Full description of the tour you can find HERE
 

OVERVIEW, OR WHAT THIS TOUR MAKE SO SPECIAL?
Visiting South Montenegro may seem close by, but public bus connections are not ideal. This is why this tour allows you to explore the major attractions of this part of the Montenegrin coast, which differs significantly from Boka Bay and the Budva Riviera, all in a single day. The contrast is so striking that it feels like you've traveled to another country rather than just another region. This variety makes Montenegro a unique destination, as numerous attractions are changing every half-hour drive. The highlight of this area is undoubtedly the expansive sandy beach in Ulcinj, which resembles the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Other agencies usually do not visit Velika Plaža (Grand Beach), especially not from Kotor, making this tour a must-do. 

Due to heavy traffic between Kotor, Budva, and Bar, I can only organize this tour on weekends, specifically on Saturdays when traffic is less congested than during the weekdays. On Sunday afternoons, many locals travel home, resulting in the largest crowds. While this tour doesn’t include a designated lunch break, you can certainly enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants along the beach in Ulcinj. Private tours can also be organized on weekdays, in which case we have to leave from Kotor at 6:30 a.m. and from Budva at 7:00 a.m.
 

WHEN AND WHERE WILL WE START?

The tour departs from Kotor at 8:00 in the morning, which is the standard time for all our trips. After a maximum of 45 minutes of driving, we will arrive in Budva, where we will pick up guests. If guests take the private tour we will pick up them from their accommodations.

The departure point in Kotor is from the ECO PETROL gas station next to the main bus station.
The departure point in Budva is from the ECO PETROL gas station next to the hotel Slovenska Plaža, or at some other location that is more suitable for guests.

NOTE: The temperature in the very high season can be very high, above 35 degrees, so pay attention to protect your body with adequate clothes, skin with sun-cream, and head with a hat. Always have enough water.

WHERE WE WILL GO?

We will go to the Port of Bar, the Church of St. Jovan Vladimir in Bar, the old town of Bar, Mosque Selimija in Bar, The Old Olive Tree, Valdanos, The Old Town of Ulcinj, and the Grand Beach in Ulcinj.

CITY OF BAR

After a couple of minutes of driving from Budva, we will make a photo stop above the island of Sv. Stefan, as well known as a pearl of the Montenegrin coast, and then we will continue along the coastline enjoying the view of beautiful beaches and places that belong to the Municipality of Budva, such as Rezevici and Petrovac. After an hour's drive, we will reach the city of Bar, which has the largest port and marina in Montenegro.

We will see a beautiful promenade with its beach and where former King Nikola's summer mansion is located. The port of Bar is not overloaded with large cargo, ferry, or cruise ships. Many restaurants and bars on the beach give a special charm to the port and make it very touristy.

On the opposite side of King Nikola's palace and its small royal park, we will see the largest Orthodox church in Montenegro the Church of John Vladimir which has been open since 2016. The church has seven magnificent bronze doors with unique decors. The interior of the church is as impressive as the exterior with traditional frescoes decorated on the ceiling and walls. The frescoes describe scenes from the Bible and figures of Orthodox saints made by masters from Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, and Greece (a total of 4,860 square meters of works of art). After visiting the church we will continue to the old town of Bar.

THE OLD TOWN OF BAR

The Old Town of Bar is positioned on a hill Londša 5km from the sea and has no inhabitants. The hill encircled by the walled town was settled in prehistoric and Illyrian times but was abandoned during the Roman era when it was moved to the coast, to the same location where modern Bar stands today.

During its rich history, the old town of Bar had over 1000 inhabitants, but unfortunately, it was destroyed in a major weapons explosion in 1912. The ruins of the city are well preserved, which attracts a large number of tourists. Here you can see Roman waterworks, a Turkish bath, an Orthodox church, Venetian palaces, a Turkish clock tower, a Catholic church, and a diocese in one place. Every ruling empire and culture has left its mark. Walking around the old town lasts up to one hour.

SELIMIYA MOSQUE AND ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER BAR (SELIMIJA DŽAMIJA I ISLAMSKI KULTURNI CENTAR U BARU)

The Islamic Cultural Center is located next to the Old Town of Bar and has the largest mosque in Montenegro named Selimija, which has been open since 2004. The center has a capacity for 2000 believers and visitors, classrooms, a kindergarten with a playground, a library, a research center, a restaurant with oriental cuisine, a simultaneous translation room, guest apartments, the sports and congress hall, and many other dedicated rooms. We will visit the interior of the mosque. Ladies will find suitable clothes that they can cover themselves with to be able to get inside.

