GETTING THERE & AROUND

Ryanair flies from Stansted to Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica. Average flight time: 3h. ryanair.com Alternatively, fly to Bari in Italy, where Jadrolinija operates ferries across the Adriatic to Bar. jadrolinija.hr

Average journey time: 11h

WHEN TO GO

With dramatically contrasting elevations, altitude as much as season impacts climate. July-August gets busy on the coast with 26C-32C temperatures. November-April is the north’s ski season with heavy snow when temperatures can dip well into the minus figures; hikers should explore the national parks outside these times.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Casa di Pino. Doubles from €70 (£60), B&B. casadipino.com

Cue Hotel Podgorica. Doubles from €120 (£105), B&B. cue-podgorica.com Blue Mediterranean.

Studio sleeping two from €50 (£44), room only. bluemediterranean.me

Hotel Stara Čaršija. Doubles from €70 (£61), B&B. staracarsija.me

The Chedi. Doubles from €170 (£148), B&B. chedilusticabay.com

PLACES MENTIONED

Skadar boat tour. kormoran.co

Besac Fortress. besac.me

Plantaže. plantaze.com

Lipa Cave. lipa-cave.me

Gornja Lastva. tivat.travel

MORE INFO

Montenegro Tourism. montenegro.travel

HOW TO DO IT

Wild Frontiers offers the eight-day Walking in Montenegro tour, taking in Kotor, Lake Skadar and four of Montenegro’s five national parks, for £1,725 per person based on two sharing, including accommodation, guide and driver. Excluding flights. wildfrontierstravel.com