Jewels of the Balkans: Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro (8 Days)

Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Inclusions:4* Hotel Colors Inn | Airport Transfer | Tour briefing | Welcome Dinner
Driving Time:0.30h

Arrival Note: Depending on your arrival time and hotel check-in policy, you might not be able to check into your room immediately after arrival. Of course, you are welcome to store your luggage at the reception desk of your hotel or, if easier, at our Funky Tours office until check-in time. Upon your airport arrival and pickup, your Funky Tours host will inform you about all check-in details and brief you on the rest of the day’s activities.

Morning/Afternoon: As soon as you arrive in Sarajevo, your Funky Tours Host will welcome you at the airport, holding a sign with your name. We will assist you with your 30-minute transfer to your conveniently and centrally located hotel in Sarajevo. The accommodations we use in Sarajevo are fantastic 4* hotels, which usually offer cafe or bar services, ideal for refreshment after your arrival. Among other perks, all rooms are air-conditioned and always equipped with private bathrooms, minibar, satellite TV, and wireless internet.

After you settle in your room, your Funky Tours Host will brief you on suggested activities for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, you can stroll through Sarajevo’s old town and city center while visiting famous squares, cafes, shops, and local markets.

Dinner: Bosnian traditional cuisine is simply amazing. Get ready to try some of the best Bosnian food with our included welcome dinner.

Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Inclusions: Hotel Colors Inn 4* or similar | Sarajevo Walking Tour & Food Tasting
Driving Time: 1.15h

Activity Note: Today’s itinerary includes walking on uneven terrain while visiting some of the ruins during our Sarajevo Siege tour. Make sure to have some water with you, and always pay attention to the present-day weather forecast.

Breakfast: Our well-chosen range of 4* hotels in Sarajevo start serving buffet-style breakfast around 7 AM, featuring Bosnian and International options.

Morning: Your morning session is fully reserved for the important story of the Siege of Sarajevo, the story of the impossible survival, and the story of the worst Genocide in Europe since WWII. Funky Tours Top Experiences aims to deliver a clear and unbiased understanding of the topics we consider essential for a better overall understanding of the Balkans.

Your host for the afternoon session will be local Sarajevan, an ex-Bosnian army soldier who, during the 1990ies, was directly involved in the resistance organized by the local people of Sarajevo. When the joint force of the Yugoslavian National Army, Serbian Paramilitaries, and local Bosnian Serbs initiated a general attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina to take control of the Bosnian capital, only a few people “got their heads” together and started organizing resistance. The resistance later proved crucial for defending Bosnian independence and saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

Places in focus will be Sarajevo’s infamous Sniper Alley and Hotel Holiday Inn, Sarajevo War Tunnel, Sarajevo Olympic Bobsled and Olympic mountain of Trebević, Jewish cemetery, and numerous other locations scattered throughout the Bosnian capital, today serving as the memory of the 1990ies bloody years.

The story you will follow will be firsthand experiences of local Sarajevo Siege survivors, backed up with ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) verdicts and official judgments. The Balkans today is a place where wars have ended militarily, but wars of denial, especially denial of Genocide and wars of relativization, are still going on. Making sure that the unbiased facts of the 1990s conflicts are well documented and shared is imperative.

Afternoon: The afternoon part of the day will start at 1 PM when we plan to set out for the walking tour of the old part and city center of Sarajevo. Our 2.5-hour tour will cover the stories of the origins of Sarajevo and the medieval Bosnian Kingdom. We shall visit the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian parts of Sarajevo, whose stunning markets, bazaars, mosques, churches, and synagogues will reveal the true nature of the actual European Jerusalem. We’ll visit the Latin Bridge and learn how WWI was triggered right here, in the heart of Sarajevo. Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Olympics and life during the Siege of Sarajevo will surely be part of our story today.

This part of the tour will include food tasting of the local products.

• We shall try the most famous dish of the Balkans at the most important stop of the Balkans – the glorious Sarajevo’s Ćevapi or Ćevapčići. In Sarajevo, Ćevapi are made of pure beef with basic spices and are hardly to be found of such a quality anywhere in the rest of the Balkans.
• We have alternatives for vegetarians, and we suggest trying traditional Bosnia “pita” (eng. pie) with cheese, spinach, or potatoes. In the Balkans, this food is generally referred to as “burek”, but in Sarajevo, you will be served with meat pita if you order burek.

