Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Travel Agency (
Click here
) offers a range of rafting trips out of Žabljak (half-/one-/two-
day tour €50/110/200).
Most of the day tours from the coast traverse only the last 18km from Brstanovica -
this is outside the national park and hence avoids hefty fees. You'll miss out on the
canyon's depths but it's still a beautiful stretch, including most of the rapids. The buses
follow a spectacular road along the Piva River, giving you a double dose of canyon ac-
tion.
If you've got your own wheels you can save a few bucks and avoid a lengthy coach
tour by heading directly to Šćepan Polje. It's important to use a reputable operator; in
2010 two people died in one day on a trip with inexperienced guides. At a minimum
make sure you're given a helmet and lifejacket - wear them and do them up.
One good operator is
Kamp Grab
( 040-200 598;
www.tara-grab.com
; half-day incl lunch €44, 2-day
all-inclusive €180)
, with lodgings blissfully located 8km upstream from Šćepan Polje. To get
there, you'll need to cross the Montenegrin side of the border crossing and hang a right
(tell the guards you're heading to Grab); the last 3.5km is unsealed. Accommodation is
available in six-person bungalows with shared toilets (€33), three-person rooms with en
suites (€45), or you can pitch a tent (€3.30 plus €1.10 per person) or borrow one of theirs
(€3.50 per person). Grab also offers guided
riverboarding
(or hydrospeed as it's known
here), where you direct yourself down the river on what looks like a kick board (€35).
Tara Tour
( 069-086 106;
www.tara-tour.com
)
offers an excellent half-day trip (€40, including
two meals) and has a cute set of wooden chalets in Šćepan Polje with squat toilets and
showers in a separate block; accommodation, three meals and a half-day's rafting costs
€55.
Hiking
Durmitor is one of the best-marked mountain ranges in Europe. Some suggest it's a little
too well labelled, encouraging novices to wander around seriously high-altitude paths
which are prone to fog and summer thunderstorms. Ask the staff at the National Park Vis-
itors Centre about tracks that suit your level of experience and fitness.
One rewarding route is the hike to the two
Škrčka Lakes
(Škrčka jezera), in the centre of
a tectonic valley, where you can enjoy magnificent scenery and stay overnight in a moun-
tain hut. If you're considering an assault on Bobotov Kuk or a serious winter expedition,
it's best to arrange a local guide.
