The July expedition to Montenegro, a country where time flows more slowly.

Although the meeting point is in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the village of Bastasi, the journey begins in Zagreb, and from there, we all set off together towards the meeting place. We conclude the first day with dinner at the camp, where we get to know each other better.

After breakfast, our second day begins. We drive along the Piva River canyon and continue along part of the Durmitor Ring. The first day's drive is on an asphalt road, but this does not diminish the beauty of the landscapes we pass through. We stop in Žabljak to replenish our supplies, but alas! Due to a new law in Montenegro, shops can no longer operate. We spend the night at a camp by the Tara River.

On the third day, we drive through the forests and meadows of Sinjajevina. We take a slightly longer lunch break by a lake and take the opportunity to swim in it. Since we couldn't replenish our supplies the day before, on Sunday, we don't camp in the wilderness but return to Žabljak to do our shopping and stay overnight at a camp.

On the fourth day, we drive at the foot of Mount Durmitor, from which we turn towards the Morača Mountains and Lukavica. We spend the night on the shore of a lake. Here, the first problems with the Lada Niva begin. Something is wrong with the fuel supply.

The fifth day was "infinitely long." We needed to descend from Lukavica into the valley, but a few days before the trip, I received a tip that the usual route from Lukavica was completely impassable for any vehicles due to a massive landslide that occurred in the spring. Therefore, we take a route twice as long. As if that wasn't enough, due to fuel supply problems, the Lada was "thirstier" than usual. So, after descending into the valley, we had to extend our drive to Podgorica to a gas station. And then, from Podgorica, we take a very bad road to Rikavačko Lake. Instead of arriving between 4 and 5 PM, we arrived completely exhausted after 7 PM.

On the sixth day, we decide to shorten the drive due to the exhausting previous day. We head towards the town of Kolašin. However, this day also did not go as planned. The Porsche Cayenne starts overheating, and something "snaps" in the suspension; the Lada also overheats and has increasing problems with its fuel supply. Both cars solve the overheating problem by turning on the heating. Turning on the heating at over 30°C is not exactly a joy. To keep things interesting, we also encounter a rockslide here. But with a little skill, we successfully overcome it. We arrive in Kolašin, where we treat ourselves to a hearty traditional Montenegrin lunch at a restaurant. After that, we go to a nearby lake for our overnight stay.

On the seventh day, we take a bit more of an asphalt road to reach Prokletije National Park. We drive up to an altitude of 2100 m above sea level, stop above a lake for lunch, and then descend to the town of Plav. During this time, noticeable smoke clouds are visible, which are the result of fires. Temperatures are rising, and the cars are having an increasingly hard time. The heating is turned on more and more frequently in both cars, and the unpleasant noises from the Porsche become more frequent and louder, while the fuel supply in the Lada becomes increasingly unstable. We arrive at the planned camp and discuss the "battle plan" for the next day. We decide that the priority is to resolve the problems on both vehicles. That same evening, the Montenegrin off-road community is contacted.

On the eighth day, the entire off-road community of the Balkan countries continues to be contacted. In Gusinje, less than 3 km from our camp, we find a car workshop where it was determined that several nuts on the Porsche's front suspension had loosened. After the suspension problem was resolved, we decide to take the road through Albania towards Podgorica, as that's where we would most easily find a fuel pump for the Lada. An hour later, the phone rings, confirming that the fuel pump for the Lada had been found and reserved for us in an auto parts store. Our journey takes us through Albania, where we decide to make a short stop at a viewpoint to see the "Albanian Stelvio." Although it's a drive on an asphalt road, it becomes a challenge for both people and vehicles. It's an ascent of about ten percent over a length of 7 km, at a record high temperature of 46°C. Both vehicles are driven with the heating on at this temperature to prevent overheating. Fortunately, both vehicles and passengers survived the ascent. Finally, we arrive in Podgorica, where we buy the fuel pump and go for a well-deserved late lunch. At the restaurant, we meet two members of the Montenegrin off-road community who had been involved in solving our problem. We decide to go to a nearby camp and spend the night there. Upon arrival, there was a Techno Party at the camp with several DJs that lasted until midnight. Although tired, it didn't bother us because there was a good atmosphere due to the successful resolution of the problems on both vehicles. Although I don't know the off-road scenes in the rest of Europe best, I can say with great certainty that the Balkan off-road scene is one of the strongest in Europe when it comes to solidarity and help.

The ninth day was planned for a shorter off-road trip and a visit to Ostrog Monastery. However, due to extremely high temperatures, a spontaneous decision was made to simply stay at the camp that day and not go anywhere. This was not difficult for anyone, as the camp is located by the Zeta River and offers shade throughout the day.

On the tenth day, we say our goodbyes. Some head home, while others continue independently for a few more days in the mountains of the Balkans.

Although this trip involved many unforeseen circumstances and plan changes, one thing is certain: Magna Expeditions will never leave you stranded.