Canoeing and kayaking vacation in Montenegro, Lake Skadar
“A week of wilderness canoeing in Skadar NP, staying in canvas tents along the lakeshore and being guided by local experts. Nothing else like this in the Balkans.”
Highlights
Lake Skadar National Park | Kayaking/canoeing on Lake Skadar | Tour of local vineyards | Paddle to ancient island monasteries | Bushcraft & wild camping skills | Hidden lakeside villages | Wild swimming | Birding at Manastirska Tapija | Stunning lakeside vistas
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates
2019: 22 Sep
Our top tip:
Montenegrins are extremely welcoming and will often invite you in for coffee or the local alcohol, Rakia. Don’t hesitate!
Trip type:
Small group, max 10 people.
Activity level:
Moderate-challenging.
Accomm:
Camping in baker-tents with option for last night in 3* hotel.
Included:
2 nights B&B accommodation in Virpazar, 2 evening meals, 5 lunches, all transport.
Meals:
Plethora of Artisan producers & good local restaurants.
Solos:
Solos welcome. Surcharge for own room.
Vouchers
Accepted
Responsible tourism
Canoeing and kayaking vacation in Montenegro, Lake Skadar
Carbon reduction
Your vacation will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this vacation and how to reduce them.
Environment
We want our vacations to be high impact in experience but low impact on the environment! Once you’re at the villa, transport will be mostly on foot, kayak or bike, with car transfers provided to starting points for excursions or restaurants if needed.
Lake Skadar is a National Park and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and your visit and National Park fees will help sustain sensitive tourism and protection for this area. As such, our tour guides will encourage you to behave in an eco-friendly manner at all times by supporting the Leave No Trace principles –traveling where possible along marked water channels, disposing of waste properly, leaving what you find (unless it’s other people’s rubbish!), respecting wildlife and being considerate of other visitors and the local community.
We are committed to local conservation projects and have contributed actively as well as financially to local initiatives, most notably a CZIP (Montenegrin RSPB) project to help repair and maintain nesting rafts for the local, endangered Dalmatian Pelican colony. As the leading sustainable tour operator in the country, it is up to us to lead by example, protecting the National Parks from over-development and ensuring their beauty can be enjoyed by the next generation.
We are also working with German eco-tourism NGO GIZ and the World Bank funded 'Albania and Montenegro Lake Skadar Joint Eco-systems Project' to identify formal ways for our customers to volunteer and directly benefit the environment during their stay.
Community
We have built strong links with local communities at Lake Skadar and support their maintenance of threatened traditions – from bee-keeping, fishing and carp-smoking to the making of wine, cheese, olive-oil and flavoured brandies. By visiting home-producers and buying their wares, you will build pride, contribute to the local economy and encourage the development of eco-tourism in an area where tourism needs examples of how to develop sustainably. You’ll meet local people like Hassan Muratovic and his wife Nada at remote Murici beach and learn about their ethnic Albanian culture and traditional way of fishing.
English isn’t widely spoken round the lake, but your guides will be able to translate to make each interaction create a valuable cultural exchange between you and your host community. Your visit really counts in a remote, beautiful and unknown Balkan destination which is still suffering from decades of impoverishment caused by urban migration and the 1990s Yugoslavian war.
12 Reviews of Canoeing and kayaking vacation in Montenegro, Lake Skadar
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 15 Jul 2019 by Coral Morgan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Up at 6.00am with the rising sun, solitary swim at 7.00am in the deepest part of the lake, Raduš. Paddle round the bay looking at scenery and the wild life at 8.00am, all before breakfast at 9.00am. Being able to jump out of the kayaks to cool down in the warm lake often during paddling. Seeing wildlife up close, frogs sitting on the Lilly pads, water snakes up close, and shoals of fish in the clear water.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I would thoroughly recommend having some experience of paddling before this trip as there are long open crossings, here a good paddle technique is an advantage. Be prepared for long periods of inactivity if the days are very hot as the itinerary may have to change. Remember to take waterproof sun cream so that you don’t have to reapply after every dip taken.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel this vacation benefited the local people as we ate at local restaurants where available.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I really enjoyed paddling though beautiful scenery and swimming in the warm lake with very few human encounters. I did find paddling with two novices in the group very frustrating. Waiting for them to catch up during the longer open crossings as they were unable to maintain a steady pace without stopping to rest frequently because of lack of paddling technique.
Reviewed on 25 Jun 2019 by Kirstin Shirling
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Being outdoors, meeting local people, and seeing a new country in an ecologically sustainable way.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Arrive with a can-do positive attitude... things change.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very good, fun, adventurous.
