This tour goes through the most beautiful National Park of Montenegro: the Durmitor National Park. It is the largest protected area in the country and is home to Durmitor: a beautiful limestone massif in the Dinaric Alps. With the village of Žabljak as the start and end point on this route, you have a nice base from which to explore the National Park.

The nature in the park is breathtaking. It is good to notice that it has remained well protected due to the UNESCO status. This also means that you will encounter few inhabited areas. Therefore, it is wise to buy a small snack before departure in Žabljak and also to refuel. Along the way you will come across a number of eateries and 1 gas station. But it's always handy to have drinks and food on hand, just in case.

After stocking up, you will leave for the Northwest. Žabljak is located on the edge of the National Park, so you quickly experience the vast peace and space around you. In the distance you can see the mountain peaks of Durmitor looming and behind you you can see the water glistening of the Black Lake in the depths. A popular water sports lake near your hotel. Maybe worth a dip later?

The route slips under the ski lifts of the modest winter sports area and demands all your attention while driving. The road is narrow and creeps further and further, until you have a magnificent view of the Tara canyon at the bottom of the mountain “Veliki Štuoc” at an altitude of about 1940 meters. With a length of 1,300 meters (and a length of 82 kilometers), this gorge is the deepest gorge in Europe. The Tara River flows through this gorge and is a popular spot for rafting.
Along the side of the road you will find a number of unpaved parking spots, where you can stop to take pictures. Keep in mind that these are small spots and the abyss starts not far from the edge!

After this photo stop, the route goes downhill towards another gorge: the Sušiče canyon and the lake of the same name. With a number of wonderful successive hairpin bends you arrive at the bottom of the gorge. Before crossing the Sušiče river you can turn left onto a small unpaved path. Here you will find (if you are not too late in the season) the Sušičko lake. This is one of 18 glacial lakes in Durmitor National Park and the only one that disappears every year. In spring it is fed by melting glacier water via a river and a number of waterfalls. In June the lake slowly dries up, until (in the summer period) only a large meadow remains.

Immediately after the lake and the river, the climb out of the gorge begins. Finally, at the top of the mountain, you have beautiful views of the gorge 300 meters below you. If the Guesthouse is open, you can take a break at guesthouse Nedajno.
After your break, a continuous 50-kilometer stretch begins right through the heart of the Durmitor limestone massif. The road winds and there seems to be no end to the narrow road through the deserted landscape. You alternate between gigantic Black Pines and then again over picturesque alpine meadows with a view of the rugged mountain peaks.

Along the way you have the chance to encounter farmers and shepherds who herd their cattle towards the summer pastures. And possibly a bear, wolf or wild cat on your path?

Towards the end of these 50 kilometers a gentle descent begins towards the Tara River. This time you can admire the river up close. Just off the road, you can stop at Restoran Coridor. Optionally, you can also walk to the nearby bridge to take pictures of the rafts that try to conquer the Tara River. Or you drive there with the motorbikes to take beautiful pictures, driving over the wooden bridge.

This photo shoot marks the end of the Tara River today. From now on you follow the Piva river upstream, towards the South. The road is wider again, allowing you to glide through the bends at a wonderful pace. Along the way, you can occasionally stop for photos. The Mratinje dam is also worth a small stop. This dam was built in the 1960s to generate electricity for the region. Part of the Piva River was dammed and an entire monastery was moved so that the lake could have more space. Earlier in the day you drove under electricity pylons a number of times. These masts move electricity generated at this dam. If you want to stop for photos, it's best to continue the route until you've crossed the dam. Here are some places where you can park. In the past, wrong parkers were sometimes chased away by intrepid dam officers.

The lake behind the dam is huge: the next 15 kilometers you drive along the water. Just before the main road crosses the lake, the route bends east. If you (soon) have to refuel, it is best to continue on the main road towards the South. A few kilometers away, you can refuel at an Eko gas station at the entrance to the village of Plužine. From here you could also drive further south to visit the Piva Monastery. The traces of the extensive relocation are visible…

As soon as you follow the route (again) towards the East, you can make a small detour on the route. Before entering the first hairpin bend (into a tunnel!), you can drive straight out of the tunnel towards the hamlet of Boričje. Follow the cul-de-sac for about 10 km until you have a spectacular view of a limestone massif. The massif collapses into the depths, towards the hamlet. Later today you will drive up along the gorge, but unfortunately you will not be able to see the gorge up close. Adventurers can try to follow the road towards the main route, but keep in mind that it is an unpaved path on a steep climb. It's easier to turn around and pick up the route 10 kilometers back at the tunnels.

The narrow road climbs out of the gorge. It's a crazy bit of road. There are several short tunnels over a stretch of 2 km. Every now and then you'll drive into the daylight to quickly dive back into the next tunnel, which may or may not contain a sharp bend or hairpin bend. All in all, it's a lovely road. You drive upstairs with a grin. There are also beautiful viewpoints in a number of places and possibly a lovely picnic spot to enjoy your snacks.

Again, a continuous stretch of route follows through the Durmitor Park. On a 40 km stretch, the road meanders along and over the mountains and hills in the area. You will find parking spaces at a number of places along the route. Usually people park here who go hiking in the mountains. But they are also excellent places to pause and take in the breathtaking view.

You can take a last break at Bar Sedlo or the Lomnido Mountain herbal tea bar. From here it's only 15 kilometers to the end of the route, but certainly a pleasant spot before re-entering the bustle of the village.
Once in the village, you can also top up your thirsty motorbike at the local gas station, before plopping down on the terrace at your hotel for a well-deserved drink and an in-depth review of the route.