Montenegro Self-Launched: Kotor to Budva by Bus, Bay & Mountain
6 days · Montenegro
G Adventures charges £870
No-markup version: ~£410 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of the 6-day Kotor-to-Budva small-group trip: medieval walled towns, the clifftop Ostrog Monastery, and the peaks and black lakes of Durmitor National Park — done on public buses, local guesthouses and self-booked boat trips. Same route, same highlights, roughly a third of the tour price. Costs are approximate 2025 backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kotor — Old Town at dusk
Kotor
Fly into Tivat (TIV) or Podgorica, then take a local bus or shared taxi to Kotor (Tivat–Kotor bus roughly €2-3, ~30 mins; Podgorica–Kotor bus roughly €7-9, 2 hrs). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in or just outside the walls of the UNESCO-listed Old Town. Spend the late afternoon wandering the marble-paved squares, the cats of Kotor, and the sea gate, then grab a cheap dinner of njeguški pršut, cheese and grilled fish in a konoba off the main square. Evening: walk the waterfront and watch the mountains go pink.
🚌Local bus Tivat/Podgorica to Kotor, €2-9
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kotor Old Town (dorm £12-18, private twin £25-35)
- →Self-guided wander of Kotor Old Town
- →Waterfront sunset walk
Kotor Fortress hike + sunset Bay of Kotor boat trip to Perast
Kotor
Start early to beat the heat and the cruise crowds: climb the 1,350 steps up the city walls to San Giovanni Fortress (entry ~€15, 1-1.5 hrs up). The views over the fjord-like bay are the best in Montenegro. Descend for a cheap lunch (burek and yoghurt, €3-4). In the afternoon book a sunset boat tour of the bay — several operators leave from Kotor's waterfront and call at the islets of Our Lady of the Rocks and Sveti Đorđe plus the baroque town of Perast (shared group boat, roughly €25-35 for 2-3 hrs). Self-book online via GetYourGuide/Klook or just turn up at the port an hour before. Back in Kotor for a late dinner.
🚌On foot; boat tour from Kotor port
🛏Same Kotor hostel/guesthouse
- →Kotor Fortress (San Giovanni) hike
- →Sunset Bay of Kotor boat tour with Perast stop
North to Žabljak via Nevidio Canyon — Black Lake hike
Žabljak
Take the morning bus from Kotor to Nikšić (roughly €8, 2.5 hrs), then connect to Žabljak (roughly €5, 1.5 hrs) — check the day before, as services are limited and the afternoon connection is the reliable one. Ask the driver or arrange a short shared-taxi detour to the Nevidio Canyon viewpoint near Šavnik for photos (a taxi from Nikšić/Šavnik side is €15-25 shared; the canyon itself is a guided canyoning trip if you want the full adventure). Arrive in Žabljak, the highest town in the Balkans at 1,450 m, and check into a soba (private room) or mountain hostel. Late-afternoon loop hike to Crno Jezero (Black Lake), 3-4 km, easy and beautiful. Dinner of mountain lamb or kačamak at a local guesthouse.
🚌Public bus Kotor–Nikšić–Žabljak, ~€13 total; optional shared taxi to Nevidio viewpoint
🛏Guesthouse/soba in Žabljak (private room £18-28, dorm £12-15)
- →Nevidio Canyon viewpoint stop
- →Crno Jezero (Black Lake) loop walk in Durmitor National Park
Durmitor morning, then south to Budva via Ostrog Monastery
Budva
Early hike in Durmitor — the Ćurevac viewpoint or part of the Bobotov Kuk approach gives big peaks without a full summit day (Durmitor National Park entry ~€3-5). Then take the bus back to Nikšić (roughly €5) and on to Podgorica (roughly €5). From Podgorica, Ostrog Monastery is easiest by shared taxi or a local bus toward Nikšić plus a short taxi up the cliff road (combined roughly €10-15); alternatively join a half-day Ostrog tour from Podgorica or Budva (~€25-30). The whitewashed Lower Monastery, carved into a vertical cliff in the 17th century, is one of the country's most striking sights — dress modestly, shoulders and knees covered. Continue by bus to Budva (Podgorica–Budva roughly €7, 1.5 hrs). Check in, then self-wander the walled old town and the citadel in the evening.
🚌Buses Žabljak–Nikšić–Podgorica–Budva ~€17; shared taxi/bus to Ostrog ~€12
🛏Hostel in Budva old town or Slovenska Beach area (dorm £12-18)
- →Durmitor viewpoint hike
- →Ostrog Monastery visit (Lower Monastery)
- →Self-guided Budva old town walk
Budva free day — Blue Cave catamaran or beaches
Budva
Free day to do exactly what you like. Options: laze on Mogren or Slovenska Beach (sunbed ~€10), rent a SUP or kayak from the beach (€10-15/hr), or take a catamaran/boat trip along the Budva Riviera to the Blue Cave and swimming spots (roughly €30-40, book at the marina or via GetYourGuide the day before). History buffs can walk to the Mogren Fortress ruins or take a local bus to Sveti Stefan viewpoint (€2). In the evening, Budva's nightlife is legendary — old-town bars and beach clubs, so budget for a few drinks.
🚌On foot; local bus to Sveti Stefan ~€2
🛏Same Budva hostel
- →Blue Cave & Budva Riviera catamaran trip (or SUP/kayak hire)
- →Beach time at Mogren/Slovenska
- →Optional Sveti Stefan viewpoint
Last swim and departure
Budva
Morning swim and a final coffee in the old town. Buses run from Budva to Tivat Airport (roughly €4-5, 30-40 mins) or Podgorica Airport (roughly €8-9, 1.5 hrs); allow extra time in summer traffic. If you're heading onward, Kotor, Dubrovnik (roughly €15, 2.5 hrs) and Bar are all on direct bus routes.
🚌Local bus Budva to Tivat/Podgorica airport, €4-9
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final swim
- →Old town coffee
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£410 | £870 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £460 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£410
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Montenegro Self-Launched: Kotor to Budva by Bus, Bay & Mountain cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £410 per person for 6 days in Montenegro. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £870 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £410 — a saving of roughly £460 (53%) per person.
How long is the Montenegro trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Montenegro.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a backpacker, culture, hiking trip through Montenegro, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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