Montenegro fly drive holiday
Description of Montenegro fly drive holiday
From Alpine Peaks to Adriatic Shores – A Journey of Contrast and Character
Discover Montenegro in all its dramatic beauty with a bespoke fly-drive journey that takes you from the rugged mountains of the north to the sun-drenched coast of the Adriatic. This tailor-made holiday combines scenic self-driving with hand-picked boutique accommodation and curated experiences, offering discerning travellers the perfect balance of freedom, discovery and refined comfort.
Your adventure begins in Tivat (also possible from Podgorica), where your premium hire car awaits. From here, head north into the majestic landscapes of Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of jagged peaks, glacial lakes and alpine meadows. Stay in a cosy, stylish mountain lodge in Žabljak, and enjoy some hiking, such as around the iconic Black Lake.
Nearby lies the awe-inspiring Tara Canyon, one of the deepest gorges in Europe. Whether you prefer a gentle walk to the panoramic viewpoints, a zip-line adventure or a thrilling white-water rafting excursion, this natural wonder is a highlight of the trip—both humbling and exhilarating.
Continue south through picturesque mountain roads to Kolašin, a charming highland town nestled in the Bjelasica Mountains. This is an ideal place to unwind, with opportunities for forest walks, spa treatments, and locally sourced cuisine in a refined chalet-style hotel. Nearby is the Biogradsko Lake National Park and a slightly longer day trip would bring you to the awe inspiring "Accursed Mountains" and Lake Plav on the border with Albania.
As the landscape softens, descend towards Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans and a haven for birdlife and tranquillity. Stay in a boutique guesthouse overlooking the water, and explore by kayak or private boat, gliding past water lilies, monasteries and remote fishing villages.
Next, head to Ulcinj, a captivating town on Montenegro’s southern coast, where Ottoman heritage, sandy beaches and a laid-back charm await. Discover its atmospheric old town, enjoy fresh seafood by the shore, and perhaps take a day trip to the nearby salt pans, rich with birdlife.
Your journey concludes in the jewel of the Adriatic, Kotor. Encircled by fjord-like mountains and mediaeval walls, Kotor offers a final flourish of culture, history and coastal elegance. Stay in a beautifully restored stone hotel within the Old Town and enjoy a private guided tour, sunset sailing, or simply soak in the views from a rooftop terrace.
Throughout, this tailor-made fly-drive includes premium car hire, seamless route planning, boutique stays, and personalised experiences—all designed to reveal the depth and diversity of Montenegro at your own pace, and in impeccable style.
This particular fly drive in Montenegro's has been designed as a circuit so it’s also incredibly convenient for those flying into Dubrovnik and can be navigated in either direction. Overnight stays are in smaller, independent hotels and B&B’s with many of the properties run by local families who will be more than happy to chat about the area and provide some invaluable recommendations for places to see and things to do.
All fly drive Montenegro vehicles are of a good standard and the final documents package will include: route and parking instructions as well as recommended sightseeing options and optional activities that we’ll be able to book for you through our local activity operator.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Touch down at Tivat airport and pick up your hire car – drive north to the fascinating Durmitor National Park for a 3 night stay in the small town of Zabljak. (Arriving into Dubrovnik for the start is also an option, although we'd usually recommend a night nearer the airport prior to heading north to Durmitor National Park, e.g. Cavtat or Trebinje). |
| Days 2&3 | Zabljak, is situated within the beautiful Durmitor National Park which allows you two full spent making the most of this absolute haven for hikers and those who love life outdoors; rafting, zip wire and mountain biking trails are also recommended. |
| Day 4: | Bid a fond farewell to the peaks, valleys and rivers of Durmitor National Park as you drive east through rural Montenegro en-route to the town of Kolasin. The route along the River Tara is incredibly scenic with the Tara Canyon adding to the undulating landscapes. Stay in local accommodation in Kolasin for 3 nights. |
| Days 5&6 | From Kolasin you can visit the beautiful natural landscapes of Biogradsko Gora National Park and the Kolasin mountain resorts. During this time you may also like to take a day trip to the fabulous glacial Lake Plav which is situated close to Prokletije National Park – there are several monasteries to take in along the way including Dobrilovina and Djurdjevi Stupovi which will help to break up the journey and give drivers a chance to enjoy the exquisite mountain scenery for themselves, close to the borders with Albania and Kosovo. |
| Day 7 | Drive from Kolasin down to the Adriatic coast, along the Moraca Valley. Suggested a stop en route at the small capital, Podgorica then travel to Lake Skadar. |
