The 3 Peaks Challenge in Montenegro
Summit three spectacular peaks in the UNESCO-listed Durmitor National Park, including a thrilling scramble up Bobotov Kuk
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guideHotel & Chalet
3 nights in lakeside chalets and 1 night in a hotelMeals
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinnersTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Search for the ‘eyes of the mountain’ as you summit Crvena Greda (2117m) and brave a dip in the icy waters of Black Lake
Trek through wildly dramatic landscapes to the top of Prutaš (2393m), possibly the best viewpoint in the country
Bag the epic summit of Bobotov Kuk (2523m), the crowning peak of the Durmitor massif, on a challenging climb
Key Information
Day 1
To Durmitor National Park
Touch down in Podgorica Airport and receive a warm greeting from your host, before embarking on a 2.5hr drive to Žabljak, the gateway to Durmitor National Park. You're likely to take dinner en route and as night time descends, you'll arrive and check in to your cosy lakeside chalets. Get some rest, ready for your epic hiking adventures beginning tomorrow.
Day 2
Ascend Crvena Greda, AKA Red Rock Peak (2175m)
Hiking
After a restful night in Žabljak, fuel up with breakfast and drive to the base of the imposing Crvena Greda (2175m), also known as Red Rock Peak. Today's trek promises a variety of incredible natural landscapes – vibrant meadows, a panoramic summit and serene lakes – the perfect introduction to Montenegro's wild beauty. Begin your ascent at 1750m, threading through colourful flora. The trail leads steadily upward to the summit, where staggering views await of the park's highest peak (Bobotov Kuk), the entire Durmitor massif as well as dozens of glacial lakes in the valley below. Next, begin a panoramic descent via the picturesque Jablan Lake, a tranquil jewel nestled among the mountains, and finally reach the famous Black Lake, surrounded by dense forests and the towering Mount Bear. Don’t let the name fool you: Black Lake is famous for its clear, turquoise waters and if you dare, you can brave a cold dip to celebrate your first summit. Later, head back to the chalet and enjoy a tasty dinner with the rest of your team.
Day 3
Skyward to Prutaš (2393m): hiking among Durmitor's giants
Hiking
Rise early and brace yourself for the ascent to Prutaš (2393m) in the wild heart of Durmitor National Park. The climb starts from the Šarban pass, where each turn reveals a new layer of mountain grandeur. The trail soon meanders through lush meadows and above the serene Skrčka lakes, with the towering peak of Bobotov Kuk watching over you from afar. Upon reaching the summit, you'll be greeted by one of the best viewpoints in the whole of Montenegro. Make your way back to the comfort of Žabljak, celebrating another fantastic hike over dinner, then rest up ready for your thrilling summit hike to Bobotov Kuk – the roof of Durmitor National Park – tomorrow.
Day 4
To the roof of Durmitor: summit Bobotov Kuk (2523m)
Hiking
Wake at sunrise and get ready for an exciting climb up Bobotov Kuk (2523m), the crowning peak of the Durmitor massif. It's considered the highest peak solely in Montenegro (although Zla Kolata in the Albanian Alps is 11m higher, that mountain sits only partly within the Montenegrin border). Reach the trailhead by transfer at 1725m and set off on a relatively gentle ascent. As you gain elevation, the terrain becomes increasingly rugged, culminating in a thrilling push to the summit. Here, you'll tackle some exposed sections along bolted-down iron cables with a bit of scrambling, requiring sure feet and a head for heights. Reaching the top will reward your efforts, as you'll be greeted with staggering vistas stretching all the way across Montenegro and into Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania. You will truly feel atop the roof of Montenegro! Once you're back down, hop on a 2.5 hr ride back to Podgorica where you'll check in at a comfortable city hotel and enjoy a hot shower. Tonight, join your group for a well-earned farewell dinner, sharing tales of the great trails and peaks you've traversed this week!
Day 5
Goodbye Montenegro!
Your adventure in Montenegro comes to an end after breakfast, when your host will drive you to the airport in time for your inbound flight back home. Doviđenja!
