Hiking in MontenegroDurmitor, Prokletije and the coastal mountains

Durmitor has 48 peaks above 2,000 metres, and only one tops 2,500: Bobotov Kuk (2,523 m). The usual ascent starts from the Sedlo pass at 1,907 metres, while from Žabljak you go past Black Lake, as on the Žabljak – Šarban via Bobotov Kuk trail. The last metres are on rock, so take care. Easier walks lead to the Škrka lakes or up Sedlena Greda, and the mountain has 18 lakes, known as its "mountain eyes". For an easier day there is also the "Jezero" loop below Stožina, 6.2 kilometres and about three hours on foot.

Montenegro's highest peak is Zla Kolata (2,534 m), on the Albanian border. The climb from Vusanje starts at about 980 metres: it is not technically difficult, but it is long, with little water, and needs settled weather. Plav and Gusinje are also on the waymarked Peaks of the Balkans trail, 192 kilometres through Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. The Montenegrin part, about a third of the trail, passes Plav Lake and Hrid Lake and runs through the Ropojana and Babino Polje valleys.

Komovi is climbed from the Štavna shepherds' settlement (katun), reached over the Trešnjevik pass. The highest summit is Kučki Kom (2,487 m), and local hikers also recommend the full-day loop around Komovi. Bjelasica has six glacial lakes and gentle ridges up to Crna Glava (2,139 m). At its heart lies Biogradska Gora National Park, with a 1,600-hectare old-growth forest reserve and trees over 40 metres tall; an easy nature trail circles Biogradsko Lake.

Orjen, Lovćen and Rumija are linked by the Coastal Hiking Transversal. On Orjen rises Zubački Kabao (1,894 m); on Lovćen you climb to Jezerski Vrh and Njegoš's mausoleum at 1,657 metres; and from Kotor the old caravan route, the Ladder of Kotor, climbs to Krstac. Rumija is climbed from Stari Bar. These mountains are at their best in spring and autumn, away from the summer heat.