During our family road trip in Montenegro, we spent 3 days as a family in Durmitor National Park. During our stay, we did some beautiful hikes: easy walks and proper, rather sporty alpine hikes, with routes for all levels! Whatever the age of your children, you can enjoy nature in Durmitor, in north-west Montenegro, between mountains, forests, canyon and glacial lakes.
When we travelled: the third week of July. We had good weather. In terms of visitor numbers, it was lively but very pleasant, without too many people.
Children’s ages: for this trip, we were with our Titpuce, aged 14. Ticoeur was not with us because he was doing an internship in Germany.
Below, I am sharing all the details of our family hikes in the magnificent natural setting of Durmitor National Park.
Our programme in Durmitor National Park
We spent 3 days and 2 nights in Durmitor National Park:
- Day 1: arrival in the afternoon. Loop around Black Lake.
- Day 2: ascent of Bobotov Kuk, then a short hike to Tara Canyon towards the Curevac viewpoint.
- Day 3: head to Durdevica Bridge for more views over the Tara River, then leave for our next stop: the Grebaje Valley.
Where should you base yourself to visit Durmitor National Park?
The main small town inside Durmitor National Park is Zabljak. It is the ideal base for enjoying all the possible day hikes. Most of the accommodation is therefore in and around this town. You will see that there are many options for sleeping in wooden A-frame huts. At first glance, all these huts look quite similar, but some are newer and therefore in better condition than others.
As for our choice, we wanted to sleep slightly outside town. We were about 3 km from Zabljak. Our hut was very comfortable in terms of bedding, nicely decorated and modern: Vila Durmitorska bajka. We highly recommend it. The location was excellent for reaching the different hiking trailheads. We were not isolated, as there were other huts like ours in the same place. Our host was friendly and lived right next door. Access by car is very easy and you can park right in front of the huts.
Our 3 family hikes in Durmitor National Park
First of all, do not forget to buy your annual pass online for Montenegro’s national parks. It costs 13.50 euros per person in 2026, and is free for under-15s. It is more economical than paying 5 euros per day at Durmitor National Park.
1/ Black Lake: the favourite family hike!
Loop around the lake: around 40 min for 3.6 km. Level: easy.
- The walk around Black Lake (Crno Jezero) is a very easy hike, more like a woodland walk, ideal with children, even young ones, because there is almost no elevation gain and the scenery is magnificent right from the start of the loop. You immediately fall for the emerald and turquoise colours of the water. To reach the lake, you need to walk 30 minutes from the centre of Zabljak (which is what we did), or 10 to 15 minutes from the large paid car park. Then the loop takes around 40 minutes. Some families do not walk all the way around and simply settle down facing this superb setting. Others swim there. The path is flat for a good half of the loop, with a few short uphill sections that are not difficult. Here it is in pictures:
- To extend the Black Lake hike: if you have time and want a more sporty walk, it is possible to climb up to Zminje Lake, located 45 minutes from Black Lake. The path follows a stream. In total, counting the return trip, this adds 1 hr 30 min to the Black Lake hike.
2/ The ascent of Bobotov Kuk: for very sporty families!
It took us 4 hr 45 min return (guides indicate 6 to 8 hours) – 1,000 m elevation gain. Level: difficult.
Introducing Bobotov Kuk
Bobotov Kuk is often described as the highest summit in Montenegro. In reality, by a few metres, there may be slightly higher mountains on the border with Albania. Bobotov Kuk rises to 2,524 m. Be careful: this is a very sporty hike with a few tricky sections (see photos and descriptions below).
If you are used to big mountain hikes, it is entirely doable. We had already done hikes of this level, even as a family. But it is not an ascent to take lightly. It is difficult to recommend an age for children, because it depends a lot on their mountain experience. I would say it is better suited to teenagers or pre-teens. They really need to be capable of caution and concentration in the difficult sections. For information, our Titpuce, aged 14, was probably the youngest person on this hike that day. She had no difficulty at all. On the contrary, she bounded along even more nimbly than we did. We also met adults who chose to turn back before the final section, which is indeed the most difficult.
As for us, all three of us loved this Bobotov Kuk hike! A real highlight of our trip to Montenegro!
In any case, know that even if you do not go all the way to the summit, you will still have enjoyed magnificent landscapes. So you can start the ascent of Bobotov Kuk and turn back if you do not feel comfortable.
How the Bobotov Kuk hike unfolds:
All along the route, the path is very well marked with red and white markings.
- We arrived at the car park, at the start of the hike, at 8 am. There was still space. It is recommended to arrive early because Montenegro’s summit is one of the most popular hikes in Durmitor. It was 14 degrees when we arrived and temperatures rose to 20 degrees by midday.
- Right from the start, we liked the scenery! On the side, you can even see a few patches of snow.
