Border Kosovo Montenegro - the Cakor-Pass

[Ralf1150GS]

Hi folks,
this in fact is a very specific question concerning the road from Pec (Kosovo) to Podgorica (Montenegro) through Rugovo-Canyon which was closed on Kosovo territory nearby the Cakor-Pass during the war in 1999.

This road is probably going to be reopened this year 2011:

Asfalt preko Čakora - Večernje novosti

Čakorpass – Wikipedia

So, has anyone been down there in the last weeks and could verify the up-to-date-status to me?

I will be in Albania and Kosovo in about three weeks. Make a guess what I would like to ride...?!

[estebangc]

Any recent experience about the road and borders from Kosovo to Montenegro around Pec? It'd be the probable choice if we end up going through Kosovo.

I refer to Cakor pass, as asked in the post, as well as the road to Rozaje.

All comments really appreciated.

Esteban

[markharf]

I tried the Rugova road several years back--2009, I think, or 2008. The UN troops at the monastery in Pec told me it was open into Montenegro. The road was spectacular until it petered out way up in the mountains in a maze of cart tracks and footpaths. I found some farmers who managed to communicate to me that I should go no further due to mines and probably sentries. No telling whether it's open now, but I wouldn't trust anything short of a firsthand report....and even then. On the other hand, it made for a great couple of hours of riding.

I backtracked north from Pec a half-hour or so to another road over another pass into Montenegro--freshly paved, full of wonderful banked corners most of the way to the summit. Maybe that second road led to Rosaje? I don't have a map, and don't remember the names of towns, but there were no signs anyway--I just kept asking until I found myself climbing out of the valley. Once over the border most of the roads were well-signed, and as I recall both routes joined up at some point. Lots of superb mountain riding on and off pavement throughout Montenegro, so leave some time to enjoy it.

A lot could have changed in three or four years. Take the above with a large grain of salt.

Mark

[estebangc]

Originally Posted by markharf

I tried the Rugova road several years back--2009, I think, or 2008. The UN troops at the monastery in Pec told me it was open into Montenegro. The road was spectacular until it petered out way up in the mountains in a maze of cart tracks and footpaths. I found some farmers who managed to communicate to me that I should go no further due to mines and probably sentries. No telling whether it's open now, but I wouldn't trust anything short of a firsthand report....and even then. On the other hand, it made for a great couple of hours of riding.

I backtracked north from Pec a half-hour or so to another road over another pass into Montenegro--freshly paved, full of wonderful banked corners most of the way to the summit. Maybe that second road led to Rosaje? I don't have a map, and don't remember the names of towns, but there were no signs anyway--I just kept asking until I found myself climbing out of the valley. Once over the border most of the roads were well-signed, and as I recall both routes joined up at some point. Lots of superb mountain riding on and off pavement throughout Montenegro, so leave some time to enjoy it.

A lot could have changed in three or four years. Take the above with a large grain of salt.

Mark

Thanks a lot Mark. I read other useful advice from you on this area in other threads, so thanks again.

Here is a map of the area where I mark the borders I refer to, so it may help to identify roads and borders. Actually, I can only find two borders between Kosovo and Montenegro, so I presume the good one is the red road to Rozaje.

[sparco]

you can pass it, just take care there is a plenty of rocks on the road, then go to Murino Montenegro, from Murino fantastic road to wherever you want, when in Murino area go to Plav 10km, huge mountain lake, and visit Gusinje and Grebaja

[EyeCake]

I travelled from Montenegro to Kosovo through Rosaje last week and first tried to take right fork from Rosaje to enter Kosovo but the road was not signposted and 2 sets of locals told me it was wrong way so I went back to the town and took the left fork which brought me into Serbia for about 7 km and then into Kosovo.Border crossings were easy for the area and the road was good snaking through a mountain pass and then follows a lake or reservoir.
Many Montenegrans and Serbs are in total denial about the existence of Kosovo