Europe's hidden 'winter wonderland' has gorgeous national parks and cheap skiing
Europe has an underrated 'natural winter wonderland' where you'll find gorgeous mountains, sprawling national parks and cheap ski resorts - yet it's not a go-to for peak winter crowds.
Montenegro tends to be more of a hit in the summer when tourists flock to its national parks for the gorgeous trails and balmy weather, but most people don't realise it can be just as spectacular in winter. Plus, with temperatures around 3C-12C it isn't so cold that you can't enjoy the outdoors (provided you've packed enough layers of course!).
Between December through to March, Montenegro becomes an ideal location for winter sports, thanks to generous snowfall at the higher mountain resorts. In fact in the Montenegrin mountains you will find 45km of ski trails at Kolašin, aimed predominantly at beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Plus with ski pass prices at around £21, it can be a budget-friendly way to hit the slopes or have a go at skiing for the first time.
Montenegro is an underrated skiing destination (Getty Images/iStockphoto)For those who want to make the most of the gorgeous winter views without the adrenaline of hurling yourself down a mountain, the country boasts five national parks that become real-life winter wonderlands when the snow hits. However, if you only visit one make it Durmitor National Park that tends to be a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike thanks to the plethora of amazing trails where you'll find everything from frozen lakes to ice caves and even a ski resort. During the winter months you can also hire snowshoes to go off the beaten track.
Montenegro isn't all about adventure though - if you're looking to unwind, then you may want to leave space on the itinerary for a trip to Simo Milošević in Igalo. This is the country's largest spa with over 70 different treatments on offer (prices start from around £40 per person), using the local Igalo Peloid mud extracted from the sea in the Bay of Igalo.
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Durmitor National Park transforms into a real winter wonderland (Montenegro Tourism Board)Because Montenegro isn't typically a go-to winter destination, there are plenty of extra perks for visiting during the colder months. For a start, you won't have to deal with crowds of people, not to mention you won't have long queues for the ski lifts. There's the added bonus that it's also relatively cheap to get to - when we took a look, we could find flights from £38 in January, with the likes of easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Want to find out more? Head to montenegro.travel/en.
Of course if you're looking for winter wonderlands closer to home, the UK has plenty of gorgeous spots. For example, there's one hidden fairytale village with ski slopes that's also tipped as a must-visit if you want a White Christmas, while one small town has been compared to a Christmas postcard scene thanks to its beautiful cottages and quintessentially British countryside setting. You can get more inspiration by checking out our UK holidays guide which we regularly update with the latest destination tips and deals we think you'll want on your radar.
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