Experience the best of Žabljak

Žabljak sits at about 1,450 metres on a plateau in the north of Montenegro, 81 km north of the capital, Podgorica, in a straight line, and is one of the highest towns in the Balkans. It is the gateway to Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of limestone peaks, glacial lakes and pine forest. The Black Lake, a short walk from the town, reflects the pale peaks in calm weather.

Bobotov Kuk, at 2,523 metres, is the highest summit of the Durmitor massif, and the Tara River canyon, up to 1,300 metres deep, is often called the deepest in Europe. The Đurđevića Tara Bridge, a tall concrete arch built in 1940, crosses the gorge, and rafting trips run down the Tara in the warm months. The Ice Cave on Obla Glava lies high above the town.

Mountain food is filling: kačamak, a porridge of cornmeal and potato with melted cheese, sheep's cheese and kajmak, smoked meats, and lamb baked under an iron lid. Summers, from June to September, are mild and bright for hiking and rafting, and winters are long and snowy, with skiing from December to March. Evenings stay cool even in July.