Search

PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Classic Montenegro and Serbia

Escorted rail journey through Montenegro and Serbia, eight days from Podgorica

Illustration of Classic Montenegro and Serbia

Classic Montenegro and Serbia, run by PTG Tours, is an eight-day escorted rail tour departing Podgorica and ending in Bijelo Polje. The journey threads the Bar-Belgrade railway, opened in 1976 and considered one of Europe's most scenic lines, crossing the 198-metre-high Mala Rijeka viaduct and climbing to Kolasin. From a base in Podgorica for four nights, the tour expands into neighbouring Serbia, riding the celebrated Sargan Eight narrow-gauge railway with its signature figure-of-eight mountain route, and ventures into the Uvac Special Nature Reserve to spot Griffin vultures from a boat. In between, local tour managers guide visits to Ostrog Monastery, the old towns of Bar and Niksic, open-air museums, and rural households serving homemade meals. The itinerary balances train travel with coach excursions, walking tours, and cultural stops. Accommodation is in four hotels across Podgorica, Kolasin, Zlatibor, and Bijelo Polje, with six dinners and four lunches provided. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, history enthusiasts, food-and-wine explorers, and those who prefer the security of an organised group.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed in the operator's calendar: October 2026.
  • The return flight on Day 8 departs from Podgorica after the morning train arrival; gateways other than London Stansted require an additional night in Podgorica (adding cost).
  • Group size reaches 24 people; tours may feel less intimate at full capacity.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Podgorica (3 nights)

    UK - Podgorica

    Flights from Stansted (Ryanair), Gatwick (Wizzair), or via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines from Birmingham, Manchester or Heathrow. Road transfer to city centre hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Podgorica

    Podgorica - Bar - Lake Skadar

    Train to Bar on the Adriatic coast; sightseeing tour of the Old Town and lunch. Rail to Skadar and a boat trip on Lake Skadar National Park with a snack and local wine.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Podgorica

    Podgorica - Niksic - Ostrog Monastery

    City tour of Podgorica. Train to Niksic for a walking tour (Roman bridge, King Nicolas Palace, Church of St Vasilie), then transfer to Ostrog Monastery, Montenegro's most visited pilgrimage site.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Kolasin

    Podgorica - Kolasin - Biograd Lake

    Fast train to Kolasin along the most scenic part of the Bar-Belgrade line, crossing the Mala Rijeka viaduct, the highest railway bridge in Europe. Coach to Biograd Lake National Park with a lakeside walk; optional jeep safari over Bjelasica mountain.

  5. Day 5overnight: Zlatibor

    Kolasin - Uzice (Serbia) - Zlatibor

    Road to Uzice, Serbia; welcome drink of homemade plum brandy, brass orchestra performance and homemade lunch at Lazarevi konaci. Visit a Smoke House for meat-processing and tasting. Continue to Zlatibor, Serbia's most famous mountain tourist centre.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zlatibor

    Mokra Gora - Sargan Eight

    Return ride on the Sargan Eight narrow-gauge railway, its famous figure-of-eight mountain route. Visit the Kustendorf (Mecavnik) Wooden Town built by film director Emir Kusturica, then the Staro Selo Sirogojno open-air museum and Knitters Museum.

  7. Day 7overnight: Bijelo Polje

    Zlatibor - Uvac Nature Reserve - Bijelo Polje

    Boat ride through the Uvac Special Nature Reserve, the largest Griffin vulture habitat in the Balkans, plus a visit to a dairy producing Zlatar cheese and a homemade lunch in a rural household. Onward to the Montenegro border near Bijelo Polje.

  8. Day 8rail

    Bijelo Polje - Podgorica - UK

    Morning train from Bijelo Polje back to Podgorica in daylight, then road transfer to the airport for the return flight to London Stansted (other gateways require an additional night).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Train to Bar on the Adriatic coast and a boat trip on Lake Skadar National Park with local wine.
  • Day 4Fast train to Kolasin crosses the Mala Rijeka viaduct, Europe's highest railway bridge at 198 metres.
  • Day 6Sargan Eight narrow-gauge mountain railway with its famous figure-of-eight route near Mokra Gora, followed by a visit to Kustendorf Wooden Town.
  • Day 7Boat ride through Uvac Special Nature Reserve, the largest Griffin vulture habitat in the Balkans.

Included

  • All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
  • Good quality en-suite accommodation
  • Meals as shown in the itinerary; B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
  • Services of local tour managers

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. PTG Tours includes all rail travel as shown in the itinerary: trains from Podgorica to Bar, Podgorica to Niksic, Podgorica to Kolasin via the Mala Rijeka viaduct, the Sargan Eight narrow-gauge ride, and the return train from Bijelo Polje to Podgorica. The price shown covers tour and accommodation only; flights are booked separately or as an add-on tier.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
This is a fully escorted tour. Local tour managers accompany the group throughout, arranging all transport, accommodation, meals, and excursions.
What is the highest railway bridge on the route?
The Mala Rijeka viaduct on the Bar-Belgrade line is 198 metres high, Europe's highest railway bridge. The train crosses it on Day 4 between Podgorica and Kolasin.
What meals are included?
The tour includes six dinners and four lunches as shown in the itinerary, plus breakfasts at the hotels. Specific meals listed include a welcome drink of homemade plum brandy and lunch in Uzice, a meat-house tasting, a dairy visit, and a homemade lunch in a rural household near Uvac.
How much walking is involved?
Walking is moderate. Days include guided walking tours in Bar and Niksic, a lakeside walk at Biograd Lake National Park, and visits to museums and cultural sites. An optional jeep safari is available over Bjelasica mountain.
When does the tour run?
PTG Tours lists one departure in October 2026. The base price is GBP 1,575 for tour and accommodation only; flights from London Stansted start at GBP 1,795; other UK gateways have higher all-inclusive prices.

Similar journeys