PROKLETIJE massif has many high and impressive peaks which with their beautiful outlook and amazing forms decorates incredible beauty of highest mountain range of Dinaric Alps. For sure, one of them is , the highest peak of Montenegrin part of Prokletije and also ofMontenegro.

This magnificent peak attract each year many climbers to climb it, specially in early and late spring, where snow is stil on the mountain, which offer enjoyment in some kind of climbing in winter conditions. Actually, Kolac massif hastwo peaks - and . Both peaks are placed in Montenegro/Albania border area, but they belong to Montenegro.

Kolata - Kolac peak is known as peak with many amazing summit panoramas. From them, two are most attractive - view to massif ofMaja Jezerce (2693 m) and view to beginning of amazingRopojana Valley. View to Maja Jezerce is little beat different than from Maja Rosit summit (different side of view), while view to Ropojana Valley is more open than from Maja Rosit summit. Also, similar like from Maja Rosit summit, from Kolata - Kolac summit you can enjoy in amazing view to giant massif ofMajet e Zabores Group (Zabores e Krasnices) which is13 km long! Whole this long and amazing massif can be seen from Kolata - Kolac summit! Between the peaks of Majet e Zabores Group specially dominatesMaja Hekurave (2561 m), Maja Grik e Hapt (2625 m) with it's500 m high & 300 m wide North Face, andMaja Briaset (2567 m) with it's900 m high & 900 m wide impressive wall, one of the bigest in whole Prokletije massif.

Kolata - Kolac (2534 m, 2528 m) peaks are placed on from Maja Snikut (Nikacki Vrh, 2554 m),Maja Rosit (2525 m), Maja Skurt (2499 m),Karanfili (2460 m, 2490 m, 2441 m), Maja Lagojvet (2466 m), Maja Vukoces (2450 m), Forca (2340 m), Vojusit (2210 m), Popadija (2057 m), Volusnica (1879 m), on from Maja Desles (2403 m), Valbona Valley, on fromMaja Jezerce (2693 m), Maja Popluks (2569 m), Kokervhake (2508 m), Maja Ragomit (2472 m), Maja Alis (2422 m), on from Visitor (2211 m), Mt Bor, Gusinje town and Vusanje village, on from Maja Grik e Halt (2625 m), Maja Radohines (2570 m), Maja Brijaset (Brijac, 2567 m), Maja Hekurave (2561 m), Majet e Zabores, Maja Malisores (2490 m), Maja Shchokishte (2461 m), Sev i Barde (2252 m), on from Maja Haruses (2424 m) and Maja e Pecmaras.

Maja Desles (2403 m), Valbona Valley

Maja Snikut (Nikacki Vrh, 2554 m),Maja Rosit (2525 m), Maja Skurt (2499 m),Karanfili (2460 m, 2490 m, 2441 m), Maja Lagojvet (2466 m), Maja Vukoces (2450 m), Forca (2340 m

Visitor (2211 m), Mt Bor, Gusinje town and Vusanje village

Maja Jezerce (2694 m), Maja Popluks (2569 m), Kokervhake (2508 m), Maja Ragomit (2472 m), Maja Alis (2422 m)

Maja Grik e Halt (2625 m), Maja Radohines (2570 m), Maja Brijaset (Brijac, 2567 m), Maja Hekurave (2561 m), Majet e Zabores, Maja Malisores (2490 m), Maja Shchokishte (2461 m), Sev i Barde (2252 m)

Maja Haruses (2424 m), Maja e Pecmaras

Routes Overview

Route: Vusanje (1060 m) - Zarunica (1240 m)(T2) 1h - Grlata (1810 m)(T2) 2h - Preslopit Pass (2130 m)(T3) 1h - Dobra Kolata Peak (2528 m)(T3) 2h - Zla Kolata (2534 m)(T3) 30 min

High difference: 1474 m
Lenght: 12 km
Duration: 6.30 h
Marked trail

Route start fromGusinje town. The village ofVusanje (1060 m) is in theRopojana Valley, by a narrow asphalt lane. The beginning of this trail is at an army barracks. From there go east, ascending through the little village ofZarunica, to theGrlata katun (shepherd hut), by the carriage road. Continue on the pasture trail south towards the start of the lowerPreslopit Pass (2130 m), entering the narrow gorge. By either side of this passage is the upper part of Preslopit.

