Labour holiday: Kotor, Lovćen, Rumija, Skadar Lake

01-04.maj 2025.

Dates

4 days

Duration

12+

Years

moderate

🏰 Kotor – Between the blue waves of the Adriatic and the cliffs of Lovcen, lies the medieval town of Kotor - a UNESCO-protected jewel of the Mediterranean. Stone streets intertwined with cat paths hide stories of centuries of history, while the imposing city ramparts invite you to visit their heights and enjoy the breathtaking view. East and West, sea and mountains, past and present meet here in perfect harmony.

🗻 Lovćen - The mountain giant that watches over Boka Kotorska, Lovćen is more than a mountain - it is a symbol of Montenegrin pride and freedom. At a height of 1,657 meters, Njegoš's Mausoleum preserves the eternal dream of the great poet, while the surrounding paths lead through the untouched nature of the national park. From the top, you can see three states and seven different bays—a sight that will make you pause in silent admiration.

⛰️ Rumija – The mystical mountain Rumija rises like a natural rampart between the sea and Lake Skadar. This mountain preserves ancient secrets and traditions - a place where the unique ritual of bringing the cross to the top of the mountain has been held for centuries. From a height of 1,594 meters, the view stretches from the Albanian coast to the depths of Montenegro, creating an unforgettable panoramic experience.

🏛️ Stari Bar - An ancient city that tells the stories of merchants, warriors and ordinary people who walked its stone streets for centuries. The ruins of Stari Bar testify to the turbulent history and different cultures that left their mark. Surrounded by olive groves over 2000 years old, this open-air city-museum invites you to explore its secrets and feel the spirit of the past.

💧 Skadarsko jezero - The largest lake in the Balkans is a wonderful combination of water and land, home to rare birds and plants. Its waters hide medieval monasteries on the islands, while traditional fishing villages adorn its shores. A boat ride through the "Montenegro Amazon" reveals a maze of water channels, water lilies, and reeds, creating the feeling that you have stepped into a completely different world.

Experience unforgettable Labour holidays in the beautiful regions of Montenegro! This unique tour will take four days of hiking, exploring, and enjoying nature.

Climb the magnificent Lovćen and enjoy the view from Njegoš's mausoleum that unites the sky and the sea. Explore the picturesque walls of Kotor and discover the secrets of the UNESCO city. We will go hiking on the mystical Rumija, from where we will see the blue sea and the green mountain peaks in one glance. For the perfect end to the adventure, we will relax on the waters of Skadar Lake - the largest in the Balkans, where a boat ride or kayak ride awaits us.

DEPARTURE LOCATION	The parking lot at the municipality New Belgrade
DEPARTURE TIME	24 h Beograd
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE	Transportation from Belgrade A total of 3 nights with breakfast in a 3* hotel - 2 nights in Kotor and 1 night in Virpazar Hiking tours in Lovcen, Rumija, and Kotor Boat ride or kayaking on Lake Skadar Tickets for National Park Lovćen and National Park Skadar Lake Tickets for visiting the Njegoš's Mausoleum Local taxes Mountaineering licensed guides Tours according to the program and tour guide
NOT INCLUDED	Other meals and individual costs not mentioned International travel health insurance

Additional notes:

Necessary personal equipment for the Labour holidays tour of Montenegro:
- Deep hiking shoes with Vibram soles, trekking poles, and adequate clothing according to the weather conditions. A backpack with the necessary hiking equipment for a three-day hike, enough water (1.5-2 l per day), external battery for a mobile phone, energy bars, fruit, spare t-shirts, long hiking pants, waterproof and windproof jacket (soft shell), raincoat, headlamp, sunscreen, hat, or cap.
- Mountaineering tours are recommended for people in good physical condition. They are not recommended for people with health problems. The guide reserves the right not to take persons with inadequate equipment on the hike. Consumption of alcoholic beverages before and during hiking is prohibited; in case of bad weather and other objective circumstances, hiking can be postponed to another date.
- Those who do not want to hike can spend time on their own and enjoy shorter walks and tours in the area.
Accommodation: double and triple rooms in a 3* hotel in Kotor and Virpazar with private bathrooms.
Food: 3 breakfasts are provided
Labour holiday tour of Montenegro is organized for at least 18 registered passengers.
In case of an insufficient number of registered passengers or unfavorable weather conditions, the deadline for notification of the postponement or cancellation of the tour by the organizer is 3 days before departure.

Reservations:

When registering for Labour holiday tour Montenegro, the full amount, or ~ 30% or 100 EUR is paid. The rest of the amount is paid in a maximum of two parts (125 EUR + 120 EUR). The last part is paid no later than April 15, 2025 (payment is made through an account in the dinar equivalent at the mid-rate of the NBS on the day of payment).
Trip cancellations by passengers:
- If the Traveler cancels the trip in a timely manner (90 to 45 days), the Organizer has the right to compensation only for the incurred administrative costs.
  - 10% if the trip is cancelled 44 to 30 days before the start of the trip,
  - 20% if cancelled 29 to 20 days before the start of the trip,
  - 40% if cancelled 19 to 15 days before the start of the trip,
  - 80% if canceled 14 to 10 days before the start of the trip,
  - 90% if canceled 9 to 6 days before the start of the trip,
  - 100% if cancelled 5 to 0 days before the start of the trip or during the trip.

