Raft, Hike and Canyon in Montenegro
Explore Montenegro's crystal clear rivers, tackle Europe’s deepest, longest canyon and hike through its wildly beautiful mountains
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking tour leader and qualified activity guidesHotel & Chalet
3 nights in cosy lakeside chalets and 1 night in a 4* hotelMeals
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and all dinnersTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenEquipment
All your rafting and canyoning equipmentSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Splash, slide and jump your way along the Nevidio Canyon in the heart of one of Europe's least-visited wildernesses
Raft white water in the Tara River Canyon, the longest and deepest gorge in Europe and a UNESCO-protected biosphere
Hike the glacial Black Lake and ascend the peak of Prutaš for sweeping vistas of the wild Durmitor National Park
Key Information
Day 1
To the wilderness of Durmitor
Hiking
Driving
Touch down in Podgorica Airport and receive a warm greeting from your host, before embarking on a scenic 2.5hr drive to Žabljak, the gateway to Durmitor National Park. Upon arrival, check in to your cosy lodge, nestled in the forest above the lake. After settling in and getting ready, you'll venture out for a scenic hike around the iconic Black Lake where you'll follow peaceful forest trails below the towering Mount Bear. Don’t let the name fool you: Black Lake is famous for its clear, turquoise waters, perfect for those daring enough to take a refreshing dip. As dusk falls, return to your lodge for a welcome dinner and a chance to relax and chat with your group and host about the adventures ahead, before heading to bed for a well-earned rest.
Day 2
Rafting down the 'Tear of Europe'
Rafting
Tuck into breakfast before heading to the banks of the mighty Tara River, under the shadow of iconic Tara Bridge. Prepare for a splash of excitement as you embark on a rafting adventure along the emerald currents of Europe's deepest ravine plunging 1,300 metres deep – second only to the Grand Canyon. (For those seeking heights as thrilling as the depths, an optional zipline experience can be booked after the rafting, offering a bird's-eye view of the canyon.) Back on land, tuck into a tasty Montenegrin lunch including local cheeses, fish or meat, and fresh salads. This afternoon's drive back will go via the charming village of Njegovuđa, stopping en route by the tranquil Fish Lake and Devil’s Lake as well as the enigmatic stećci (fascinating medieval tombstones). End the epic day in the comfort of your lakeside lodging and enjoy a leisurely dinner with your new friends.
Day 3
Summit Prutaš (2393m) and hike among Durmitor's giants
Hiking
Rise early and brace yourself for the ascent to Prutaš (2393m) in the wild heart of Durmitor National Park. As you make your way up, unique rock formations, grassy slopes, breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and Durmitor’s highest peak, Bobotov Kuk, looming in the distance, will all provide an awe-inspiring reminder of nature's beauty. Upon reaching the summit, you'll be rewarded with panoramic vistas of the entire Durmitor range, an unforgettable moment to reflect on the majesty of the Montenegrin landscape. From the peak, you may have the option to continue to a nearby viewpoint with clear views of the beautiful Škrčko Lake, where the shape of a whale can be seen in the lake's outline. Make your way back down the mountain to the comfort of Žabljak and celebrate your hike with your group and guide over dinner, then get some rest ahead of your thrilling canyoning adventure tomorrow.
Day 4
Nevidio canyoning adventure
Canyoning
Hiking
Driving
Begin your final day of adventure with a transfer to the idyllic village of Pošćenje, surrounded by natural beauty in the form of two glacial lakes and the wild beauty of Mount Vojnik. Next, venture to the enigmatic Nevidio Canyon, a hidden gem that remains one of Montenegro's best-kept secrets, boasting narrow gorges and vivid blue-green pools. Leap into a thrilling canyoning experience, navigating through a natural obstacle course of rocks and water, swimming, sliding and jumping through Nevidio’s narrow passages. Emerging from the canyon, take a steep hike back to your vehicle and enjoy a well-deserved lunch in a local restaurant before transferring back to Podgorica for your final night. Tonight you may choose to join your guide and group for a farewell dinner in the lively city centre, before delving into the city's vibrant nightlife.
Day 5
Goodbye Montenegro!
Your adventure in Montenegro comes to an end after breakfast, when your host will drive you to Podgorica Airport in the morning, in time for your inbound flight back home. Doviđenja!