Later in the afternoon, you will have some free time to explore the center of Sarajevo. You might stay in the Ottoman part of Sarajevo, delving into hidden cobblestone streets, discovering the breath of Sarajevo’s mystical past, or visit the Austria-Hungarian part and understand why Sarajevo is a city located on the crossroad of cultures.

Dinner: Free time on your own.

Destination: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Inclusions: Hotel Colors Inn 4* or similar | Breakfast
Optional: Lukomir Nomad Village | Srebrenica Genocide | Jajce and Travnik | East Bosnia & West Serbia Off-the-beaten Path

Activity Note: Day 3 is a free day on your own. Alternatively, consider one of the following optional activities.

Option 1: If you are interested in discovering the lifestyle of Bosnian nomads, then the Lukomir village hiking tour is the best way to experience the life of Bosnian nomads at Bjelašnica mountain. Opt for an easy or medium demanding hiking experience and meet the locals, try the local food, and learn the local traditions at one of the most beautiful places in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Option 2: If you prefer to learn more about the breakup of Yugoslavia and the story of the largest Genocide in Europe since WW2, then Srebrenica Genocide study tour and home-hosted lunch with local Srebrenica Genocide survivors is an exciting way to acquire this experience.

Option 3: Central Bosnian regions are exciting regions, so a day tour to the medieval Bosnian capital of Jajce and Viziers town of Travnik, while learning about the foundations of Yugoslavia and visiting Pliva River lakes and waterfalls could be one of the exciting choices.

Option 4: In this itinerary, we focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, but if you feel you would love to peek into Serbia and visit some West Serbian regions, then a fantastic way to do it is to opt for our East Bosnia & West Serbia Off-the-beaten Path day tour.

If some of these tours look a bit demanding, or maybe you prefer an alternative, then stroll through our wide range of Sarajevo’s tours and experiences. Let us know what kind of alternative activity you would like to do, and we shall organize it.

Destination: Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Inclusions: Hotel Eden 4* or similar | Breakfast | Tito’s Bunker and walking tour of Mostar
Driving Time: 2.15h

Activity Note: Today’s itinerary includes walking on uneven terrain while visiting central Herzegovina, especially the old part of Mostar. Make sure to have 1 liter of water with you, as the Herzegovina region has a Mediterranean climate, and temperatures during the summer months are regularly above 35 °C.

Breakfast: Our well-chosen range of 4* hotels in Sarajevo start serving buffet-style breakfast around 7 AM, featuring Bosnian and International options.

Morning: As soon as we finish our delicious breakfast, we leave Sarajevo at 8 AM. The road will take us south-west towards Konjic, where we plan to visit the Konjic old town and the famous Tito’s Bunker.

The old town of Konjic is dominated by the beautiful turquoise Neretva River and Konjic’s old Bridge, dating from the Ottoman era. In the very vicinity of the Konjic, there is probably the best-kept and one of the most expensive Yugoslavian secrets – the famous Tito’s Bunker. Built during the period of 26 years (1953 – 1979), at the peak of the Cold War, Tito’s Bunker cost $4,7bln and was meant to hide top Yugoslavian leadership in case of nuclear invasion. Since the Bunker was never used and was protected from destruction intended by escaping Yugoslavian Army soldiers in 1992, today it is perfectly preserved as initially built. It offers excellent insight into the Yugoslavian past. At the same time, hosting permanent modern art displays serves as a contemporary art space of global importance.

After we leave Konjic, we shall take an amazingly scenic road passing by the Jablanica Lake, and via the Neretva River canyon, we’ll arrive at Jablanica town.

Jablanica is home to the famous WWII story of the Neretva battle, tasty roasted lamb, and stunningly beautiful natural surroundings. At a location called “Bridge over Neretva”, we shall give insight into one of Tito’s most famous military maneuvers during WWII.

During the winter of 1943, under a combined attack by Axis powers’ enemies, Tito’s brilliant strategic maneuvers made partisans “win” the battle, which, in the upcoming years, proved Tito worthy of the title of Marshall. Nationwide, the battle was referred to as the “World’s most humane battle”, according to which the Oscar-nominated movie was filmed in 1969.

