Multi-centre
Locations
Moderate-Challenging
Activity Level
Age: 14+
Minimum Age

7 Day Kayak & Bushcraft: Lake Skadar, 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

2024 departure dates: 16th June, 15th September – £50pp discount!

Join us for one of the best under-the-radar kayaking adventures in Europe! A unique experience – paddle 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.60 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, enjoy a brilliant 2-day bushcraft course, watch millions of stars in the evening and practice new skills (foraging for wild food, shelter-building, fishing and bird-watching as well as paddling)! This escape is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and a must-do for nature enthusiasts, couples, friends, 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 (Z-Pro Tango inflatable kayaks), 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 Country Expert:
Ben
is co-founder of Undiscovered Balkans and as well as being a British Canoe Union-qualified kayaking guide, has put Lake Skadar on the map as a kayaking destination –  this holiday is his creation and it’s his favourite of all our adventures! He speaks fluent English and Montenegrin/Serbian.

 

Want to see more? Watch our video!

Day 1 – Arrival
Transfer to Virpazar from your arrival airport and 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 at basecamp. 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 plenty! Paddling distance: 17km.

Day 3 – Dodoši to Morača Delta
First, we shall head back down the small waterways of the Karatuna, past, lily pad fields and with lots of birdlife. Once we are into the main body of the lake we paddle around deserted islands with jaw-dropping views over the hills and mountains before swinging past the twin peaks island of Vranjina to the shores of the Morača Delta, where our bushcraft instructors, Kristijan and Darko, will be waiting for us. Paddling distance: 12km

Day 4 – Bushcraft Course 
Start a fire without matches, build a bivouac out of available materials, whittle a spoon, learn to fish and navigate by the sun and stars – all skills that will come in useful come the zombie apocalypse!

Day 5 – Bushcraft Course Day 2, then on to Raduš
Your first day was about survival techniques – your second is about thriving in the outdoor environment! 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. Once we are out of the heat of the day, we shall paddle down the other side of the delta and across the open water to the deepest point of the lake, Raduš (depth 120m) where locals Danilo and Lidija will prepare a delicious fish dinner for us. Swimming is very much encouraged at this spot, and arriving by starlight is sometimes an atmospheric bonus! We sleep in charming waterside apartments this night to take advantage of some hot showers 😉 Paddling distance: 10km

Day 6 – Raduš to Murići
Hugging the shoreline, it is time to paddle further south towards the clear open waters. Passing the old fishing settlements of Raduš and Krnjice, we will have stunning views of the Prokletije mountain range on our left, the famous “cursed” mountains of Albania. Around halfway we may have the opportunity to stop by Starčevo Gorica, one of the most remote of the lake’s seven island monasteries. We will eventually camp at Murići, just 90 minutes further down the coast, a gorgeous, practically unknown 400 m-long freshwater beach that even in summer is practically deserted! Paddling distance: 15km

Day 7 – Visit to Beška Monastery and Return to Virpazar
The final leg of our journey! From the beach campsite, we first will pay a visit to the friendly and hugely welcoming nuns on the island monastery of Beška, where we can share a tour and a glass of homemade pomegranate juice with the sisters to refresh us physically and spiritually before we return to the beach for collection by Landrover. The rest of the day is free for everyone. We will have a last dinner together in Virpazar.

Day 8 – Departure

HOLIDAY
APRIL/OCTOBER
MAY/JUNE/SEPTEMBER
JULY/AUGUST
Wild Kayaking – 7 days
£995pp
£1045pp
£1,095pp

Book by 1st March 2024 for w/c 12th May for a £50pp discount!

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, all transportation, all equipment and a book-to-give-back donation. Flights, airport transfers and other meals are excluded.

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.