Peter Sommer Travels will launch its new Cruising the Coast of Montenegro tour in 2025, its first itinerary in the country known for its sparkling waters, atmospheric mountains and multi-layered history. Cruising aboard a traditional gulet, visit towns and villages from the Adriatic Coast to Lake Skadar and the Bay of Kotor and discover the influence of the ancient Illyrians, the Greeks, the Roman Empire, Venice and the Ottomans, as well as fabulous food from beloved family restaurants, wine made in the wooded hills and more. The eight-day Cruising the Coast of Montenegro tour departs Sept. 15, Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, 2025.
“In 2025, join us in Montenegro for the first time on a cruise that promises beautiful seascapes, remarkably rich culture and the best of traditional cuisine,” said Peter Sommer, founder of Peter Sommer Travels. “Among the hidden inlets, glassy bays and rampart-like mountains, you’ll find Roman mosaics, Italianate palazzi, baroque churches and Ottoman mosques. And, as always, the country’s deep history will be brilliantly brought to life by our expert guide.”
After arriving in Tivat, board the gulet and cruise south through the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Coast, then back north and into the winding Bay of Kotor, with excursions inland along the way.
On the Adriatic, arrive in the beautiful old town of Budva, with its Venetian streets, medieval churches and a museum highlighting Roman and Greek times, and the powerful Illyrian people. Continue to the tiny walled town of Sveti Stefan, set just offshore on an islet at the end of a causeway. And in Ulcinj, explore its old town and fortress, standing above the sea, as well as museums focusing on the lives of corsairs and Ottoman beys.
Driving inland on excursions, find rich birdlife among the expansive wetlands below Mount Rumija at Lake Skadar National Park, and visit the village of Godinje, famed for its winemaking, and the artfully restored Ottoman fortress at Besac for lunch. Later, in Stari Bar, see its gray stone walls, aqueduct and clocktower, and layers of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Serb and Ottoman history. A hard-fought siege there in 1878 led to the making of Montenegro.
In the Bay of Kotor, enjoy lunch at the centuries-old mill at Ćatovića Mlini, then take in a villa with magnificent black-and-white mosaics in Risan, Perast’s Italianate palazzi and museum devoted to its time as a naval power, and the islet of Gospa od Škrpjela, or “Our Lady of the Rocks,” and its pastel blue-domed church.
Before finishing back at Tivat, reach Kotor itself and marvel at its Venetian-influenced old town, its many churches and its fortifications rising to the crags above.
Mislav Fileš, who is finishing his Ph.D. in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Zagreb in Croatia, has extensive experience in excavations and provides consulting services for the preservation and management of cultural heritage sites, leads the trip.
The Cruising the Coast of Montenegro tour includes all accommodations and meals, excursions, transportation by private minibus, entrance fees and tips on land, airport transfers on the first and last day, and more. Maximum of 14 guests.
