Tara River Rafting Tour with Durmitor Park Entry Žabljak
- Duration3 hours
- Daily
- Group
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Overview
This shared rafting tour takes you 12 kilometres down the Tara River, through the deepest river canyon in Europe, with a licensed skipper in every raft and all equipment provided. You meet at the rafting camp near Žabljak in Durmitor National Park, change in the cabins and ride to the launch point at Drugi Logor. On the water the pace is relaxed and flexible: a stop at the Ljutica River, whose spring water is clear enough to drink, the passage beneath the soaring Tara Bridge, and a swim break for as long as the group wants before the finish at Žugića Luka. Your ticket also covers Durmitor National Park fees and gives you park entry for the rest of the day, so it suits families, friends and first-time rafters.
Highlights
- Raft 12 km of the Tara River through Europe's deepest canyon
- Pass right beneath the arches of the Tara Bridge
- Walk to the spring of the Ljutica River, famous for its drinkable water
- Swim break in the cool, clear Tara River at your own pace
- All rafting equipment and a licensed skipper included
- Transfer from the camp to the launch point and back
- Durmitor National Park ticket valid anywhere in the park the same day
- Morning and afternoon departures from Žabljak
Full Description
The rafting camp near Žabljak and Durmitor National Park
The tour starts at a rafting camp on the banks of the Tara River, a short drive from the mountain town of Žabljak, inside the UNESCO-listed Durmitor National Park. The camp has changing cabins where you put on swimwear, shorts and flip-flops, and the team hands out the rafting equipment and explains the route. From here the camp vehicles take you upstream to the launch point, and they are waiting again at the finish to bring you back.
Your ticket includes all Durmitor National Park fees plus a park entrance ticket you can use anywhere in the park the same day, so after rafting you can drive on to the Black Lake, the viewpoints above the canyon or the trails around Žabljak without paying again. For visitors wondering how to combine Tara rafting from Žabljak with the rest of Durmitor, this is the simplest way: one morning on the water, the afternoon in the mountains.
The Tara Canyon and the 12 km rafting route
The Tara River has carved a gorge up to 1,300 metres deep through the limestone of northern Montenegro, the deepest river canyon in Europe and a protected part of Durmitor National Park. The rafting route runs 12 kilometres from Drugi Logor, also known as Splavište, down to Žugića Luka, the stretch most visitors have in mind when they search for Tara Canyon rafting. Forested slopes, cliffs and side streams line both banks, and the water is a vivid emerald green.
From June to October the river level is lower, so this is a scenic, relaxed float with gentle rapids rather than extreme white water, which makes it ideal for families and first-timers. In May and early June the snowmelt brings faster water. Each raft has a licensed skipper who steers, sets the pace and tells you about the canyon, while the group paddles together; the whole trip from camp to camp takes about three hours.
The Ljutica River spring
The first stop is at the mouth of the Ljutica, one of the shortest rivers in the world and one of the most beautiful tributaries of the Tara. It emerges from a karst spring only a few hundred metres from where it joins the main river, and its water is so clear and cold that locals drink it straight from the source. The rafts pull in on the gravel bank and you walk the short path up to the spring.
It is a peaceful spot for photographs: turquoise water over pale stones, beech and pine forest on the slopes, and the green Tara flowing past below. Many guests fill a bottle here before continuing. How long you stay is up to the group and the skipper, who tailors the stops to the people on board; the Ljutica spring is usually a 15 to 20 minute pause before the most dramatic part of the canyon.
The Tara Bridge from the water
The Tara Bridge, built in the late 1930s near the village of Đurđevića Tara, is the most famous sight in the canyon: a concrete arch bridge about 365 metres long whose main span rises some 170 metres above the river. From the road it is impressive; from a raft directly beneath it, the arches seem to float in the sky, and this is the photo stop everyone remembers from a Tara River rafting tour.
The skipper slows the raft as you approach so you can look up and take pictures, then the river carries you on past the bridge into the next bends of the gorge. Soon after comes the swim break: you can float beside the raft in the clear water, which is refreshing even in high summer, and stay in as long as you like before paddling the final stretch to the landing at Žugića Luka, where the vehicles wait to return you to the camp.