The organizer reserves the right to correct prices due to changes in the monetary market or changes in accommodation or transportation prices, as well as the right to change the travel program (order of certain contents in the program due to objective circumstances).

Price list number 1 from 14.02.2025. Travel Program ID 42080

With this program are valid General conditions of travel organizer of the travel agency Explore Balkans doo.

license number OTP 22/2024, A category.

First day: Belgrade - Kotor - hiking tour Vrmac

Departure from Belgrade at midnight, (Wednesday, April 30/Thursday, May 1).
Night drive and journey to Montenegro, with breaks along the way.
Arrival at the Montenegrin coast and Kotor in the morning, around 9 am. Break for coffee and breakfast lasting about an hour.
Odlazak na pešačku turu.
Climb to Vrmac, the hill that divides the bays of Kotor and Tivat. It is characterized by beautiful panoramas of both bays, the Lovćen mountain and the old town of Kotor. Vrmac on the Kotor side continues as it were from the Lovćen mountain, and ends at the Veriga strait. The highest peak is Sveti Ilija at 765 m. One of the more interesting fortifications is the abandoned Vrmac fortress, built by Austria-Hungary in the 19th century.
Information about a hiking trail: about 16 km long, with an altitude difference of about 600 m, belongs to the medium-easy category and can be crossed in about 5 to 6 hours with breaks.
Departure for accommodation in a 3* hotel (double and triple rooms with bathrooms). Placement in rooms. Free time. Overnight stay.

Second day: Kotor - Lovćen

Breakfast. Transfer to Cetinje.
Between Kotor and Cetinje stretches a harsh rocky area known as Kameno More - a symbol of Montenegrin perseverance and freedom. This barren region was a refuge for Montenegrins from the Ottoman invaders until Ivan Crnojević founded Cetinje, the future cultural and historical capital. Today, Cetinje bears the epithet "the city of museums", preserving sights such as the castle of King Nikola, the Cetinje Monastery and Njegoš's Billiards. Above it, on Lovcen, rises the Njegoš mausoleum - the highest in the world, located on Jezerski Vrh at 1,657 m, right next to the highest peak of Lovcen, Štirovnik, whose height is 1,749 m.
Arrival at the starting point of the hiking trail on Lovćen, at Ivanova Korita, which is a well-known picnic spot and tourist destination within the Lovćen National Park, at an altitude of about 1,270 meters. Beautiful viewpoints and varied terrain make this trail an excellent choice for all nature lovers!
Information about a hiking trail: length of about 14 km, with a total ascent and descent of about 400 m, belongs to the easy category and can be crossed in about 5 hours with breaks.
After the hike, a visit to the Njegoš mausoleum. The mausoleum is one of the most impressive cultural and historical monuments in Montenegro, offering a spectacular view of the coast and the Montenegrin mountains.
Return to the hotel. Free time. Overnight stay.

Third day: Kotor - Rumija - Stari Bar

Breakfast. Transfer to Rumija. The climb to Rumija (1,634 m), a symbol of the coastal mountains, provides an unforgettable hiking experience with a spectacular view of Skadar Lake, the Adriatic Sea and Prokletije.
The first part of the trail leads along a short paved road, and then goes up steeper through a dense forest, which provides pleasant shade. After leaving the forest, a spacious meadow opens up with great panoramic viewpoints to the top. In spring, the path is surrounded by greenery. The planned ascent route is: Mark's Stone - Rumija Peak - Monastery of St. Sergius of Radonje - Mark's Stone.
Information about a hiking trail: length of about 14 km, with a difference in height of 914 m, with a total ascent and descent of about 930 m, belongs to the middle category and can be crossed in about 6 to 7 hours with breaks.
Return to the hotel. Free time. Overnight stay.

Fourth day: Bar - Skadar Lake - Belgrade

Breakfast. Leaving the hotel. Transfer to Rijeka Crnojević and depart for kayaking tour or boating tour on Skadar Lake.
The last day of our Labpur holiday adventure brings real enjoyment in the untouched nature of Lake Skadar - the largest lake in the Balkans and one of the five national parks of Montenegro. On a kayak tour or a relaxing boat ride, we will explore the hidden lagoons, floating water lilies, and the rich flora and fauna of this natural pearl.
Skadar Lake is a true kingdom of wild birds, among which the curly pelican stands out - its most famous resident. 280 species of birds live here, making it a paradise for nature and photography lovers. The lake is also known for its endemic fish ukleja, and its deep underwater sources, the so-called sublacustrian eyes, hide fascinating secrets, reaching depths of up to 60 meters.
We end our tour in Virpazar, a picturesque fishing village, where we will have free time for lunch and the opportunity to taste famous Crmnica wines. You will enjoy the authentic flavors of the Montenegrin South before we head back to Belgrade.
The departure for Belgrade is planned in the afternoon to arrive around 10 pm, with a note that the exact time of return depends on the road conditions and breaks along the way.