7 Day Winter Activity Holiday in Montenegro
“This is one of the best holidays I have ever had. The genuine warmth of the welcome we had from our hosts and locals was really wonderful…fantastic local food and adventurous activities.” Joanna McAuley, February 2022
2024 departure dates: any Saturday, January-March
Montenegro is not just a summer destination! With high mountains and alpine conditions, the north of the country is fast developing its winter sports with a newly expanded ski centre up at Kolašin. We’ve put together an awesome winter holiday program for snow-hounds and adventure lovers which combines the best of this small Balkan country – our adopted home – in winter.
Snowshoe, ski, snowboard, night-hike and sledge as you explore Montenegro’s spellbinding alpine landscape with our local hosts and guides. There’s something for everyone on this unique multi-active week!
Your base for the week is a charming family-run wooden cabin complex, just a 90-minute drive from Podgorica Airport and a short shuttle to Kolašin Ski Centre where 45km of managed runs await, suitable for all categories of skiers and snowboarders! Take a beginner/refresher class on the easy slopes with fully licensed, English-speaking instructors. And then, it’s ready, get set, and go for three days spent skiing or snowboarding to your heart’s content. We’ll also visit UNESCO-protected Durmitor for a day at the Savin Kuk ski centre and famous Black Lake, plus epic views as we travel there along the magical Tara Canyon.
Mixing skiing or snowboarding with snowshoeing and community-based adventures makes this break more sustainable. Discover the pristine wilderness of Montenegro’s mountains by foot – a totally different, more authentic scene from the ski centres. Follow animal tracks in untouched snow, then visit an artisan cheese farm and traditional shepherds’ ‘katun’ village for lunch; both joyous places you will leave with full bellies and hearts lifted. Evenings are spent by the roaring fire, enjoying hearty, home-cooked food, mulled wine and ‘rakija’ brandy at the cabins’ small restaurant or simply relaxing, ready for the next day’s adventures.
A late-hour departure on your final day offers up the chance to go from “ski to sea” by visiting Montenegro’s stunning Adriatic coastline, just two hours away.
“Emma and Ben have set out to change everyone’s understanding of skiing in this hidden gem…there’s far too much conviviality, beauty, charm and heaps of good food to keep wintertime Montenegro to themselves.” Mary Novakovich, The Daily Telegraph, March 2022
We welcome all abilities to give Montenegro winter sports a try, from families to couples and groups of friends; minimum age of seven (or six for exceptional kids who are used to outdoor winter sports). The maximum group size is eight.
Book to Give Back – every booking sparks a donation to our chosen local environmental and community causes!
All accommodation, ski passes and equipment hire are included, as well as most meals and 5 days of winter-sport activities! Click on the itinerary tab to find out more.
Your Country Experts: Ivana and Slavko are Kolašin locals who have long-provided expertly hosted outdoor adventures as well as delicious, locally-produced meals, at their activity base ‘Bijeli Potok’. Starting out in 2003, they own their own accommodation, vehicles and equipment (as well as horses!) and have recruited some of the very best English-speaking guides to their family-run operation, all of whom are fully qualified in their respective fields.
Ben is one of the founders of Undiscovered Balkans, a BCU-qualified kayaking coach who has nearly 20 years of living and working in Montenegro and Croatia. He speaks fluent English, French, German and Montenegrin/Serbian and loves snowboarding!
Want to see more? Watch our video!
This is a sample itinerary – weather and client wishes may lead to different activities on certain days
Day 1 – Arrival and Transfer to Kolašin
Welcome meal with your local hosts on arrival at your accommodation, Bijeli Potok – or welcome drink if arriving late on the Ryanair London-Podgorica flight.
Day 2 – Skiing and/or Snowboarding
After a delicious breakfast at base camp, we travel 15 minutes up the road to the newly opened Kolašin 1600 ski resort. Included are your ski passes, all equipment hire and one hour with a certified skiing/snowboarding instructor (you can spend more time with them for a surcharge, payable to the instructor direct). It doesn’t matter if you are experienced or a complete novice – just let your guide know and they will make the appropriate arrangements! Lunch at a resort restaurant (not included). Group dinner.
Day 3 – Snowshoe Walking Day
After breakfast, there is a morning transfer to the ski resort and a trip up the ski lift to Ključ peak, from where we will start a stunning snowshoe hike across Bjelasica mountain. Our destination is the shepherd’s village ‘Vranjak Katun’, where we will enjoy a picnic lunch in the mountain lodge. After a well-earned rest and hot drinks, we will descend back to the ski resort. This is an easy walk with beautiful open views, about a 5-6km distance in total. Transfer back to Kolašin. The evening is free (we can recommend some excellent local restaurants!).
Day 4 – 2nd Skiing and/or Snowboarding Day
Once at the ski centre, you can head off and do your own thing on the slopes – you can head off under the watchful eye of your guide – or for novices still finding their feet in either discipline, extra tuition is available for €25/hour (you pay the instructors direct). Near the end of the day, we will add an early evening walk with torches near Bijeli Potok, to the viewpoint of Kolašin – a walk of about 1 hour 30 minutes. Dinner is back at Bijeli Potok base camp.
Day 5 – Free Day
Time for a rest! If you don’t feel like chilling out, you can jump on the sledges provided by your accommodation to speed down the nursery slopes right by your cabin. Alternatively, we can arrange, at extra cost, horse riding, mountain biking, or an extra ski/snowboard lesson!
Day 6 – Snowshoe Walking Day 2
After a short morning transfer to Lipovo village (one of the most beautiful Montenegrin villages, settled in a valley surrounded by high mountain peaks, we take a lovely snowshoe walk through the pastures of ‘Čegljev do’ under ‘Jablan peak’, and visit one of the local cheese farms where we will have lunch. Dinner is back at Bijeli Potok.
Day 7 – Visit to Žabljak for Skiing/Snowboarding
On this day we will leave Kolašin at 8 a.m. and drive to the resort of Žabljak via the famous Đurđevića Tara bridge. Once at the slopes of Savin Kuk, you can choose your sport and hit the slopes again, with choices of four runs of varying classes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included, as well as transfers, all ski passes, equipment rental and dinner back at Bijeli Potok.
Day 8 – Return to Podgorica
If departing Montenegro in the evening, we can arrange a private driver to take you from ‘ski’ to ‘sea’, with Montenegro’s Adriatic coast within two hours drive of Kolasin. The perfect end to a week of exploring this beautiful country with such a diverse landscape!
Prices: £945 per person – accommodation is based on two in a double or twin room in a 4/6-person shared cabin.
Prices include all accommodation and breakfasts, 5 dinners, 2 lunches, 5 activity days, ski passes and equipment. Flights and airport transfers are excluded.
This is a group holiday that can also be tailor-made on request. Maximum Group size of 6.
Special February Half Term Deal – £50 off per person for families
BIJELI POTOK CHALETS
Bijeli Potok Chalets are run by your local hosts, Slavko and Ivana. There have 3 chalets (2 x 2 bedroom, 1 x 3 bedroom), each with a powerful wood burner and central heating, high-speed WiFi and all the usual mod-cons. Sited just 15 minutes drive away from Kolašin’s ski centres, it’s also only a 5-minute drive into the town itself and just 1 hour 15 minutes from Podgorica airport. There’s an on-site restaurant for all your morning and most of your evening meals, and helpful staff on hand to assist you in every aspect of your stay! Our tip – take advantage of the freely provided sledges to enjoy some winter fun on the nursery slope right by the cabins!
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