Driving the western side of Lake Shkodra in Montenegro

I suggest a beautiful drive, pictured below.
Leaving Tirana, traveling to Shkodra and then to the border at Hani Hoti, you enter Montenegro. Take the first major turn off to the right. Basically the sign says to Osteros. Do not proceed toward Ulcini.

You climb through hills with some pretty vistas. Small settlements can be seen in the hills. The road takes you through several settlements and you ride through a gorgeous chestnut forest. There are spotty vistas of Lake Shkodra at first then the road gives way to big vistas. I suggest taking one or two small roads off the main road (which is paved all the way to the top of the lake) to small hamlets. Very charming. You will end up in the town of Virpazar, with marshlands and views to Albania. There is not much happening in this town, especially on the off season but it is only another 45 minutes from here going west to the gorgeous Montenegrin coast. (tunnel to Bar or scenic road to Petrovac). I will estimate that from the border, it is about 2 1/2 hours to Virpazar.
Enjoy!

Chestnut trees and stonewalls on the country road

Glimpses of the lake at first with hamlets nestled in the rocks and snow capped mountains this time of the year

Top of the Lake with marshlands and mountains of Albania in the background

Old Communist statue in Virpazar and sunset from our basic hotel window below