entry fee required.
4. Black Lake hikeContinue to Black Lake in Durmitor National Park, one of 18 glacial lakes above 1,500 meters known as the Mountain Eyes. Hike the 4-kilometer trail around the lake. The park entrance fee of 5€ per person is extra.
5. Žabljak lunchStop at Žabljak, the highest town in the Balkans at 1,450 meters above sea level, with an hour of free time and a lunch of traditional Montenegrin food at your own cost, from 12€.
6. Ostrog MonasteryDrive about an hour to Ostrog Monastery, Montenegro's most visited spiritual site, for an hour of sightseeing. See the relics of the monk Vasilije Ostroški, who founded the monastery.
7. Return to the coastA final 2-hour drive back, with drop-off at Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi and other listed stops.

What To Expect From The Tour

Thirteen hours is a big commitment, and the shape of the day matters more than the headline stops. Here is what past travellers and the listing suggest preparing for.

• Long drives. Several reviewers warn that much of the day is spent in the vehicle on winding mountain roads. They still describe the trip as worthwhile, and one advises sitting on the left side of the bus for the views. Bring something to pass the time on the transfers.
• Walking at altitude. The Black Lake circuit is 4 kilometers on a trail at high elevation, and Žabljak sits at 1,450 meters. Comfortable shoes and warm clothing are both on the packing list. One reviewer noted the day can get very hot, so layers that work in both conditions make sense.
• Food is extra. Breakfast and lunch stops are built into the day but not paid for. Breakfast starts from 5.50€ and lunch from 12€, and a couple of reviewers praised the food at the stops, one calling the lunch and dinner venues great with reasonable prices. Carry some cash beyond that for the park fee.
• Entrance fee. The Durmitor National Park entrance fee of 5€ per person is paid on the day and is not part of the tour price. Everything else on the itinerary, including transport and the guide, is covered.
• Small vehicle feel. One reviewer's group was seven people in a minivan and found it comfortable. Groups travel by minivan or minibus, and many reviewers single out the guides for their knowledge and friendliness.
• What to pack. The listing recommends comfortable shoes, warm clothing, sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, a camera and water. That mix reflects the range of conditions across the day, from sun on the coast to cooler air around Durmitor.

Common issues. The honest downside is time: the day involves roughly seven hours of driving in total, and one reviewer says to expect a lot of time in the bus on winding roads. Some travellers would have liked more time at Black Lake than the schedule allows, according to the review summary. One reviewer reported air conditioning not working on back seats during hot weather. On one departure, holiday celebrations at a church led to a changed route taking in the Durmitor rim instead. From 8 August onwards, construction means walking across the Đurđevića Tara Bridge is not permitted, so that stop becomes a viewing stop only. Food, drink and the 5€ park fee are extra, and hotel pickup is not included, so travellers make their own way to the meeting point for their chosen option.

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