Montenegro

Dramatic mountains and brilliant blue sea. This is Montenegro. It’s a size-of-a-postage-stamp, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of country. You could drive across it in a day if you so chose. But that would be a terrible decision. What Montenegro lacks in size it makes up for in beauty and intrigue.

Ancient walled cities perch on the shores, the backdrop of lush green mountains loom behind. The history of this country is fascinating – from Roman beginnings to Greek influence, to 50 years of communist control and the recent crumbling of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Balkan War. The whole region is emerging from this tumultuous past and is establishing the Balkan peninsula as a tourism hot spot. Get here now before the masses do!

Despite the increasing tourism, especially in the form of sun-seekers on the beaches, it is very easy to find your own slice of peaceful beach or forest.

Sveti Stefan is the most gorgeous of seaside towns, whilst Kotor is a must-visit for the beautiful 18th century old-town vibe. Just off the coast of Perast are two tiny islands that make for a fantastic sight. Sveti Dorde and Gospa od Skrpjela monasteries seem to just be floating on top of the water and are well worth a visit.

Biogradska Gora and Lake Skadar National Park are the best places for getting back to nature. Head to Tara River and canyon to take a rafting trip along the river. This provides the best views of the 1300m deep canyon the river runs through.