Packraft, Hike and SUP Through Montenegro

Arrive at Podgorica Airport, meet your host, and kick back for a scenic drive through Montenegro, making your way to the Tara River. Once you reach the riverside camp, check in to your cosy chalet, get to know your fellow adventurers, and chat through the adventure with your guide. Take in the beautiful scenery and perhaps grab a drink at the riverside bar. Then, dig into a tasty traditional dinner at the camp's restaurant to start off your adventure in style.

Today your host will give you the full lowdown on packrafting to prepare you for the mini-expedition ahead. Get acquainted with the gear involved and learn from the best as your experienced packrafting guides teach you everything you'll need to know. Hit the water in the packraft and get familiar with your trusty vessel, practicing in the calm waters in front of the camp.
Once you've mastered the basics and are comfortable paddling in the calm parts, you'll head for the first proper river run in the afternoon, paddling down to the Bosnian border crossing. This section is 8km long and is mainly made up of Class I and II rapids – perfect for beginners to build confidence ahead of the adventure kickstarting proper tomorrow.

Now that you're all trained up it's time to set off down the Tara River Canyon for a proper adventure. Drive through stunning mountain scenery to the put-in spot near Žabljak, prep the packrafts with everything you'll need for the next three days, then set off. The liberating feeling of being on the river – far from civilisation carrying everything you need to be self-supported – will hit you straight away as you tackle the first few kilometres. The canyon is part of a large wilderness area and you'll have chances to spot chamois and deer, or if extremely lucky, wolves or bears.
Stop for lunch on the banks and grab a swim in the river if you like before paddling further downriver this afternoon, navigating rapids and learning how to read the river to pick lines. Your first night in the canyon is spent wild camping on a remote beach, pitching your tent a few yards from the water and settling in for dinner and a memorable sleepout in this stunning spot.

Wake up to the sound of river rumbling through the canyon, brew up some coffee and tuck into breakfast on the banks before packing down camp and cracking on with the expedition. You'll journey deeper into the canyon, with towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls flanking you as you go. You'll make regular stops during the journey on both days to stretch your legs, have a snack and enjoy some waterfalls and wild swim on calmer sections. Your second night in the canyon is spent in wild camping on one of the most beautiful beaches on the river, close to the border with Bosnia.

The final day of the expedition is full of adrenaline all the way to the finish line. Hit the water and get ready for the biggest rapids of the trip as you tackle the fastest section of the river, a 6km long run with a number of class III rapids to tackle. By now you'll be at home on the river and in the packraft and had plenty of practice at controlling the raft down rapids. Your expert guides are on hand to help and if anyone feels uncomfortable on any rapids there are ways to skirt around them on foot on the banks of the river.
Finish the final stretch of the packrafting route down to the Bosnian border crossing where you'll be picked up and be driven back to Camp Grab for a well-deserved drink to toast an epic achievement navigating the Tara River canyon. Enjoy a real bed tonight after the past three days in the wild.

Continue the adventure on dry land today as you bid farewell to the river and head into the mountains of the Piva National Park, close to the border with Bosnia. Set off on a hike through forested slopes to reach two beautiful mountain lakes. First up you'll arrive at Little Stabanska Lake before continuing on to its larger twin, Big Stabanska, a glistening emerald pool nestled beneath the towering mountain peaks of Bioč (2396m) and Volujak (2337m). The bigger of the lakes makes for a lovely picnic spot and the summer temperature of the water is an inviting 16-20°C – perfect for the wild swimmers in the group to soak up this little-visited swim spot. Descend back down the mountain and drive on to the final stop of the trip, settling into a lodge on the shores of Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula separating Montenegro from its neighbour, Albania, across the lake.

Time to get back on the water today, swapping packrafts for paddleboards to explore Lake Skadar and the Morača River which flows into the lake. The paddling today is a much more relaxing affair, taking in the majestic scenery and serenely gliding through the calm waters after your adrenaline rush on the raging Tara River. You'll set off from Vranjina village on the banks of the lake – your guide will adjust the start time depending on the time of year, to avoid the hottest part of the day. The paddle is a 12km loop, skirting along the lake to enter the Morača River. Paddle up the river until it forks off, taking the secondary channel to meander back downriver into the lake and along the shores back to Vranjina village. There'll be chances to stop for swims, stretch the legs on the banks and take in the scenery. Back at your lakeside lodge tonight you'll head out for a final dinner to toast an epic week of adventuring through Montenegro.

Enjoy one last breakfast overlooking the lake before your host drives you back to Podgorica, dropping you off at the airport in time for your onward flight home. Alternatively, you can be dropped in town if you are staying on longer in Montenegro.