Montenegro is a country of year-round holidays. In winter, skiing replace swimming. And although Montenegrin ski resorts as not as famous as, say, Austrian or French, they are comfortable and well equipped. And the prices here are much lower than on fashionable European resorts. All centers have downhill, cross-country and snowboard skiing tracks, modern cable cars and well-trained instructors. Restaurants, spas and excursions will help diversify your experience.
1
Kolašin 1450
Cozy resort village of Kolašin hides among the majestic mountain ranges at an altitude of 954 meters. In summer it is a great place for hiking and all kind of ecotourism, and in winter it is a main skiing destination for locals and visitors alike.
There are 16.5 kilometers (10 miles) of groomed lighted slopes along Mount Belasica — at altitude from 1450 to 1973 meters (4800-6500 feet), classified as blue, red and black or light, medium and heavy. All tracks are well planned and intertwined, making it possible to change the route. You can ride even with a minimum snow depth. In addition, there is a snowmaking system that prolongs the season from mid-December to mid-April.
Equipment rental and ski classes are offered in resort. All lifts and cableways — five of them in total, including one for children — have undergone a complete reconstruction since 2008. In addition, a newly built six-seat lift Vilina Voda operates in the ski area, so the capacity increased to 5500 people per hour.
More activities include rock climbing, rafting, snowmobiling, horse riding, excursions to the canyon of the Tara and Morača rivers.
Accommodation
City bus runs from the center of Kolašin to the slopes (it is 9 kilometers). Some hotels offer transfers.
Prices for the 2019/2020 season:
- One trip: 5 euros
- Ski Pass for One day: 15 euros for adults, 11 euros for children from 5 to 12 years old
- Ski Pass for Two days: 30 and 22 euros, respectively
- Ski Pass for Ten days: 130 and 90 euros
- Seasonal Ski Pass: 500 euros for adults and 400 euros for kids.
The opening of the 2019/2020 season will take place on December 22. On this day, ski passes are half price; DJs and a music group will perform. Free buses will be running from Budva, Kotor and Podgorica.
Getting There
Podgorica airport is 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from Kolašin. Public buses run from Podgorica, or you can take a train to Bijelo Polje and then get a taxi. If you decide to rent a car, make sure it has snow chains for the tires.
2
Kolašin 1600
In February 2019, Kolašin 1600 ski resort was opened in the southern part of Belasica Mountain. The number 1600 indicates the height of the starting point of the cableway.
The resort is 91 kilometers (56.5 miles) away from Podgorica, 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the town of Kolašin and about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the ski center Kolašin 1450.
The resort village of about 27.19 hectares consists of a central zone with hotels and apartments, a sizable parking lot for 200 cars, a restaurant named Troglava and Emergency Room. Ski slopes start from the base village.
The state-of-the-art cableway is 1567 meters (5141 feet) long and has a capacity of 2600 skiers per hour. There is also a children's lift. Now Kolašin 1600 has two tracks with a length of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles). In 2020, the second stage of the resort's construction will start, increasing the number of slopes and lifts.
As a result, both ski centers, Kolašin 1450 and Kolašin 1600, will have 62.5 kilometers (39 miles) of tracks.
Extra activities include rock climbing, rafting, snowmobiling, horse riding, excursions to the canyon of the Tara and Morača rivers.
Prices for the 2019/2020 season:
- Ski Pass for One day: 15 euros for adults, 10 euros for children under 14 years old
- Ski Pass for Two days: 25 and 17 euros, respectively
- Ski Pass for Seven days: 90 and 60 euros
- Seasonal Ski Pass: 200 euros for adults and 150 euros for kids.
The 2019/2020 season will open on December 14 with a big concert.
Getting There
Podgorica airport is 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from Kolašin. Public buses run from Podgorica, you also can take a train to Bijelo Polje and then get a taxi. If you decide to rent a car, make sure it has snow chains for the tires.
3
Žabljak
The little town of Žabljak seats right in the middle of the picturesque Durmitor National Park, in the north-western part of Montenegro. The ski center consists of three slopes: Savin Kuk, Štuoc and Javorovača. In addition, Žabljak offers cross-country skiing trails, from 3 to 12 kilometers (1.9 to 7.5 miles).
The highest point of the slope Štuoc is 1953 meters (6407 feet), the length of the main track is 2630 meters (8629 feet). Javorovača is smaller, 400 meters (1312 feet) and it starts practically at the center of Žabljak. The tracks are equipped with two cableways and a children's lift.
Savin Kuk is 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) away from the town, at an altitude of 1450 meters (4757 feet) and at the base of the mountain range. The highest point of the slope is
2313 meters (7590 feet), elevation difference — 750 meters (2460 feet), length — 3500 meters (11483 feet). There are eight lifts (two of them for kids) , as well as lighting for night skiing. Savin Kuk has restaurants, rental offices and Emergency Room.
The season lasts from December to April. In the warmer months, you can travel from Žabljak to Debeli Namet glacier, skiing is going there all the time.
Additional activities include rock climbing, rafting on mountain rivers, zipline flying, paragliding, canyoning, fishing, snowmobiling, and horse riding. Amazing Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a great place to visit at any time of year. Come to see the deep Tara River canyon, breathtaking Đurđevića Tara Bridge and turquoise glacial lakes. In town you can find many nice restaurants, bars and spas.
Accommodation
There are some decent hotels and private chalets for rent. Buses run regularly to the slopes.
Prices for the 2018/2019 season:
Savin Kuk Ski Pass:
- for One day — 12 euros for adults, 8 euros for children (up to 14 years old),
- for Half a day — 8 euros for adults,
- for Night skiing — 6 euros,
- for Seven days — 70 euros in January, 60 euros in February and March.
Javorovača Ski Pass:
- for One day — 8 euros for adults, 5 euros for children,
- for Seven days — 48 and 30 euros, respectively.
Getting There
Žabljak is 130 kilometers (81 miles) away from Podgorica Airport and 170 kilometers (106 miles) from Tivat Airport. The main connection with the rest of Montenegro is the European highway E65. Another road goes through Šavnik and Nikšić to Risan or Podgorica. There are no trains, only public buses, taxi or rented car (don't forget about snow chains).
4
Vučje
The small ski resort Vučje is 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast from Nikšić.
Visitors are offered a snowboard park with ski jumps, two 120-meter (390 feet) tracks and a new walking track 1200 meters (3940 feet) long. The ski lift is designed for 200 skiers per hour, there is a ski equipment rental service and hotels and restaurants in the area.
A daily Ski Pass costs 10 euros.
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Charming small country of Montenegro is going to be a large winter holiday destination. The local company called Skijališta Crne Gore has seriously taken up the development of ski resorts. The main construction will be in Kolašin area in 2020-2022, the plan includes 224 kilometers (140 miles) of ski slopes, connected by 52 elevators and cable cars.