What can we say about this ice season? It wasn't promising at the begining, but at the end I feel a little sorrow, as we did not make enough of the best season in the last 10 years or more. Most of the time we climbed in the valleys around Šavnik, while other locations like Dobrilovina in the Tara canyon were completely inaccessible due to heavy snowfall and blocked roads. The waterfalls there are the largest in Montenegro and they have never been climbed yet. Anyhow, the result is four new routes and one variation plus a few repetition of previosly climbed lines. Thanks to all my friends for sharing the early starts, long drives, frozen fingers and nice climbs...

At the end of September, my friend Heli Gargitter arrived with a group from the Dolomites - South Tyrol for another trip through Montenegro.The tour started at Žabljak, Durmitor National Park, where we reached the highest peak Bobotov Kuk, over Bjelasica and Prokletije, through the Morača and Mrtvica canyons, to the old royal capital of Cetinje and the beautiful Boka Kotorska bay...

What can you do in Podgorica at + 42 C? Nothing, just run away as far as possible. Thanks to Marian from Slovakia, who needed company in the mountains, I did not spend the hottest day of the year in the stove of Podgorica. Our destination was the mountain massif of Žijevo, east of Podgorica, or to be precise, the peaks of Surdup (2185m) and Štitan. These mountains are not very popular among foreigners, but they still have a lot to offer: 14 peaks above 2000 m, two glacial lakes, numerous more or less demanding trails, around 60 routes in rocks of very good quality.. and all at 40 km from the capital city, what makes this mountain masiff perfect for those who wants to escape from beaches for one day...

The last week of July was reserved for German expert Michael Steinbach, engaged by the Ministry of Tourism to develop a study on winter tourism products in North Montenegro. Another great week all around Montenegro from west to east, from Plužine to Gusinje. Many miles are behind us, crossing the mountains with beautiful landscapes and breathtaking views. It is difficult to say which tour was the best. Michael could not decide between crossing over Sinjajevina or the tour in Prokletije mountains. Come to Montenegro and have the same dilemma! For me personally, this was a great trip, I learned a lot. Thanks to Michael for all tips and all answers to numerous questions I got. Also thanks to Milan, the driver, for the safe and comfortable ride, and to all my friends who helped me to present Montenegro as it is.

In order to develop and support tourist destinations in the central and mountainous regions, the Ministry of Tourism and GIZ (German Development Cooperation) engaged Mr. Michael Steinbach to make a study on winter tourism products in Montenegro. During 4 days we have visited Mount Bjelasica, Komovi, crossed Sinjajevina and visited ski centers of Kolašin and Savin kuk, as well as the tourist centers of Kolašin, Mojkovac and Žabljak, where we got information about their potentials and weaknesses, their problems, plans and ideas, accommodation capacities.. to be continued in July

 

"Visiting Montenegro for the first time was an incredible impression. In fact, Montenegro is a wilderness beauty: majestic mountains, spectacular canyons, endless high plains and a cordial hospitality.In other words a paradise for a mountain sports. Many thanks to Vanja who guided me and organized my exploration trip. He helped me a lot with his perfect knowledge of the mountains in Montenegro, also with his know how as a mountaineer and his good contacts to the people in the mountains.It seems that he knows nearly everybody.."
- Michael Steinbach, Germany

One of the best Slovenian alpinist in last 10 years Andrej Grmovšek, with his wife Tanja and friends Dušan and Miha, visited Montenegro for climbing and kayaking during the Easter and May holidays. On the day we decided to have a rest from climbing, we went to Mrtvica canyon for a beautiful and easy one-day hiking tour. Mrtvica is most beautiful in spring. A picture is a worth a thousand words...

Six days full of action,fun and adventures with a group of 11 skiers from Dolomites, led by mountain guide Heli Gargitter, on the mountains without any traces of human presence during the winter, plus two relaxed days we spent by learning more about the culture and history of Montenegro in old historic capital Cetinje and in Kotor, an old town in the Boka Kotorska bay, under UNESCO protection, where we as also enjoyed the good fish restaurants. 


 " ..I had an oportunity to met Vanja during a climbing trip in 2008. I work together with him for a few years, we organise climbing, trekking and skitouring tours in beautiful Montenegro.Participants and I were always very satisfied with the perfect work he did: guiding, organising and with information about his country. He knows also very well what mountain people like during trip.He is not only a guide in Montenegrian mountain, he is a person with very nice character and it is always enjoyment to travel with him.."
- Helmut Gargitter, mountain guide, Italy

 "..did not know much about Montenegro when I decided to join a trip for skitouring.. but it sounded wild and mystical to me, with a great range of potential adventures..even for weekend pioneers like me. And with Vanja on our side, we didn't get only a guiding and perfectly organized trip, but a friend, proud and prepared to share his knowledge about his country with us..
what to say about skitouring in Montenegro..have a look at the pictures and imagine that there are plenty of opportunities..stay there as long as you can, you will hardly get that much of untouched firn and powder slopes again.."
- Hannes Kathrein, Italy

A nice week with Heli (mountain guide) and Oto, both from the Dolomites. We spent 7 days in the mountains of Durmitor, Bjelasica, Prokletije and Žijevo. Regardless of the fact that it was the begening of May, there was enough snow for some ski tours on Durmitor, while the valleys were of a beautiful green color. "This country should be called Monteverde instead of Montenegro", was Heli's conclusion.

A 8 days lasting tour conects mountains around Kolasin town with cultural heritage of old royal capital Cetinje and old town Kotor on Adriatic sea in Boka kotorska bay. For a few days in the mountains we will walk on different places, climb highest peak of Bjelasica - Crna glava (2139m), reach Vasojevicki Kom peak on mount Komovi, walk through most beautifull canyon in Montenegro - Mrtvica canyon, swimm if it si hot enough in glacial lakes, known as a the eyes of the mountain: Zabojsko and Bukumirsko lake. After this full adventure on the north we will go to the south for more relaxing tour and stop in old royal capital Cetinje, small town under the foot of mount Lovcen . Cetinje has special places in Monetenegrian history, known as a residence of rules, cultural heritage is big, monasteries, museums, old embassies, it is place worth to see. Road leads then around mount Lovcen, through native village of Montenegrian rule and poet Njegus, using old road Cetinje - Kotor with spectacular views on Boka kotorska bay.

 

Season: June to midlle septembar

Group: 6 to 8 people

Duration: 8 days ( 5 days hiking  in the mountains, one day visit Cetinje and Kotor, 2 days arriving and departure)

Included: transport, accomodation, half board + lunch packages, english speakong guide service

Ova tura ukljucuje nekoliko najljepsih planinskih jezera u narodu poznatih kao gorske oci, sakrivenih u sumama i na obroncima planina Bjelasice, Zijeva i Sinjajevine. During 5 days of hiking we will see four lakes on Bjelasica mountain ( Pesica, Sisko, Ursulovacko i Biogradsko), two jewels of mount Zijevo - Bukumirsko and Rikavacko lake and finally one of the most beautifull lakes in Montenegro, hidden in deep pine forests of mount Sinjajevina - Zabojsko lake

 

Season: June to midlle September

Duration: 7 days (5 days hiking and two days for ariving and departure)

Group: 6 to 8 people

Included: transport, accomodation in private apartments, halfboard + lunch packages, english speaking guide service