THE OLD OLIVE TREE

The next stop will be the Old Olive, which is a mile away, from the Selimija mosque. The Old Olive Tree has more than 2 millennia and is one of the oldest olive trees in Europe. The tree is protected by Montenegro as a natural treasure that still yields olives as a symbol of the southern region. We will make a photo-stop and continue towards Ulcinj celebrating olives and passing through the largest olive forest in Montenegro.
 
VALDANOS (THE OLIVE FOREST)

The inhabitants of Bar and Ulcinj have traditionally been engaged in the production of olive oil. That is why this area is known for the largest olive forest in Montenegro named Valdanos with more than 18,000 olive trees. One part was planted by the Romans, which makes the old Roman rules still exist, where olives belong to the owners of the trees, not the owners of the land. 

Visitors can pass by the land of different owners and no one will stop them. Valdanos is a large region with a beautiful bay and beach, above where is a viewpoint. After the photo stop, we will continue to the town of Ulcinj, which is only 5 km far away.

THE OLD TOWN OF ULCINJ

Ulcinj is the southernmost town on the Montenegrin coast with distinctive oriental tastes and feelings, partly due to the long Ottoman presence (from 1571 to 1878), and more because this is the only coastal town with a majority of Muslim Albanians. The Albanian language is the first language here, and most of the signs are bilingual. The old town of Ulcinj is located on top of a cliff above the sea near the Small Beach.

The town was captured by Uluz-Ali, an Algerian pirate in 1580. His rule began more than a century in which Ulcinj was the dreaded seat of pirates, who with their light vessels attacked Venetian, Christian, and Turkish ships in the Adriatic. The pirates were known far and wide, and acquired vast wealth in valuables, especially from slave trading.

It is speculated that the famed Spanish writer Cervantes was sold as a slave to Algerians in Ulcinj when he fell captive. This era ended in 1737 after the Sultan banned corsairs in the Adriatic and destroyed their fleet. That pirate's image is still very popular in Ulcinj and gives him a special charm. We will visit the old town for up to an hour and then we will go to Grand Beach for a deserved lunch break.

GRAND BEACH (VELIKA PLAŽA)

The road to the beach leads across the Milena Canal (named after King Nikola’s wife) leading to the vast Ulcinj saltpans. Guests can see "kalimere", traditional fishing devices with nets on the ends of the long poles designed to catch fish. From this point, the long Great Beach (Velika plaža) stretches, with a length of 14 km of fine gray sand as the largest beach in Montenegro. This is the ideal place for the end of this tour. Guests can enjoy the extraordinary dishes, especially fish because restaurants often have equally represented sea fish as well as fish from Lake Skadar as well as fish from Bojana River (the southernmost river in Montenegro).

NOTE: Guests who do not want to have lunch can enjoy swimming in the sea or simply sunbathing while enjoying the sound of the waves. So relaxed and full of new experiences, we will return to Budva and Kotor.
 

TOUR CONDITIONS 

The price of the private tour is per car, not per person. The maximum number of guests in the car is 4. The private tour from Budva costs 220 euros, and from Kotor is 240 euros. Private tours can depart any day.

We give a discount for groups of more than 10 people.

PRICE INCLUDES

Licensed tour guide in the English language.
 

THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE

Entrance fees to the Old Town of Bar, and Olive Tree (appx 5 euros per person)

Guests can use their food and drink (breakfast and lunch are not mandatory).

NOTE: Guests who wish to bring their luggage on the tour and end the tour in either Kotor or Budva, can do so easily, provided we have guests from all two cities participating in the tour. There is no luggage fee. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

When guests make an online reservation, the card will be charged automatically only if a minimum group of 10 passengers is reached. If not achieved, the card will only be authorized.

If the minimum number of passengers is not found up to 12 hours before departure, the reservation is automatically canceled free of charge. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that there is absolutely no financial risk involved.
 

When the tour is confirmed guests will get the online ticket and a very detailed e-mail with all instructions about the departure point, type of vehicle, name of the driver and guide, phone numbers, etc. Guests don't need to print the tickets, they just need to keep them on their phones and show them to the driver, or guide.

Before you decide to purchase the tour ticket check our itinerary and terms and conditions. 

For more info about the tour and booking, contact us by e-mail at  montenegrohostel@gmail.com 

or by phone (Viber and WhatsApp) at +38269039751 from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (local time)

Hope you will enjoy our tour:)

Montenegro Hostel Travel Agency Team