Bobotov Kuk (2523m) is the highest peak of Durmitor National Park and also touted as the highest peak of Montenegro. The mountain is a popular goal for mountaineers from Montenegro and abroad. In summer it can be quite busy on the top. Climbing Bobotov Kuk was my long time wish and this year I decided to finally do it. Here is my trip report with photos and useful advice…
Trail to Bobotov Kuk
As a photographer I wanted to hike when there is the best possible light. This meant I had to start very early, way before sunrise. From Žabljak to Sedlo pass there is about 20-30 minutes drive. Parking area at Sedlo is limited, so if you are arriving in summer and during the day, take this into account. When I arrived it was still dark and there were only a couple of cars who overnighted there.
Sedlo pass is a convenient start of the trail which is very well marked. Officially, this is a 3 hours trip with about 800m of elevation gain. There are a few places that are tricky and/or exposed but they are all secured with iron ropes and pegs. There is no technical climbing, only a few places where one can use hands to scramble up. Overall, this is a moderate trail in terms of physical and technical difficulty.
The first part of the trail towards Zeleni Vir lake is relatively easy and not so steep. The second part is more or less a constant, steep ascent. Here is my GPS track on OutdoorActive. Feel free to use it to plan your trip. Since I started my hike about two hours before sunrise, I was the only person on the top. On the way back, I started to meet other hikers, it was going to be a busy day on top!
Photos
I photographed the sunrise just below the peak when the sun peaked above the horizon. It was a misty morning in the valley so the light was diffused and soft. I did not bring my tripod, so the images were all taken handheld. When I continued my way to the top, mists started to roll in. The atmosphere was amazing and I spent a lot of time photographing fast moving mists and nearby mountains such as Prutaš, Škrčka lakes, Soa, Šareni pasovi, Bandijerna and Bezimeni vrh.
On the way back to Sedlo, I stopped to take some photos of Zeleni Vir lake (almost dry) and the amazing Šareni pasovi with their incredible layers. Later I met father and son from Prozor, Bosnia-Herzegovina who started their hike at sunrise and photographed me while on top of the mountain. See the images below – how fun! 😀
Conclusion
Climbing Bobotov Kuk was an amazing experience and on top of that I managed to get some cool photos. The climb was easier than I imagined and next time I visit Durmitor, I am going to take my older son with me. Montenegro has become my favourite country for mountaineering and enjoying nature.
Check my other posts on Montenegro or wider Balkans region. Thank you for reading!