Pljevlja
Start of multi-day trips and base of the Kljajevića Luka and Leković Rafting camps. Zip lines over the canyon start from the bridge.
The Tara is Montenegro's longest river, and its canyon, up to 1,333 metres deep, is one of the deepest in Europe and protected by UNESCO. Rafting runs from April to October: in spring the water is high and fast, in summer calmer and easier for beginners. The most common trip is the one-day run from Brštanovica to Šćepan Polje, while multi-day trips start beneath the Đurđevića Tara bridge. After the run, the camps along the river serve pršut, kajmak, local cheeses and hot priganice.
A one-day run from Brštanovica or a multi-day trip from beneath the Đurđevića Tara bridge: when to go, how to choose an operator and what waits for you at the rafting camp.
The river and the canyon
The Tara is 144 kilometres long, the longest river in Montenegro. It runs between Durmitor and Sinjajevina, and from the mouth of the Bistrica to Šćepan Polje it cuts a canyon 78 kilometres long. It is deepest between Obzir and Štuoc, where it reaches 1,333 metres, which puts it among the deepest canyons in Europe. It is part of Durmitor National Park and protected by UNESCO. The water is cold and stays below 15 °C even in summer.
One day or several
Most visitors choose the one-day run from Brštanovica to Šćepan Polje, a stretch of about eighteen kilometres at the very end of the river. According to the Pljevlja tourist board, the last twenty or so kilometres of the Tara hold 22 rapids, the Brstanovica rapids among the best known. The trip takes a few hours, depending on the water level.
Multi-day trips start beneath the Đurđevića Tara bridge and run through the deeper, wilder part of the canyon: past the Ljutica waterfall, through the Funjički and Bijele ploče rapids, under Ćurevac, through the Tepački rapids and the Sušica canyon to Šćepan Polje. Nights are spent in camps by the river. The Kolašin tourist board says that in August, when the water is lower, about 130 kilometres can be paddled in one continuous trip.
Did you know?
According to the Kolašin tourist board, in August, when the Tara drops, a continuous descent of about 130 kilometres is possible, one of the longest rafting trips in Europe.
When to go
The season runs from April to October. In April and May the snow melts, the rapids are at their fastest and the difficulty reaches grade five. In July and August the river is calmer, with stops for swimming, so this is the time for families and beginners. Difficulty ranges from grade three to five, depending on the month and the water level.
The table at the rafting camp
A run takes a lot of energy, and the camps along the Tara put it back with home cooking: pršut, kajmak, local cheeses and hot priganice. Many operators include breakfast before the start and lunch after the run, and on a longer stay mountain dishes such as kačamak and cicvara appear too. When booking, ask what is included and whether the camp offers rooms, since rafting pairs easily with another day on Durmitor.