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Podgorica Airport, Montenegro
11:00 on Day 1
Ends
Podgorica Airport, Montenegro
AM on Day 5
Transfers
You'll be picked up at Podgorica Airport at 11:00 on Day 1, so make sure you book a flight which arrives in plenty time for the meet up. If you are already in Podgorica prior to Day 1, a pick up from a central city location can be arranged but only if requested in advance of travel – just contact your host to request this.
Your trip ends in Podgorica and on Day 5 you'll be dropped off at Podgorica Airport on a group departure transfer in the morning in time for your flight. For those needing transportation to different locations (such as car rental pickup) or at other times/days, taxis between Podgorica city centre and the airport can easily be arranged locally at your own expense for a cost of approximately €10-12.
If you decide to extend your trip in Žabljak and therefore need to transfer to/from there independently, you can opt to travel by bus (fares from €12 per person) or by taxi (approximately €130 per journey).
Travel options
There are regular direct flights to Podgorica from London and Manchester (with Wizzair and Ryanair) as well as from the rest of Europe.
Alternatively, you may choose to fly in and out to Tivat on the coast of Montenegro (Tivat offers direct connections with other regional airports in the UK, such as Birmingham, as well as the rest of Europe). If you use this airport, you can ask your host to provide you with the details of a trusted transfer company who can deliver you to either Podgorica or Durmitor National Park to join the rest of your group. A Tivat to Durmitor transfer costs €180 and takes three and a half hours; the shorter Tivat to Podgorica transfer costs €60-70 and takes two hours.
Another option is to fly to Dubrovnik in Croatia, and make your own way to Podgorica. However, please be aware that during the summer season, significant queues can form at the Croatia–Montenegro border.
Whichever route you choose, please inform your host of your arrival plans well in advance in order to ensure a smooth start to your adventure.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Start each day with a diverse continental breakfast, where cereals, bread, butter, jam, honey, cheese, eggs, bacon and a selection of teas and coffees will fuel you up for the activities. Come lunchtime, your guide will either arrange some sandwich picnics or you'll enjoy meals in local restaurants or by the activity centres. As the evening draws in, enjoy some tasty group dinners where the culinary traditions of Montenegro take the spotlight. Dishes will be hearty and served in large portions, including traditional soups, locally grown vegetables and regional dairy and meat dishes. Feel free to bring along any preferred snacks, especially if you have a sweet tooth, for that extra boost of energy during the activities. Please note that drinks consumed with included lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Whilst your host can cater for vegetarians, please be aware that it may be more difficult to cater for special diets. The meals provided for those with vegan and gluten-free diets in rural Montenegro may lack variety. For this reason, we recommend supplementing your diet with food products and snacks from home. Please let us know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies.
What is the accommodation like?
Žabljak
While in Durmitor National Park you'll spend three nights at a unique lakeside accommodation – Etno Selo Zminica. Nestled in the heart of the majestic northern Montenegro, the property offers a tranquil retreat just a stone's throw from Žabljak and the natural wonders of Durmitor National Park. You'll be accommodated in twin-share rooms, either in the main guesthouse or in separate chalets with lake or forest views. Occasionally (subject to availability), you may be accommodated in two-bedrooms chalets, sharing a bathroom between the two rooms.
Podgorica
Spend the final night of the trip at either Hotel Aurel or Hotel Lazaro, which are both modern 4-star hotels. You'll stay in bright, good-sized rooms on a twin-share basis.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room in Žabljak and Podgorica can be booked for an extra charge – see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
This trip has been rated as Moderate
No rafting or canyoning experience is needed, just a reasonable level of fitness and the ability to handle 3-4 hours of activity each day and up to 6 hrs of hiking. Please note, you must be a confident and competent swimmer to ensure your safety during the water-based segments of this trip.
This trip is not suitable for individuals who have a fear of heights or claustrophobia, those with limited mobility, or individuals with heart or back problems. Additionally, the trip is not recommended for pregnant women or individuals with other serious medical conditions.
Nevidio Canyon is 2.7km long and in some places squeezes down to just 1.5m wide. You'll be swimming through narrow sections, jumping into pools, wading and diving your way through – however, your guide will always be on hand to help you cross every obstacle. The water is chilly in the canyon, but wetsuits, neoprene socks, appropriate footwear for canyoning, and helmets will be provided.
You'll raft a 15 km section of the Tara River, navigating through rapids of Grade 2 and 3, depending on the time of the season and the water level in the river. These rapids offer an exciting experience, providing enough thrill to satisfy the adventurous spirit while still being accessible and manageable for amateurs.