- After 20 minutes, we reached the first cable section, which helps with a slightly steep climb. The cable makes it more comfortable. Another cable section helps you avoid slipping on a narrow path. These photos should help you judge whether it is OK for you:
- We passed a spring (Izvor). The water is delicious. You need to walk 50 metres to the side to reach the spring.
- A little further on, we enjoyed these beautiful rock formations:
- After an hour and a half, the route is equipped with cables to climb a steep, stair-like slope. This makes the section feel much safer:
- The slope becomes steeper but without any particular difficulty.
- Then, just before the summit, there is a section with large rocks where you need to use your hands:
- At the summit, you are rewarded with a superb 360-degree panorama. There is a small metal box containing a notebook and pen so you can sign your visit.
- As often, I found the descent harder on the knees. And for anyone prone to vertigo, the beginning of the descent, where the cables are, is impressive:
- Our Titpuce was like a mountain goat for the rest of the descent!
3/ Tara Canyon: a dizzying panorama from Curevac
1 hr return to the Curevac viewpoint – easy.
After taking a beautiful forest road, we parked a little before the official car park. That way, our parking was free and it extended the walk a little. We then walked for 30 minutes to the Curevac viewpoint, where you can admire the spectacular depth of Tara Canyon! The Tara River is the longest river in Montenegro, and its canyon is 1,000 m deep at this point. We stayed to admire the panorama before retracing our steps.
Other ideas for family hikes in Durmitor National Park
- The ascent of Savin Kuk: this is a hike recommended to us by the Tourist Office for families with younger children, because you can adapt the effort by taking a chairlift or not. We will try it next time.
- The ascent of Prutas: this is an alpine hike, as long and mountainous as Bobotov Kuk, but without the technical sections. It would have been our plan B if we had found Bobotov Kuk too difficult.
Durdevica Bridge: for other activities on the Tara River
At Durdevica Bridge, you get another viewpoint over the Tara River, but in a completely different place from the Curevac viewpoint I mentioned above. It is further east. In relation to our itinerary, we went to Durdevica Bridge on the last day, on the way to our next stop in the Grebaje Valley.
The bridge is currently undergoing works, but you can still walk across it for the views.
Two activities popular with families are offered there:
- Zip-lining across the canyon: can you see them in the photo? No need to book. You will find several providers on site.
- Rafting trips on the river: make sure you check the river level in advance, as this activity is probably more impressive in spring.
Our Titpuce prefers hikes and walks to these adventure experiences, so we did not test them, but go for it if your children enjoy adrenaline activities!
Where to eat in Durmitor National Park?
Before or after a hike, you obviously need to refuel!
- Restaurant Izvor: a very good inn close to our accommodation (5 minutes by car). We had dinner there every evening. You will find classics such as local trout and grilled meats. We also had our last breakfast there to try the fritters: very good, but huge and filling! Note that there are also many restaurants in Zabljak itself.
- Mountain Bite: a hut in Zabljak serving very good sandwiches.
- Supermarket: several supermarkets in Zabljak where you can buy hiking snacks, breakfasts and water.
Practical information for hiking in Durmitor National Park
Which season?
- Summer is the ideal season for hiking. I was pleasantly surprised that the landscapes were so green! We were there during the third week of July.
- Check the weather and temperatures carefully before setting off. Generally, we had around 14 degrees in the morning and a maximum of 20 degrees around midday.
Access by car
- Distances: Durmitor National Park is 3 hours from Kotor by car and 2 hr 30 min from Podgorica. The roads leading there are in excellent condition. See my article: driving in Montenegro.
- Our hire car: we had hired a car at Podgorica airport. We had a Citroen C3 for 30 euros per day.
What hiking gear?
- Clothing: in the morning it was a little cooler, so we set off with windbreakers and a light fleece. Then, between the sun and the exercise, we quickly took them off and finished in T-shirts. Also bring a cap.
- Shoes: trainers are enough for Black Lake and the Tara River viewpoint. However, you need hiking boots for the ascent of Bobotov Kuk and any other alpine hike.
- The essentials: as always, make sure you take water and sun cream with you.
Finding your way
- Pick up a free map at the Durmitor Visitor Centre: the building is not far from Black Lake. You will recognise it by its blue roofs. Inside, it is a little old-fashioned, but there is an exhibition of stuffed local animals. Maps are available and you can ask for advice on choosing your hikes.
- Trail markings and GPS: on the hikes we did, the paths were either obvious enough or marked with very clear signs. We still always keep the free Organic Maps app on our phone in case we have any doubts, because all the trails are shown there.
***
In conclusion, we really enjoyed visiting Durmitor National Park. It is a very pleasant part of Montenegro for families and much less busy than the coast. With two nights there, we were able to do the hikes we most wanted to try and enjoy some spectacular scenery! With one extra night, there would have been plenty more to do too. We will go back!
And you? Do you fancy discovering Durmitor National Park with your family?
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