Trips and Attractions in the Žabljak Area, Northern Montenegro
Northern Montenegro is a wonderful region for nature lovers, action seekers, and active vacations. Just a 3-hour drive from the coastal towns, you reach entirely different landscapes and activities. The lifestyle in the north is also different, and even the architectural style and above all the prices: living in the north is significantly cheaper than along the coast.
The Town of Žabljak
The town of Žabljak serves as a wonderful starting point for a trip to northwestern Montenegro. It is the highest town in the Balkan mountains, 1450 meters above sea level. The town center is small and compact. It features a successful visitor center alongside many tourist shops selling adventure activities, plenty of restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and a supermarket.
The Tara River, which flows near Žabljak, is the longest in Montenegro and flows in a very deep canyon – 1330 meters deep, considered the second deepest in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA.
Near the city are high mountains and in the winter the Savin Kuk ski resort is one of the most popular sites in Montenegro.
The deep canyon and a large part of the river, lakes, and mountains are included in the Durmitor National Park located near the town of Žabljak.
The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its uniqueness.
The Žabljak area and Durmitor National Park are rich in the summer season with active vacation and adventure attractions including rafting on the Tara River, canyoning, ziplining - mainly on both sides of the large and impressive Tara Bridge, paragliding, jeep tours, quad biking, trekking in the mountains and around beautiful lakes, cycling trips, and a cable car ride to the heights of Mount Savin Kuk.
Guided Tours from Žabljak
To book here from the Viator website:
Accommodation
It is recommended to stay 2-4 nights in Žabljak in order to enjoy everything the area has to offer. In Žabljak there is a variety of accommodation options at different standards and prices, ranging from a four-star hotel to vacation apartments and guesthouses.
Recommended Hotels in Žabljak
Note: Due to its location in the mountains (at an altitude of 1450 meters) there is no air conditioning (only heating) in Žabljak and its surroundings, not even in the more expensive hotels.
Hotel Soa – The most successful hotel in Žabljak at a 4-star level. In a central location in the town, near the Black Lake. The hotel has a spa, bar, restaurant. Excellent breakfast. Excellent service. Bicycle rental and tour organization. There are rooms in various sizes. Avoid the standard rooms because they are especially small. The hotel also has apartments suitable for families of 4-5 people. Free internet and parking.
Durmitor Bungalows- Vacation cabins a kilometer from the town center. Typical cabins for the area, with a sloped roof in a pastoral location. The site has a children's playground, barbecue for guest use. Each family cabin suitable for 4 adults has two bedrooms, a living room, an equipped kitchen, a dining area, and a patio. There are also double cabins with one room and a kitchen, a sitting area, and a patio. Bicycles can be rented for an extra charge. Free internet and parking.
Apartmani Bijelic- Quality vacation apartments. An apartment building with several vacation apartments designed for up to 4 adults. The apartments have a bedroom and living room, parquet flooring, an equipped kitchen, a dining area, and a balcony. Free internet and parking.
Walking Tour Around the Black Lake (Crno Jezero)
The Black Lake is located about three km southwest of Žabljak. This is the most popular tourist site in northern Montenegro and most trips to northern Montenegro include it in their itinerary. The lake is actually composed of two lakes connected by a narrow channel that dries up in summer. The lake is surrounded by coniferous forests that sometimes cast a dark shadow on it, but on clear days its color is turquoise-blue.
On the shore of the lake is a large restaurant with a terrace overlooking the lake view. Around the lake is a recommended walking path that takes about an hour and a half to complete. The view of the lake changes from various points along the path.
Near the beginning of the path is a small rope park where children will be happy to play.
The parking lot near the lake is small and the roads leading to it are crowded with cars parked on the side of the road.
Near the Black Lake are two additional lakes that can also be included in a visit (there are comfortable and well-maintained paths connecting the three lakes). On a hot day, it is refreshing to swim in the cool lake water.
♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking website: Booking.com
Walking Tour to Jablan Bara Lake
The trail starts from the junction near the Momčilov Grad restaurant. This is a short and easy walking path (about an hour) passing through open flat terrain with few trees. At the end of the path, you reach a small lake, Jablan Bara, which has clear water and in good weather you can swim and refresh in it. Much less known and of course less crowded than the Black Lake.
Cable Car to "Savin Kuk" Mountain
About five km from Žabljak is one of Montenegro's most famous ski resorts. In the summer, it is recommended to take the cable car up to the heights of Mount Savin Kuk and view the scenery from the top of the mountain.
At the peak are impressive hiking trails ascending to the top of the mountain from where you can view the surrounding mountain scenery, the small towns at their foothills
and enjoy the abundance of alpine flowers during their blooming season.
At the peak, it is sometimes windy and cold, so you should equip yourself with appropriate clothing even in summer. The cable car has two stages and the uphill ticket includes both.
Guided Jeep Tour in the Deep Canyon
The trip includes pickup and return to the hotel in Žabljak. The drive is in an off-road vehicle and on dirt roads. The first point you reach is called Curevac, which is a high and excellent viewpoint over the deep canyon and surrounding mountains. You can go for a walking tour along the cliff and see the canyon from additional angles.
From here, continue on winding dirt roads and drive down into the deep canyon until reaching the river flowing at its bottom.
Most of the way is inside a forest, and in a valley where there are a few isolated houses whose inhabitants live by agriculture and cattle breeding, accessible only by 4X4 vehicle. In winter, the houses are completely cut off from any civilization. On the sides of the roads, you can stop and pick wild strawberries and cherries.
Near the river, whose color is intense turquoise and its water is clear (and cold), is an abandoned cabin and restaurant (which used to serve as a starting point for rafting) and next to it stairs serving as a descent/ascent point to the river for rafting. You will feel alone in wild nature and can walk around a bit peacefully before returning the same way up the mountain.
Zipline Near Tara Bridge
Tara Bridge is located about half an hour's drive east of the town of Žabljak. The large and impressive bridge passes over the canyon where the Tara River is located. This is an old concrete bridge with five arches. Its height is 172 meters above the river and its length is 365 meters. It was built in 1940 and was at the time the largest concrete arch bridge in Europe. During World War II, part of the bridge was blown up to stop the advance of the Italian army. The bridge was repaired again after the war in 1946.
On both sides of the bridge and adjacent to it are several zipline cables where you can glide from one bank to the other over the deep canyon in a breathtaking and exciting landscape. In the popular zipline, there are three parallel cables side by side so that three gliders can be sent simultaneously on separate cables that will be close to each other throughout the entire gliding process.
Near the bridge, you can also go on rafting tours on the river below it. The site has several restaurants with wonderful views and plenty of souvenir shops.
Rafting and Canyoning
One of the main summer attractions in the Žabljak area is rafting on the Tara River. The deep canyon and snowmelt water produce an excellent rafting experience.
Rafting is rated here at level 4. The recommended season for rafting is between early July to mid-September, with higher flow in July and weakening towards September. Several companies organize the cruise and provide the required transportation and equipment.
Canyoning, which includes rappelling in waterfalls, jumping into water, descending through narrow passages in the river, etc., is also popular in the Tara River and its surroundings and provides a lot of excitement for travelers looking for extreme sports.
To book from Viator:
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Half-Day Rafting on the Tara River -
River Tara Long Rafting Tour
The trip lasts about 5 hours. There is an option for a tour of about 2 hours.
Cycling Trips
The most popular activity in the mountains after ski is cycling in the area. There are hundreds of km of mountain biking trails in various levels according to the fitness of the travelers. You can rent bikes from various companies in the area including guided group tours.
Paragliding
Paragliding for individuals and also couples arrived in the Žabljak area only in recent years. The mountain scenery and deep canyon give an extra exciting dimension to the brave participating in this extreme sport.
♦ To book from Viator - Tandem Paragliding:
Tandem Paragliding in Durmitor National Park
Video about the attractions in the Žabljak area: