Highlander Durmitor

Highlander Durmitor is the Montenegrin stage of the global Highlander long-distance hiking franchise, held each July in Durmitor National Park above Žabljak. The 2025 edition ran from 5 to 9 July, sending hikers across some of the most dramatic UNESCO-listed mountain scenery in the Balkans.

Two routes are on offer. The flagship Hercules covers 90 kilometres over five days — a full self-sufficient crossing of the Durmitor landscape with participants carrying their gear and camping under the stars each night. The one-day Lyra, at 25 kilometres, offers a taste of the same terrain for those short on time or trail legs.

Crucially, Highlander is not a race. There are no podiums to chase; the point is the journey — days of walking through high plateaus and peaks, evenings in camp with hikers from around the world, and nights under a mountain sky far from any town lights. It draws a genuinely international crowd, from seasoned trekkers to ambitious first-timers.

Entry fees start from around €199 for early-bird registration on the main route. Žabljak serves as the natural base before and after the event, and the national park's trails and lakes fill any spare days.