Lunch: Jablanica is additionally home to the famous Bosnian roasted lamb, which is one of the most popular local specialties. We shall take a lunch break at one of the best restaurants and taste local delicacies. Note that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a lamb is considered a sheep under one year of age. Prepared like that, lamb meat is quite typical: smell-free, tender, with a different taste than most people expect it to be. Lamb is served with traditionally baked potatoes – “ispod sača” (under the bell) and homemade bread.

Of course, for vegetarians, we have available options as well.

Afternoon: After lunch, afternoon hours will bring us an additional set of exciting places to visit. The beautiful and scenic road towards Mostar will gradually change from the typical continental and mountainous scenery of central Bosnia into particular Mediterranean, dry and naked, rolling hills reminiscent of Herzegovinian scenery. Our next place to visit will be the mystical Blagaj Dervish house (Tekke). Located in the Buna River’s spring in the town of Blagaj, this Muslim holy place was founded 500+ years ago. Since then, the critical point of Dervish mystical teachings and practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina has stayed.

Just next to the Dervish house is the Buna River spring. Being the 2nd most robust river spring in Europe, this karst emerald is an excellent add-on to the stunningly beautiful Herzegovina region.

Just across the Blagaj Tekke and Buna Spring is the location of several quality local restaurants. Those are ideal for afternoon Bosnian coffee and relaxing time by the river. Additionally, local restaurants offer great Herzegovinian specialties such as Blagaj’s way-prepared trout and smokvara (fig-made cake).

Since the Herzegovina region is vibrant with beautiful and clean rivers, sweet water fish, such as trout, is one of the most famous specialties of Herzegovina. Trout prepared on Blagaj way – rolled into corn powder and grilled while served with chard and boiled potatoes- is a simple must-have dish in central Herzegovina.

After “mystical” and tasty times at Blagaj, we will arrive at Mostar after a short ride. Immediately, we’ll check into our centrally and conveniently located 4* accommodation, relax, and undertake an exciting walking tour of Mostar.

At Mostar, the focus of our attention will be the old town and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Built-in 1566, the Mostar bridge has since been the main reason behind Mostar’s development into the capital of the Herzegovina region. Unfortunately, in November of 1993, the Bridge was destroyed during the Siege of Mostar. We will thoroughly cover the reasons and judicial facts behind the destruction of the Mostar Old Bridge during our walking tour of Mostar.

Since the Bridge, there’s been a tradition of bridge diving. Today, young and brave Mostar divers compete to earn a few euros by diving off the Bridge in front of tourists worldwide. We guarantee that we have the best seats for that kind of experience.

Later afternoons are the best times to explore Mostar. When the morning to midday crowds are gone, the temperatures are getting lower, the sun is slowly setting in the west, and our late afternoon and evening experience of Mostar altogether highlights the day of our Herzegovina adventure.

Dinner: On your own.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro
Inclusions: Hotel Hippocampus 4* or similar | Breakfast | Wine Tasting
Driving Time: 4.15h

Activity Note: Herzegovina is a turquoise river paradise, so swimming at stunning Kravice Falls is a must-do option when traveling around. Make sure to bring swimsuits and towels. Additionally, get ready to try some of the Balkan region’s best and tastiest biodynamic wines.

Breakfast: Our beautiful 4* hotel Eden serves buffet-style breakfast with a variety of local and international options. Our approximate departure time is at 10 AM, and breakfast is served from 7 AM, which leaves you a few hours to explore the Mostar morning on your own.

Morning: After a bit later morning departure, the first stop of the day is the town of Počitelj. One of the most well-preserved Ottoman towns, dating from the medieval Bosnian period, beautifully nested in the amphitheater hill just above the Neretva River, offers a fantastic insight into the past dating back 600+ years. While walking the old town streets and its stunning defensive walls, we will try to peek into the reasons why this beautiful town was utterly destroyed in 1993 during the time of aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina. We give factual insight into who destroyed it and why present-day, while it successfully defies time, still stands without proper local and state support for further reconstruction and rehabilitation.

After we enjoyed the shades of pomegranate trees in the medieval Počitelj town, our next stop will be the beautiful Kravice waterfalls. As Herzegovina is a typical karst region, it is heavily rich with stunning underground rivers. When rain dissolves the limestone, the Herzegovinian rivers turn turquoise and become the most beautifully colored rivers in the world. Trebižat River, primarily famous for stunning tufa waterfalls, offers fantastic summertime activities such as kayaking and a chilled swimming experience.
Our plan for the time spent at Kravica Waterfalls is to explore this beautiful place thoroughly, and if we happen to visit the place during the summer months, do some swimming and have a few drinks at by-the-river cafe bars.

