National Parks, Lakes & Canyons of Montenegro
7 nights from €1540
4.8Traverse the spectacular coasts and canyons of Montenegro.
Seventy peaks over two thousand meters, the southernmost fjord of the Mediterranean, and Europe's deepest canyon: everything can be found in Montenegro! On this bike tour, you'll ride on panoramic roads amidst mighty mountain peaks, follow the blue waters of River Tara, and finally arrive at the magically beautiful bay of Kotor.
Montenegro has been lying between the East and the West since the days of the Roman Empire and has been influenced by the varying history of the last two thousand years. The food offers the best of the Balkan kitchen with dishes like Pjeskavica and Ćevapčidi, matched by the powerful domestic wines.
For more comfort while cycling through the very hilly landscape, we recommend the use of an electric bike.
Daily Program
Please note distances and elevations are approximate and may vary slightly based on hotel or itinerary changes necessary due to changes in route conditions.
Day 1: Arrival to Mojkovac
Individual arrival to Montenegro. If arrival time allows, we recommend you take the train to Mojkovac. This section of the train line, Belgrade-Bar, is one of the most beautiful mountain railways in Europe. You may also book a private transfer through the tour operator (about 2 hours).
Overnight in Mojkovac.
Day 2: Cycling along the Tara River – Zabljak
40 miles/65 km; total elevation gain 3,281 feet/1000 m; total descent 3,281 feet/1000 m
You cycle along the Tara River into Europe's longest and deepest canyon, where the rock walls come closer and closer to finally open up a panorama of the river. Right at the historically infamous Tara bridge, you meet our transfer which shuttles the final ascent to National Park Durmitor.
Today you have an optional cuisine tasting (not included in tour package). You'll enjoy a food tasting in the mountains with a local family in National Park Durmitor.
Overnight in Zabljak.
Day 3: Zabljak – National Park Durmitor
34 miles/55 km; total elevation gain 2,953 feet/900 m; total descent 5,249 feet/1600 m
The journey continues to the magnificent National Park Durmitor with more than 25 peaks of over 2500 meters, where glaciers have carved a landscape of desolate expanses and deep canyons in a sparsely populated agricultural area. Soon the landscape will be wooded and the road winds its way downhill to lake Piva. This one of the most beautiful cycling sections of Montenegro.
Overnight in Pluzine.
Day 4: Pluzine – Niksic
37 miles/60 km; total elevation gain 2,625 feet/800 m; total descent2,953 feet/900 m
The beautiful lake Piva is framed by high peaks and we cycle through a dramatic landscape characterized by running, stationary and falling water. We make a detour to the Orthodox monastery Piva, where time has stood still since the 16th century. The ultimate goal is Montenegro's second-largest city, Niksic, where you are accommodated in the middle of the city. Join the locals in one of the bars in the pedestrian zone.
Overnight near Niksic.
Day 5: Niksic – Ostrog Monastery – Virpazar
37 miles/60 km; total elevation gain 2,625 feet/800 m; total descent 3,609 feet/1100 m
On winding roads, we climb up to the well-known and dramatically Ostrog monastery, which lies as wedged in the rock wall. From all over the Balkans, pilgrims from any religion seek to be blessed by Saint Sava. While riding you are blessed with the magnificent view towards the fertile Zeta valley. A final pleasant downhill takes you towards the capital Podgorica. There you meet your transfer shuttle which takes you in 30min to Virpazar in NP Lake Skadar.
Note: Along this section, you follow the Niksic-Podgorica railway. If you'd like to shorten today's cycling between Danilovgrad and Podgorica, you may take the train.)
Overnight in Virpazar.
Day 6: Virpazar – National Park Lake Skadar – Serpentine road to Kotor
34 miles/55km; total elevation gain 2,297 feet/700m; total descent 5,906 feet/1800m + transfer
Today's cycling is split into two sections. On a beautiful side road, you cycle through the villages of National park Lake Skadar. You pass some typical villages and discover the unique landscape of the biggest lake of the Balkans. Around lunchtime, you arrive in the village of Rijeka Crnojevica. Charge your batteries with fish specialties from the lake.
Here you'll also meet your transfer (1 hour), which takes you via Cetinje to National park Mount Lovcen. The Venetians called Mount Lovcen the Black Mountain, and this is what gave Montenegro its name. Conclude this day with another cycling highlight – the epic downhill on the serpentine road to the Bay of Kotor right to the shores of the Adriatic sea.
Today you have an optional cuisine tasting (not included in tour package). You'll enjoy a food and wine tasting with a local family in National Park Lake Skadar.
Overnight in Kotor.
Day 7: The highlights of the Bay of Kotor
28 miles/45 km; total elevation gain/loss 656 feet/200 m
The bay of Kotor features outstanding natural beauty but also numerous cultural highlights, like Roman mosaics in Risan and last but not least the church islands of the baroque town of Perast. Explore the bay while cycling along the beautiful coast. This relaxed day completes this magnificent biking adventure from the mountains to the sea in Montenegro.
Today you have an optional cuisine tasting (not included in tour package). You'll enjoy a food and wine tasting with a local family in Kotor.
Overnight stay Kotor.
Day 8: Departure
The included services end after breakfast. Optional transfer to airport (for an additional fee).
Hotels
The following hotels are provided only as samples and may vary based on availability.
You will be accommodated in 3-star hotels on this tour.
Mojkovac: Hotel Dulovic
Zabljak: Ski hotel
Pluzine: Guesthouse Zvono
Niksic: Hotel Jugoslavija
Virpazar: Lake View apartments
Kotor: Hotel Marija
You will be accommodated in a mix of 4- and 5-star accommodations.
