Packraft the Tara River in Montenegro

This is the second trip we’ve done with much better adventures. The first trip was so good we weren’t sure if the second trip would come close, but I’m pleased to say this trip Pack Rafting The Tara river was even better Our Guide Nikki was best we could’ve hoped for-very knowledgeable, friendly and clearly knew everything about the route. Myself and our team of five enjoyed the time we spent together on the water and she allowed us to have the freedom we wanted whilst calling us out when it was warranted. Our Support Team headed up by Nicola was equally good, always there when we needed him, he truly couldn’t have done more. The food provided was beyond what we expected- no complaints at all. Throughout a really friendly atmosphere throughout me and my four friends can’t speak highly enough of this trip. Credit to MBA our host and our guide once again- we would definitely recommend if you’re thinking about doing this trip- it’s 100% worth it.

The Tara is ridiculously beautiful, and the route we took was breathtaking, fun, and perfect for complete beginners. I had zero packrafting experience. If you bring an open mind and a sense of adventure, you'll have an incredible time. We went in late September, near the tail end of the season, so the weather can be unpredictable. Day 1 was blue skies and sunshine, just about perfect. Days 2 and 3 brought rain and a serious temperature drop, but honestly it only added to the story. Nothing builds character like paddling through drizzle and telling yourself it's "atmospheric. " The timing and logistics also meant we had the river entirely to ourselves. Across three days, we didn't see another soul. Just us, the canyon, and the occasional startled bird or trout (if you were lucky). The gear was good quality and in good condition, and kept us warm enough on the water and off it. Which is handy, because falling out of the packraft is not a risk, it's more of a tradition. In our group of 12, only two people stayed dry the whole way. I'd go further and say you should try falling in on purpose. It's perfectly safe, wonderfully refreshing, and the water is crisp and clean. The stream water is fresh and drinkable too. I drank plenty with zero issues, and it was the best "tap water" I've ever had. The rapids hit the sweet spot: gentle enough for beginners, with a few bigger sections that get the adrenaline going. Really, really (I mean really!!!) fun. But what tied it all together was the guides. Huge shoutout to Pava and Ivan. On a trip like this, feeling safe is everything. When you fully trust your guides, you can stop worrying and actually take it all in: the paddling, the scenery, the air, the water, the sounds. Ivan brought a calm, easy presence and was always smiling, even when someone (not naming names) went overboard for the third time. Pava brought positive energy and excitement, plus a treasure trove of knowledge about Montenegrin culture, history, and a steady stream of fun facts. Both were completely present and always ready to help. They made this trip what it was. Also a big shoutout to Julia, who cooked dinner for us the night we camped on the shore. After a day of paddling and unplanned swimming, a hot, delicious meal by the water was exactly what we needed, and it easily earned a spot among the core memories of the trip. Five stars, would eat again. Thank you, Ivan. Thank you, Pava. Thank you, Julia. We'd go back in a heartbeat, and we'd probably fall in again.

This was a an exceptional adventure made special by the company of close friends our professional guides and support crew. The trip went seemingly smooth with everything in place, from transfers to accommodation and meals all we needed to do was enjoy ourselves. Before entering the river (Tara) we were briefed by our guide, our lead guide was Pav she was amazing throughout our trip. All of our guides have an extremely high skill levels on the river which were put to the test with us 😂 we felt 100% safe if we ventured in to the water. This was an unforgettable trip and we thank all that took part even those behind the scenes and those thinking of going to Montenegro, go it’s beautiful and so are the locals.

Trip was late September and much colder than I anticipated due to unseasonal weather - the support van had to divert around the mountain between camps because of snow. All the kit supplied was good quality and in very good condition, with the exception of the sleep mats for camp but I had taken my own. The guides and support guys were top notch. Pava, the river guide, was excellent and Ivan was always one step ahead making arrangements to mitigate the downside of the less than great weather. Weather aside, highly recommend this trip, on the water was just the right amount of challenging and the scenery is stunning.