Afternoon: Herzegovina region is blessed with approx 300+ sunny days in a year, and being so, represents the most important wine region of the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian Croat-dominated areas around the town of Čitluk are among the most renowned local wine-makers, and experiences of wine-tasting along local products such as prosciutto, olive oil, and cheese are one of a kind.

Knowing that less than 3% of global wine production is biodynamic and trying extremely ecologically-made wines by Herzegovinian wine philosophers will be a unique and tasty experience.

Lunch: The lunch time is planned at Stolac. Being a town with more than 30 national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a beautiful Bregava river, Stolac is a perfect destination for a short city walk and lunch-by-the-river break. Trying local Herzegovinian specialties such as “pura” (polenta served with plain yogurt and garlic), “japrak” and “dolma” (ground beef meat with spices rolled and boiled into vine leaves or layers of onion), “janjetina ispod sača” (roasted lamb meat under the bell), or local trout will surely help you better understand the Herzegovinian culture.

For dessert, you may opt for “smokvara” (sweet made of wheat and corn flour with fig pekmez – thick fig-made syrup), the most famous sweet of all Herzegovina. Trying one in Stolac with Bosnian coffee is the best combination.

On the way to Kotor, the day’s final stop is one of the most interesting XV-century Serbian Orthodox monasteries, founded on the remains of the IV-century Byzantine church, the famous Tvrdoš.

Beautifully located on the right bank of the turquoise Trebišnjica river, the largest underground river in the Balkans, the Tvrdoš monastery seems to have adopted its colorful beauty and calmness, adding even more to the experience of the whole place.

While being an active monastery, at the same time, Tvrdoš is one of the globally most renowned wineries. Producing a variety of wine sorts, with Vranac (red) and Herzegovina native Žilavka (white) being the most popular, other products such as Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Rosé could not be missed and are also of an excellent quality.

The wine-making competitiveness between West and East Herzegovina produces fantastic local wines. Getting a chance on the same day to compare the quality of the long-term tradition of producing high-quality wines of Bosnian Croat in West Herzegovina vs. Bosnian Serb producers in East Herzegovina is simply an experience worth having. At Funky Tours, we bring you the best of both worlds.

Later Afternoon: Arrival to Kotor in Montenegro will be in the later afternoon hours, mainly depending on our border crossing time. However, in the Balkans, crossing the borders in the last hours is always better than in the mornings, so our expectation, even in the highest season, is that we will not spend too much time on the Bosnia-Montenegro border.

Once at Kotor, we shall check into our centrally located hotel, relax briefly, and head to Kotor Old Town for a delicious dinner.

Dinner: Kotor is Montenegro’s most beautiful coastal town. Being so, the most recommended local specialties for the first evening should be seafood delicacies. Your Funky Tour Host will recommend Kotor’s great dinner places and suggestions on what to eat regarding Mediterranean cuisine.

During the summer season, with Budva, Kotor is one of Montenegro’s nightlife capitals. Having a few drinks in the local bars within the city walls (or just outside) will surely be a great way to sum up all the fantastic experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina we’ve had so far.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro
Inclusions: Hotel Hippocampus 4* or similar | Breakfast
Driving Time: 2.15h

Activity Note: Today, we are exploring Kotor Bay, meaning we will have quite a lot of opportunities to swim. If you visit the Montenegro coast during the summer, a swimsuit, towels, and sun cream should be on your must-have list.

Breakfast: Our beautiful hotel, 4* Hotel Hippocampus (or similar) in Kotor, will serve a buffet breakfast from 7 to 10 AM featuring Montenegrin and International options.

Morning: Since the previous Herzegovina day was quite long and demanding, on this day in Kotor, we will start at 9 AM (if needed, we can begin at 10 AM). As your breakfast was served early in the morning, for those early birds, some early morning hours could be spent enjoying the buzz of the Kotor old town and city markets. We especially recommend exploring the fish and local products market on the outer walls of Kotor (left from the main Sea gate) that works from 7 AM to 2 PM.

