Road Trip Montenegro: Skateboarding Into Unknown

Intro

As skateboarders from Slovenia, we've often embarked on skate-related trips through the Balkans. But this one—the one you're currently reading about—was something entirely different. Instead of passing through major cities where skateboarding (with its strong connection to the urban environment) thrives, we were on the hunt for a new type of skateable environment.

This time around, we set our sights on the natural beauty of the Balkan peninsula. Our aim was to skate where no one (let alone a skateboarder) had gone before. By venturing into the unknown, one could even argue that we were at the forefront of a newly invented discipline: nature skating. And where did this revolutionary journey take place? Well, due to the highly diverse landscape and excellent weather conditions, we chose none other than Montenegro!

Departure and Arrival

When we first approached Balkan Campers with this idea, they immediately understood what we were about. With their full support, we were able to find an appropriate ride to match our drive. It wasn’t long before we were introduced to a camper van named Katina. (A sentence or two about Katina.)

Once we were properly packed with both our camping and skating equipment, we were ready to start our journey. With an early morning departure from our hometown of Ljubljana, we had a mission to reach Montenegro by the end of the day. That meant passing the vast majority of Croatia's coastline in just one day. It was an intense voyage, but the stops in welcoming coastal towns with excellent seafood made it all worthwhile.

Later that evening, we finally arrived in Herceg Novi, where our contact was waiting for us with a (typically Balkan) spread of grilled meat. In terms of hospitality, we already knew we had chosen the right destination.

Mountains and the Sea

The following day, our first peak—Mount Subra—was to be conquered. We couldn’t reach it in one day due to the frequent stops we made while checking out potential skate spots. Somewhere beneath the top of Subra, we set up camp.

After a long day's hike, we gathered around the fire and made dinner. Even if this is quite standard for camping trips, we had never experienced such a thing after a whole day’s worth of skating.

We set out early the next morning, as the top of the mountain (our finish line) was staring us right in the face. Just to show how serious we were about taking the road less traveled, it’s worth mentioning that we insisted on taking our skateboards all the way up to about 1,700 meters above sea level. Those of us who were inexperienced hikers found out the hard way that the descent is often more troublesome than the ascent.

However, it was incredibly rewarding. It is almost unimaginable that we were back at the Adriatic Sea so quickly. We’d never experienced such a drastic change in climate. To be able to breathe in fresh mountain air and be greeted with an ocean breeze by the end of the day is something in itself.

Picking up where we left off in Herceg Novi, we continued south along the coastline. We skipped the Bay of Kotor by taking the ferry, since we planned on seeing it on our way back. We passed Budva and made it to the beaches of St. Stefan. This was perhaps the most relaxing part of our entire trip. The Montenegrin coastline is surely a hidden gem of the Mediterranean Sea. We embraced it as such… all of a sudden, we went from hiking boots and jackets to flip-flops and swimwear. All of us felt like we deserved the leisure and relaxation after literally skating a mountain.

Canyons and Rivers

The next region we aimed to explore was the canyon of the Tara River, which (we later found out) is the second deepest canyon in the world. And when you’re there, you can definitely feel the grandness of it all.

Although the river was freezing, some weren’t afraid to take a dip. Our days here were spent either exploring the surrounding hills or walking the endless beaches of the Tara River.

Skateboarding proved very difficult in this area. Crossing the river with loads of skate gear was not pleasant at all times. It was, however, necessary if we were to stick to our original idea. The terrain, on the other hand, proved very suitable for camping. We were even able to enjoy an evening in the sauna of a nearby establishment. Once again, Montenegrin hospitality welcomed us warmly.

Rested, recharged, and cleansed, we were ready to continue …

Cetinje and Kotor

To be fair, it’s not like we were hell-bent on steering clear of man-made infrastructure …

Admittedly, we had a touristy moment or two. When returning south, we were convinced to take a detour. Instead of driving all the way down to the sea, we made a stop in Cetinje, a small and charming city full of cultural happenings. Youthfulness, student life, and a rich historical presence could be felt in the air immediately. Sadly, we couldn’t spend the entire day as we were on a tight schedule to reach Kotor by nightfall.

The road from Cetinje to Kotor is probably one of the most scenic routes we’ve ever had the pleasure of taking.

First, one has to pass through the village of Njeguši. Located on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, it truly evokes an almost mystical atmosphere. It was there that we picked up some local delicacies to take back home to Slovenia.

rOnce we moved on and made a few turns on the mountain pass, one of the most stunning views opened up to us. All of a sudden, we were above the Bay of Kotor, where the sight of mountains running down into the sea is ever-present. To reach Kotor, one has to take the narrow serpentine road that feels like the ultimate traveler’s delight. If ever you need to get from Cetinje to Kotor, taking this road is a must! Our last night was therefore spent strolling the old Venetian streets of Kotor, sitting down for a drink, and recollecting all that we’d seen over the past few days. Even though the city is packed with tourists, enjoyment is almost guaranteed.

Outro

Really, there’s not a lot left to be said. I believe we’ve already expressed how astonished we were with Montenegro and all that it has to offer. A destination definitely worth visiting, especially if you get your hands on a van provided by Balkan Campers.

Their services truly provide a unique way of experiencing this part of the globe. So we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Nejc and Sara for being involved and believing in our unusual project.

And to you, the reader, we give thanks for taking the time to read about our journey. We hope it will inspire you to plan your own Balkan camping trip. In which case, we also hope that parts of this story will be useful for your future travels.