nature


Montenegro’s star is on the rise, but how can clients see it sustainably? Rhonda Carrier suggests options


DESTINATIONS MONTENEGRO | CROATIA & THE BALKANS


a travelweekly.co.uk


fter years spent simmering away under the radar of


most travellers, Montenegro is finally stepping into the spotlight. But how can it avoid the perils of overtourism as it becomes better known? This Balkan destination


provides an alluring combination of Adriatic coastline, epic outdoor activities and fascinating history, all closely connected in a tiny country just half the size of Wales. Visitors can expect everything from rugged mountainscapes with sparkling glacial lakes, raging rivers and lush forests, to sun-drenched shores with watersports galore. Here we look at what’s new, with options that allow clients to explore responsibly – whether enjoying a slow-paced sailing, staying at a sustainability-minded resort or visiting small villages and national parks – so that even amid its rapid growth, they can see Montenegro’s natural splendour shine through.


COASTAL CRUISING One of the loveliest ways of seeing this coastline is on a boutique cruise aboard a traditional wooden Turkish gulet. Travelling with Sailing Adriatic on its seven-night gulet cruise, I took in bewitching Perast – which has just a single main street but finds space for 16 churches and 17 Venetian palazzi, some of them now romantic ruins – and delightful Herceg Novi with its Ottoman fortresses and an amphitheatre that affords soaring views of the bay. We also spent a night docked in the Unesco-listed old town of Kotor, one of Europe’s most atmospheric (if very popular) historic districts. Any visitors dismayed by the 1,350 steps up to its hilltop fortress can opt instead for the cable car, which opened in 2023, and takes clients to Lovćen National Park in about 10 minutes, where hiking, ziplining, cycling, e-biking and more await. The cliffs of Lovćen have also become a focal ²


27 MARCH 2025


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