On backpacking and hitchhiking to Durmitor National Park in Montenegro
After Russia, Montenegro was probably the country I was most looking forward to visiting on this trip. I think I had dreamed of going to Montenegro since I was 17.
My sister and I were both living in Germany at the time and were planning a trip somewhere, but when I suggested Montenegro she told me it was too dangerous and we would have to go to Dublin instead. So we did, because older sisters.
One decade later and I finally made it to Montenegro! And wow did it not disappoint.
First stop: the mountains!
Dan and I hitchhiked from our campsite on the Drina River in Bosnia into Montenegro, during which I spent a good 30 minutes with my face pressed against the window, mouth open in awe (thanks for the ride, sorry for drooling on your window!).
Because this:
Forget Norway, I think Montenegro might just be the most beautiful country in the world. (Do I say that about every country? Well I swear this time it’s true!)
Getting to Durmitor National Park
Another superlative Montenegro can proudly claim is easiest country to hitchhike in. I thought I had found rides ridiculously quickly in Hungary and Macedonia, but in Montenegro we consistently got rides with the very first car that saw us. Not that I would have minded waiting around longer in the gorgeous places we hitched from.
In the end, however, it turned out hitchhiking in Montenegro might be too easy.
When our driver kept saying something about sneg I assumed he was telling us that the Durmitor mountains were really pretty now and still had snow on them. But after a long (and beautiful) drive high up into the mountains he pulled over in Trsa and found someone to explain to us in English that we couldn’t actually take this road to our intended campsite in Zabljak because the road had been closed after the recent snowstorm.
Oh.
After some more hitchhiking, a long hike, and some confusing directions we realized that we would have to walk back down the mountain to where we started to hopefully catch a ride around the mountain on a bigger road that wasn’t closed off.
At least the drive up had been worth it. I mean, how pretty is Trsa?
In any other country this probably would have meant we’d have to camp by the side of the road, but since we were in Montengro we found rides into Durmitor in no time!
Camping in Durmitor National Park
There are lots of cute inns and mountain lodges around Durmitor, but if you’re visiting the park in the summer you can also camp! Camping in Durmitor National Park was a bucket list item for me, so it was exciting to actually get there and set up my tent.
We camped at a campsite on the outskirts of Durmitor National Park’s entrance, though when I one day (hopefully!) return to the Balkans with a car I would want to stay farther away in Savnic, which is a beautiful small town much more charming than Zabljak, which is a ski resort town that felt strange to stay in out of season.
Not that I’m complaining, because staying in Zabljak meant being within easy walking distance to Durmitor. And these beautiful Durmitor views:
No more camping outside a national park we couldn’t actually make it to!
And thank goodness for that, because Durmitor definitely shouldn’t be missed. It might be a bit off the usual tourist track in Montenegro – as in, it’s not the Bay of Kotor – but the landscape is beautiful and so unique! I loved being high up in the mountains again, and then it was quite easy to get from Durmitor down to the Bay of Kotor.
Have you been to Montenegro yet?
PIN IT!
Patti says
Your last photo was so funny, my first comment was going to be “Picture Perfect” photos! 😉
Silvia says
Haha Dan took it and then said that that should be the title of the blog post!
Lauren Satterfield says
I was just there last week for the first time. We only had one day but I fell in love with the place and want to do an extended trip there. Simply breathtaking!!!
Silvia says
I would love to go back as well!
Ashley says
Durmitor looks beautiful! The list of places I need to visit in Montenegro is getting longer and longer – the whole country looks gorgeous.
Silvia says
I would happily spend a whole summer exploring that tiny country!
Vanessa @ The Travelling Colognian says
Wow, Dormitor looks indeed beautiful, great photos! I didn’t know that Montenegro is such an amazing country and that hitchhiking there is so easy and uncomplicated. I also had no idea that you have lived in Germany when you were younger. Where exactly have you been based?
Silvia says
I spent a year in Hüfingen and went to gymnasium in Donaueschingen!
Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki says
I have added so many must see spots to my list from your blog and Montenegro is definitely going on there!
Silvia says
Montenegro is still on my list, because I definitely need to go back and see more of the country!
Justine says
Wow, so pretty! And those A-frame houses are kind of the cutest things ever 🙂
Silvia says
Right? I was obsessed with those little houses!
Marie @ Marie Away says
I haven’t been to Montenegro yet, but the landscape looks incredible. Honestly, I’ve also never hitchhiked before. I need to head to these countries that make it easy!
Silvia says
The Balkans really would be the perfect place to start hitchhiking 🙂
Kate says
Wow. Wow. The photos from your trip, absolutely incredibly!! How breathtaking. I understand why you were drooling on the window, ha!
Silvia says
Haha I did so much drooling in Montenegro!