| Days 8&9: | Two days to relax and explore Lake Skadar; take a boat trip or visit the local villages for some wine tasting. |
| Days 10&11 | From Skadar, continue to the coast with a choice of fascinating historic towns such as Ulcinj and Budva providing your B&B accommodation for the next two nights. Make the most of the coast with the beaches of Sveti Stefan and Petrovac always proving popular or a full day in the south, near the border with Albania, if you choose Ulcinj. |
| Days 12-14 | Bid farewell to the "exterior" coast and make the short drive to the "inland" coastal town of Kotor. Routes include inland via Cetinje and Lovcen National Park or along the coast and through the Tivat tunnel, offering a couple of variations to suit your own itinerary – two nights spent at B&B accommodation in Kotor. Plenty of time to take a walk up the Kotor Steps and enjoy the old town life on foot, directly from your hotel. |
| Day 15 | Depart Tivat (or Podgorica or Dubrovnik) on your scheduled flight home. |
Price information
Departure information
Travel guides
Reviews
12 Reviews of Montenegro fly drive holiday
Reviewed on 29 Sep 2025 by Deborah Bates
The itinerary was just what we wanted. We really enjoyed our one night in Bosnia: authentic, local and very good value and would recommend that as an element of a Montenegrin holiday. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Sep 2024 by Katherine Hesketh
Our two favourite moments were quad biking in Durmitor NP and a sunrise boat trip on Lake Skadar Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Jul 2024 by James Clayton
Probably the mountain scenery was most memorable. Breathtaking! Read full reviewReviewed on 30 Sep 2023 by Ian Lyall
So beautiful and lovely hotel. Closely followed by eco hotel in cermeniza. Such a wonder host and superb food and wine. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Sep 2022 by Tim Poole
Great. Loved the organised independent tour. It’s a wonderful and efficient way to see a new country without being herded around. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Jun 2019 by Wolfgang Holzmann
The scenery was incredible, particularly the mountainous parts such as Biogradska and Zablijak, but also Lake Skadar and Kotor. Read full reviewReviewed on 29 Oct 2018 by Tracy Coult
The zip wire over Tara Canyon was the most memorable part...Brilliant if you want a quiet and relaxing holiday with walking driving and beautiful scenery. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Jun 2018 by Elaine Margott
All we hoped for and more....Loved that every day was different, a great contrast of locations & hotels, mountain & lakes, bridges & canyons, beaches & restaurants Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
We have chosen to include places to stay where there is greater opportunity for you to interact with the local people, to practice the local language and to minimise your carbon footprint. The small hotels we offer use predominantly local produce in the preparation of meals, reducing the foodmiles and carbon footprint associated with larger hotels.We have chosen to include places to stay where public transport is readily available so that the car is not used within towns or national parks. By including the opportunity to visit the National Parks on this holiday you choose to contribute to the excellent record of conservation in recent years through the entrance fees.
As a company we employ responsible policies such as recycling paper, ink cartridges, glass and cardboard; we minimise the use of electricity and conducting the vast majority of our correspondence and promotion via the internet and email, minimizing the amount of paper used for our activities. We also compost waste in our company garden.
People
Accommodation on this holiday is in primarily, family run, small hotels. The food served in the hotels is sourced locally and a large number of dishes on the menus are home made. We encourage you to employ local guides in places where their expertise and local knowledge will enhance your experience and understanding of the historical context and on the environmental impact of your visit. In Dubrovnik in particular you will see and read about the impact of the war on this UNESCO protected location; the cost of rebuilding and repairing the historic centre has been enormous and every contribution made by visitors helps greatly.As well as supporting the local community and economy directly, our holidays also encourage support indirectly. As this is a self-drive holiday, visitors can access towns and villages which are off the beaten track, thereby supporting smaller local economies outside of Dubrovnik etc. Greater interaction with local people and local tourist service providers leads to greater understanding and respect which, almost always leads to better tourist and local relations.
Popular similar holidays
Montenegro active holiday
From €858 - €1170 10 days excluding flights
Looking to discover the real Montenegro
Montenegro holiday, tailor made
From €755 - €918 8 days excluding flights
Bayside mountain trails, Unesco Heritage & Old World charm
Montenegro holiday, mountains, rivers & canyons of the north
From €720 - €975 8 days excluding flights
The most unique, outdoorsy experiences Montenegro can offer