The morning walking tour of Kotor will take us via hidden cobblestoned streets, giving us an opportunity for an in-depth understanding of Kotor’s history and cultural background.

In the present day, originating from the Venetian era but mentioned initially during the Roman era as a strategic position on the Adriatic sea, the Kotor has been through many ups and downs throughout its nearly two millennia-long history. Since Romans, followed by Illyirians, Slavs, Hungarians, Serbians, Venetians, French, Austrians, Yugoslavians, and today finally part of modern Montenegro, the Kotor has seen many empires passing by while leaving part of their history engraved within heavily fortified walls of Kotor.

Learning specifics about the past and presence of Kotor while admiring the narrow stone streets, stone churches, stone walls, high mountains above, small windows with drying laundry, a ton of cats, hidden bars and cafes, and so much more, is a great way to experience UNESCO heritage of Kotor town.

Must do in Kotor: The famous Saint John’s Fortress, or Castle of San Giovanni, just above the Kotor old town, is a must-do. However, as it is not part of the Kotor walking tour, but to be fully experienced, this adventure requires you to climb nearly 1400 steps, and we recommend this experience either in the early morning or late afternoon during your free time in Kotor. The most recommended time for the walk is the early morning to avoid big heat and the sun getting directly to your camera while taking photos. The late afternoon hike during the sunset is also very recommended for romantics. The castle is open 24 hours daily, with an 8 EUR entrance fee (May to October).

Afternoon: After the Kotor walking tour, around the mid-day, when Kotor is mostly crowded, we will leave this beautiful town for a few hours to explore a bit more of Montenegro’s coastline.

The 2nd most famous spot in the Kotor Bay area is Perast village. Only 15min driving away from Kotor, Perast is a baroque village in the municipality of Kotor with its two stunning islets: Sveti Djordje (St. George) as a natural one, and Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks) as an artificial one. Historically crucial for its naval history, Perast strategically stands opposite the only water entrance to Kotor Bay.

After a pleasant short walk through Perast village, we are ready to take a short boat ride to the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks.

In the middle of the 15th century, on the 22nd of July 1453, when two brothers, one of whom was seriously ill, found an icon on rocks (“škrpjela”) in the water as a sign of gratitude for healing, the locals of Perast, built an islet, by increasing the surface of the islet by pouring stones and sinking old sailing ships.

In the 15th century, a chapel was erected in which the image of Our Lady was placed. By the beginning of the 17th century already, about a hundred ships had been sunk, including captured Turkish ships. The larger church was built in 1630 but was damaged in the earthquake of 1667. In addition to earthquakes, the shrine was also exposed to Turkish and pirate attacks.

Today, the islet with its church, beautiful frescoes, and a small museum is one of the biggest attractions of the Bay of Kotor.

This activity will take around 30-40 minutes, and once we are back in Perast, we will continue exploring other unique parts of the Montenegro coastline.

Lunch: Experiencing Perast without at least having one drink or coffee at bars and cafes overlooking the islets is a miss. Since approximately we shall be in Perast during lunchtime, our choice for lunch will be one of the most amazing Perast restaurants. Trying Adriatic seafood delicacies is, of course, the first choice.

If you are more into continental cuisine, Montenegro specialties like Njeguši village cheese and prosciutto as appetizers are perfectly combined with mutton and lamb chops, served with roasted potatoes, onion, and a mix of veggies. Food like this tastes best if the meat is roasted under the bell (“Ispod sača”) on a hot coal or, sometimes, in a milk marinade with fresh spices.

Of course, during lunch, your guide will recommend the best local and authentic Montenegro wines. Globally, Balkan wines are still an unknown phenomenon, but knowing the European single largest vineyard, sized at 2000 acres, is located in southern Montenegro will make you rethink your wine choices when traveling the Balkans. The most popular Montenegro wine, called “Vranac” (eng. Black stallion), is excellently combined with red meat.

Afternoon: In the afternoon hours after lunch, we still are exploring Montenegro’s coastline. We can’t miss out on Budva and the island of Sveti Stefan (eng. St. Stefan).

Budva is traditionally considered a Balkans summertime party capital. Long sandy beaches with open space clubs and bars bring young people from around the Balkans eager to party and enjoy the Balkan style of music.