Reviewed on 23 Jul 2018 by Angela Mclean
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Kayaking back to camp by starlight after a fish dinner at a remote hamlet beside the deepest part of the lake.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
This is a wonderful trip. I was really glad I took binoculars because there were so many birds to watch going about their birdy business. I did wish I’d taken more factor 30 suncream. We were never too hot because you can just pop into the Lake, but there is no shade when you are kayaking! This is wild camping,but in quite a civilized environment. We stopped for beers and cokes on several occasions, then melted back into the countryside to find somewhere to make camp.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we bought food at local restaurants and our progress was close to zero impact. We hope that this kind of tourism supports conservation in this exceptional environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was a magical week, suspended between the water and the sky. Gigo is a superb guide and we all enjoyed talking to him about his beautiful country. The two nights glamping at the beginning and end were very comfortable and the OK Corral is a lovely, welcoming spot.
Reviewed on 12 Jul 2015 by Philippa Throssell
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole week......the superb location, accommodation, flora and birds, our hosts were brilliant, knowledgable, helpful, available, resourceful, adaptable.......and relaxed. It is a beautiful country, people friendly, food fresh, transport cheap, stunning......
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Enjoy the activities and then have a look around the country on your days off.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely...
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was amazing to be so busy and active and yet be so refreshed,
Reviewed on 08 Oct 2014 by Kay Audoire
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The kayaking was amazing, the lake is so quiet and often ( nearly always) you are the only people out there! The scenery is stunning, it's quite amazing.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take walking boots for the walks, a torch for the evening walks back from the village and just
Enjoy being out of the rat race for a week.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, Boujana, a lovely girl from the village took us out on one of our kayaking trips, we ate at local restaurants
And twice in people's homes (amazing food)
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a great experience, I would strongly advice people who like a "off the beaten track" kind of vacation to give it a go.
Ben and Emma who run the vacations are very accommodating and will have a memorable time.
Reviewed on 23 Jun 2014 by Liz Cush
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole trip was amazing, stunning scenery and lovely villa. We loved the
hikes, out in the countryside seeing the local landscapes and the amazing
insects. The stops for the wild swims in clear cool streams and sitting under
waterfalls. The kayaking on the lake with the visits to the islands and swimming.
It is a vacation we will never forget.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Go prepared to join in with the activities, they are great.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, Ben and Emma have immersed themselves in the local community, employing local people and the lunch at Tanya's (a local villager, where we stopped off on a hike) was amazing.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A fantastic week with action packed days.
Reviewed on 28 Jul 2013 by Jane Barnes
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Swimming in mountain pools and lakes, from the breathtakingly cold to the sublimely warm. Kayaking across an almost deserted lake and feeling special and privileged to be able to share in such a spectacular landscape. We were fortunate to have Ben as our guide and host to this little corner of Montenegro, his love and enthusiasm for the area and it's people is obvious and I would challenge anybody not to enjoy all that was on offer.
Just sitting on the balcony and watching the world go by, the sun go down, the fishing boats return, whilst drinking a glass of wine is a glorious way to end each day and is a memory that brings a smile to my face even now.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
JUST DO IT!
If you don't have a car, I personally would recommend staying in the village rather than the villa, which I am sure is lovely, it's just that I like being independent and being able to wander to the restaurants and bakery and little supermarket was a real treat.
If you have a car you could explore more of the area on your free days, but we found the train from the village to be very convenient.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
From taxi drivers, to restaurateurs, to people who have rooms to let and the amazing Tanja who serves the most delicious of local dishes all obviously benefit from the tourists coming into their area, but you also get the feeling that they are proud to share it with you.
It is possible to travel to Montenegro by train as we did. This option is not for the feint hearted as it takes 3 days but it adds to the sense of adventure as well as being a slightly more Eco friendly way of traveling.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This has been an incredible vacation, we didn't stop saying how wonderful it was all the time we were there. Everything from the scenery, the food the activities, the people, they all joined together to make an unforgettable vacation and one that I want to recommend to all my friends, especially those who said, 'where's Montenegro, what are you going there for?'
Ben and Emma have obviously worked hard at creating tailor made vacations for what can sometimes be disparate groups of people and they have put together walks and activities that will work for different needs and interests and whilst there were times when you may have felt personally challenged, you never for a moment felt pressured into doing things that you weren't comfortable with.
