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Itinerary

Your week will include four fun-packed activity days with an expert guide and two rest days to explore further or chill out as you please. The exact itinerary is decided by the group during the welcome dinner on the night of arrival but to give you an idea of what to expect, read our sample itinerary below.

Day 1 – Arrival & welcome dinner

Arrival at Virpazar from your chosen airport (airport transfers are included). Get to know your group and guide during a three-course Montenegrin welcome dinner on Villa Miela’s terrace and decide on your activities for the week.

Day 2 – Hiking & driving tour of Lake Skadar National Park

Charge up your camera and jump aboard our trusty Land Rover defender for a day of breathtaking scenery and wild swimming.

The morning’s stops include rockpools for a dip and bat-inhabited caves before lunching at a former royal residence in the historic lakeside town of Rijeka Crnojevića.

After lunch, hop back in the 4×4 for more drives through fantastic natural landscapes and wild swimming before reading a plain that wouldn’t look out of place in Africa. Our final stop is at the ancient fort of Zabljak Crnojevića

We then jump back in the 4×4 for more stunning views, wild river swimming and then heading across a magnificent plain that would not look out of place in Africa. The breathtaking view from the ancient fort of Zabljak Crnojevića is our final stop before returning to Virpazar.

Day 3 – Kayaking Safari on Lake Skadar

Suitable for all levels of fitness, this 4-5 hour kayak trip will take you across stunning mirrored waters from Murići on the southern shores, (also home to the lake’s best freshwater beach), with views up to the fabled peaks of Albania’s Accursed Mountains. You’ll have the lake all to yourself as you swim in crystal clear waters and visit the lake’s renowned 14th-century island monasteries, all the while taking in the awesome views, varied bird life and glorious solitude.

Beginners are welcome – your guide is a UK-qualified instructor!

Day 4 – Rest Day

There’s so much to discover at Lake Skadar National Park! Take the complimentary bicycles out for a spin, try out some of the self-guided walking trails, head out to see the coast (only 30 minutes away) or chill out and play some boules in Villa Miela’s gardens.

Day 5 – Wine tasting in Lake Skadar Valley

Lake Skadar is also Montenegro’s wine country with upwards of 30 commercial producers on Villa Miela’s doorstep. The red vranac and white krstač wines are easily a match for more famous French rivals. Our wine-tasting tour will take you to three boutique wineries, all medal winners, where you can sample from the barrels yourselves, view the vineyards and learn about the proud history of wine-making from the friendliest of owners. You can even take the option of having a private lunch or dinner at a winery, with the best organic produce, washed down with copious quantities of delicious wine! Holidaying with kids? Take our family’s favourite wild-swimming boat tour instead!

Day 6 – Walnut Valley hike

Our favourite hike – this circular trail passes through ancient woodland, across arched Ottoman bridges and along riverside trails and old Roman caravan paths as it winds its way through one of Lake Skadar’s most beautiful valleys. We stop for wild swimming in natural spring-fed pools before hiking to the beautiful hillside village of Dupilo for lunch with a local family (extra cost applicable). This is unspoiled and undisturbed nature, with wild figs, herbs and tortoises in abundance! Best of all, you won’t have to share them with other tourists; this is our secret!

Day 7 – Rest Day

Feel free to pick your guide’s brains for places to explore on your final day in Montenegro or simply kick back, relax and enjoy the surroundings at Villa Miela.

Day 8 – Departure

Your guides will ensure you’re at your departure airport in good time to make your flight home.

Prices are in GBP per person per week and include 7 nights’ self-catering accommodation at Villa Miela, a welcome dinner, four standard activities, some meals and complimentary use of mountain bikes. Flights are not included.

Please note that all parties may share Villa Miela with other independent bookings. We can on occasion accept shorter stays pro-rata (eg, 3 nights, 2 activities for 50% of the normal price), but this is usually limited to late availability or special circumstances. We don’t offer accommodation-only stays – sorry!

The four activities run by us include all transport, translation, equipment and packed lunches where offered. Please note that all third party providers of food/wine are to be paid direct by the guests as part of our “no commission” policy to support the local economy.

Villa Miela

A beautifully renovated farmhouse with swimming pool, Villa Miela is the ideal base for guests on our Lake Skadar multi-activity holidays. With panoramic views and a prime location offering easy access to the lake’s southern and northern shores as well as Virpazar’s restaurants and shops, it’s the perfect place to stay for families, couples and groups of friends.

Make new travel buddies as you share the well stocked kitchen, gorgeous outdoor terrace, gas BBQ and swimming pool, or take over the whole complex if your group number is six or more (a supplement may be charged).

At a glance

• Sleeps 8-10 with 2 double rooms, 1 twin and one 4-bed dorm room, each with private bathroom
  Modern kitchen with all amenities
  Free WIFI
  Open-plan living room with TV, DVD player and library of books and films
  Large terrace with gas barbecue, loungers, hammocks, boules court, swimming pool; incredible views over lake, valley and mountains
  Extensive grounds with natural orchard and wild tortoises
  Two minutes from the lake shore, 30 minutes from the Adriatic coast
  Free use of mountain bikes

Exposed stone details and wooden ceilings and floors add to the charm, with locally produced, handmade bedspreads and bathroom soaps also handmade from olive oil. Stunning views are offered up by each bedroom and the open-plan living area.

The modern kitchen comes equipped with washing-machine and dishwasher.