Canyoning in Montenegro

The canyons

Nevidio

Nevidio lies inside Nature Park Dragišnica i Komarnica: about 2 km long, on average about 150 m deep and under 1 m wide in places, with a highest vertical of 10 m, jumps of up to 10 m and the Kamikaze Gate, only 25 cm wide. It was first passed in 1965 and takes three to four hours. It needs good fitness, experienced guides and proper equipment; a typical package from Žabljak includes transport, guides, equipment, lunch, insurance and a canyon passage fee.

Near the coast: Rikavac, Međureč, Škurda

The Bar canyons sit at rising levels of commitment. Rikavac, near Old Bar, is 1 km with six verticals and a ten-minute walk from the car park, done in summer. Međureč, 17 km from Bar, is about 2 km with twelve verticals up to 32 m and takes about three and a half hours, also in summer. Suva rijeka and Nikezića potok, in the same area, are for professionals.

The Škurda is the Kotor canyon. The whole gorge has 600 m of elevation difference; the interesting section starts at 300 m and drops 200 m over 400 m of length. The waterfalls, 5-20 m, are abseiled, and there are no pools to swim in. A group of seven takes four to five hours, moderate fitness is enough, guides handle the technical part, and neoprene, harness and helmet are provided. The start is near the old aqueduct at the northern gate of the Old Town. It is best from April to June, perhaps July, before the water dries.

Experts only

Vruća rijeka, about 30 km from Bar, is 7 km long with more than thirty verticals up to 22 m, takes about ten hours and is done only at high water by experienced canyoners. Grlja in Prokletije, whose entrance pool is 15 m deep, is among the hardest in the country. Trebješica, Bogutovski potok, the Cijevna, Drenovštica and Sopot are further canyoning canyons. The Morača, Cijevna, Piva and Ibar are canyons with roads through them, and the Tara and Lim are canyons seen by raft or kayak.

What it is like

On the Škurda the day is abseils down waterfalls of 5-20 m, with no pools to swim, in water of 10-18 °C in spring. In Nevidio the passages narrow to under 1 m and the jumps reach 10 m. Neoprene, harness and helmet are standard on guided trips.

Season and water

Summer for Rikavac and Međureč; April to June (perhaps July) for the Škurda, which dries out; high water only for Vruća rijeka. Nevidio has no set season; its three to four hours depend on the water level and the group's fitness.

Safety and who runs it

The canyons carry no official grades. Nevidio is not done without experienced guides and proper equipment, and the Škurda is run as a guided trip with equipment provided. Follow Mountain Rescue guidance and call 112 in an emergency.

Vruća rijeka is done only at high water and only by experienced canyoners; Suva rijeka and Nikezića potok are for professionals.

Canyons you walk or float, not climb

The Tara is run by raft (see rafting), and the Komarnica also hosts the September kayak festival with the Tara and Piva.