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Start each day with a diverse continental breakfast, where cereals, bread, butter, jam, honey, cheese, eggs, bacon and a selection of teas and coffees will fuel you up for the hikes. Come lunchtime on the trail, your guide will arrange some picnics including a medley of fresh bread, meats, cheeses, tomatoes, and cucumber. As the evening draws in, enjoy some tasty group dinners where the culinary traditions of Montenegro take the spotlight. Dishes will be hearty and served in large portions, including traditional soups, locally-grown vegetables and regional dairy and meat dishes. Feel free to bring along any preferred snacks for the trail, especially if you have a sweet tooth, for that extra boost of energy during the hikes. Please note that drinks consumed with included lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Whilst your host can easily cater for vegetarians, it may be more difficult to cater for special diets. The accommodation hosts are usually good at accommodating different dietary requirements but a vegan and gluten free diet may lack variety. For this reason we recommend supplementing your diet with food products and snacks from home. Please let us know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies.
What is the accommodation like?
Žabljak
While in Durmitor National Park you'll spend three nights at a unique lakeside accommodation – Etno Selo Zminica. Nestled in the heart of the majestic northern Montenegro, the property offers a tranquil retreat just a stone's throw from Žabljak and the natural wonders of Durmitor National Park. You'll be accommodated in twin-share rooms, either in the main guesthouse or in separate chalets with lake or forest views. Occasionally (subject to availability), you may be accommodated in two-bedrooms chalets, sharing a bathroom between the two rooms.
Podgorica
Spend the final night of the trip at either Hotel Aurel or Hotel Lazaro, which are both modern 4-star hotels. You'll stay in bright, good-sized rooms on a twin-share basis.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, subject to availability – see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this with your host.
This trip has been rated as Challenging
The average hiking time per day is 5-8 hours, with average distances of 10-15km on rolling or mountainous terrain. There are some steep ascents and descents you'll be tackling in order to reach your summits at altitudes of up to 2500m, but all days can be easily managed if you have previous hiking experience and a good level of fitness. The first two summits (Crvena Greda/Red Rock Peak and Prutas) are usually considered of moderate difficulty, with no particular challenges other than some steep sections typical of mountainous terrain. The final hike up Bobotov Kuk will be more challenging: it includes some parts that will really get your heart pounding, with some short areas which require holding onto a bolted cables, and a bit of scrambling towards the top. You'll need to be sure-footed and unafraid of heights. If you decide not to attempt the final exposed section to the summit, there is always the option to wait for the group (up to one hour) to return while soaking in some beautiful mountain views.
Montenegro’s coastline has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters, whereas the more mountainous area of Durmitor National Park has a sub-alpine climate with warm summers and cold winters. In the mountains, rainfall tends to be more frequent than in the coastal areas, although the weather in summer (between June and September) is generally excellent – with hot days, clear skies and the occasional rain shower. Average temperatures from May to October are generally in the mid-20s (°C) but can reach into the 30s (°C) in July and August. Note that temperatures do drop in the evenings by several degrees. High up in the summits you may also encounter cooler conditions and stormy weather cannot be ruled out at any time of year. Although your host will do their very best to run the itinerary as scheduled, this will always be subject to safe weather conditions.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Podgorica Airport, Montenegro
20:00 on Day 1
Ends
Podgorica Airport, Montenegro
AM on Day 5
Transfers
You'll be picked up at Podgorica Airport 20:00 on Day 1, so make sure you book a flight which arrives in plenty time for the meet up. If you are already in Podgorica prior to Day 1, pick up from the city can be arranged – just contact your host to request this.
Your trip ends in Podgorica and on Day 5 you'll take a group transfer to Podgorica Airport in time for your morning flight. For those needing transportation to different locations (such as car rental pickup) or at other times/days, taxis between Podgorica city centre and the airport can easily be arranged locally at your own expense for a cost of approximately €10-12.
If you decide to extend your trip in Žabljak and therefore need to transfer to/from there independently, you can opt to travel by bus (fares from €12 per person) or by taxi (approximately €120 per journey).
Travel options
There are regular direct flights to Podgorica from London and Manchester (with Wizzair and Ryanair) as well as from the rest of Europe.
Alternatively, you may choose to fly in and out to Tivat on the coast of Montenegro (Tivat offers direct connections with other regional airports in the UK, as well as the rest of Europe). If you use this airport, you can ask your host to provide you with the details of a trusted transfer company who can deliver you to either Podgorica or Durmitor National Park to join the rest of your group. A Tivat to Durmitor transfer costs €150 and takes three hours; the shorter Tivat to Podgorica transfer costs €50-60 and takes two hours.
Another option is to fly to Dubrovnik in Croatia, and make your own way to Podgorica. However, please be aware that during the summer season, significant queues can form at the Croatia–Montenegro border.
