Endless Landscapes (Top Trail 4) cycling route

Key facts

The route

The towns come in this order: Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Šavnik, Plužine, Žabljak, Kolašin. From the capital at 50 m the route crosses the Bjelopavlići plain to Danilovgrad, climbs north into the hills to Šavnik, the small town in its river gorge, and continues to Plužine above Piva Lake. The Sedlo pass at 1,907 m, between Plužine and Žabljak, is the high point of the whole route; from Žabljak the loop turns south-east to Kolašin and drops back to Podgorica. The elevation profile also names Boan, Mareza, Kutsko brdo, Petnjica, Duži and Dubljevići among the points on the way.

Climbing and daily distances

10,674 m of ascent over 415 km: five days means stages of about 83 km with roughly 2,130 m of climbing each, seven days about 59 km and 1,520 m. Plan the stages from the GPX track rather than from the headline figure, and give the Durmitor crossing its own day.

When to ride

Cycling in Montenegro is possible all year, and the Podgorica and Danilovgrad sections at the bottom of the route ride in any month. The Sedlo pass at 1,907 m is for the snow-free months, from late spring to autumn, and it is the section to look at before the Durmitor stage.

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 GPX track starts in Podgorica at 42.435, 19.229 and ends at 42.443, 19.265, about 3 km away in the same city, so the capital is the base for both ends of the tour.

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

Šavnik is the gateway to the Nevidio canyon, Plužine sits on the Piva with the Piva climbing crag and Via Ferrata Piva, and Žabljak is the base for Durmitor National Park: rafting on the Tara, hiking in Durmitor from Black Lake, and the Durmitor Ring, the asphalt loop around the massif that also crosses Sedlo. Kolašin is the town for Biogradska gora National Park, and Ostrog Monastery, in its cliff, is the great sight of the Danilovgrad municipality.

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 4?

415 km, in 5 to 7 days.

Where does it start?

In Podgorica; the GPX track finishes about 3 km from its start, in the same city.

What is the highest point?

The Sedlo pass on Durmitor at 1,907 m; the lowest is 50 m in Podgorica.

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.