Montenegro
Cultured. Rugged. Virgin. This shy Balkan beauty is a hotbed of heritage.
Nowhere does variety quite like tiny Montenegro: Snow-capped mountains? Tick. Glittering Dalmatian coastline? Yep. UNESCO sites? Of course. The gorgeous riviera gives Italy and France a run for their money, while the real showstoppers are the remote islands: the last bastion of empty, forest-fringed beaches.
Experiences
Kayak between a string of small islands; dive and snorkel among shoals of fish; discover an elaborate dinner table set up on the shores of Boka Bay; get lost in the cobbled streets of rural villages and immerse yourself in the history of each town; try the local lamb with kacamak at a small family-owned restaurant, or fresh fish caught that morning and grilled by your private chef on the beach; have sundowners in the Bay of Kotor; watch a reenacted medieval battle; arrive at the mimosa-lined City of the Sun by vintage sports car; dine in the exclusive Porto Montenegro; take a fast-paced heli-tour of magnificent Durmitor National Park, where ice and water have carved a dramatic limestone landscape; explore the narrow Tara River Canyon by white-water raft with an unexpected picnic stop halfway.
Where to Stay
Lickety-split yacht clubs; rustic mountain retreats; exquisite boutique hotels; sumptuous superyachts.
When to Go
Prime time is either late-May or September and October, when the water is warm but the beaches are empty. The mountains are glorious all year round.