Surrounded by unspoiled nature, Ethno Villages offer a different approach to tourism. Similar to Eco Villages in that it’s environmentally friendly, Ethno Villages also focuses on preserving the national heritage of the country and the people living there, it’s the perfect place to learn about a country’s culture and history. Scattered in and around Montenegro’s National parks, even those who have travelled all around the world will appreciate the untouched beauty of their locations. Here are some of the main reasons and trip to Montenegro should involve at least a couple of nights in an Ethno village in Montenegro’s breathtaking mountains.

1. The Great Outdoors on your doorstep

The remote and tranquil locations of Ethno villages mean you have the great outdoors right on your doorstep. Completely justifying want you may be missing from the modern comforts for a few days. Completely immerse and soak yourself in your surroundings and let the stresses of everyday life drift away. So good for the mind and soul.

2. Close to Nature

Ethno villages in Montenegro allow you to get close to nature, actually, often nature comes to you! Nature in the rural mountains plays such an integral part in the everyday lives of the people who inhabit it, providing food, materials and helping trim the grass! If you’re very lucky while hiking or just exploring you may even spot one of the bigger mammals such as deer, brown bear, balkan lynx or wolves – they are all there!

3. Authentic Local Community

Staying in an Ethno Village is an ideal opportunity to really interact and get to know the locals. Make the effort to interact and show an interest and you’ll be richly rewarded getting to hear about the traditions and understand the way of life. Most Ethno villages are family owned and run so this type of rural tourism offers you the opportunity to contribute to the local economy, helping them put food on the table and preserving the local traditions for years to come.

4. Local Organic Food

Living so remote has many benefits, one being the organic, freshly grown or produced food. Known for their home-brewed liquor, famous cheese, meats, and local honey, you can have a delicious authentic local dishes washed down with a glass of Rakia (for the brave) or wine. The authentic home-cooked are delicious and for those interested you can see how they make the meals giving you a further glimpse into how the local rural people live. Be warned the portion sides are never small so no one will ever go hungry!

5. Plenty of Activities

For those wanting to explore the unspoiled nature and idyllic scenery further, you can enjoy activities such as horse riding and hiking through the rolling countryside and making the most of the national parks. For those looking for a little more adrenaline, Montenegro’s mountains offers some of the best white water rafting starting from May. Even later in the season as the flow of water slows, it’s still a great way to see and enjoy the scenery. There is also canyoning, kayaking and zip-lining available so you’ll certainly not be bored.

6. Accommodation

Finally, there is the accommodation which differ from Ethno villages with some being bigger with stone built cabins and more modern facilities (such as plug sockets) and others smaller more basic wooden cabins. Generally the rule of thumb is the more modern, the less remote so you’ll need to weigh that up. By the very nature of what an Ethno village provides the accommodation is basic but if it wasn’t you would lose the very essence of what a it provides – the opportunity to get away from it all. However, it’s always clean, comfortable and has everything you really need, image a more comfortable camping experience in an unbelievably beautiful location. Bliss.

For such a small country, Montenegro has a huge variety of activities to offer. Our Montenegro tours allow for people to experience a little slice of everything, with a diverse and busy schedule, you’ll have an experience of a lifetime! Get in touch if you would like to find out more!

Written by Lucy Kaufmann and James Chisnall, Untravelled Paths