7 Day Kayaking Holiday, Montenegro
“What an amazing experience! Peacefully kayaking through winding waterways…the flash of turquoise from elusive kingfishers and multi-coloured bee-eaters…the scenery was breathtaking and Ben’s historical knowledge added to the mystery of the scattered villages and island monasteries. Discovering cooling fresh water springs, rope swings into the river and learning bushcraft skills combined to make our first trip to Montenegro an unforgettable experience. Thanks Ben!” Rebecca Green, August 2022
2025 departure dates: Any Sunday, May-September
A unique experience – kayak the remarkable untouched landscapes of Lake Skadar and see the beauty of this amazing national park, bringing you closer to nature! You will cover a distance of c.80 km over 5 full days of paddling, with a day on either side to arrive and afterwards rest up, making up a week of an unforgettable adventure. Learn about the lake’s incredibly diverse flora and fauna, sleep in tents next to the shore, watch millions of stars in the evening and practice some new skills (fishing and bird-watching as well as paddling)! The week is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and a must-do for nature enthusiasts, families and anyone who wants to try a new way of enjoying the outdoors. Please note that prior paddling experience is essential! Minimum age 14
Book to Give Back – every booking sparks a donation to our chosen local environmental and community causes!
Equipment: We supply all boats (Single expedition kayaks have now replaced the Z-Pro inflatables we used to use), tents, sleep mats, safety and cooking equipment, but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and a certain amount of your own food.
Your Tour Leaders:
Vuk has worked with Undiscovered Montenegro for over ten years and is a European Canoeing qualified kayaking coach! He and Ben, one of our co-founders, were the first paddlers to really popularise the idea of kayaking on Lake Skadar. Vuk speaks fluent English and Montenegrin/Serbian.
Want to see more? Watch our video!
Day 1 – Arrival
Transfer to Virpazar from your arrival airport – arrival at your “bookend” accommodation where everyone can get to know each other a bit better. It’s also the time to get all your supplies and gear packed and ready for the adventure to begin the next day! Group dinner.
Day 2 – Rijeka Crnojevića to Dodoši
Breakfast in Virpazar, then transfer to the starting point of our canoe/kayak trip, a 50-minute scenic drive away on the northern shores of the lake. We will paddle the majestic serpentines of the Crnojević river, through Pavlova Strana, Montenegro’s most famous viewpoint, before heading up the Karatuna river to the beautiful village of Dodoši, where we will camp for the night and have dinner at a floating restaurant right on the river’s edge. Swimming and jumping opportunities are aplenty! Paddling distance: 17km.
Day 3 – Dodoši to Poseljani
Early in the morning we’ll visit old fort of Žabljak Crnojevića, which used to be the capital of the Montenegrin medieval kings. From the top of the hill we’ll see the whole of our paddling route for the day! From there we’ll hit Karatuna again, which will bring us through beautiful forest of willows back to the lake, but not for long – soon we’ll wander through the labyrinth of old fishermen’s channels, reaching another fairytale village – Poseljani. As the place which used to have 14 watermills, it was one of the most important and the liveliest settlements in wider area, and is these days home to a series of lovely waterfalls and plunge pools! Paddling distance: 14km.
Day 4 – Poseljani to Morača River
We’ll spend another day in the narrower part of the Lake, paddling between lilies and beautiful islands, reaching the mouth of the biggest tributary of Skadar Lake, a real birds’ paradise hidden between two dense rows of willows. Before the final point we’ll stop at the river’s shore to meet two great guys who run bushcraft camp, hosting all those who want to know some more about the Lake, showing them their skills of survival in the nature. We’ll hang out with them for a couple of hours, enjoying tasty food and having some nice wild swimming.
Soon after that we’ll reach a bit more cultivated part of Morača’s delta and we’ll stay at a charming eco resort, enjoying fresh drinks on the terrace above the water, great food and comfort of nice bungalows. Paddling distance: 12km
Day 5 – Bushcraft Course Day
Navigation, fishing, foraging for and preparing food in nature, safe use of tools – it’s all about putting your new skills into practice in the setting of this stunning National Park.
Day 6 – Morača to Murići
Passing the rest of the loop around Vranjina Island, we’ll come to the wider part of the Lake, enjoying mirro-like views of the lake’s water, the steep slopes of Rumija Mountain and the Albanian Alps on the other side of the lake. We’ll see some of the most famous and most beautiful spots of this part of the National Park: Prison Island of Grmožur, marvelous bay of Raduš oko (the deepest point of the Lake), Krnjice village and finally the astonishing group of islands called Murići where we’ll reach a beautiful beach, stopping there for a swim and a night camping in this awesome place. Paddling distance: 21km.
Day 7 – Visit to Beška Monastery and onwards to Ckla
A great route to end the Skadar Lake kayaking adventure. This day you’ll paddle in the widest part of the Lake (14 km), having all the time a spectacular view to Albanian shore and high mountain peaks on both sides. Murići Islands are known by several orthodox monasteries built mostly in 14th century – we’ll visit the most beautiful among them, situated at Beška, the biggest island in the area. It’s also great spot to hear our oldest legend about King Vladimir and his wife Kosara, who established the first Montenegrin state at the end of 10th century, as well as more stories about the national and religious diversity of this region and the interesting traditions of the Albanian people who populate the area.
We’ll finish our program just a few metres from the Albanian border at Ckla village. Dropping our kayaks we’ll take a ride up to Ostros to visit some more sights of this part of the Lake – remains of the oldest church in Montenegro, old mills that are built as a sort of endowment of past generations, breathtaking ancient forest of massive chestnut trees…combined with highest level of hospitality and great cuisine, Ostros village is just perfect place to celebrate the end of our adventure before returning to Virpazar for our final night. Paddling distance: 17km.
Day 8 – Departure
HOLIDAY
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APRIL/OCTOBER
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MAY/JUNE/SEPTEMBER
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JULY/AUGUST
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Wild Kayaking 7 days
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£1145pp
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£1195pp
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£1295pp
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Price includes 5 days of awesome wilderness kayaking and camping, 2 nights of bed and breakfast accommodation in Virpazar, 5 evening meals, 5 lunches, National Park fees and all transportation. Flights, airport transfers and other meals are not included.
GREEN HILLS CHALETS
Your first and last night will be spent in these relaxing chalets situated just 2km from Virpazar.
The 5 nights out on the lake will be spent either sleeping under the stars or in two-man canvas tents (you may bring your own tents if you prefer).
Please note, whilst we supply all camping equipment, you will require your own sleeping bag.