Melanie Fontaine. says
Okay, you’ve convinced me: I need to visit Montenegro! I’ve heard from multiple now how magnificent the landscape there is and I’d love to experience this beauty with my own eyes one day soon! 🙂
Silvia says
Yesss you definitely won’t regret it!
Angie says
Just wanted to say that I’ve loved reading your blog lately! My next trip is to Eastern Europe and I’m hoping to visit Montenegro. After seeing your post I’m determined to make that happen, it looks like such a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing.
Silvia says
Ah that sounds like it’s going to be an amazing trip, I just know it!
Miriam of Adventurous Miriam says
Oooh, I was just there three days ago. I absolutely loved the nature in Durmitor, especially Black Lake. But overall, the scenery and landscape in Slovenia impressed me more. I liked the fairytale theme 🙂
Silvia says
There aren’t many places that I think could rival Montenegro, but Slovenia is definitely one of them! I love the fairytale feeling there too!
Christine | A Keane Sense of Adventure says
Wow, gorgeous! I’m not sure if gorgeous is a strong enough adjective! I love lakes surrounded by mountains!
Silvia says
There really is something just so magical about mountain lakes!
Karisa @ Flirting with the Globe says
Wow- gorgeous!!!! Montenegro is high on my list – and these photos make me itch to get there soon!
Silvia says
I’m already itching to return to Montenegro!
Christina - CavaforLunch.com says
How beautiful! I love every single picture! I need to to Montenegro asap 🙂
Silvia says
And I’m already dreaming of returning to Montenegro asap!
Ronda says
Just looking at this is relaxing and so beautiful. I wish I was there right now.
Silvia says
I would love to be back there now too 🙂
Sarah says
Montenegro is definitely one of the most beautiful countries I’ve been to. So far I’ve only seen Kotor but I’m dying to go back and explore some more, especially after seeing these photos!
Silvia says
Right? I’m dying to explore more of Montenegro as well!
Camille says
Montenegro is rising and rising on my wish list, everyone seems to love it so much! And I’d heard about the easy hitchhiking there – I wonder why they’re so open to it?
Silvia says
I think maybe part of why hitchhiking is so easy is that it’s such a small country with so few people. Everyone just seems so trusting and friendly to each other!
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
I haven’t been to Montenegro yet but I see clearly why I should! Eastern Europe and the Balkan states are sooo beautiful. Yep! Definitely skiing territory. I can see it now LOL!
Silvia says
Yes, skiing territory for sure!!
Jub says
Boom! This place is insanely awesome, looks like I have added another National Park to visit while in Europe 🙂
Silvia says
Absolutely! 😉
EmilyAnne (Eat All Over The World) says
Your pictures are amazing. Thanks for sharing! http://www.eatallovertheworld.com
Silvia says
Thanks, Emily, it was a beautiful place to photograph!
Phil Banks says
Hi Silvia, you have some very nice pictures there of the mountains. I was lucky to visit Montenegro last year in May and didn’t have enough time to see as much of Durmitor as I’d liked. Hired a car when staying on the coast and drove up to Zabljak, managed to do a bit of walking and photographing before the weather closed in with a mighty rain storm. The roads were mostly very good, even the single track were OK. I didn’t see one hitch hiker in the 10 days of driving around! I have some pictures from Montenegro on these web pages:
http://phil-banks.artistwebsites.com/art/all/montenegro/posters?page=1
Happy travels to you!
Silvia says
I didn’t see any other hitchhikers either, even though it’s so easy in Montenegro! It’s a shame it rained while you were in Zabljak – at least you had time to get a few photos in beforehand!
Andrea says
I’ve only ever passed through Montenegro and most times along the coast but I’d love to visit the places you mention. Such a beautiful part of the world!
Silvia says
It really is such a beautiful area! I need to explore it more as well.
Fabian says
Hey,
Looks really great. We’re about to head to Montenegro in September and I can’t wait to see it. Do you know if it’s possible to camp inside the park as well? And is there any entrance fee or art like that?
Thanks a lot and keep up the great work.
Cheers and happy travels
Fabian
Silvia says
Oh hm, I don’t think you can wild camp in the park, but I’m not really sure. Have an amazing time!
Poradnik says
I love Montenegro. Its less crowded than Croatia or Italy
Petar says
Hi Silvia!
Nice to see that you as someone who have traveled a lot have so much nice to write about my country! I see you are looking forward to come again here and don’t pass me if you make it. As well as other people here that want to come. Feel free to write me and to ask about this “mystic” place! 🙂
Best wishes from Montenegro!
Relatos y Caminos says
Great post!
Is it possible to camp for free in the park or do you have to stay is an organized camping?
Michelle says
Thank you for the lovely post! What time of year did you go? I’m curious about the snowpack in may!