Rafting on the Tara

Sections and how long they take

Three routes start at Splavište, the second camp on the Žabljak side; the fourth starts at Brštanovica in Plužine municipality. All are run by private operators.

Landmarks on the way down are the mouth of the Ljutica, the Đurđevića Tara bridge, below which the multi-day trips put in, the Tepački bukovi rapids, Bajlovića sige and the Draga waterfalls. On the Brštanovica stretch both rubber boats and traditional wooden rafts (splav) are used; a wooden raft carries a crew of two and at most 10 guests.

The raft routes carry no official grade. The same water is graded I-III for kayaks between Splavište and Brštanovica, while the III-V stretch above Splavište, from the Bistrica to Kulina, is not used by rafts.

When to go

Rafting is allowed all year, but the river sets the pace. April and May bring the highest, wildest water. From 1 July to 15 September the level suits rafting best and the window counts as the safest; even then the water stays at 15 °C or below. Winter trips run in January on water of about 5-6 °C. Each route has a person responsible for safety who suspends rafting when the water is too high or too low.

A red flag and a board at the put-in mean the route is closed that day. The emergency number is 112.

Who may go and what you wear

The rafting law applies to every commercial trip:

• No one under 7 on board. Under-18s need written parental consent, over-65s sign a separate risk statement, and everyone signs a risk statement before departure.
• Everyone wears a helmet, a neoprene suit, neoprene shoes and a life jacket and has a paddle; the operator provides the kit.
• Only a holder of the national raft-leader certificate or an IRF licence may steer. Operators need an approval from the state tourism authority, third-party and passenger insurance, an annual seaworthiness check and a 12-month navigation permit for each boat.
• Alcohol is banned on board, and anyone visibly drunk or drugged is refused.

What it costs

A one-day trip costs about €70 and two days from €90; some offers start at €75 for a day and €125 for two. Prices are per operator and change with the season, so treat these as a guide, not a quote. On top comes the Durmitor National Park entrance, €5 per person per day, free under 15; no personal rafting permit exists, the licences and approvals are the operator's.

Getting there and choosing an operator

The Splavište routes start on the Žabljak side, and Žabljak is the base for them: the town, the park's visitor centre and the road to the canyon are on the Žabljak page. The Brštanovica stretch lies in Plužine municipality and ends at Šćepan Polje on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina; twelve operators run it and are listed on Nature Park Piva's rafting page, while the Žabljak tourist office's rafting page lists the organisers on its side. Every multi-day trip ends at Šćepan Polje, so ask the operator which bank the camp and the take-out are on and carry your passport.

Nearby

The zip line at the Đurđevića Tara bridge crosses the canyon at a landmark the boats pass, and the Ćurevac viewpoint looks down on it from 1,625 m. Kayakers run the same river: see kayaking in Montenegro. How the Tara compares with the rest of the country and how to choose a route is on the rafting overview.