Initially founded by Phoenicians, 2500 years of turbulent history are woven into the walls of Budva’s old town, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on the Adriatic coast. Walking around the narrow, cobble-stoned streets and enjoying the expansive panorama views from Budva’s old town fort while listening to the historical facts on this beautiful small town is a great way to peek into the glorious history of this small but charming town on Montenegro’s coastline.

Just outside of Budva Old Town is Mogren Beach, offering excellent summertime swimming and chill opportunities, as it is the best beach in the close vicinity of Budva Old Town.

The last stop of the day is the island of Sveti Stefan. Once an island today connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus, Sveti Stefan is now a 5-star franchise hotel of the international group of Aman Resorts. Entrance to Sveti Stefan is usually prohibited unless you have booked accommodation or lunch there. However, briefly observing the beautiful Sveti Stefan islet and taking selfies during our visit is a must-do.

By mid-afternoon, we will be back to Kotor, where you will have free time for the rest of the day.

Dinner: On your own.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro
Inclusions: Hotel Hippocampus 4* or similar | Breakfast | Skadar Lake Boat Ride & Wine Tasting | Njeguši Village Prosciutto Tasting
Driving Time: 3.15h

Activity Note: Today, we plan to visit Njegoš mausoleum at Lovćen National Park, and to reach up, we will have 461 stairs. Make sure to have some water along the way, and during the summer, take sun cream. Additionally, our Skadar Lake cruise will provide us with a fantastic opportunity for a great swim and chill. The morning 1-hour ride that will take us from Kotor to Lovćen has 25 sharp hairpin turns, so make sure you don’t overeat yourself during the morning breakfast. We are visiting the beautiful Lipa cave, and the temperature inside is around 10 degrees Celsius, so make sure to have something warm to wear if needed.

Breakfast: Our beautiful hotel, 4* Hotel Hippocampus (or similar) in Kotor, will serve a buffet breakfast from 7 to 10 AM featuring Montenegrin and International options.

Morning: This morning we start at 8 AM. As the day is quite long, a bit earlier start is recommended. The first part of the tour will be a stunning experience of driving via an Austrians-made road (1879) that originally connected Kotor and Cetinje, the old royal capital of Montenegro. The road is enriched with 25 hairpin turns, and several panorama stops give us an amazing view over the Kotor bay. Once at the top, we have arrived at Lovćen National Park, the core and heart of Montenegro, its most valuable cultural, historical, and religious heritage site.

The Lovćen National Park was founded in 1952, with an area of 6220 acres.

The heart of Lovćen is considered to be Jezerski vrh (1657m), on which the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, the most famous poet, bishop, and ruler of Montenegro from 1830 to 1851, was built.

Having climbed 461 steps carved into the sheer rocks, we can explore the Mausoleum and enjoy the 360 views of the stunning Montenegro landscapes. On one side, we can see Skadar Lake and the majestic Montenegro mountains; on the other, we can see stunning Kotor Bay and, if the day is clear, possibly even the coast of Italy.

Afternoon: After exploring the powerful story of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, we head down and take a short ride to Njeguši, the birthplace village of the Njegoš dynasty, which ruled Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. Njeguši village, aside from being the cultural and historical core of Montenegro, at the same time, is the birthplace of Montenegrin national cuisine.

The idyllic village, with just several tens of inhabitants, is homeplace to the globally famous Njeguši prosciutto and Njeguši cheese. Since the region of Njeguši village ideally combines Mediterranean and Continental climate effects, the local products of prosciutto and cheese together with honey, rakija (eng. brandy), a variety of herbs, local organic veggies and fruits, taste the best, and add up to the overall experience of this beautiful village.

Njeguši prosciutto is a dark-colored pork meat of intensive taste. Salted, beech smoked, and dried at the specially made dryers of 1m thick stone walls, combined with centuries-old traditions and the art of making, this unique product of Montenegro is a must-try. When you taste the Njeguši prosciutto, it feels like you have just tried the pure hormone of happiness, serotonin, which tastes like the mysticism of the distant past.

At Funky Tours, we are devoted to the best of spiritual and material worlds, so tasting the best Njeguši prosciutto, combined with yellow Njeguši cheese (if preferred, wine and local brandy), is simply a bit of both worlds.

After the historic and tasty visit to Njeguši village, our journey continues towards Cetinje – the former center of the state and today the cultural, historical, and spiritual capital of Montenegro.

