Lovćen & Lake Skadar National Park Full Day Tour from Kotor Bay and Budva

We start pickups in Kotor at 8 AM. As the day is quite long, a bit earlier start is recommended. If you are staying outside of Kotor, please let us know and we are happy to pick you up anywhere in Kotor bay region or Budva.

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. Our drivers are well experienced and driving this roads will be a pleasure. The road is enriched with 25 hairpin turns, and with several panorama stops, it gives us an amazing view over the Kotor bay.

Once at the top, we have arrived at Lovćen National Park, a core and heart of Montenegro, its most valuable cultural, historical and religious heritage site.

>Kotor Serpentines, 8.3km long stretch of stunning driving experience

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.

>Lovćen National Park Observation point at Petar II Petrović Njegoš Mausoleum

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

>Petar II Petrović Njegoš Mausoleum interior

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.

>Njeguši village under mighty peaks of Lovćen National Park

The idyllic village with just several tens of inhabitants, is homeplace to globally popular 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), variety of herbs, local organic veggies and fruits, simply taste the best, and add up to the overall experience of this beautiful village.

>Njeguši prosciutto served with locally made cheese

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 as if you just have 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 – former center of the state, and today the cultural, historical and spiritual capital of Montenegro.

In the 2nd half of 15th century, the Ottoman conquests have 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 a foothills of Lovćen mountain. During 1482, Ivan Crnojević built a court and monastery, which were the first establishments of the new capital, Cetinje. Later when Ivan Crnojević transferred the Zeta Metropolitanate to the newly built monastery, Cetinje in addition to 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.

>Cetinje Orthodox Monastery

During our walking tour of Cetinje, we will learn historic facts about Montenegrin old capital, hear about the first printing house of the South Slavs (just 4 decades after the Guttenbergs), visit famous Cetinje spots such as Cetinje Monastery, historic centre with its famous foreign embassies, museums, royal theatre, Biljarda (the new royal residence) and so much more.

If required, free time in Cetinje, to explore the historic town on your own will be arranged.

Just 5 kilometers from Cetinje, we will make a short detour and break away from socio-cultural stories to peek a bit into speleology, and visit Montenegro’s most famous speleological wonder, the Lipa cave. About 2.5km in length, a mix of beautiful passages and halls, enriched with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, some up to 5m tall, and with annual temperature ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius, Lipa cave is a must see for anyone visiting the region of Cetinje.

Our 1 hour visit to Lipa cave is a professionally guided tour, with the local guide, whose speleological knowledge and expertise will additionally enhance our cave exploring experience.

>Beautiful Lipa Cave near Cetinje

The lunch time is planned at Rijeka Crnojevića, or famously called Montenegrin Venice. When Ivan Crnojevic in 15the century founded Cetinje, in centuries to follow Rijeka Crnojevića (eng. Crnojević river – named after 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 nice pedestrian zone and a few beautifully located traditional restaurants, Crnojevića Rijeka is the perfect place for lunch time chill.

>Crnojevića Rijeka boat cruise trail

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

Normally, 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 you the best food from the offer.

After delicious lunch you can even on spot if you prefer to do boat ride on Skadar Lake. We definitely recommend it as it will probably be the most inspiring moments of the day.

Price for an hour of ride vary from 35 to 50 EUR per group (up to 10 persons depending on the season) and you can prearrange your preferred number of hours with us in advance, or alternatively you can negotiate price on the spot with local boat suppliers.

Lake Skadar is a natural wonder. A protected National Park of Montenegro and Albania and a paradise of wildlife. Being home to more than 260 bird species, islet monasteries, old and traditionally built stone villages, 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 optional short uphill hike and visit to the medieval fortress, which under the Crnojević dynasty, was a capital of Zeta, the views from the top will be simply amazing, and worth every single effort.

>Crnojevića Rijeka famous Pavlova strana viewpoint

For ornithology lovers, Skadar Lake is a true paradise. Unlimited offer 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, water snakes, frogs, all kinds of bugs and insects, fish, toads, dragonflies, etc., just add even more to an amazing Skadar Lake experience.

For true adventurers, during the summer time some swim and chill at crystal clear Skadar Lake is a must do.

In the late afternoon, after stopping at the stunning Pavlova strana viewpoint, and furthermore admiring the beauty of Skadar Lake, via Virpazar and Petrovac, we are back to Kotor.