Žabljak is one of the rare places where nature still feels untouched. Crystal-clear lakes, quiet trails, ancient forests, and clean air make every visit feel like a step back into something pure. But with growing interest in Durmitor comes growing responsibility. As more travelers discover this beautiful mountain town, the question becomes: how do we explore it without leaving a trace?
In this guide, we’ll explore how you can travel responsibly and leave Žabljak even better than you found it—whether you’re hiking, staying at a hotel, dining out, or just enjoying the silence.
Sustainability in Žabljak isn’t just about recycling or skipping plastic—it’s about respect. Respect for the silence of the forest, the life in the water, the way locals have lived in harmony with the land for generations. It’s about slowing down enough to notice the small things: a flower blooming beside a path, a shepherd tending sheep on a hillside, a birdcall echoing through the canyon. When you treat the place like it matters—because it does—you become part of the reason it stays wild, clean, and extraordinary. Sustainable travel here doesn’t ask for sacrifice—it offers you a deeper kind of reward.
1. Hike Gently: Stay on Trails and Leave No Trace
Durmitor’s trails are as fragile as they are beautiful. Stick to marked paths to protect native plants and prevent erosion—stepping off-trail, even just a few meters, can do lasting damage. Always carry a small bag for your trash (and maybe even trash you find along the way), and never leave food behind, even biodegradable items like fruit peels. What feels natural to you isn’t always natural to this ecosystem.
Bring a reusable water bottle, wear eco-friendly sunscreen to protect the lakes and streams, and resist the urge to pick flowers or take stones as souvenirs. The best souvenir is a story, a photo, and the knowledge that you left the wild as wild as you found it.
2. Choose Eco-Conscious Accommodation
Where you stay matters—and even small decisions can make a big impact. In Žabljak, many guesthouses and hotels are family-run and locally sourced, meaning your booking directly supports the community. Look for accommodations that reduce plastic use, recycle, and use natural materials or renewable energy. At our hotel, we do our part with energy-efficient heating, minimal plastic waste, and breakfast options that include locally made cheeses, jams, and eggs.
Traveling sustainably doesn’t mean giving up comfort—it means choosing comfort that lasts. Staying somewhere that values the land beneath it helps ensure that future visitors will have the same pristine experience.
3. Eat Local, Seasonal, and Simple
Supporting local food culture is one of the most delicious ways to travel responsibly. Skip the imported snacks and global fast food chains. Instead, dine at local konobas (taverns) and ask for traditional dishes like kačamak, cicvara, mountain trout, or wild mushroom soup. These meals are made from local ingredients, often grown or raised within a few kilometers of where you’re sitting.
Eating local means lower food miles, more authentic flavors, and support for small farmers and producers. And don’t forget to bring your own reusable bag if you visit the market—or better yet, a container for fresh cheese or baked goods so you can skip the single-use plastic.
4. Be Water and Energy Wise
Even in places with abundant nature, resources are not unlimited. In Žabljak, conserving water and energy helps protect the delicate balance of highland life. Turn off lights and heating when you leave your room, take shorter showers, and reuse towels instead of requesting fresh ones daily.
In winter, be mindful of heating settings—it’s tempting to crank the temperature up after a day in the snow, but layered clothing and a warm drink often do the trick. These small habits add up to big benefits when multiplied across thousands of visitors each year.
5. Support Local, Not Just Scenic
Sustainability also means cultural sustainability—preserving the local way of life, traditions, and community. Buy souvenirs from local artisans rather than mass-produced imports. If you take a tour or hire a guide, choose someone who lives in the region and knows the land deeply.
Even something as simple as asking about the meaning behind a festival, a dish, or a local phrase shows respect and curiosity. The more you connect, the more your visit becomes a genuine exchange—not just an escape.
Final Reflections
Traveling to Žabljak isn’t just a journey to a beautiful destination—it’s an opportunity to participate in something greater. These mountains have stood for thousands of years, and yet, with the rise in tourism, they’ve never been more vulnerable to the marks we leave behind. But they’ve also never had more people ready to protect them. People like you, who choose not just to see—but to care.
Sustainable travel is not about perfection. It’s about intention. It’s about looking at the trail beneath your boots, the farmer behind your cheese, the child who will someday walk these same paths, and asking: how can I be part of this place, not just a passerby? It means understanding that your money, your habits, your presence—everything you bring with you—can either support the rhythms of the land or disrupt them.
At our hotel, we’ve built our values around this very belief. That mountain hospitality should be both warm and wise. That comfort should never come at the expense of nature. That a good breakfast made with local jam and cheese is more than food—it’s a link in the chain of sustainability. From minimizing waste to sharing trail advice that keeps nature undisturbed, we try to lead with care, not just convenience. Because we believe that protecting this place is part of hosting it.
So come to Žabljak. Hike the trails. Swim in the lakes. Talk to locals. Stay in places that honor the land. But also—leave gently. Choose well. Respect deeply. Because long after your footprints fade, your impact will remain.
And in the quiet beauty of this mountain town, that impact should be a good one.
