Montenegro Bucket List: Road trip to canyons and bays

Today's finally the day! You can't wait to explore the unspoilt pearl of the Balkans with all its hidden nooks and crannies. So you hop on the plane and off you go! You've just flicked through a few pages of your travel guide, and suddenly you're touching down in Podgorica. You pick up your hire car at the airport and set off for Montenegro's capital.
Once you arrive at your hotel, you put up your feet up and settle in properly. How about a leisurely stroll through the streets this evening and a Montenegrin dinner? Savour the classic national dish Ćevapčići and soak up the vibes of the city as you think about all the discoveries and adventures this beautiful country makes possible!

You wake up and can hardly wait to launch into your Montenegro adventure! And this Balkan country's capital is set to impress! How about a self-led tour of the city, including coffee breaks in trendy cafés? Podgorica also has loads to offer in terms of cuisine and makes foodies feel right at home. Want to get out of the city and catch some real road trip vibes? Then hop in your hire car and head to Lake Skadar! This national park (yep, not just a lake) is the most visited in the country, and as soon as you arrive and see the shimmering bright blue water and the surrounding hills glowing in the lushest green you've ever seen, you'll know exactly why! From hiking to kayaking to boat tours and more, the possibilities for exploring this place are endless... just take your pick (optional, payable on site)!

Today's road trip takes you into the Montenegrin countryside to one of the country's hidden gems. First stop: the Mrtvica Canyon. It's here that you feel the unspoilt nature for the first time: steep cliffs, trees densely covered in moss and crystal-clear water – plus the fairy tale Danilo Bridge. Just a few miles further along your way lies the Morača Monastery, a Serbian Orthodox monastery and one of the most visited cultural and religious sites in Montenegro.
Your next stop is the smallest national park in Montenegro, Biogradska Gora. Despite its size of just 21 mi², it has loads to offer: an enormous variety of flora and fauna as well as one of the last primeval forests in Europe, including the idyllic Lake Biogradsko Jezero. You walk the almost two-mile loop around the lake or hike along other designated paths and soak up the tranquil atmosphere. When you're done, you head to your accommodation, where you put your feet up and enjoy some well-earned relaxation!

Lace up your hiking boots and grab the wheel. It's time for some action! Today, you're travelling along the impressive Tara Gorge towards Durmitor National Park. The entire region around the River Tara is predestined for all kinds of adventures: whitewater rafting, ziplining across the crazy-deep gorge or the Nevidio Canyon, which offers the perfect conditions for canyoning (all activities optionally bookable on site). Not an adrenaline junkie but still don't want to miss out on the beauty of Durmitor National Park? Head to Black Lake (Crno Jezero)! The beautiful glacial lake owes its name to the dark shadows that the deep green spruce, fir and pine trees on its shores cast onto its mirror-smooth surface. A 2.2-mile circular path winds around the lake and offers plenty of opportunities for refreshment, and if you want, you can also enjoy the beauty of the lake from a canoe or kayak (optional, payable on site).