In the 2nd half of the 15th century, the Ottoman conquests forced the then master of Zeta, Ivan Crnojević, to move the seat of the state from the fortified town of Žabljak to a more inaccessible climate, deep into the mountains, to the foothills of Lovćen mountain. In 1482, Ivan Crnojević built a court and monastery, the first establishments of the new capital, Cetinje. Later, when Ivan Crnojević transferred the Zeta Metropolitanate to the newly built monastery, Cetinje and the secular became a spiritual center. In the mid-19th century, when already mentioned, the glorious Petar Petrović II Njegoš managed to unite Montenegrin tribes and create the foundations of a modern state, Cetinje until today became the mythical place of Montenegrin nationalism and statehood.

During our walking tour of Cetinje, we will learn historical facts about Montenegrin’s old capital, hear about the first printing house of the South Slavs (just four decades after the Guttenbergs), visit famous Cetinje spots such as Cetinje Monastery, the historic center with its famous foreign embassies, museums, royal theatre, Biljarda (the new royal residence) and so much more.

Free time in Cetinje to explore the historic town on your own will be arranged if required.

Lunch: The lunch time is planned at Rijeka Crnojevića, famously called Montenegrin Venice. When Ivan Crnojevic in 15the century founded Cetinje, in centuries to follow, Rijeka Crnojevića (eng. Crnojević river – named after the Crnojević dynasty), as one of the most famous Skadar Lake tributaries, became the largest Montenegrin port and the leading trade center, together with the Danilo bridge, built in 1853, several old buildings, a pleasant pedestrian zone and a few beautifully located traditional restaurants, Crnojevića Rijeka is the perfect place for lunchtime chill.

The especially appreciated product of this region is dry bleak (dried fish), and due to its uniqueness and exceptional taste, it is traditionally very much in demand on the Italian market.

Usually, aside from locally appreciated fish, other Montenegrin continental and seafood dishes can be easily found here. Your Funky Tours Host job is to, according to your taste, recommend the best food from the offer.

Afternoon: After a delicious lunch, it is time for the most inspiring moment of the day—the beautiful and fulfilling Skadar lake boat cruise with local wine tasting.

Lake Skadar is a natural wonder—a protected National Park of Montenegro and Albania and a wildlife paradise. Being home to more than 260 bird species, islet monasteries, old and traditionally built stone villages, and stunning beaches, Skadar Lake is Montenegro’s true heart and soul.

Our afternoon boat cruise will take us via Crnojevića River and Skadar Lake to the small village of Žabljak at a confluence of Morača River. With an optional short uphill hike and visit to the medieval fortress, which, under the Crnojević dynasty, was the capital of Zeta, the views from the top will be simply amazing and worth every effort.
For ornithology lovers, Skadar Lake is a true paradise. Unlimited offers of cormorants, herons, gulls, terns, ducks, and sometimes a giant Dalmatian pelican make this magnificent natural setting a must-see.

Additionally, carpets of water lilies, snakes, frogs, bugs and insects, fish, toads, dragonflies, etc., add even more to a fantastic Skadar Lake experience.

For true adventurers, during the summertime, some swimming and chilling at crystal-clear Skadar Lake is a must-do.

In the late afternoon, after stopping at the stunning Pavlova Strana viewpoint and admiring the beauty of Skadar Lake and Crnojevića Rijeka, we are back to Kotor.

Dinner & Evening: On your own. Since this is your last night in Montenegro, you might want an easy and relaxing evening while getting ready for more explorations of northern Montenegro on your way back to Sarajevo. You already know the Kotor Bay region well and can easily plan your Kotor evening. Your Funky Tours team is always available if you opt for some Budva nightlife.

Destination: Kotor, Montenegro / Dubrovnik, Croatia
Inclusions: Breakfast
Driving Time: 5.15h

Activity Note: This day ends in Kotor or alternatively in Dubrovnik.  Additionally worth mentioning: since the Durmitor National Park is a wonderful region, extending this package and spending at least one or even two nights at Žabljak, and mixing in an amazing hiking or Tara river rafting, is a recommended adventure.

Breakfast: Our beautiful hotel, 4* Hotel Hippocampus (or similar) in Kotor, will serve a buffet breakfast from 7 to 10 AM featuring Montenegrin and International options.

Morning: This morning we start at 7.30 AM. As the day is quite long, an early start is recommended. To reach central and northern Montenegro, the road with several amazing opportunities for great photos (Salty Lake) will take us via Nikšić towards Ostrog monastery.

