The group will meet at Dubrovnik Airport at 1pm in the afternoon. From the airport we transfer (3hrs) to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. Podgorica was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878 and has an eclectic variety of architecture. Stara Varos (the 'old town') is the Ottoman-era neighbourhood, home to the Turkish Clock Tower and narrow meandering streets. The Ribnica Fortress also dates from the Ottoman period - 15th century - and was built at the confluence of Ribnica and Moraca rivers. After checking in at our hotel we'll head out for dinner in a local restaurant.

This morning we leave the capital and drive (2 hours) to our simple wooden cabin accommodation in the eco village of Katun Stavna, nestled at the base of the Komovi Mountains, one of three main mountain groups in Montenegro and part of the Dinaric Alps. Today's walk will introduce us to the spectacular landscape of Montenegro as we head up on a trail that takes us between the peaks of Kucki Kom and Vasojevacki Kom and then down into the valley of Medjukomovi and back to our cabin accommodation in Katun Stavna. Before dinner we'll have time to pack and prepare for the next two days of trekking away from civilisation.

After breakfast, we set off on a 2-day trekking adventure into the heart of the beautiful Bjelasica Mountains. Volcanic in origin, this range presents a green and pristine landscape of rolling hills, rich in flora. Our walk today will take us through the heart of the range in an area which sees very few visitors. Following scant trails across mountain pastures, we'll finally arrive at our alpine cabin accommodation - Katun Vranjak (1750m) in the Biogradska Gora National Park. The cabins here, dotted across the hillside, were originally shepherds' huts, traditionally used during the summer months. Herds of goats and cows wander freely in this area. Tonight's dinner will be freshly prepared on a campfire and served on the outside dining area.

After a breakfast of alpine cheeses, freshly cooked sweet dough balls, local jam and honey, washed down with mountain tea, we set off for another day of spectacular walking. Established in 1952, this was Montenegro's first national park and holds a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Here you'll find over 220 different plants, as well as 150 species of birds and animals, including eagles, deer, wolf and wild boar. Our trail takes us through impressive forest and over rolling hills to the true jewel of the park - Biogradsko Lake, where we finish the day's walking. At an elevation of just over 1000 metres, the lake is particularly picturesque. On the completion of our walk, we transfer (2.5 hrs) into neighbouring Serbia, where we overnight at Mileseva Monastery. This Serbian Orthodox monastery dates from 1236 and is home to the most beautiful frescos in the country. The en-suite accommodation here is twin and triple-share. Dinner tonight will be taken in the monastery.

Our hike begins with a tour around the Sopotnica Waterfall, followed by a 30-minute uphill trek. After the ascent, the trail becomes more gentle, leading us downhill or through gently rolling terrain, passing through mostly wooded areas. Approximately four hours into the hike, we reach the medieval Hisardzik Fortress, a historical site that once controlled traffic through the Milesevka Canyon. Nearby, you'll find a mosque housing one of the oldest copies of the Quran. Our journey continues as we pass by the caves where medieval monks lived, seeking solitude away from the bustling Milesevka Monastery. The hike concludes with a steep descent through the forest, ending at the Kanjon Restaurant, renowned for its fresh fish from a private pond. From there, we take a one-hour ride to the town of Sjenica.

Today we visit the spectacular Uvac Canyon which was set up as a reserve for griffon vultures in 1991. There are now 70 breeding pairs of these impressive birds which have a wingspan of 3 metres. Alongside the vultures, the canyon is also home to many other species of birds. Our walk will take us on a trail above the river and across to a viewpoint at Molitva. In the afternoon, we transfer to our hotel in the town of Zabljak (1456m) the so-called gateway to the Durmitor National Park. In the winter this little town is bustling with skiers but in the summer it's quieter and a wonderful place to start the 'Bear Summit Circuit' from.

Added to the World Heritage List in 1980, the Durmitor National Park is home to 17 glacier lakes, locally known as mountain eyes. Today's walk will take us via Black Lake on our way up into the mountains. From a rich forests of fir trees, we ascend to the Previja Pass (2145m) beneath peak of Medjed (2287m) whose name means 'bear'. Here we can take our picnic lunch, surrounded by spectacular scenery, whilst looking out for the shy chamois which inhabit the rugged mountain slopes. During the summer trekking months, the alpine meadows are blanketed in gentians, anemones, violets and wild strawberries. After lunch, we'll head back down via a shepherd's camp at Lokvice to our hotel in Zabljak.

Today we'll revisit Crno Jezero (Black Lake), the largest of the lakes in the park, and this time follow the shoreline trail with its information boards about local plants and animals and historical facts. We can take a short detour to a cave where Marshall Tito, former president of Yugoslavia, hid in while fighting in WWII. We'll then make our way to the second lake, Zminje (Serpent Lake) which is surrounded by pine trees, with glimpses of mountain ridges and peaks in between. Heading back towards Zabljak, our route takes us via the day's third lake, known as Barno. Once back at the hotel, we transfer (3hrs) to Trebinje in Bosnia where we spend our final night. Located on the Bosnia-Croatia border, Trebinje has several Serbian Orthodox churches, a pretty main square, some Ottoman architecture and the Arslanagica Bridge which is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzogovina.

This morning we take a short transfer to Dubrovnik Airport where the holiday ends.