Whichever route you choose, please inform your host of your arrival plans well in advance in order to ensure a smooth start to your adventure.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What do I need to bring?
BAGS
- Backpack or duffel bag for your main luggage
- 25-35 litre daypack
CLOTHES
- Hiking trousers
- Hiking boots with good ankle support (broken in)
- Rain/windproof jacket
- Breathable wicking layers
- A few pairs of hiking socks
- Sandals/trainers
- Sun hat
- Buff or light neck scarf, for sun protection
- Warm layers for evenings
- Shorts
- T-shirts
- Swimwear and towel
OTHER
- Universal travel plug adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel insurance documents
- Earplugs
- Suncream
- Sunglasses
- Small flashlight or head torch
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper out to dispose of)
- Quick-dry towel
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Reusable water bottle x1 litre
- Energy bars and snacks
- Walking poles (optional)
Additional Night in Podgorica Single Room
Payable Before Departure
Additional Night in Podgorica Single Room
… Per Night
Additional Night in Podgorica Twin/Double Room
Payable Before Departure
Additional Night in Podgorica Twin/Double Room
… Per Night
Additional Night in Zabljak Single Room
Payable Before Departure
Additional Night in Zabljak Single Room
… Per Night
Additional Night in Zabljak Twin/Double Room
Payable Before Departure
Additional Night in Zabljak Twin/Double Room
… Per Night
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
…
Hiking in the mountains
Great trip. Well organised and a great guide in Balsa. So calm and helpful. Great to be in the beautiful and peaceful mountains. plenty of food and great accommodation.Would definitely recommend this trip.
Great trip cant wait to visit again
Travelled with a friend and after a 4 hour delay (which was catered for by Momir no problem at all) arrived at the accommodation.
Accommodation exceeded expectations, food was great, the days were perfectly planned and our guide Oz was a legend!
I think we were lucky that the group were really friendly which added to the experience which I would love to repeat as the scenery was breathtaking!
Can’t wait to book the next one!
Superb few days!
Great trip expertly organised from start to finish by Momir and Oz. They accommodated a 4 hour delay on our outbound flight which set the the tone of nothing been too much trouble.
Each day was challenging but very rewarding and the accommodation was modern clean and very comfortable.
Looking forward to coming back and exploring further!
Three scenic climbs
Enjoyed climbing three mountains in an area of Europe I've not visited before. Accommodation was great, but the lodge was let down by lack of air conditioning. Included meals were mostly good, some were perhaps overcooked. A bit disappointing we weren't able to climb Bobotov Kuk, due to uncertainties around the weather, but the substitute was still a decent climb.
Breathtaking Views and great hiking
Our trip was Saturday to Wednesday, my daughter (21) and I. We both loved it and will be booking more trips. The small group (9) was a great size to get to know everyone and have good chats during and after the hiking. The hiking itself was very well guided, challenging but well paced always enjoyable. As in my title, the scenery was spectacular. Our hosts in Montenegro were very accommodating, which led to a stress free break. The accommodation exceeded our expectations.
Amazing scenary and challenge level
Perfect for a few days to get away. Accommodation, food, difficulty level and amount of free time all perfect. Scenary was spectacular. Lake swimming was a real highlight.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 120kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.
Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.
What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice, however your host suggests the below as a guideline:
Waiters: 10-15% of the bill Drivers: €2-€5 per person per day Guides: €10-€15 per person per day Assistant Guides: €5-€10 per person per day
Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Any excess luggage can be safely left in your mountain chalet accommodation while out on the hikes. You'll only need to take and a 25-35 litre backpack with to carry what you need for the day – which may include a rain jacket, fleece, t-shirts, camera, sun cream, water and picnic lunch. On hot days you will carry fewer clothes, but more drinking water.
In the event of poor weather such as unmelted snow, heavy rain, strong winds and/or storms, it is possible that conditions may become unsafe to summit the mountains on this trip. This is particularly relevant for the final summit hike to Bobotov Kuk, where trails can easily become unsafe due to slippery conditions. Your guide will assess the weather for summit days with your safety in mind. If it becomes necessary to make a change to the planned itinerary, you'll either hike as far as is safe to do so, or be offered an alternative hike (such as Savin Kuk (2313m), which is less challenging but safer in adverse conditions).
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
Got questions? We've got answers
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DEPARTURE DATES
Saturday • 7th September 2024
to Wednesday • 11th September 2024
Saturday • 21st September 2024
to Wednesday • 25th September 2024
