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Raft the Tara River Canyon in Durmitor National Park Montenegro

Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

Country: Serbia and Montenegro

The Experience

Slicing through the limestone lined gorge, the cool waters of the Tara River powered by seasonal rain and snow melt, flow through some of the deepest and most secluded canyons in the world. This natural oasis is protected by UNESCO as it is home many rare animals, insects and local vegetation. Although deceivingly tame in places such as Djavolje lazi (Devil's lanes) where you can merely step over the current, the Tara river is a serious feat for white water rafting, classified as a level 4 for difficulty. One scenic fall in particular is over 3.6 meters, turning out some enchanting twirling torrents and cascading falls. Just as enticing as gliding through the gorge is climbing some of the surrounding mountains in Durmitor National Park, which the Tara river surges through. The views from the peaks are purely pristine. It's a vivid image that evokes the divine significance of pairing valley's and mountains together, complimenting and contrasting how each makes the other greater. Additional areas of exploration include some 80 caves in the Durmitor National Park. The Tara River Gorge is the second longest Gorge in the world at a length of 82 km, as it cuts through the canyon at its deepest it is 1,300 meters deep. The water here is so clean that is common to drink it directly from the river!

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Puzzle

When to Go to Tara Canyon Raft

Rafting expeditions range in duration from 1 - 3 days, most commonly done is the one day trip which starts at Splaviste, lasting about 2 - 3 hours and run over 18km. The nice warm weather in June, July and August is welcome when you are taking a plunge from the side of your raft.

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Books and DVDs

Mediterranean Europe Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
The brilliant hues of sun, sea and sand in the Ionians, sangria sipped under the stars in Barcelona or the gastronomic delights of the Côte d'Azur. Sample the Mediterranean lifestyle with this inspirational guide to southern Europe.
Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips (Hardcover)
No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009: 850 Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Year Ahead (Paperback)

Elsewhere on the Web

Tara Canyon - MontenegroSmiles.com
"The Tear of Europe", is how locals refer to this remarkable stretch of river, the longest in Montenegro. Violent and wild, yet pure and clear as a teardrop.
Durmitor National Park - UNESCO.org
This breathtaking national park was formed by glaciers and is traversed by rivers and underground streams. Along the Tara river canyon, which has the deepest gorges in Europe, the dense pine forests are interspersed with clear lakes and harbour a wide range of endemic flora.
Durmitor National Park - Durmitorcg.com
When someone is looking aloft to the highest peaks of this mountain ,it really seems as if Earth is touching the sky and that bluish colour of the sky is resting on mighty shoulders of Durmitor .
Tara Canyon - HighLandertim.com
Tara Canyon is 149km long and 1300m deep at its deepest point. It is the deepest canyon in Europe and the second deepest in the world.
Tara River Canyon - Wikipedia.org
The Tara River Canyon (Montenegrin: Kanjon Tare), also known as the Tara River Gorge, is the longest canyon in Montenegro and Europe and the second-longest in the world. It is 82 kilometers long and is 1,300 meters at its deepest.
Panorama SOKO Club Montenegro
360 view of rafting site.
Visti-Montenegro.com
Montenegro – the pearl of the Mediterranean, unique in many ways is situated in the south of the Adriatic. There is nowhere else that you can find, in such a small place, so much natural wealth, beauty, mild beaches, clear lakes, fast rivers and gorgeous mountains – like you can in the small country of Montenegro.

Media References

Croatia and Montenegro: Balkan Comeback - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
In the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro was once known as the Adriatic's St. Tropez, a beach-studded playground attracting movie-star luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren.
Why We Travel - Rafting in Tara Canyon - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
What I’ll remember most was the nature: the waterfalls, the snakes and the landscape of the mountains. I was impressed by the small insects with lights in the darkness, and the fog in the evenings on the river.

Language Guides

Turkish is one of the languages spoken in Serbia and Montenegro. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

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