Itinerary
- Welcome at the rafting campMeet at the entrance to the camp near Žabljak, change in the cabins and collect your equipment; about 20 minutes.
- Drive to Drugi Logor (Splavište)The camp vehicles take you upstream to the launch point on the Tara River for a safety briefing.
- Rafting through the canyonPaddle 12 km downstream with your skipper, with flexible stops along the way; about two hours on the water in total.
- Stop at the Ljutica RiverPull in on the bank, walk to the crystal-clear spring, take photos and fill a bottle; about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Under the Tara Bridge and swim breakFloat beneath the arches of the Tara Bridge, then swim in the river for as long as the group wants.
- Finish at Žugića Luka and returnLand at Žugića Luka, where the vehicles bring you back to the camp; use your park ticket for the rest of the day in Durmitor.
What's included
- 12 km rafting route on the Tara River
- All necessary rafting equipment
- Licensed skipper and guide (English, Serbian, Croatian)
- Transfer from the camp to the start point and back
- Stops at the Ljutica River spring and under the Tara Bridge
- Swim break in the river
- Durmitor National Park fees
- Park entrance ticket valid anywhere in Durmitor National Park the same day
Not included
- Towel
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Active travellers looking for adrenaline
- A half-day plan — about 3 hours
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.9/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You need hotel pickup — you meet at the meeting point
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- Walking is difficult for you — expect active parts
- You travel with young children
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems
- People with mobility impairments
- People with heart problems
- People with epilepsy
- People with high blood pressure
Meeting point
Meet at the entrance to the rafting camp on the Tara River near Žabljak, inside Durmitor National Park, about 15 minutes before your 09:00 or 13:00 departure. The camp has changing cabins and parking, and we send the exact location pin with your confirmation. The transfer between the camp and the launch and landing points is included.
Important information
- Bring swimwear, a towel and flip-flops or water shoes; a towel is the only thing not provided
- Wear whatever is comfortable to get wet: swimsuit, shorts, a T-shirt
- All rafting equipment is provided; just bring sunscreen and a bottle for the Ljutica spring water
- From June to October the water level is lower and the rafting is relaxed rather than white water
- The park entrance ticket is valid anywhere in Durmitor National Park on the same day
- Baby strollers, carriages and electric wheelchairs cannot be taken on the raft
- The swim break is optional; life jackets are worn throughout
- Leave valuables at the camp; phones and cameras in a waterproof case only
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared tour: you join other rafters in the raft, each with a licensed skipper. The pace and the stops are adapted to the group on board.
How long does the rafting take?
About three hours from arrival at the camp to your return, including the transfers, roughly two hours on the water with the stops.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. You come to the rafting camp near Žabljak by car; the transfer from the camp to the launch point and back from the landing is included.
What is included?
All rafting equipment, a licensed skipper, the transfers to and from the river, the Durmitor National Park fees and a park entrance ticket valid the same day. Only the towel is not provided.
Is the price per person or per group?
Per person. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each traveller and departure time.
Is it suitable for children and for people with reduced mobility?
Children are welcome with their parents on this relaxed stretch of the river, especially from June to October. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, epilepsy or high blood pressure, or for people with mobility impairments.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, flip-flops or water shoes, sunscreen and a change of clothes for afterwards. Everything else, from the raft and paddles to the safety gear, is provided.
When is the best time for Tara rafting?
May and early June bring the highest, fastest water; July to September are warm and relaxed with the best swimming. Morning departures at 09:00 leave the afternoon free for Durmitor National Park with your included ticket.
What happens in bad weather?
Rafting runs in light rain. If the river is unsafe because of storms or very high water, the camp reschedules the departure or we refund your booking.
Is the Tara River rafting extreme?
Not on this route. From June to October the water level is lower, so the rapids are gentle and the trip is scenic and relaxing, ideal for first-time rafters and families.
Can I use the park ticket after rafting?
Yes. The Durmitor National Park ticket included in your tour is valid anywhere in the park on the same day, for example at the Black Lake near Žabljak.
How do I book and confirm?
Select your date, the 09:00 or 13:00 departure and the number of rafters on this page; our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes and sends the location pin of the camp.
