Adventure guide
Fancy some sea kayaking? Keen on Costa Rica? What about Wales? Choose your own adventure with our guide.
Kayaking on Lake Skadar, Montenegro
The main appeal for any kayaker, whether they’re experienced or a beginner, is Montenegro’s pristine natural beauty. It’s pretty much unvisited by the vast majority of people who flock to neighbouring Croatia, and almost entirely unaffected by mass tourism.
“It’s one of the last remaining places in Europe where you can do something like this and be completely by yourself, in staggering natural beauty,” says Ben Heywood, co-founder of our adventure travel specialists Undiscovered Montenegro.
For a country the size of Northern Ireland, Montenegro has amazing and untapped potential as an adventure destination. Its vast network of wild rivers and wonderful lakes provides a location for a huge variety of different water activities, whether you’re looking for white water rafting, kayak expeditions or simply a glide through water lilies on the glass-like surface of Lake Skadar.
“We’re lucky in Montenegro,” says Ben. “We can supply all of that within a ridiculously small area.”
Practicalities
The beautiful natural scenery of Lake Skadar lends itself to wilderness camping: paddling from one point to the next and camping in view of island monasteries, abandoned fishing villages and deserted freshwater beaches. By kayak, you can explore places that are too out of the way to reach by any other mode of transport, and without leaving any trace of your visit.
Kayaking trips based at Lake Skadar are suitable for most levels of fitness, but bear in mind that you will be paddling 6-18km over five days. Groups are small and friendly, with no more than 10 people – all the better for enjoying your peaceful surroundings and ensuring your guides have the opportunity for some one-to-one tips on technique.
Kayaking trips based at Lake Skadar are suitable for most levels of fitness, but bear in mind that you will be paddling 6-18km over five days. Groups are small and friendly, with no more than 10 people – all the better for enjoying your peaceful surroundings and ensuring your guides have the opportunity for some one-to-one tips on technique.
As much as 70 percent of travelers on these tours won’t have spent any real time kayaking before. Some might have paddled once or twice, others might have no experience at all. So in a scenario like this, where you’re joining a multi-day kayak trip, it’s essential that your guides are trained and know how to get you paddling efficiently quickly, so that you enjoy your time on the water.
Ben is a qualified leader with British Canoeing, the national governing body for paddle sports in Britain. Although an experienced kayaker already, he says that the leadership training was a great learning experience that really opened his eyes to being able to identify what learners were doing wrong.
“It’s like the difference between being able to drive and being able to teach someone to drive,” he explains. “I don’t think I could do what I do without being trained by British Canoeing.” Guests also get the peace of mind of knowing that they’re being led by someone who has been through a proper procedure in order to coach and to guide them.
Our top trip
Canoeing and kayaking vacation in Montenegro, Lake Skadar
Camp and kayak through Lake Skadar's dramatic scenery.
From
£1145 to £1295
7 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2026: 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep
2026: 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our vacations. We are happy to discuss your vacation and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
The local kayaking scene
Kayaking isn’t that popular in Montenegro; the rivers mostly attract fishermen, thirsty bears and a few tourists tempted by white water rafting. But Gigo, one of a handful of local guides that works for Undiscovered Montenegro, is trying to change all that.
An overall outdoor enthusiast and nature lover, Gigo began his career as a rafting guide before discovering his passion for paddling the white waters of the French Alps in a kayak. After returning to Montenegro, he launched the Tara Kayak Fest on the Tara River, which now attracts championship-winning kayakers from across the world.
He hopes that the festival will attract a fresh young audience of Montenegrins to the sport, as well as drawing attention to the threat posed by development, particularly the proposed construction of over 2,700 hydro-electric power dams across the whole Balkan area.
The planned dams, which have come under fire from international conservation groups, would have a disastrous environmental impact. But, by choosing to book with one of our responsible travel specialists like Undiscovered Montenegro, who support the locals fighting to prevent the dams, you’re helping to provide an alternative source of income to these little visited places, and to convince the Montenegrin government that the rivers and lakes are best kept wild.
An overall outdoor enthusiast and nature lover, Gigo began his career as a rafting guide before discovering his passion for paddling the white waters of the French Alps in a kayak. After returning to Montenegro, he launched the Tara Kayak Fest on the Tara River, which now attracts championship-winning kayakers from across the world.
He hopes that the festival will attract a fresh young audience of Montenegrins to the sport, as well as drawing attention to the threat posed by development, particularly the proposed construction of over 2,700 hydro-electric power dams across the whole Balkan area.
The planned dams, which have come under fire from international conservation groups, would have a disastrous environmental impact. But, by choosing to book with one of our responsible travel specialists like Undiscovered Montenegro, who support the locals fighting to prevent the dams, you’re helping to provide an alternative source of income to these little visited places, and to convince the Montenegrin government that the rivers and lakes are best kept wild.
More Lake and river kayaking articles
Lake and river kayaking vacations can look very different to a beginner, so where to start? Whether you’re looking for wildlife, white water thrills or a new perspective on a destination, this guide to lake and river kayaking will help you decide when and where to dip your toe into paddling.
Kayaking expeditions and camping adventures can be a good way to explore a new country.
Arguably the best, and most relaxing way, to explore the Dordogne region of France is via its lovely river.
Rwanda's green landscapes are very hilly, but they're threaded with rivers - so, go by kayak instead for a relaxing trip.
Kayaking along the Douro is a great way to enjoy the wine-land from the waterline.
More relevant guides
