Mini Montenegro Tour - 7 Nov. 2025

Mini Montenegro Tour with Happy travel
7 Nov. 2025
Photo: B. Lukács Andrea

The trip came together with difficulty. I almost thought that God wanted to protect me because of my introversion, so I wouldn’t have to travel with a group and adapt to everyone. Then came the news, "Tomorrow we are going on a trip, are you coming?" I pulled myself together, OK, I’m coming. The entrance fee was 40 EUR instead of the original 30 EUR tour price, saying that only three of us had gathered for the trip. So, not a minibus but a Nissan came to pick me up, with a very friendly and, as it turned out later, knowledgeable driver. Fortunately, I was picked up first, so I could sit in the front passenger seat. When we arrived for the next passenger, he immediately asked for the 40 EUR and also took 80 EUR from the arrivals. His behavior was not offensive; in fact, I was glad to be past it.

At the Sopot waterfall (which wasn’t even on the program), we spent 10 minutes. I found out there is a huge lake inside the mountain, not accessible usually, but the canyon is one of Montenegro’s best-kept canyon tour secrets. They organize canyoning tours there. Later, I read that the tour includes a 5 mm neoprene suit, harness, helmet, and energizing snacks. It’s a 5-hour adrenaline-filled tour through the canyon, the description says. The tour costs 115 EUR per person for a minimum of two people. The minimum age is 16; there is no upper limit (I could even go :)).

Then I introduced myself politely to the other two passengers. The East Asian lady had already been to Budapest and praised it. Her partner, an Australian man, had not. They were lovely and asked many questions about Hungary and my life here in Montenegro alone.

By the time we reached Perast, it started to rain, and my phone dropped from the purchased M1 network, so I had no internet or phone. More precisely, my company phone was with me and worked, which was reassuring, especially when my client called with a technical question. I found the phone company’s email in iCloud, but without internet, I couldn’t open it. I had left the PIN code on the table. The rain got heavier, luckily I had an umbrella, so I didn’t get soaked like a rag, but sadly I could take very few photos. I lost sight of the others and honestly panicked a bit. Then it crossed my mind, "Never again group trips, this really isn’t for me."

Perast is beautiful anyway. I must come back on a sunny day. They say it’s a jewel of the Adriatic Sea. Conveniently located in the Bay of Kotor, buses come here from Herceg Novi, and it’s often called Europe’s southernmost fjord. This UNESCO World Heritage area is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps, providing a great backdrop to the city’s well-preserved baroque architecture. The bay opens to the Adriatic Sea. Even in the pouring rain, you could feel the spirit of the place. The city flourished under Venetian rule, leaving behind huge palaces and charming squares, so it has some similarity to Venice. My Australian travel companions sailed to Our Lady of the Rocks; I didn’t and saved the 10 EUR for another time. It’s said that here we can see Montenegro’s most beautiful sunset. As the sun sinks below the horizon, the Bay of Kotor bathes in warm light, creating a magical atmosphere. The city’s waterfront promenade is an ideal place (perhaps not in the rain) to witness this daily spectacle.

Just when I was on the verge of despair thinking I was lost, my phone beeped with a message: "The driver is waiting in the car." A stone fell from my heart; I rushed to the car... luckily, he was not waiting for me; the others were still nowhere in sight.

On the way to Kotor, I kept thinking how to extract the PIN code from that email. My brain clicked while scrolling through messages (I often send codes or boarding passes to myself), emails, and I couldn’t even remember which mailbox I used to order the SIM card.

Kotor was another surprise; the rain stopped. Kotor’s old Mediterranean port and the impressive city walls built by the Serbian Nemanjić dynasty around it are very well preserved and under UNESCO protection. Between 1420 and 1797, Kotor and its surroundings were under Venetian rule, which still shapes the city’s architectural character. The Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) is one of the deepest inlets of the Adriatic Sea, sometimes called Europe’s southernmost fjord (though it’s actually a drowned river valley). Together with the towering limestone cliffs of nearby Orjen and Lovćen, it forms one of the most magnificent Mediterranean landscapes.

The others went elsewhere as they had already been to the Old Town. I headed to the fortress. Since the meeting place and time were prearranged, my nervousness eased. As soon as I entered the fortress, I began searching for free Wi-Fi, found it quickly, and retrieved the PIN code from the email.

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