Montenegro enjoys over 250 sunny days annually, making it ideal for sun-lovers. Montenegro's coastal regions enjoy a Mediterranean climate, while Podgorica experiences very hot summers. In Podgorica, July and August temperatures often exceed 35°C (95°F), with long, dry days. In contrast, Durmitor National Park offers cooler summers, with daytime temperatures ranging from 18-24°C (64-75°F), sometimes reaching 28-29°C (82-84°F) on the warmest days. Evenings can see significant drops in temperature. While summer weather is generally favourable, unpredictable mountain storms are possible. Your host will prioritise safety and adjust the itinerary, if necessary, due to weather conditions.
Super fun if not that extreme
All round yet another really great MBA trip. The logistics and accommodation were perfect and whilst the food was ok at the hostel, there was at least a lot of it. The host was friendly, approachable and ‘on it’ throughout - quickly pivoting the itinerary when needing to (inevitably due to the weather…). A really good group of like-minded folks of all walks of life that got on really well and really knew their flags of the world.
As others have commented, the rafting is definitely tame but that can’t be helped so far as I can see and if you want more full on rafting choose another trip.
Excellent adventure holiday
As someone who had never gone on a dedicated active adventure holiday this was fantastic. It was organized very well and the ready transport made it really stress-free.
Amazing trip - highly recommend!
This was my first trip with Much Better Adventures and I will definitely look at booking another in the future. Everything was so well organised from the minute I arrived, meaning that the whole group and I could just focus on the adventure ahead.
Canyoning was the highlight of the trip but I thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities. The rafting was very calm, as others have mentioned, so it was more of a nice boat trip down the river but still enjoyable. If you’re looking for bigger rapids we were told that April/May is a good time to go for that.
Montenegro is a beautiful country and I would highly recommend this trip if you’d like to get away and appreciate nature for a bit whilst taking on some new adventures.
The accommodation exceeded my expectations, as the chalets were lovely. The food was plentiful, with both lunch and dinner being two course meals each day, so you won’t go hungry. I’m vegan and really appreciated the hosts accommodating my dietary requirements.
Shout out to Luka, who was our group’s guide and a great host, adjusting our itinerary around the weather to help make the most of our time.
Overall this was an excellent trip, which covered a lot of ground in a short space of time and I would highly recommend!
An excellent trip…
A great break away from day to day life with rafting, hiking and canyoning. Brilliant company and our guide Momir was fab! Highly recommend. As others have said, the rafting can be a bit more sedate than expected depending on the time of year and the water levels in the river but the canyoning provided an adequate adrenaline level for myself. Was very impressed by the quality of the accommodation.
Great few days
This was a great trip, Momir is a brilliant guide and host, you visit some really beautiful places and the accomodation alone is fantastic.
A great short trip to
A great short trip to Montenegro. A beautiful country with stunning national parks and welcoming countrymen.
Fantastic treat
I fell in love with Montenegro on this trip. A great way to see some of the top spots in this beautiful country. A special thank you to our guide Momir who ensured we were all looked after and made the most of our time. All our hundreds of questions were answered and he really showed his knowledge and passion for what he does and his country. Hvala Momir!
Top organisation from start to finish. The accommodation in both Durmitor Park and Podgorica was ideal. Meals and lunches were good, breakfast selection was excellent.
The rafting was quite tame due to low water levels at this time of the season, but it was still fun and very enjoyable to see the Tara River. Guides were again great. The hike up Prutaš was simple enough but requires care and a decent fitness level. The zip line was a great way to finish the day. Canyoning was great - don't underestimate the cold and the very steep walk out of the canyon.
Overall I loved the trip. I was apprehensive about being in a group before the trip but everyone was great. The banter was great and we learned tons about Montenegro along the way.
Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an active way to explore Montenegro.
Great way to discover beautiful Montenegro
Our Montenegro adventure with Much Better Adventures was fantastic, and a big part of that was thanks to our guide. From the start, Momir’s care and attention made everything easy and enjoyable. He kept us all informed and organized through a WhatsApp group, and paid particular attention to ensure everyone was comfortable, especially during the activities, which were all excellent.
Momir’s warmth and genuine passion for his country made us all feel welcome and added a lot to the trip. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a great adventure in Montenegro. Thanks, Momir, for an unforgettable experience!