by I didn’t expect the inviting choir of “Woofs”, which greets me when I arrive at the Fitcamp Montenegro. On the other hand, the name that indicates a fat farm in the style of the 1970s is misleading. In a rustic farmhouse in the hills northeast of Nikšić, the second largest city in the country, the yoga short vacation can be used here, on wellness and herbal food-like-food-die antithesis of traditional Montenegrin dishes, but its friendly dogs and cats would relax some scattered urbanites.
“We would like to take care of solo travelers, say goodbye to their needs and help them to combine with themselves and nature again,” says co-owner and Jela Djokic, as a gracious Sivi, part of the hunting dog, part of the German Shepherd.
The withdrawal is my first stop on a whirlwind trip that explores Central Montenegro. In contrast to the overcrowded Adriatic coast (in 2024, 94% of the overnight stays in the Balkans in coastal areas), the interior of Montenegro is virgin for nature lovers. Historically, a battlefield – the Romans and Ottomans, which prevails over the region – for me it is love at first glance, a landscape with untouched karst mountains, forests, lakes and rivers.
When you come here, an 80-minute drive from Podgorica, the capital, on a Panorama Street, included one that is in sight on a clear day (unfortunately dark when I arrive) in view of the Ostrog monastery in the Dinaric Alps. (I learn, stretch the length of the Balkans.) Nevertheless, I have the feeling that I enter a delicious hinterland.
On the farm that Andjela runs with her husband Matija, I let myself be in my EN -Suite apartment, one of two guests available. Once a stone stable, it has a balcony from which the wobbling bird song and the mountain backdrop soak up. In the common common room, a cozy kitchen storage area, I put in scrambled eggs and thick Montenegrin coffee. “Every day is a mission to find the eggs,” my host giggles.
Later I visit the chicken Coop and the Permaculturgical Garden and listen to plans to deal with solar energy, but at the moment I itch to develop my limbs.
It is too wet for yoga that is offered on a wooden platform on a meadow on the 19 -hectare landing of the farm. Instead, I carefully step on the adjacent barefoot walk, a number of pebbles, pine cones, moss and sharp stones. The sensory stimulus (the reflex zone massage of nature) awakens me from my post-rice stupor. It’s just time for a snack and a wonderful toast RacijaThe local spirit in front of Tamara Miljanic, the relaxed yoga and meditation teacher, offers a pranayama meeting (Yogic Breathwork). While the flute -like call of a cuckoo follows the sky, I feel the tension seeps out of my body. After a salad meal that was made by a holistic nutritionist who joins us to eat, I sleep like a tree trunk.
A winding road leads us through the beautiful terrain, with meadows with carpet and with peaks and hobbity holiday homes
The next morning the sun is outside and I try the Heart Trail of the property – another hint to be careful. I hike along the kilometer long forested path and step like a butterfly over soft, moss -covered stones and flowers from wildflowers to wildflowers. I see Carmine-Hued Distel, Elegant Mauve Lupins, Ochsen-Eye-geese sheets and dogoses. The dogs that came along, plons next to me like forest guards when I sit a little quietly.
It’s hard to go, but Vučje calls. Vučje is a ski area in winter and the perfect place for hiking, riding and cycling in the warmer months is a ski area in the Nikšić region, 18 miles in the east, in the Nikšić region, 18 miles in the east. In a valley it is located south of the praised alpine jewel, which is Durmitor -National Park.
A slow food culture is accepted here. After a walk in the forest, in the company of the Vučje dogs (owner andja has a weakness for stray) it is time for a festival. “We heal our own meat,” she says, waving towards the meat shear room. I do my best with a pig lever steak that spoils itself in cream and mushrooms, Kačamak (A rich, tasty preparation of wheat and cornflour, potatoes, cheese and cream) and local wine – and apologizes silently with my arteries. (Vučje is also aimed at vegetarians.)
The room in which I live is a little worn, but comfortable. In the morning, afterwards Priganice (Miceish donuts with Hagebuchen jam), more meat and more hardened meat and Pljevaljski (A local cheese) I hike to Durkovo Brdo, a popular perspective and with 1,546 meters a slightly too climate -proof summit. Two charming guidelines, Enisa Djokovic and Dušan Stupar, are in front of the way. Enisa points to the wild garlic who is loved to the local Ursine population when we arise from the forest roof to open pastures that are exceeded by mountains.
“We call them” onions “,” she says. “But don’t worry, we wear pepper spray.”
I am a small boat for a trip on the lake, over narrow channels with bird life. “This is our Amazon,” says the captain
Later the couple drive me to the east to Lukavica, a mountain plateau. A winding road leads us through the beautiful terrain, provided with meadows with carpet and covered with peaks and strewn and KatunsHobbity Holiday Homes (some still used by sheep shepherds).
Surprisingly, our only vehicle is. When I step outside, the silence feels strong. A deer bead in the distance and a lonely church, St. Ilija, stands framed by the mountains. “There is a 2,000 -year -old gravestone here,” says Dušan, pointing to the impending summit of Mali Žurim (1,962 meters). It looks incredibly steep. “The next time you come, we can hike. It’s easier than it looks,” he says.
After a coffee stop at Lake Kapetanovo Jezero, where I see wild horses, we drive back and open the sky. Enisa tells me that she is Muslim, “from a small village near Podgorica”, and that she celebrates Ramadan and Eid. Dušan, who is also her partner, is Bosnian and Orthodox Christian. “During the war my family fled the mountains,” he says softly. “I was a child and my mother was pregnant at the time.” I wonder if the mountains represent refugees for him, a place of sanctuary.
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For my last day I go south to the Jablan winery in the village of Rvaši south of Podgorica. Wine tastings are popular here and you can rent an apartment in the middle of the vines. I spied on the e-bikes and I am gone, I am gone, down Euphoria-inducing hair needle bends to Skadarsee, the largest in southern Europe and a national park. The view of the serpentine Rijeka Crnojevića River and the canyon within the lake system are essential, such as a fairy tale, framed by forest green slopes and forest green slopes.
In a small resort that was named after the river, I parked the bike and disturbed a small boat for a trip on the lake, through narrow canals that blew from bird life. “This is our Amazon,” says Captain Dusko at the top before he tells us that the huge Dalmatian Pelican Skadar’s symbol is. While we drift past a carpet from water lilies, I spy a jet-black pygmia-cormorant diving for fish and gray heron in flight. Back on the shore, the captain whips a meal with smoked carp, carp paté, fish soup and grilled trout in his restaurant on the lake. Then it is back on the bike to the vineyard, where a glass of natural wine weighs me in a satisfied sleep and breastfeeding a yen to return to this enchanted country.
The trip was provided by fitCamp Montenegro; It’s five nights yoga The short vacation is available in May November for € 900including breakfast, activities and day trip. Accommodation in Vučje of € 37pp A night with hiking tours of € 100 for two. At Winery Jablan The Stonehouse with two bedrooms costs 55 € One night (sleeps five) and the studio From 50 € One night (sleeps two); Both self -sufficiency, minimum Two-night stayEating and wine for 90 minutes Tastings from € 35 per person
