Overview
Planinica (2330 m) summit view to
Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m),
Bobotov Kuk (2523 m) and
Djevojka (2440 m)
Planinica (2330 m) peak is becoming more and more fashionable as a first-class viewpoint of
DURMITOR's amazing and incredible beauty and it's untouchable nature.
Planinica (2330m) which means
small mountain (Planinica is diminutive of Planina which means mountain), is not a real rocky peak (as
Bobotov Kuk - 2523 m, for example), but actually the highest point of large glacial cirque
Alisnica which falls into the beautiful
Skrka valley. Skrcka Lakes Valley is surrounded by the most beautiful peaks of Durmitor. Skrka occupies
SW corner of central Durmitor. Valley is around
2.5 km long while bottom is up to
1km wide. Its upper edge or the peaks on the opposite sides of the valley are around 2 km apart which means they rise very steeply above the valley.
Whole Planinica climbing trip is some kind of
extraordinary journey, during which you can see many different expression of beautiful Durmitor's nature. When i was climbing Planinica summit with my friends, two of them after that told me that scenery of
Gornja Alisnica valley remaind them to
"The Lord of The Rings" movie and it's beautifully panoramas. That's no so far from the truth.
On
Durmitor exist
two extraordinary peaks, on which grassy summits you can really enjoy whole day in unforgetable panoramas of incredible beauty of Durmitor and it's most beautiful corner called Skrcka Lakes valley, surrounded by the most beautiful peaks of Durmitor massif. One is
Prutas (2393 m) and the second one is
Planinica (2330 m). Planinica staying oposite to Prutas peak, above incredible diamond of Durmitor - amazing
Skrcka Lakes valley with two beautifully lakes,
Veliko Jezero (Large Lake,
1686 m) and
Malo Jezero (Small Lake,
1711 m).
Planinica (2330 m) massif above
Dolina Skrckih Jezera (Skrka Lakes Valley)
From
Zabljak town (Crno Jezero, where is usual start point) to
Planinica summit, you will spend about
4 h of walking. First, you will go inside of deep and nice forest, where you'll meet non activ white
water-mill. Here is placed the mountain guidepost. You must follow caption
Alisnica-Planinica. This route go away (near) from Zminje Jezero (Snake's Lake). When you will come out from this forest, you will see beautiful grassy field called
Poljanak with awesome green grass, below of powerful crest of
Crvena Greda (2164 m) on the right.
Way continues inside of another forest and when you will come out, you'll see wonderful
Crapulj Poljana (1716 m) grassy field with few old shepherd's huts. Nice place for short rest. Route goes than to
Donja Alisnica (1940 m) valley and after that to
Gornja Alisnica (2091 m) valley. This two connected valleys are real paradise for enjoyment and resting inside of extraordinary untouchable nature. Specially, Gornja Alisnica valley is an inredible beauty.
Route than continues to
Gornje Lokve grassy plateau, where you can see during Summer beautiful horses, who living there during Summer time. Their owners coming 1 time per week, to bring them salt (necessary minerals). Horses also drinking water from the lokve (small pools) and graze the grass.
Peaks of
DURMITOR massif from
Planinica (2330 m) summit
Many beautifully horses, in many different colors, staying, runing and jumping on beaufitul grass of Gornja Alisnica valley are scenery, which i from the heart recommended to anyone to must to see. Really, unforgetable. Route than goes to
Medjedje Zdrijelo (2251 m) pass, from where you can after some minutes reach the
Planinica summit (2330 m). And then - incredible scenery and panorama!
From Planinica summit you can see incredible and amazing beauty of most wonderful corner of Durmitor massif. On the left you can see famous wall called
"Soa Nebeska" which contain three peaks -
Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m), Bobotov Kuk (2523 m) and
Djevojka or
Soa (2440 m). Also, on the left you can see nice
Samar saddle pass (2075 m) and beautiful trademark of Durmitor -
Sareni Pasovi or
Stit peak (Colourful Layers,
2245 m) with all it's amazing beauty.
In front of Planinica summit you can enjoy in impressive
Prutas (2393 m) peak. On the right you can see nice
Susica canyon. Below Planinica summit, you will have a chance to enjoy in breathtaking view to famous
Skrcka Lakes valley with it's two beautifully glacial lakes Big and Small Skrcka lakes - "Mountain Eyes" of Durmitor.
Far, in background you can see
Sinjajevina (2253 m), Kapa Moracka (2226 m), Bioc (2397 m), Vlasulja (2337 m) and
Maglic (2387 m) mountains, and beautifully
Piva and
Komarnica canyons.
Bezimeni Vrh (2487 m) from
Alisnica Valley, during
Planinica (2330 m) summit climbing
Wonderful grassy Planinica summit and enjoyment on it you will never forget. You can spend whole day for relaxation with your family or with your friends and enjoy in many beautiful views and landscapes of Durmitor peaks, valleys, passes, canyons and lakes.
