The 3 Peaks Challenge in Montenegro

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.

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).

Some shops in Žabljak do not accept cards and there is the possibility that card payments might fail due to a weak signal, so you are advised to carry some cash with you for drinks, souvenirs and the like.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Montenegro’s cuisine in the mountainous north, especially around Durmitor, is based on traditional pastoral cooking shaped by Balkan and Ottoman influences. Meals commonly include grilled and smoked meats, local cheeses, fresh vegetables and hearty stews made with seasonal ingredients. Vegetarians can usually manage with salads, grilled vegetables, soups and simple bean or potato dishes, but vegan and dairy-free travellers may find options limited due to the frequent use of cheese, yoghurt and meats. Serious food allergies, including to gluten, can also be challenging, as bread is a staple and cross-contamination is common in small, family-run kitchens, so advance planning and carrying translated dietary notes is strongly recommended.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian and Pescatarian

Vegetarian & pescatarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance, although you should expect options to be simpler and have limited variety.

Vegan

Vegan diets can’t be catered for on this trip, due to the remote environment in which it takes place and a lack of available produce in the destination, especially in small family-run hotels and restaurants.

Kosher

Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal

Certified Halal supply varies by destination and cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free and Lactose Free

Note: For Coeliac disease please see the allergies section below.

Gluten-free & lactose-free diets are difficult to cater for on this trip. While your host will do their best to meet these requirements, please be aware that the required produce and ingredients are not abundant in this destination, and you may find the food provided limited and repetitive. Please do consider bringing your favourite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy (including Coeliac disease), please get in touch with our CX team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority.

Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. 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. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

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.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

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 as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

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. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

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.

Montenegro enjoys over 250 sunny days annually, making it ideal for sun-lovers. Montenegro's coastal regions enjoy a Mediterranean climate, while Podgorica experiences very hot summers. In Podgorica, July and August temperatures often exceed 35°C (95°F), with long, dry days. In contrast, Durmitor National Park offers cooler summers, with daytime temperatures ranging from 18-24°C (64-75°F), sometimes reaching 28-29°C (82-84°F) on the warmest days. Evenings can see significant drops in temperature. While summer weather is generally favourable, unpredictable mountain storms are possible. Your host will prioritise safety and adjust the itinerary if necessary due to weather conditions.