Nested in the sheer rock of Ostroška Greda, at a 900m altitude, annually visited between 250.000 and 300.000 believers and visitors, Ostrog Monastery is the most visited Orthodox shrine in Europe.

This Serbian-Orthodox Monastery was founded by Saint Basil of Ostrog (Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina) in the XVII century, whose “mošti” (eng. Relics), considered miraculous, are still kept in the monastery.

During our visit to the monastery, we shall visit the Church of the Holy Cross, which contains original frescoes from the 17th century, three of which were declared a valuable cultural treasure by UNESCO. Later, we get to see the actual location, today marked by a circle, where St. Basil died in 1671, and miraculously, a vine grew from the solid rock.

The church also contains a grenade from the Second World War from the time of the German bombing, which fortunately did not explode, although it previously broke through the fence and the wall of the Church of the Holy Cross.

At the upper level of the Monastery, we shall visit the Church of Presentation, where the body of St. Basil is enshrined in a reliquary kept in the cave-church dedicated to the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple. The frescoes inside the Church of Presentation were created in the late XVII century and were painted on the surface of solid rock by master Radul, who beautifully coped with the natural shapes of the cave.

The views from the Ostrog monastery on the whole Bjelopavlići plain are breathtaking.

Our thorough explorations of the Ostrog monastery will additionally cover myths and legends, which spice up the overall narrative of the fantastic and unique Serbian Orthodox monastery.

Afternoon: Our journey continues toward northern Montenegro as we are heading towards Durmitor National Park. As we gradually gain altitude, the scenery completely changes. From the dry and bare south, as we drive deeper into the north, we slowly enter beech, oak, and pine forested regions dominated by rocky peaks of Durmitor National Park.

Named initially by Celtic people “Dru Mi Tore”, literally meaning “Mountain full of water”, Durmitor National Park was founded in 1952. It is part of the Dinaric Alps. The Durmitor massif was shaped by glaciers, with the highest peak at 2523m called “Bobotov Kuk. With nearly 50 peaks more than 2000m high, surrounded by rivers Tara, Piva, and Komarnica, Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Montenegro’s most impressive national park.

Hiking, rafting, kayaking, canyoning, zip-lining, and tons of other adventure activities are at your fingertips when visiting Durmitor National Park. Today, however, we are focusing on several of the most beautiful spots at Durmitor, which can be seen regularly in one day.

The most beautiful of all 18 glacial lakes, famously called “Gorske oči” (eng. Mountain eyes), is the “Crno Jezero” (eng. Black Lake). Once at the lake, and once we are blessed with the natural beauty of this fantastic region, you will have free time to explore the lake on your own. The most recommended activity is a 1-hour walk around the whole lake (ca. 4km), where you can fully appreciate the beauty of the Black Lake region while the high peaks of the Durmitor massif grandiosely rise high above.

Lunch: Once we have blessed our eyes and soul with the unrivaled beauty of the Black Lake, we will head to Žabljak for lunch. Located at an altitude of 1450m, with approximately 2000 inhabitants, Žabljak is considered the highest town in the Balkans. Since it is just a few minute’s drive away from Black Lake, Žabljak offers a wide range of accommodation and food opportunities when visiting Durmitor National Park.

Traditionally considered home to some of the best traditional Montenegrin food, our excellent food choice today will be served according to your taste. Additionally, if you prefer to go into international cuisines and try great Žabljak pizza or burgers, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

Afternoon: After the delicious food, we continue exploring Durmitor National Park and visit Đurđevića Tara bridge. When constructed in 1940, during the era of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with its length of 365m and a maximum height of 172m, looming over the 150m deep Tara canyon, Đurđevića Tara bridge was the highest in the World.

Just walking across the Bridge and absorbing the beauty and grandeur of the surroundings, no one can remain indifferent. That is why the Tara Bridge was listed among the World’s 20 most beautiful bridges in various travel magazines worldwide.

Our 30-minute stop at the Bridge will be one of the day’s highlights. Just at the Bridge, there is the most famous Montenegro Zip Line. Being the longest in Montenegro and one of the longest in Europe, we warmly recommend it for the brave ones.

Evening: Return and drop-off in Kotor or Dubrovnik depends on your choice. Tour ends.