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.

Requires a spirit of adventure and reasonable level of fitness to complete tours such as hiking, kayaking or canyoning, usually taking 4-5 hours including breaks. You will need to be able to hold a paddle and walk uphill for 30 minutes without a break (on kayaking day trips, adults can paddle for younger children, but this is not recommended on the week-long kayaking holidays!). Activities may take place in challenging conditions such as hot sunshine.

For Families – moderate trips can have challenging elements depending on the children’s experience of the outdoors and level of fitness. Consider the amount of physical activity expected and how long they will need to participate. There will be less downtime than resort-style holidays. All our multi-centre trips are moderate due to the travel time between locations.

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.

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.

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!).

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.

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!

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.

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.

Return to Podgorica airport (other destinations would incur an extra transfer charge)