Reviewed on 01 Jun 2013 by Mandy Reynolds
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The Kayak trips on Lake Skadar blew me away. The relative solitude combined with the impressive landscapes on both the Montenegrin and Albanian sides of the lake made it one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Our group agreed on taking two kayak trips, and they were both absolutely amazing.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
This vacation can be as active as you make it, but I would suggest taking advantage of the water-based activities. I was particularly lucky to hitch a ride to the coast with a couple staying in the villa on our day off. I found it would have been easier to hire a car, but it's definitely do-able without one.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
On our second kayak day, Ben brought a local guy with us on the trip. Though Ben is extremely knowledgeable of the area and the history of the area, Marco Jr was able to give us a bit more insight on the area because he grew up there. At one point, he even called his grandmother to determine whether a guest's guidebook had the correct name for a small coastal town (it was wrong). Ben
and Emma have set up the business to offer locals a piece of the tourism they bring to the area via the bakery and various restaurants. It seems that the country hasn't quite figured out its an incredible adventure tourism spot, and I think Ben and Emma are helping it greatly in that respect.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
My week spent at Villa Miela was everything promised and more than I could ask for. Ben did a wonderful job introducing me to Montenegrin culture and life, literally upon setting foot in the Land Rover. The kayak tours allowed us to visit the most incredible sites along Lake Skadar with absolutely no other tourists around. The operator has excursions that provide you with access to places and people you would be unable to find and facilitate on your own. The other guests in the Villa were wonderful, up for adventure and incredibly kind and generous. I really couldn't have wished for a better vacation.
Reviewed on 07 Sep 2013 by Mike Jewson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Ben and Emma are wonderful people and they really have something very special
going on with Villa Miela and the activities they provide. The Lake Skadar region
is unspoilt, undeveloped and teaming with biodiversity. The Montenegran people we met were all very friendly indeed in the most sincere of ways.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared to be hot, wet, tired and very happy!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The activities were all closely associated with the local population. We drank
spring water direct from mother nature, ate local figs, grapes and other produce
and carp and trout from the lake. Ben and Emma hire local people to assist with
the hikes, kayaking and Villa maintenance.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I rate the vacation very highly indeed. We did a lot in a single week and came
back relaxed and happy. We would definitely come again sometime.
Reviewed on 26 May 2012 by David Lewis
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole vacation was truly spectacular. From the fantastic villa with its terrace overlooking the valley where you could sit back and enjoy a glass of wine or cool beer whilst taking in the views to the extraordinary kayaking across Lake Skadar. During our stay we did a number of kayaking trips with each one exploring different parts of the lake including tranquil waterways full of water lilies and wildlife to remote islands home to secluded monasteries, each trip was through breathtaking scenery where we were often the only people on the lake. We also took the opportunity to take the mountain bikes out for a ride around the valley floor which was really good fun and also led to other great views of the scenery. Ben and Emma are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable of the local area and Montenegro which really adds to whole experience and they are incredible hosts.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you get the chance a visit to Cetinje (the old capital city) is well worth the 45 min journey by car. This is a very picturesque town with some quirky architecture and nice little museums that you can while away an afternoon in. There is a well marked walk around the town that should take about 2 hours to do.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely!! First of all, the villa itself has been lovingly restored in traditional style using local tradesman and has retained a lot of its original features which ensure its environmental impact is significantly reduced. There is a natural spring near to the Villla where you can collect fresh drinking water from to further reduce the impact. Secondly, most of the week was built around paddling, cycling and walking, all of which helped to limit our impact on the beautiful scenery. Finally and most importantly, Ben and Emma have integrated themselves into the local community, speaking the language fluently and helping the locals to develop their understanding of sustainable and limited impact tourism.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was an absolutely awesome vacation and we would have liked more time to see even more of the fantastically stunning scenery, based in a great house with superb hosts! What more can I say, other than wish we were still there!!
Reviewed on 10 Jun 2012 by Lindsay Wratten
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Cooling off in Lake Skadar while kayaking on a very hot day!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, I think the locals were benefitting - from the shop and restaurant owners in Virpizar to the rural smallholders in the valleys. At the villa itself, Ben and Emma are keen to promote the wise use of water (fresh water comes from their on-site spring) and we did a bit of inadvertent litter-collection on the lake too (it's hard to paddle past discarded plastic bottles without picking them up!)
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a lovely trip in a very scenic part of Europe.
Reviewed on 13 Sep 2011 by Christina Spann
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The most memorable was the great kayaking, birding, and hospitality of our hosts. It was one of the most adventurous vacations we have ever been on. The beauty is astounding, the ability to see nature in a low impact way is amazing as well. My husband couldn't get over the wild figs and produce growing everywhere. It opened our eyes to a whole new world. We really enjoyed it.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
There are several activities to choose from and it's flexible. You can mix and match kayaking, hiking, wine tours, etc. Bring your swimsuit, lots of sunscreen and excitement for adventure. Just do it, no regrets!!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. The abilty to see Skadar Lake in a low impact way via kayak was simply amazing. You get a whole new perspective of the lake. The owners also encouraged water and electricity conservation as much as possible. A fresh mineral spring is onsite for drinking water and its fabulous. Local fruit, vegetables, wine and spirits are all available to buy as well giving you ability to interact with community and support local economy.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a grand adventure and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested. We hope to come back and try other activities that we didn't have time to do. Would love to see more birding activities on the agenda next time!
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