Nacionalni Park Durmitor Things to Do

1 more image

After Pašina Voda, we go out of Durmitor National Park and a large road sign tells that we are about to pass the limits. As much as the elevation is lower, as much as the landscape become different from the Žabljak plateau.

BTW, entrance into Durmitor National Park is free.

4 more images

Asphodeles belong to the Lilly family. They grow especially around the Mediterranean. They were used in the antiquity to flourish graves, and were mentioned by Homer as covering the great meadow, the haunt of the dead. While I documented this tip, I learnt that the English word for Narcissus, “daffodil” derived from asphodele --> affodille --> d’affodil (in old French) --> daffodil (in English).

All these photos were taken on the south edge of Durmitor Park and out of the park (Pašina Voda, Bukovica, Šavnik). At higher elevations, the plant had only its leaves. As much as we went down, as much the flower stem developed. Only at the lowest elevations was it in full bloom.

Photo 1. A stem of Asphodelus albus, the white Asphodele.

Photo 2. A plant with fully bloomed stems and stems still in buds.

Photo 3. Closer look at the flower with long stamens.

Photo 4. A meadow dotted with Asphodels that have not began to flourish (the photo was taken at a higher elevation)

Photo 5. A whole side of mountain covered with asphodelses.

1 more image

As we could not do it by the western route, we drove back and finally took the south route. Just after the road crossing, near Pačina Voda, we spotted a small isolated chapel standing alone on a shelf. It looked almost like a toy !

1 more image

Photo 1. We were now not far from the pass but there was more and more snow along the road and one kilometers further, there was a large strip of snow that covered the whole width of the road dor a good 30 meters. Further, there was a second one… With all these snow drifts, there was no way to go any further.

Photo 2. As I have not taken a photo of the place where we had to drive back, I have made an enlargement that shows the place from further down.

1 more image

Photo 1. The road climbs along the south slopes of the Bobotov Kuk (2,522 meters). The mountain should be the Buručkovac, also named Veliki Buručkovac (Great Buručkovac) (2,094 meters), the highest summit of the Treskavac range.

Photo 2 was taken a little further and thus at a higher elevation. The mountain in front might be the Treskavac (2,048 meters).

1 more image

To leave Žabljak for Nikšić, we had the choice between two routes, both about 100 km.

1) Drive full West on a small road that climbs along the southern slopes of Bobotov Kuk, with a pass at an elevation of 1908 meters, reach Trsa and the E 762 main road north south.

2) Drive full south to Nikšić by a narrow and winding road, with a pass at an elevation of 1487 m.

We chose the former, as its first part looked the most scenic while its second part looked a larger main road

Photo 1. After several kilometers of climb, we reached a place with a nice small lake nested in the bottom of a green valley. I do not know what is its name as there are several lakes along this road but we saw only this one.
- Pscenko Jezero (Poscen Lake) is 10 km after Žabljak but I am not sure that any of the distances are exact and my 1/250,000 map though not accurate enough would better say 7 km.
- Modro Jezero (Blue Lake) is 15 km from Žabljak but the map better says 10 km.
- Strablje Jezero (Itching Lake) is close to the later.
- Valovito Jezero is a little further (the map says 12 km)
My guess is that the photo would show Valovito Jezero.

Photo 2. An old wooden sign reminds that we are inside Durmitor Park.

3 more images

Photo 1. Bobotov Kuk (2528 meters) is the highest point of the Durmitor massif. In late May, there remains a lot of snow from previous winter, which means that some might be permanent and will not melt before next Winter.

Photo 2. Seen from some distance, the Durmitor massif looks smoother.

Photo 3. The prairie itself is not flat everywhere and there are wide valleys in the meadow.

Photo 4. In some places, there is a kind of high elevation forest with low trees.

1 more image

Photo 1. Not far from Hotel Planinka, you will find again the plateau and its meadow. On the photo, a small automatic weather station.

Photo 2. Everywhere, there are new roads drawn by scrapers across the meadow and new houses !