Walking tour in Montenegro Walking tour in Montenegro I have just returned from an eight-day tour booked through Headwater that took in three national parks and the Adriatic Coast. We flew to Dubrovnik where we were met and taken on mountain roads to Zabljak, a ski resort. The hotel lacks lifts but was comfortable and centrally located near the supermarket and restaurants where we dined. On our first day of hiking we visited the Durmitor National Park where we saw the glacial Black Lake before enjoying a memorable group picnic by Snake Lake with local produce and wine to celebrate a member’s birthday. The national parks have rare virgin forest. Often when walking you are joined by well behaved unleashed dogs. We also saw goats, sheep, butterflies and wild flowers. Our guide Danijela spotted a baby snake and blue beetles. She also pointed out rose hips, pomegranates and enabled us to taste local blueberries. Unfortunately it rained on our second day but our itinerary was adjusted so that we didn’t get too wet yet enjoyed some local sights such as Eye Lake. The weather spoilt the panoramic view but Danijela showed us pictures from a previous visit and was always armed with maps to help explain the geography and history of the country and Yugoslavia (southern Slavs) more generally. It was very educational. Danijela was always familiar with the countryside and able to adapt the routes for our group. Sometimes we veered off the beaten track and really felt we were experiencing something special. There were uphill climbs and rocky terrain but we were unhurried and could progress safely. Our third night was at the Hotel Bianca, Kolasin, a beautifully designed ski lodge with a warm wooden interior and an amazing swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi. We passed through the capital city of Podgorica on our way to the Mausoleum of Prince Bishop Petar II. A hot day and altitude made it a challenging climb but the 360-degree view was worth it. After lunch we hiked down to our minibus, waiting to take us on the serpentine road with its breathtaking views of Kotor and the Adriatic Coast to Perast, our base for four nights. Perast is largely pedestrianised and accommodation at the Conte spread out. The town has a Venetian feel with its waterfront terraces and churches. We swam in the sea and were able to view fish and the boats coming and going in the harbour area. On the one day with no cruise liners in port we took a boat to the nearby island of Our Lady of the Rocks before carrying on to Kotor. Here we climbed about 1,300 steps from the River Gate to St John Fort before returning to the town with its cathedral, city walls, market, cafes, shops, museum and plentiful cats. Next day we visited Godinje for a home made cheese, prosciutto and wine lunch at a fourteenth-generation family vineyard. Afterwards we descended to Lake Skadar, the largest Balkan lake. From our ‘Pelican’ boat we spotted kingfishers and yellow heron, as well as water chestnuts and water lilies. The boat stopped for us to swim mid lake with the mountains of Albania visible in the distance. Our last hike was on the Vrmac peninsula with its outstanding views of Kotor and Porto Montenegro bringing our walking holiday to a pleasant conclusion.

Mont Blanc Recently returned from an amazing time in Mont Blanc! The walks were fantastic and the views were out of this world! The local agent discussed the planned routes with us on arrival before we set off to explore the vibrant Chamonix. After a few days walking here we crossed the border to our next stop Courmayeur and took in the views from the Italian side of Mont Blanc. It really was a once in a lifetime trip!