Like
"point on I" you can descent to
Skrcka Lakes valley and enjoy in it's extraordinary beauty.
1 h of walking is time for this descent. In Skrka valley exist
mountain hut and you can stay inside, but first (before Planinica climbing) check in Zabljak touristic office, is the hut active or not.
Getting There
Prutas (2393 m) and
Skrcka Jezera (Skrka Lakes) from
Planinica (2330 m) summit
Gateway to climbing
Planinica (2330 m) peak in
DURMITOR massif is
Zabljak town. Information how to get there:
By Plane
~To
Beograd (Belgrade, Serbia&Montenegro capital) airport. Than with plane to Podgorica, capital of Montenegro, or with bus or car to Zabljak town.
~To
Podgorica airport. Than with bus or car to Zabljak town.
Information about flights find on the sites of
JAT Airways, a former Yugoslav airlines, or on
Montenegro Airlines.
By Bus
~
Beograd (Belgrade)-
Zabljak
~
Podgorica-
Zabljak
~
Niksic-Zabljak
~
Pljevlja-Zabljak
Buses go to Zabljak from Beograd (Belgrade) twice a day and from Podgorica, Niksic, Pljevlja and Mojkovac several times per day.
By Car
~
Beograd (Belgrade)-
Zlatibor-Nova Varos-Prijepolje-Pljevlja-Zabljak
~
Niksic - Savnik (47km) - Zabljak (37km): 84km; Niksic to Zabljak approach from south.
~
Niksic - Savnik (35km) - Zabljak (37km): 72km;
~
Podgorica - Niksic (55 km)-Savnik (47 km)-Zabljak (37 km): 139 km; Add this length if you are going to Zabljak from Podgorica via Niksic. Road to Niksic from Podgorica is good.
~
Podgorica - Kolasin (71km) - Mojkovac (21km) - Zabljak (67km): 159km; road is good all the way to Zabljak. Behind Podgorica (56m) you go inside Moraca River canyon (one of spectacular Montenegrin canyons). It is up to 1000m deep and has wild sides. That's spectacular drive. After that, from "Djurdjevica Tara" bridge to Zabljak - 23 km.
Routes Overview
Veliko&Malo Skrcko Jezero (Large&Small Skrka Lake) from
Planinica (2393 m) summit
PLANINICA (2330 m):
~Usual route: Zabljak (1450 m) - Ivan Do (1470 m) - Jaksica Mlin - Zminje Jezero (1520 m) - Crapulj Poljana (1716 m) - Donja Alisnica valley (1940 m) - Gornja Alisnica valley (2091 m) - Medjedje Zdrijelo (2251 m) - Planinica (2330 m). Climbing time:
4 h. Height difference: 900 m.
Map of
Planinica (2330 m) area and it's surroundings
~Skrka - Planinica ascent route: Skrcka Lakes valley (1686 m) - Planinica (2330 m). Climbing time:
3 h. Difficult ascent on very stepp rocky side of Planinica.
~Planinica - Skrka descent route: Planinica summit (2330) - Skcka Lakes valley (1686 m). Climbing time:
2 h
When To Climb
You can climb during all year seasons, but ideal period for climbing is mid June - mid September.
During the winter, Durmitor usually switches into ski resort. Under Savin Kuk peak (2313 m) is Durmitor Ski Center. (gondolas, ski lifts, chair lifts, restorants and their customers).
Crno Jezero (Black Lake) location is a common climbing
starting point. All major trails further uphill are well marked with white circle/red border marks.
Whole Durmitor mountain is very good marked.
Thanks to Branislav Cerovic, greatest knower and devoter of Durmitor National Park, who marked all routes on Durmitor mountain.
Camping
Camping permitted on camping dedicated spots only.
Major huts are in good condition, but with no service. Still, open to the general public. Hikers/climbers are supposed to bring all the jummy stuff with them.
On Durmitor exist
camp in
Ivan Do and few ~
mountain huts and
bivouacs:
~
Hut with few small shepherd's houses in
Lokvice valley
~
Hut in
Skrcka Lakes valley
~
Bivouac in
Velika Kalica valley
~
Hut "Mushova koliba" on the road from Zabljak to Obla Glava (2303 m) peak, near
Ledena Pechina (Ice Cave) - empty simply hut from wood, without service, simple conditions...
~In
Ivan Do camp price for camping is
4 Euro per day.
Also, in
Zabljak town you can
rent private room or
apartment. Price for 2-beds apartment with kitchen and bathroom: 10-12 Euro (
5-6 Euro per person).
In some villages on mountain, for example in
Bosaca village, you can rent a 2-beds apartment for price 6-8 Euro (
3-4 Euro per person) with free milk products every day (1 liter of caw milk).
Mountain Conditions
Durmitor (Zabljak town) 5-7 days weather forecast
Red Tape
No fees or extra fees for entering the National Park.
No permits needed either.
Usual rules of behaviour for NPs do apply.