- Environmentally savvy travellers are drawn to Kosovo and Montenegro
- In Kosovo, visitors can easily organise self-guided treks to the Rugova mountains
- Meanwhile, Montenegro’s Bear Mountain offers yet another challenging hike
Peter Duncan For The Mail On Sunday
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When two neighbouring countries both seek to talk up their green credentials in a bid to attract environmentally savvy travellers, it can easily be difficult to choose one over the other.
So I came up along with an ingenious strategy to get hold of about the problem of going with between Kosovo and Montenegro – I decided to visit both on a dual-centre holiday.
After taking a flight to Pristina, the Kosovan capital, I headed towards the lively town of Peya from where I could organise my self-guided treks to the nearby Rugova mountains.
Breathtaking: Unable to choose, Peter travelled to both Kosovo and Montenegro. Pictured: Montenegro’s Durmitor mountain range
This area has actually all the obvious attractions for seasoned trekkers in addition to plenty of family-run places to feast and rest after a long day walking.
During my trip, I scaled Gjeravica, the tallest mountain in Kosovo, which is section of the Peaks of the Balkans trail.
The terrain was steep however I came across lots of hill farmers and their families making a living from their create in the warm summer months.
In the winter, visitors can easily ski at a small resort called Boge.
After my week in Kosovo I was impressed by the enthusiasm of its individuals for a much better life despite the obvious economic challenges that the country faces.
I then made my method across the border in to Montenegro, and my initial stop was the Biogradska National Park – an extraordinary primeval forest which includes a lake where you can easily swim, and beautifully constructed walkways to protect the virgin territory.
If you hope to see a magnificent woodland along with 350-year-old ash trees then this is a good place to go.
Rising to the challenge: Peter on Bear Mountain in Montenegro, which he says was the most exciting section of his two-week adventure holiday
In the middle of the park an enterprising pig farmer had placed a sign which read: ‘Cafe – meals – 8km.’
I followed the trail, and sure enough there was a cafe, where I ate a cheese omelette in the company of plenty of others famished walkers.
The most exciting adventure on my two-week holiday was reaching the summit of Bear Mountain in the Durmitor National Park.
I ignored the sensible instructions of my GPS directing me to a a lot more sedate circuit and rather traversed a thin ridge along with huge drops either side. I reached safety merely prior to dusk and felt elated.
I’m sure even Chief Scout Bear Grylls (no relation to the mountain) would certainly have actually been proud of his predecessor in the role.
Although I am a keen walker, I likewise hired a automobile to reach some of Montenegro’s a lot more inaccessible locations.
If you’re keen on driving in endless loops along with spectacular views and sheer drops then the Adriatic coastal roads are not to be missed.
Adventurous: Peter likewise visited the Rugova mountains in Kosovo for a self-guided trek
My final destination was Kotor, an elegant walled city full of expensive designer goods for wealthy yacht owners that moor there in summer, and a string of good restaurants.
Visiting Kotor at night is particularly enchanting, if a little noisy.
Another place worth visiting is the Njegos Mausoleum, where you will certainly locate a majestic statue of Montenegro’s greatest hero – Petar II Petrovic.
One of the very best points concerning self-guided holidays is that Even though every little thing is planned ahead of time in terms of transport and baggage transfers, you can easily still break from the planned itinerary if you wish.
On the method spine to Podgorica airport I took a gentle cruise on Lake Skadar, passing a former island prison where pelicans and pygmy cormorants now hold sway.
The picnic on board the vessel and a swim in the sea offered a wonderful end to my Balkan adventure.
TRAVEL FACTS
The Natural Adventure company offers a seven-night Old Montenegro And Boka Kotorska Bay holiday from £480pp including B&B accommodation and everyday luggage transfers. Visit http://ift.tt/212Dqn8.
Ryanair (ryanair.com) offers direct return flights from Stansted to Podgorica from £95pp.
from Golden Land Travel http://ift.tt/1KTk8ib
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