Mojkovac: Serdar
Zabljak: Hotel Zabljak
Pluzine: Guesthouse Zvono
Niksic: Trebjesa
Podgorica: Hotel Ziya
NP Lovcen: Monte Rosa
Kotor: Monte Cristo
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Standard touring bike
TREK FX3
This reliable touring bike is equipped with a 27-gear drivetrain, allowing you to conquer various terrains with ease. Designed for asphalt exploration, the FX3 boasts a lightweight Alpha Gold Aluminium frame, a carbon fork, and a performance drivetrain for optimal speed and comfort.
Whether you’re traversing mountain trails or cruising along the coast, the FX3 delivers unmatched reliability and performance.
Road bike
Allez Elite
Designed for speed and performance, this race-inspired bike offers exceptional acceleration and precise handling. With its stiff and lightweight construction, the Allez Elite delivers an exhilarating ride, allowing you to conquer steep climbs and winding descents with confidence.
Electrically-assisted bike
Verve+ Lowstep
Designed with a lightweight aluminium frame and a step-through style for easy mounting and dismounting, this bike offers effortless mobility for riders of all levels. Powered by a Bosch mid-drive motor, the Verve + Lowstep can reach speeds of up to 25 km per hour.
Equipped with a PowerPack Performance 400 Wh battery, you can enjoy long-lasting rides without worrying about running out of power.
Bikes available to rent on this tour include (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- TREK FX3 touring bike, 27-speeds
- Electrically-assisted bike
- Road bike, Specialized Allez Elite
Equipment included with the bike rental:
- Repair set
- Pump
- Helmet
- Lock
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets:
Helmets are available on this tour; however, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Surface and terrain
This tour features a very hilly landscape with significant total climbs and descents over the course of each cycling day. Most of the tour takes place on old railway track paths or side roads with low traffic.
While there is not a regular support vehicle for you on this self-guided tour, you will have a few scheduled transfers throughout the program. Day 5 offers you an opportunity to shorten the distance with a train transfer (not included in tour package).
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: Tivat or Podgorica airports, Montenegro or Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tour end
Nearest airport: Kotor, Montenegro
Transfer from the airport to your first hotel and transfer from final hotel to the airport are available through the tour operator for an additional fee. Or you may arrange private transfers on your own.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Mariia
What a beautiful country
Overall, it was a memorable experience, especially due to the stunning nature and dramatic landscapes — Montenegro's mountains, lakes, and scenery were absolutely breathtaking and made the trip truly special. Such a beautiful country!
We had quality road bikes which was essential for this tour. The daily distances ranged from 50 to 70 km, with significant ascents most days. Without proper road bikes, the climbs would have been very demanding (maybe too demanding) so we were glad we had the right equipment.
However, there were some aspects that didn’t match our expectations. The tour description indicated that we would mostly cycle on small roads and old railway tracks. In reality, a substantial portion of the route was on main roads with fairly heavy traffic. This was disappointing and at times felt unsafe — not what we had expected or been led to believe. This is something that should be clarified more accurately in the tour information.
Additionally, we encountered a few tunnels along the way, which added to our concerns about safety. The bikes were not equipped with lights or reflectors, making visibility poor both for us and for passing vehicles. Navigating through dark tunnels without proper lighting was uncomfortable and could be dangerous.
As for accommodation, it was mostly good, and in some cases exceeded expectations. While the tour was advertised as offering 3-star hotels, a few nights were spent in apartments without breakfast served at the location. This made our mornings a bit more complicated and delayed our starts, as we had to go to the restaurant and make the orders and wait for the food before setting off. Still, some of the places we stayed in were excellent, even better than the standard 3-star hotels.
A major positive was our tour guide. He was always available, helpful, and gave us valuable briefings about road conditions and daily routes. When bad weather hit, he quickly arranged car transport for us, which was much appreciated.
In summary, Montenegro is a fantastic cycling destination for nature lovers and strong riders. The organization had many good points — especially the bikes and the guide — but there’s room for improvement in terms of route planning, safety gear, and clear communication. With a few adjustments, this could be a top-notch tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Nan & David
Full of highlights!
We thoroughly enjoyed an 8 day self guided tour in May 2025. The route took us through stunning sights just as the title suggests. We had the upgraded accommodation and were delighted each night. The train trip from Podgorica to Mojkovac was in itself a highlight travelling through incredible country. Very basic arrangements for carrying our bikes though with no assistance to lift or lower the bikes on and off the train nor special areas for storing them. Our bikes actaully blocked a toilet for the 2 hour journey.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Isabelle D
Unforgettable Experience
The perfect way to discover Montenegro from the mountains to the see. We enjoyed the self-guided tour very much. But be aware that the legs are long (over 60 km and acents of more than 1000 meters in total).
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- too many to count
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ MICHAEL BAR ZVI
Great trip
1. The route was lovely
2. The hotels were fine
3. The bikes needed improvement. We got them dirty with bad tires
4. Transfers were just fine
5 The local agent was just fine. Promptly dealt with any problem that was referred to him - ★★★★★ Meir Ben Ari
Montenegro bike tour
This tour was excellent. Amazing views, very nice villages, very good food and cheap.
I would like to mention the support we received from Darzen the local supplier.
Darzen was very serviceable. Every request he handled with great willing. Every call he respond and gave us a great confidence that there is somebody that is taking care on us.
I would like to thank Biketour and Darzen for this experience.
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