Itinerary

Exploring Montenegro's Coast by bicycle

8 days / 7 nights | Self guided bike tours 

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Cetinje, the former Royal Capital of Montenegro

Individual arrival to Montenegro. Possible airports: Dubrovnik, Tivat, Podgorica.
Optional airport transfer to the first hotel in Cetinje. Meeting with a representative of our agency at the hotel reception. Introduction to the tour and delivery of tour documents and fitting of the rental bike (if booked).
Cetinje is the old royal capital of Montenegro. A city tour or also a sightseeing tour by bike offers you a first insight into the history of Montenegro. Visit the monastery of Cetinje, the embassy buildings or maybe the papermache relief of Montenegro – this is where you can visualize your tour.

Day 2: Through the heart of Montenegro (Cycling 39 km / 25 miles, +/- 550–1200 mt)

Today's tour takes you to the biggest lake of the Balkan peninsula, Skadar Lake. You ride ca. 1 km on the main road, then you turn off to the old road that connects Cetinje with Rijeka Crnojevića. This road steadily runs downhill (15.5km) – through villages and past beautiful panorama points – to Rijeka Crnojevića, the place where the first book of the Western Balkans was printed. Today, Rijeka Crnojevića is a sleepy village with a few restaurants inviting for a rest. With new strength you ride - first along the lake, then uphill (3km/150 hm) – through other villages to Virpazar. There will be some other minor ascents, which will often be rewarded with wonderful panoramic views of the lake. Finally, a descent takes you to Virpazar, the place where you will spend the night. Virpazar is the center of the most famous wine region of Montenegro, where the renowned Vranac wine is produced. The wine perfectly fits to the fish specialties from the lake. Overnight stay in Virpazar.

Day 3: Along the old railway line from Lake Skadar to the Adriatic Sea (Cycling 30 km / 19 miles, +/- 850– 810 mt)

Until the late 1960s, before the construction of the railway tunnel through Mount Rumija, Podgorica was connected with the port of Bar by a narrow-gauge railway. To that end, the wagons were transported by ship to Virpazar - from one side of the lake to the other. Today you follow this former railway track that takes you, in a comfortable ascent, to the pass. From there you enjoy a thrilling downhill, with a great view of the Adriatic Sea, and finally old olive groves line your path to Stari Bar, where you will spend the night today. Stari Bar is the old town of Bar, situated in picturesque surroundings on the slopes of Mount Rumija. If you like, you can also explore the modern part of Bar that is situated directly down on the coast.
Overnight stay in a guesthouse in Stari Bar.

 Day 4: Above the Adriatic and through olive groves towards Skadar Lake (Cycling 30 km / 19 miles, +/- 550–250 mt)

You start directly from your accommodation. Along the road you can visit more than 2000 years old olive tree. On a secondary road above the Adriatic you ride through the olive groves around Bar, the "oil capital" of Montenegro. You enjoy beautiful views riding through a vast valley to the main road Ulcinj - Shkodra. Follow this road a few kilometers. Before reaching your accommodation with an ascent, you can visit Šas Lake, a bird paradise. Here is a medieval ruined city, which is certainly worth a detour for those who are interested. The ascent to the accommodation will be rewarded with a great panorama. Overnight stay in a guesthouse with attached restaurant.

Day 5: Skadar Lake National Park (Cycling 44 km / 28 miles, +/- 860–1240 mt)

A wonderful, but challenging - three major ascents - panoramic tour awaits you today. You follow a narrow road above Skadar Lake. You can count on vineyards, villages and, again and again, wonderful views of the lake and the dramatic Albanian Alps in the background. Around the village of Ostros you ride through centuries-old majestic chestnut groves. Near the village of Murići you can see the small monastery islands and in front of the village of Godinje there is Montenegrin "Alcatraz" – a former prison from the time of King Nikola. In Godinje, a traditional wine region, you can regain your strength before the last ascent on your way to Virpazar. This is where you will be picked up and transferred to Lovćen National Park, above the Bay of Kotor. Travel time is ca. 1 hour. You are accommodated in the heart of the National Park, at a refreshing altitude of 1300 m above sea level in a comfortable hotel.

Day 6: Lovćen National Park – Serpentine road to Kotor

Today's tour takes you directly from the mountains to the sea along the famous Austro-Hungarian serpentine road, with the most beautiful panoramic views in the Bay of Kotor. You start from your hotel in the National Park. (If you like and for those who are really fit, you can also climb the last 200 altitude meters to the mausoleum of the most important historical personality of Montenegro - Petar Petrović Njegoš - before the descent. From the observation platform you enjoy a breathtaking all-round view of "almost" the entire Montenegro. As soon as you have conquered the initial ascent, you roll downhill for more than 30 km. Along the road there will be several great spots for photo stops. You finish your tour directly in front of the Old Town of Kotor, i.e. in front of your accommodation. Enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere in the Old Town of Kotor. Overnight stay in Kotor.

Day 7: The highlights of the Bay of Kotor (Cycling 47 km / 29 miles, +/- 300 mt )

At the end of your bike trip you can explore the picturesque places in the Bay of Kotor – first of all the baroque sailor's town of Perast with its two church islands. A few kilometers later you reach Risan, the oldest settlement of the Bay. Roman mosaics and, somewhat further, rock paintings from the New Stone Age, are witnesses to the settlement history. Near Morinj there is a small beach where you can have a nice break. Further along the coast line you reach the ferry, which can transport you to the other shore. Once again, you can count on a beautiful route, directly along the sea. Overnight stay in Kotor.

Day 8: Return home

The services end after breakfast. Optional transfer to airport.

Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.