Slow down... That's the key word for this route. With all the beauty around you, you want to take the time to take it all in.

Today you will drive a beautiful lap around Lake Shkodër. Via a large detour around the lake you will visit the Adriatic coast and drive through the hinterland of Bar and Cetinje. Eventually you will arrive at the most famous viewpoint on Lake Shkodër: Pavlova Strana. Your route ends at Dodoši, on the edge of the lake, which gives you the opportunity to take another trip on a narrow wooden fishing boat across the lake.

The morning starts at Ethno Village Skadar. Not far away is the medieval Crnojevića fortress. It is said to date back to the 10th century and has a rich history. The city and fortress served as the capital of Montenegro until the Ottomans took power in the area. Only at the end of the 19th century did the Montenegrins regain the city and the area.
You can visit the town and the fort. The architecture in the town is well preserved, so you can clearly see the influence of the various rulers. The fort itself has unfortunately been in disrepair for a century.

To start the route, you first have to follow a section of the E80. This wide and well-paved road leads you across Lake Shkodër. The bridge is still relatively new. Only in the 1970s did it become possible to drive this road. Until then, Fort Lesendro was a difficult island to reach. This made it a perfect place to protect the area from the Ottomans. Fortunately, nowadays you can cross safely via the bridge, which allows residents of Podgorica to reach the coastal city of Bar relatively quickly. Bar is also on the route later today, but you take the scenic detour instead of the fast route.

Continue your route towards Virpazar. This picturesque fishing village can be busy in the main season. The terraces invite you to enjoy the good life and there are plenty of opportunities to take a boat trip on the lake from here. Through the village you drive on a road towards the East, along the lake. The narrow road climbs slowly uphill. Occasionally the road widens slightly so you can stop to take photos and take in the view.

The lake is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula. With an area of approximately 370 square kilometers, it is one of the most important water sources in the region. The health of the lake is closely monitored to safeguard the lake's rich biodiversity: more than 270 species of birds and fish live in and around the lake. Local legends tell about Drago. This mythical creature, a snake, is said to guard the lake. Everyone who cares about the lake and who also cares for the lake is protected by Drago. Could that be why the locals take such pride in protecting the lake?
You can approach the lake all the way to Godinje beach. Along the beach is Gazdinstvo Orlandic, where you can take a break and enjoy the view. If you “moor” here around lunchtime, nothing is more delicious than eating a fresh piece of trout or carp. It doesn't get fresher than this: the lake is a protected nature reserve, but there are a few rare places on the lake where fishing is allowed. If the beach bar is closed, you can find a cozy terrace on the way back in Virpazar.

The route continues towards the South. You cycle through the landscape via the old road to Bar. The narrow road takes you higher and higher until you reach the top of 750 meters. There are a number of moments along the way when the road is slightly wider, so you can stop here again to take in the view. At one of the stops you have a view of Mount Štorman and a little further on you visit a monument in memory of the battle of Bar. This took place in 1042, between the forces of the Serbian Duchy of Duklja under Prince Vojislav and the Byzantine forces led by strategist Dracula. The battle involves a sudden night attack by Vojislav's forces on the Byzantine camp in mountain passes, which resulted in the complete defeat of the Byzantine forces and the deaths of 7 of their commanders.

You won't notice anything of this turbulent past on this route. The road is quiet, there is little traffic and you slowly wind back downhill towards the old town of Bar. You can park your motorcycle just outside the city walls. The Old Town has a centuries-long history, with archaeological finds dating back to the 6th century BC. During the Middle Ages, Bar was a strategic point within the Byzantine Empire and later under Venetian and Ottoman rule. The 11th-century Bar Castle stands as an important historical monument within the city walls. The old city center bears witness to various cultural influences and remains an intriguing heritage. Take your time to look around here extensively, enjoy the panoramic views and have a delicious lunch if that suits you.

From the old town the journey continues to the new town of Bar. Before that, you will first visit an unusual sight: Stara Maslina. According to the information boards, this olive tree is (one of) the oldest olive trees in the world. The tree is said to be over 2,000 years old. Anyway, a beautiful tree!

Once through the hustle and bustle of the new town of Bar, your view opens again and you see that you have reached the Adriatic coast. You follow the coastal road towards Petrovac na Moru. The wide road is reminiscent of the Jadranska magistrala, the famous coastal road through Croatia. It drives wonderfully and every now and then the Adriatic Sea appears behind a hill and you can smell the salty air. Along the way you can stop at one of the monasteries in Montenegro. The monastery was originally a medieval inn of the old Serbian Empire. Founded in 1116, the Gradište was mentioned in a document from the time of King Milutin in 1307. The three churches of the monastery are those of St. Nicholas, built in 1610; the Assumption of the Blessed Mother of God, whose frescoes date from the 1620s; and St. Savas's, the first built in 1855 and the last in the early 1500s. If you want to visit the monastery, deviate from the route and turn onto a small street that leads up the hill. Simply follow the signs until you have to complete the last part on foot.

After the monastery the route goes inland again. Via the hinterland of Bar and Cetinje you drive through a deserted nature reserve, back towards Lake Shkodër.

This stretch of about 35 kilometers is beautiful. The landscape is lush green and rocky. At times the area seems deserted. Until you suddenly see grape vines... Viticulture in Montenegro is an old tradition that enjoys a growing reputation. The region's diverse microclimates promote grape growing and produce high-quality wines. Montenegro produces a variety of wines, some of which come from indigenous grape varieties, making viticulture an important aspect of the local culture and economy. Wijngaard Lipovac has been located at this location since 2015. The young vineyard is still under construction, but has been able to grow to a capacity of 100,000 bottles per year in recent years. If you are interested, you can book a wine tasting. For now, because you are on a motorcycle, it is mainly a beautiful sight to admire from a distance.

In Rijeka Crnojevića you can quench your thirst. Even if you only have 15 to 20 kilometers to the end of the route, it is still nice to take a break here. In the hamlet you have a lovely terrace and you can also stretch your legs with a walk along the river.

Sometimes people say to save the best for last... That certainly applies to this route. Pavlova Strana awaits you, the reputedly most beautiful view of Lake Shkodër. From the viewpoint you have a view of the Rijeka Crnojevića river and the lake in the distance. VYou can clearly see how parts of the river and lake are covered with aquatic plants. The playful landscape with all the hills is also impressive.

The view from this point is beautiful, but from a higher point you have an even better view. If you have good motor skills and are not afraid of heights, you can drive uphill from the viewpoint on a very narrow road. After 6 hairpin bends, find a place to turn around and park. From this height the view is truly spectacular.

Via a number of small winding roads you drive along the lake towards Dodoši, where the end of your route is. Here you can spend the night at the foot of the lake. There is a choice between a campsite and a number of houses. The village is also a bit quieter than many other villages or towns on the lake. Take your time to relax even further and float across the lake in a boat at a particularly low speed.