The kind of summer we secretly wished for arrived like a gift we are still judging by its wrapping.
We were driven by the idea of stepping onto every continent, admiring some of the world’s most beautiful cities, and spending nights under borrowed skies. Because of that, we often overlook the beauty that lies only a few hours’ drive from where we live.
Among those underrated places is the area around the Piva River and the town of Plužine, together with the mountains rising above one of the youngest towns in the Balkans.
The lake that became part of the town represents one of the most hauntingly beautiful sights in Montenegro. Deep beneath its surface, it preserves the remains of old settlements and the former life of the local population.
The story that brought us there was about two lakes, Malo and Veliko Stabansko Lake, reached through the village of the same name. Part of the route can be done by car, followed by an easy walk through incredible landscapes.
About fifteen kilometers from the town, the houses begin to disappear, and once removed from the density of urban life, complete peace and enjoyment are guaranteed. The phone signal slowly disappears along the way, which is actually a good sign that you are entering a place where the best connection is the one with nature.
Where the car reaches its limits, the desire to explore lesser-known places truly begins.
Anyone who steps outside their comfort zone knows that several hours of hiking require proper equipment. Good preparation makes exploring much easier. One essential item is a backpack, which is necessary even for short recreational walks. Although it may seem that any bag can serve the purpose, that is far from the truth. A proper hiking backpack should have characteristics that make spending time in nature more comfortable.
The balance between capacity and comfort is especially important so that carrying equipment does not become exhausting for the shoulders and back. This significantly affects how tired you feel at the end of the day.
The 20-liter McKinley backpack we used was more than enough for a full day of exploration, including spare clothes, food, and enough water. The fastening system allowed us to use the upper compartment as well. One backpack even fit a drone case, which was light but bulky. Everything was secured with a double fastening system, while the side compartments were perfect for water bottles that needed to stay easily accessible during the hike.
The materials and construction of the backpacks were particularly impressive. The back support was reinforced enough to fit comfortably against the body while still allowing airflow. Of course, adjusting the straps properly is always important in order to reduce strain as much as possible. That leaves your hands free, which is essential in this kind of environment.
The beginning of the trail was so obvious, almost like an inverted funnel slowly opening the way toward the places we wanted to reach. Since we were caught by a summer rainstorm at the beginning of the route, the waterproof cover for the backpack turned out to be extremely useful. The leaf-covered sections of the trail were slippery, so we were glad we brought hiking poles, which became real helpers while walking.
Only after a few minutes of using them did we realize how much they reduce pressure on the joints and make movement easier. What once seemed like unnecessary extra gear quickly became something we never want to forget again.
The poles provided additional stability and worked well on both soft and hard terrain. Their quick folding system allowed us to prepare them for use in less than a minute. To determine the correct length, the easiest method is multiplying your height by 0.7 and adjusting the poles according to the result.
The terrain in this area changes constantly, which made the poles useful in many ways — from reducing strain during easy walking to helping with climbs on slippery and rocky surfaces. At some points, we even used them to check how muddy the ground was in order to avoid stepping into deep mud and keeping our shoes dry.
Then came moments of rest, silence interrupted only by the sounds of nature — birds singing, frogs moving in the distance, and the wind intensifying the atmosphere.
This is the kind of place where you do not need a signal. A place where the phone serves only to capture memories, never as a means of communication. In those moments, it becomes impossible to wish for anything more.
Another thirty minutes of walking is enough to reach the second lake, which closely resembles the first one but rightfully carries the name Veliko Stabansko Lake. It felt as though there was nobody around us for miles.
At one point, we noticed hikers heading toward Trnovačko Lake, which is still another ten kilometers away, with over a thousand meters of elevation gain if climbing one of the surrounding peaks.
For some, this place is the starting point, while for others it is the destination itself. For us, it became a place to rest, change our wet clothes, take photographs, drink spring water, and completely lose track of time while admiring the wild beauty surrounding us.
Recreational hikers like us simply stay there and surrender to the moment, while professional mountaineers continue chasing the challenge of reaching another summit.
Not even two full days of driving, hiking, and wandering through these landscapes were enough for us to see everything we wanted to experience, so we know we will return.
Next time, we will bring a tent and spend the night beside the lake, waking up to one of the most beautiful sights imaginable — pure beauty in the middle of nowhere.