What an incredible experience to be rafting down the magical Tara canyon. We went late September, and the weather turned on Day 2. Still, the guides kept our spirits up and we continued pushing on… the mist and rain made it all the more special. I was a little nervous as I’m a complete beginner, but the guides made everything super easy. Special shoutout to Pava and Ivan who led the group safely and expertly through this adventure. I never once felt unsafe.

I had an absolute blast with my son and 5 friends, the staff were incredible especially Ivan and pava. I would have liked to have known a few things that I established. If you are a fussy eater you absolutely need to let them know. Each day on the river for lunch was a burrito which looked amazing but wasn't for me. They can cater for this if you are specific. Otherwise the food was really good. Bring some gloves for the rafting as you will get blisters. Ensure you have enough caribiners to secure everything down in the pack raft as nobody stayed in their raft. Ensure you have a proper dry bag, I've ruined my insta 360 as my dry bag wasn't dry. The scenery is phenomenal but the river is cold due to the nature of where it is and where the water comes from. I would advise to pack for cold weather and have dry clothing in sealable bags. My experience was awesome and I'd go again in a heartbeat. Ask questions as sometimes you can miss some information. About briefings etc. The river is beautiful, crystal clear and you feel like you are paddling through Jurassic park.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What an amazing 4-day pack rafting trip! From start to finish, it was an incredible experience and one we’ll definitely never forget. A massive thank you to Nicol, our guide on the water, who was brilliant throughout the whole trip — especially considering how many times she had to come and rescue us and get us back out of the water! 😂 she made the whole experience fun, safe and enjoyable. Also a huge thank you to Nikola, who did a fantastic job setting up our tents each day and transferring all of our kit. It made the whole trip so much easier and allowed us to just concentrate on enjoying the adventure. He even travelled to meet us when his day had already finished to return some airpods i had left behind. 🙌 The food throughout the trip was fantastic as well, which was a great bonus after a long day on the water. Overall, it was an absolutely amazing trip with great guides, great organisation, great food and some unforgettable memories. We couldn’t recommend it highly enough! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just returned from a trip of a lifetime packrafting along the Tara River. What an amazing 5 days! Day one was pick up and a drive up to the start of the Tara, with a trip to the Black Lake for a wild swim. Then three days of packrafting where every single one delivered stunning scenery, adrenaline and real adventure! Ivan was a brilliant host, handling all the trip logistics from pick up and drop off to setting up camp, including on a rainy Saturday morning! What a hero! Niky and Ogi were the best guides! Niky is a force of nature. Endless energy, infectious enthusiasm and a voice that could carry across a valley (impressive for someone so small!). Ogi brought steady expertise and made every stretch of water feel safe without ever feeling tame! Particularly as he would always steer us down the most fun routes on the rapids! What really stood out was our group conversations on the river. We covered every topic under the sun with so much laughter as a group. It was truly special. I travelled solo and felt completely looked after and safe the entire time. This trip pulled me out of my head, back into nature and left me feeling grounded in a way I really needed. It was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. If you're thinking about it, book it. It'll be one of the best things you do.

If you can’t land rafting permits for the Grand Canyon then Tara River is the next best! Unbelievable turquoise waters, exclusive access to the outdoors, thrilling but manageable rafting, and tailored to solo travelers. Loved our Chilean rafting guide Nicol! While the three days of rafting were great, I was disappointed by the lack of local, cultural exchange and gained no knowledge of Montenegro or the Balkans from our Montenegrin host (unlike other MBA trips).

Had a great trip packrafting the Tara river in early September. Well organised, good itinerary, good communication, felt well looked after. I felt like I was in good hands in the care of the guides, the river and scenery were absolutely stunning and it was the ideal level of adventure / toughness for it to be quite exciting but still feel like a holiday. All the crew were great but special thanks go our lovely river guides, Daniel and Nicky, for looking after all of us so well both 'on' and 'off' the water. They were great in preparing us for what each day / set of rapids had to offer, always there to help when we'd fall in the water and went above and beyond to ensure we had a good trip with their energy, good humour and enthusiasm. I really felt safe with them and would feel very confident if I were to find myself on another similar trip in the future with them as my guides. Thank you for the adventure!