From there go toward the distant yet recognizable trapezoid form, through theDvojni Prevoj (Double Pass,2430 m) which is located at the foot of Kolata - Dobra Kolata & Zla Kolata. From there, the ascent goes along dangerous steep, exposed and grassy slopes, to easier terrain of grassy steppes and rocky plates. FromKolata (2528 m) summit, use the ridge on the Albanian territory, easily passing to theZla Kolata (Kolata e Keq,2534 m), which is 6 m higher. Those two peaks are the highest peaks of Montenegro. The third highest peak isMaja Rosit - Rosni Vrh (2525 m). But officially, the highest peak of Montenegro isBobotov Kuk (2523 m), highest peak ofDURMITOR massif. Reason - Durmitor is situated in the hearth of Montenegro and is closer to the heart of Montenegrins, while Kolata is placed on border with Albania.

Getting There

Gateway toProkletije andKolata - Kolac (2534 m, 2528 m) peaks arePlav town andGusinje town and thenVusanje village. Information how to get there:

By Plane
~ToBeograd (Belgrade, Serbia&Montenegro; capital) airport. Than with plane to Podgorica, capital of Montenegro, or with bus or car to Plav town.
~ToPodgorica airport. Than with bus or car to Plav town and after to Gusinje town.

Information about flights find on the sites ofJAT Airways, a former Yugoslav airlines, or onMontenegro Airlines.

By Bus
~Beograd (Belgrade)-Plav
~Podgorica-Plav

By train
~Beograd (Belgrade)-Bijelo Polje. Than with bus or with car (rent a car) toPlav andGusinje. Finally, toVusanje village.

By car
~Beograd (Belgrade)-Kraljevo-Novi Pazar-Plav-Gusinje.
~Podgorica-Kolasin-Andrijevica-Plav-Gusinje

Gusinje town andPlav town (in Montenegro) are the main destinations you would head first. In Gusinje you can buy everything (food, shampoo, soap, clothes,... and many other things), all what you need for few days of trekking and climbing in heart of Prokletije massif.

FromGusinje town deeper in Prokletije massif tillVusanje (1060 m) village.Distance: Gusinje - Vusanje:7,5 km, (2 h of walking with big rucksack (backpack).

When To Climb

BelowKolac-Kolata

June - September are the best period for climbing of two summits of massif ofKolata - Kolac (2534 m, 2528 m). In June and July also, you will find snow area on some places, specialy on north side of massif. Don't worry, snow is hard. Like in many mountains, you will see full lakes from April till July. If you want to take a photos of lakes, better come in this period, because the lakes are full and snow is still on the peaks which Jun or July is the best for this. If you will come earlier, take with you everything from mountain equipment, which you will need in winter or spring time.

Camping

Also, you can rentrooms inPlav & Gusinje towns andVusanje village and stay there. For orientation - from Gusinje till Vusanje village is7 km distance. By car - 10 minutes on asphalt road, by walk with big rucksack - 2 hours.

On the end ofRopojana Valley exist hutRopojanski Zastan where you can stay before and after climbing ofKolata - Kolac (2534 m, 2528 m). That's the nearest camping place, but still 4-5 h by walk far from the Kolata mountain. The best camping solution is to stay in your personal bivouac belowe Kolata massif, somewhere in Ropojana Valley.

Also, exist chance to make a deal with shepherds who offer a place in their huts. Try it and let yourself be surprised. Most of the wayside restaurants can offer accomodations over night, you just have to ask "prenochishte" (stay over night). Camping is not allowed but not controlled regularly.

Mountain Conditions

The best localweather forecast (4 times daily) forProkletije (Plav town) onVREME YUBC NET

Red Tape

You're in Montenegro-Albania border area and you must before your climbing ofKolata - Kolac (2534 m, 2528 m) peaks just tocontact theBorder Security Department inPlav town. For the visit of certain (Albanian) parts of the range, where is highest peak of Prokletije massif - Jezerski Vrh/MajaJezerce/Lakes Peak (2694 m) and beautiful Lakes Valley with few glacier lakes, you must get aspecial military permission in theBorder Security Department inPlav town.

Additions and Corrections

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mullinge	Kolata Coordinates
Hasn't voted	Hi, We climbed Zla Kolata last summer and found that the GPS coordinates listed on the Kolata summitpost page are incorrect. I took a GPS position from the Zla Kolata summit in 2012: N: 42.48496 E: 19.89627 All the best, Neil
	Posted Feb 18, 2013 3:44 pm