National Parks, Lakes, and Canyons

Seventy peaks over two thousand meters, the southernmost fjord of the Mediterranean, and Europe's deepest canyon: everything can be found in Montenegro! On this bike tour, you'll ride on panoramic roads amidst mighty mountain peaks, follow the blue waters of River Tara, and finally arrive at the magically beautiful bay of Kotor.

Montenegro has been lying between the East and the West since the days of the Roman Empire and has been influenced by the varying history of the last two thousand years. The food offers the best of the Balkan kitchen with dishes like Pjeskavica and Ćevapčidi, matched by the powerful domestic wines.

For more comfort while cycling through the very hilly landscape, we recommend the use of an electric bike.

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Highlights

• Cycling along the Tara River, the deepest canyon of Europe
• National Park Durmitor
• Lake Piva
• Niksic, Montenegro's second-largest city
• Ostrog Monastery
• National Park Lake Skadar
• Cetinje
• The Bay of Kotor and city of Kotor
• Cycling down the popular Ladder of Kotor

Learn More

Learn more about self-guided tours.

Daily program

Please note distances and elevations are approximate and may vary slightly based on hotel or itinerary changes necessary due to changes in route conditions.

Day 1: Arrival to Mojkovac
Individual arrival to Montenegro. If arrival time allows, we recommend you take the train to Mojkovac. This section of the train line, Belgrade-Bar, is one of the most beautiful mountain railways in Europe. You may also book a private transfer through the tour operator (about 2 hours).
Overnight in Mojkovac.

Day 2: Cycling along the Tara River – Zabljak (40 miles/65 km; total elevation gain 3,281 feet/1000 m; total descent 3,281 feet/1000 m)
You cycle along the Tara River into Europe's longest and deepest canyon, where the rock walls come closer and closer to finally open up a panorama of the river. Right at the historically infamous Tara bridge, you meet our transfer which shuttles the final ascent to National Park Durmitor.

Today you have an optional cuisine tasting (not included in tour package). You'll enjoy a food tasting in the mountains with a local family in National Park Durmitor.
Overnight in Zabljak.

Day 3: Zabljak – National Park Durmitor (34 miles/55 km; total elevation gain 2,953 feet/900 m; total descent 5,249 feet/1600 m)
The journey continues to the magnificent National Park Durmitor with more than 25 peaks of over 2500 meters, where glaciers have carved a landscape of desolate expanses and deep canyons in a sparsely populated agricultural area. Soon the landscape will be wooded and the road winds its way downhill to lake Piva. This one of the most beautiful cycling sections of Montenegro.
Overnight in Pluzine.

Day 4: Pluzine – Niksic (37 miles/60 km; total elevation gain 2,625 feet/800 m; total descent2,953 feet/900 m)
The beautiful lake Piva is framed by high peaks and we cycle through a dramatic landscape characterized by running, stationary and falling water. We make a detour to the Orthodox monastery Piva, where time has stood still since the 16th century. The ultimate goal is Montenegro's second-largest city, Niksic, where you are accommodated in the middle of the city. Join the locals in one of the bars in the pedestrian zone.
Overnight near Niksic.

Day 5: Niksic – Ostrog Monastery – Virpazar (37 miles/60 km; total elevation gain 2,625 feet/800 m; total descent 3,609 feet/1100 m)
On winding roads, we climb up to the well-known and dramatically Ostrog monastery, which lies as wedged in the rock wall. From all over the Balkans, pilgrims from any religion seek to be blessed by Saint Sava. While riding you are blessed with the magnificent view towards the fertile Zeta valley. A final pleasant downhill takes you towards the capital Podgorica. There you meet your transfer shuttle which takes you in 30min to Virpazar in NP Lake Skadar.

Note: Along this section, you follow the Niksic-Podgorica railway. If you'd like to shorten today's cycling between Danilovgrad and Podgorica, you may take the train.)
Overnight in Virpazar.

Day 6: Virpazar – National Park Lake Skadar – Serpentine road to Kotor (34 miles/55km; total elevation gain 2,297 feet/700m; total descent 5,906 feet/1800m + transfer)
Today's cycling is split into two sections. On a beautiful side road, you cycle through the villages of National park Lake Skadar. You pass some typical villages and discover the unique landscape of the biggest lake of the Balkans. Around lunchtime, you arrive in the village of Rijeka Crnojevica. Charge your batteries with fish specialties from the lake.

Here you'll also meet your transfer (1 hour), which takes you via Cetinje to National park Mount Lovcen. The Venetians called Mount Lovcen the Black Mountain, and this is what gave Montenegro its name. Conclude this day with another cycling highlight – the epic downhill on the serpentine road to the Bay of Kotor right to the shores of the Adriatic sea.

Today you have an optional cuisine tasting (not included in tour package). You'll enjoy a food and wine tasting with a local family in National Park Lake Skadar.
Overnight in Kotor.

Day 7: The highlights of the Bay of Kotor (28 miles/45 km; total elevation gain/loss 656 feet/200 m)
The bay of Kotor features outstanding natural beauty but also numerous cultural highlights, like Roman mosaics in Risan and last but not least the church islands of the baroque town of Perast. Explore the bay while cycling along the beautiful coast. This relaxed day completes this magnificent biking adventure from the mountains to the sea in Montenegro.

Today you have an optional cuisine tasting (not included in tour package). You'll enjoy a food and wine tasting with a local family in Kotor.
Overnight stay Kotor.

Day 8: Departure
The included services end after breakfast. Optional transfer to airport (for an additional fee).

Surface and terrain

This tour features a very hilly landscape with significant total climbs and descents over the course of each cycling day. Most of the tour takes place on old railway track paths or side roads with low traffic.

While there is not a regular support vehicle for you on this self-guided tour, you will have a few scheduled transfers throughout the program. Day 5 offers you an opportunity to shorten the distance with a train transfer (not included in tour package).

Hotels

The following hotels are provided only as samples and may vary based on availability.

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start
Nearest airport: Tivat or Podgorica airports, Montenegro or Dubrovnik, Croatia

Tour end
Nearest airport: Kotor, Montenegro

Transfer from the airport to your first hotel and transfer from final hotel to the airport are available through the tour operator for an additional fee. Or you may arrange private transfers on your own.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights accommodation
• Breakfast
• Luggage transfers
• Roadbook and maps
• Local emergency support by phone
• Orientation meeting on Day 1
• First aid kit
• Local cell phone
• Transfers as listed in the Daily Program*

*While there is not a regular support vehicle for you on this self-guided tour, you will have a few scheduled transfers throughout the program to bridge the most difficult sections or to avoid heavily-trafficked roads.

Bike rentals

Bikes available to rent on this tour include (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• TREK FX3 touring bike, 27-speeds
• Electrically-assisted bike
• Road bike, Specialized Allez Elite 

Equipment included with the bike rental:

• Repair set
• Pump
• Helmet
• Lock

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE. 

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

Helmets:
Helmets are available on this tour; however, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.

Tour Company