Welcome to Tara River Canyon!
Tara River Canyon is an adventure lover’s paradise and hosts a range of fun outdoor activities. From whitewater rafting to ziplining to hiking, there’s no shortage of adrenaline sports here! The beauty is unmatched, the people are extremely friendly, and the experiences will stick with you forever. Whitewater rafting is probably the most popular activity here, and for good reason! The Tara River one of the deepest and cleanest rivers in Europe, and it offers a variety of rapids for all levels of experience. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rafter, you are sure to have an adrenaline-pumping adventure on the Tara River.
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Where to Stay in Tara River Canyon
There are tons of cute rafting camps along the Tara River in both Bosnia and Montenegro. While I’m sure there are other decent resorts, we recommend that you go to Outdoor Resort TaraSport. The competitive pricing, delicious food, professional guides, accommodations, amenities, and views from the resort simply cannot be beat. You can bundle your accommodations, meals, and activities which is extremely convenient. The only thing not included is alcohol, which you can buy there or bring yourself.
Check out all of TaraSport’s offers on their website!
We did a two night stay with one day of rafting, but we could’ve spent our whole summer there. As we arrived to camp, we were greeted with breathtaking views. The small resort set along the river has small cabins dotting the lawn for those who stay there. We were absolutely blown away by the meals we had during our time there, which we always ate on the balcony overlooking Tara River Canyon.
There’s also a ton of things to do while you’re at camp when you’re not busy with activities. Outdoor Resort TaraSport has lawn games, amazing hot tubs, and hammocks and lounge chairs to relax on. After a day of rafting, we got in some much needed hammock time, and I spent a good couple hours hanging out with the resort dog.
Whitewater Rafting on the Tara River – Our Experience
Our day of rafting started at about 11 after a slow morning with a massive breakfast. We got all our equipment at camp before setting off with the rest of the rafters (there were six of us) in a jeep with the raft on top. The next 45 minutes consisted of a bumpy ride along an unpaved (and apparently two way!) thin road to the launch point. There were a few other resorts that use this as a launching spot, but we were definitely one of the smallest groups. We boarded our raft and spent the next 3 hours gliding along the green Tara river until we made it back to the shore of the resort.
The rafting itself wasn’t too difficult, and the views along the way were incredible. The Tara River has rapids up to class 4 (for those who don’t know, class 5 is the hardest), which is not too hard, but definitely not boring! We also got to stop along the way at a waterfall for a cold beer and some pictures.
Each of the rafting companies have their own break spot along the river, which kept the spots from being overcrowded. This experience was amazing and was a huge highlight of our travels in the Balkans. You can watch raw footage of our rafting experience here.
How to Get to Tara River Canyon
The best way to get to the rafting camps along the Montenegro-Bosnia border is to drive from the Montenegro side. We were coming from Kotor, where we rented a car and drove up through Montenegro, crossing the border right before arriving at camp. The roads in Montenegro were top-notch but as soon as we got into Bosnia, we were immediately met with narrow dirt and gravel roads. The drive here is part of the experience, as the views are absolutely stunning!
You can rent a car through Local Rent, which we’ve found to be the cheapest and most reliable service in the Balkans. Our car rental was very cheap even with the border crossing and having different pick-up/drop-off locations. We did need a slip of paper showing that the car rental company allowed us to cross into Bosnia, but other than this and our passports, we didn’t need anything else!
Can You Visit Tara River Canyon as a Day Trip?
If you’re pressed for time, you can absolutely do this as a day trip. There was one couple that drove to camp in the morning and left right after rafting. We definitely recommend staying at least one night for the full experience, but if you only have one day, this is absolutely still worth doing.
Activities in Tara River Canyon
While whitewater rafting certainly steals the show, there are a few other activities suitable for all types of travelers. Here are a few other activities in Tara River Canyon offered by TaraSport. Follow the links to book them!
- Horseback Riding with views of the massive Durmitor peaks
- Zipline the longest zipline in Europe at 1200 meters
- Trekking through Durmitor National Park
- 2-3 Hours of Rock Climbing (with breaks)
- Whitewater rafting 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day
Best Time to Visit Tara River Canyon
The best time to visit Tara River Canyon is the summer. This is when the weather will be perfect for any kind of outdoor adventure that you want! Outdoor Resort TaraSport runs tours from March 1st to October 31st, but the best weather will certainly be those summer months!
Is Tara River Canyon Worth Visiting?
Tara River Canyon is 100% worth visiting. We will be returning, and specifically staying at Outdoor Resort TaraSport. The views, the activities, and the relaxing vibes makes Tara River Canyon a must-do on every traveler’s bucket list. When booking our trip with TaraSport, the total package of five delicious meals, two nights of accommodation, and rafting (along with a free GoPro video of the rafting trip!) cost us 135 euros each, which is an amazing deal.
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
