Durmitor National Park

Durmitor in northern Montenegro is the country's largest national park, covers an area of 39,000 ha.  The glaciated limestone landscape includes the Durmitor mountain massif, with 48 peaks over 2000m.

The scenery is classic weathered/eroded limestone: enjoy cliffs, towers and spires, underground rivers, karstic features such as sinkholes and of course the deep, dramatic canyons. A highlight is the Tara River Canyon, a wild, winding and exceptionally deep canyon which is around 80km long and reaches depths estimated up to 1,300m. It is considered the deepest river canyon in Europe, although Walkopedia knows of at least two other claimants. Various walks can be made to high viewpoints; some of the best must be around Curovac. Glaciation has left 16 glacial lakes and two great canyons in addition to the Tara, the Susica and Draga.

The area sees both Mediterranean and alpine flora and fauna, with a correspondingly big selection of plant and animal life, particularly in the Tara River Canyon. There are deciduous and coniferous forests as well as the subalpine and alpine zones of the uplands. Animal life includes brown bears, wild boar, wolves, chamois, wild cats, eagles, grouse and partridge.

While many visitors come to Durmitor to climb its peaks, there are easier options with spectacular views of the massif or the Tara River Canyon. There are over 200km of trails, mostly well marked.

Great hikes include:

-       Bobotov Kuk, at 2,523m the highest mountain in the park. The best views of the Durmitor. 8 hours or so return.

-       Lokvice (1,800m), a straightforward hike into the massif; there is a basic shelter here and you can camp. You can then return the way you came, or head on further into the mountains for a multi-dayer, carrying on to Bobotov Kuk or the narrow, exposed Meded Ridge to Terzin Bogaz at 2,303m (5.5 hours or so return).

-       Ledena Pecina, a fine cave which is either accessible from Lokvice or as a day walk from the Black Lake

-       A 3 day circuit of the area via Lokvice to Surutka and on to Skrčko Jezero, finally decending to Jablan Jerezo.

-       Crno Jezero, the famous Black Lake, which is 40 mins from Zabljak. Extend this by walking on for another 1.5 hours to Jablan Jerezo Lake under the vast cliffs of Crvena Greda (2,175m) - which you can climb for a proper day's walk.

-       Planinica (2,330m), a long day hike. Lovely forests lead to the gorgeous glaciated Alisnica Valley. An easyish ascent gets you to its plateau-summit, with its superb views of both the high peaks and the Tara River Canyon and nigh of 600m chasm down to the Skričko Lakes. 4 hour/7 hour round trip to Crno Jerezo - or you can continue west to the hostel in the Skričko Valley (pre-booking needed).

-       Jezerska Povrs (Plateau of Lakes) to the east, and Sinjajevina mountain further east again.

-       Others of the 16 gorgeous glacial lakes.

-       Savin Kuk - a chairlift gets to near the top, so this is the easy way to bag the views.

Most visitors use Zabljak, the not specially thrilling regional administrative centre, as a base. There are hotels, pensions and hostels, shops and restaurants. At 1,450m it is already quite high, which means a lot of the peaks and superb high country are accessible as day walks.

Best times to walk are June to September. In June and July, the meadows are a paradise for botanists, with swathes of wildflowers including orchids.

Have a look at the dreaded TripAdvisor . You should get good, current views on this walk/area.