Durmitor National Park: the Sedlo Pass and the Durmitor Ring

Want to see Montenegro's real mountains without signing up for a multi-day hike? Then take a look at Durmitor National Park in the north of the country and the road over the Sedlo Pass. It climbs to almost 2,000 metres and winds between sharp limestone peaks, lakes and meadows, and most of the beauty is right there outside your car window.

We took every photo on this page ourselves on the Sedlo Pass. Below we explain where Durmitor is, how the Durmitor Ring works, what to see along the way and when the road is actually open.

Where is Durmitor National Park?

Durmitor National Park is in the north of Montenegro, around the mountain range of the same name. The nearest town is Žabljak, so almost every trip around Durmitor starts there.

The Durmitor massif has 48 peaks over 2,000 metres. The best known, Bobotov Kuk, rises to 2,523 metres. Between the peaks lie 18 glacial lakes, and most of the Tara River canyon also falls within the park. If you'd like to compare Durmitor with the country's other protected areas, have a look at our guide to the national parks of Montenegro.

What are the Durmitor Ring and the Sedlo Pass?

The Durmitor Ring is a 76 km scenic road that leaves Žabljak, loops around the Durmitor massif through the villages of Mala Crna Gora, Trsa and Pišče, and brings you back to Žabljak. The Sedlo Pass lies on this loop at 1,907 metres, and that's where the best views begin.

The road is paved all the way, but it's narrow and winds almost non-stop. So 76 km here is nothing like 76 km on the coast road: you'll be driving slowly, which is no bad thing, because you'll want to look around the whole time.

What is there to see on the road through Durmitor?

On the road through Durmitor, it's worth stopping at the Sedlo Pass, by the small mountain lakes and in the meadows around it, and taking in the Tara and Sušica canyons. You don't need to hunt for viewpoints: one beautiful spot follows another all along the road.

The Sedlo Pass

The Sedlo Pass gets its name from its shape: sedlo means saddle, and the road crosses a saddle between the peaks here. Grey limestone peaks rise all around, with green meadows spreading out below. When we were there, wooden benches stood by the road, so you could simply sit down and gaze at the mountains.

Meadows and small lakes

Around the pass you'll find small mountain lakes with greenish water, tucked into hollows between the slopes. In early May the meadows around them were already dotted with tiny blue flowers, and you can see them in our photos too.

The Tara and Sušica canyons

On one stretch the ring runs along the edge of the Tara canyon, which is considered the deepest in continental Europe. The Sušica canyon on Durmitor's western slopes is less famous, but it's quieter and looks wilder.

The trail to Bobotov Kuk

Hiking trails start from the road, including the one to Bobotov Kuk, Durmitor's best-known peak. The climb is a tough one, so only go up if you have mountain experience and proper boots, or take a guide with you.

When is the best time to drive over the Sedlo Pass?

The best time to drive over the Sedlo Pass is summer and early autumn, from June to September. The road isn't cleared in winter, and in early spring, and even in mid-May, it can be so snowed under that you can't get through. The ring is usually open from around late May or June until October, but each year that depends on how much snow fell over the winter. For the weather in the mountains and by the sea month by month, see our guide to the best time to visit Montenegro.

Our photos were taken in early May. There was still snow on the slopes around Sedlo and right by the roadside, while the meadows were already lush and green. The contrast is beautiful, but in spring the road can be dangerous.

If the road looks doubtful, I wouldn't risk it: it's narrow, there are no crash barriers, and the risk of sliding off into a gully is very real.Mariia Sosnina

So if you're there in May and see snow on the tarmac, it's better to turn back and come again in summer.

How do you prepare for the drive over Sedlo?

Preparing for the drive over the Sedlo Pass is easy: just plan ahead for fuel, time and the size of your vehicle. Here's what to keep in mind before you set off:

• Fill up in Žabljak. It's the only petrol station on the whole ring.
• Allow a whole day. You'll spend 4–5 hours at the wheel, and you'll almost certainly stop every few kilometres.
• Drive in daylight. A narrow mountain road full of hairpins is no fun in the dark.
• Most people drive the ring anticlockwise. In a camper van, the advice is the opposite: go clockwise.
• Leave the big motorhome behind. Vehicles longer than 7 metres struggle on this road.

Where should you stay, and what else is there to see nearby?

The handiest place to stay is Žabljak: the Durmitor Ring starts here, and Black Lake is only about 3 km away. A walking trail of about 3.5 km runs around the lake, so after a full day of driving it's a lovely way to stretch your legs.

The ring over Sedlo is closed in winter, but you can see what Black Lake looks like under snow in our post on winter in the north of Montenegro.

Entry to Durmitor National Park costs €5 per person per day. If you plan to visit the parks often or want to see several of them, you can buy an annual ticket that's valid in all five national parks of Montenegro. And if you're planning a route around the whole country, our guides to what to see in Montenegro and things to do in Montenegro will come in handy.