North Discoveries (Top Trail 2) cycling route

Key facts

The route

The elevation profile runs from the Nikšić side through Zaljutnica, Dubrovsko and Izlazak to Žabljak, the town under Durmitor, and on through Zlostup and Bezuje. The low point of the loop is in the Sjevernica valley at 210 m, where the route comes down to the Morača canyon, and the high point is the Velika Ckala pass at 1,923 m on Bjelasica, the range of Biogradska gora National Park. Between those two points lie 1,713 m of altitude, the biggest contrast on the loop. The GPX track starts and ends at the same point near Nikšić, so the town is the base for the first and the last night.

Climbing and daily distances

9,600 m of ascent over 390 km: five days means stages of about 78 km with roughly 1,900 m of climbing each, eight days about 49 km and 1,200 m. Plan the stages from the GPX track, and keep the Žabljak section in mind when choosing dates, because it carries heavy traffic in the peak season.

When to ride

Cycling in Montenegro is possible all year, but a loop whose high point is a pass at 1,923 m is for the snow-free months, from late spring to autumn. The Velika Ckala pass is the section to look at before the Bjelasica stage, and the Žabljak roads are at their busiest in high summer.

Signposts, brochure and GPX

Signposts mark the route along its whole length. Ride with the GPX track loaded as well: it is the reference line of the route and the way to check position on remote sections, and the stages are best planned from it. The brochure (English, PDF) carries the elevation profile with the places on the way, the route description and the kit list. The route was traced by Tane Minić, the texts are by Jovan Eraković, and the publisher is the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, with the Austrian Development Agency and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.

Getting to the start

The loop starts and ends at the same point near Nikšić, at 42.771, 18.950. Nikšić is the natural base; Carev most, the Tsar's Bridge, is the town's landmark.

Safety

Ride in a group on the remote sections and carry a map and compass or a GPS, a phone, a torch, basic tools and a spare tyre. The emergency number is 112.

Rest days and nearby

At Žabljak the loop meets Durmitor National Park: rafting on the Tara is the rest-day classic, the park has cross-country and free-ride bike trails from Black Lake and a 38 km Žabljak-Javorje loop of about 2 hours, with bike hire at the park visitor centre, and the Durmitor Ring is the asphalt loop around the massif. On the Bjelasica side, Biogradska gora National Park around Biogradsko jezero has the 63 km "Dvije glave i pet jezera" bike loop of 8 to 9 hours.

The five Top Trails

The national Top Trails are five signposted multi-day routes with a brochure and a GPX track each, all on the cycling hub.

Questions

How long is Top Trail 2?

390 km, in 5 to 8 days.

Is it a loop?

Yes; the GPX track starts and ends at the same point near Nikšić.

What is the highest point?

1,923 m at the Velika Ckala pass on Bjelasica; the lowest is 210 m in the Sjevernica valley by the Morača canyon.

Is it marked?

Yes, with signposts along the whole route; the GPX track is the second navigation aid and the one to rely on in remote sections.