Croatia & Montenegro Multi-Sport

Day 1

Arrive in Dubrovnik / Ferry to Lopud Island / Welcome Dinner

An OARS representative will meet you at the Dubrovnik Airport and bring you to the Old City. You may have time to sightsee before we meet again late afternoon to board the ferry to Lopud Island. Lopud is a quaint island with a single village (population roughly 150) tucked into a horseshoe bay, with no roads or cars. Lopud is in the middle of the three inhabited Elafiti Islands and is the perfect base for sea kayaking and exploring the Elafiti Archipelago.

After checking into our private guest house, there will be time for a swim or perhaps a short hike to explore this peaceful island.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at one of Lopud’s charming restaurants, while you soak in the lovely setting as the group gets to know one another and learns about the plan for the coming days.

Explore Lopud’s Coastline / Sunj Beach

After breakfast, we will outfit everyone with a paddle, PFD, and spray skirt and go over basic paddling and rescue instructions in the calm, warm waters of Lopud Bay.

This morning we’ll kayak the outer side of Lopud Island along limestone cliffs to Sunj Beach, a shallow bay with warm crystal waters (~ 4-mile paddle; 2 hours.) 

Lunch is served at a farm-to-table, family-owned restaurant tucked away in the woods above the bay, with a chance to relax among the colorful umbrellas, and inviting sun lounges and hammocks.  Later in the afternoon, we will hike up to the Sutvrac Fortress, providing a fantastic vantage point of the outer islands and the open Adriatic.  After watching the sun dip into the sea, hike back to Lopud (headlamps provided; 30-minute walk) and enjoy dinner.

Kolocep Island / Snorkeling

Following a short walk back to our kayaks at Sunj Beach, we set off for Kolocep Island, enjoying a 1.5-hour paddle (~3 miles) along its dramatic, wind-carved coastline. Once ashore, the adventure shifts to land with a stroll through the village of Donje Celo and a cliffside path that leads to breathtaking snorkeling spots.

Lunch is at a charming, family-run seafood restaurant before we return to Donje Celo and paddle back to Lopud Town (~4.5 miles; ~2.5 hours) for a well-earned dinner along the island’s lively promenade.

Sipan Island / Green Cave

Today’s destination is Sipan, the “Island of Olive Trees,” which holds a Guinness World Record for its extraordinary concentration of olive trees.  We begin with a two-mile paddle (~1 hour) to the Green Cave, visiting at low tide to swim, snorkel, and cliff jump in this glowing sea cave. A short 30-minute paddle brings us to the fishing village of Sipanska Luka, home to Renaissance-era villas once used as retreats during the region’s golden age of seafaring and trade. Here, enjoy an olive oil tasting and lunch at a local konoba—a Croatian cellar/restaurant—and learn why Sipan remains vital to the region’s oil production.

In the afternoon, we kayak back to Lopud, passing the small natural islet of Ruda that separates (~2.5 miles).

Ferry to Dubrovnik / Durmitor National Park / Tara Canyon

An early morning ferry takes us back to Dubrovnik, as we begin our journey on to Montenegro and the remarkable Tara Canyon. The transition from Adriatic coastal life to the alpine rivers, canyons, and peaks of northern Montenegro is an adventure in itself!  The four-hour scenic drive briefly crosses into Bosnia and Herzegovina as we continue to Durmitor National Park with a stop at a traditional mountain restaurant.  Hike a beautiful forested trail (~1.5 hour hike) along the colorful and reflective Black Lake in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

After another 2.5-hour drive, we arrive at our riverside camp in Tara Canyon, and we’ll make ourselves at home in the log cabins before a welcoming dinner by the bonfire.

Tara River Rafting in Durmitor National Park

Today we’ll raft the final 11 miles of the Tara River Canyon before it enters Bosnia. This is one of the last wild rivers in Europe, as well as the longest and deepest river gorge (approximately 4,300 feet). With pristine, clear waters and 23 splashy Class II-III rapids (Class IV possible at peak flows), don’t forget to take in the exceptional flora and fauna of this special canyon.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Our layover day provides a fantastic opportunity to further explore this amazing region surrounding the Tara Canyon. An a la carte menu of activities includes more rafting, inflatable kayaking, hiking, canyoneering, via ferrata in Piva Canyon, or just relaxing at the camp. Activities are available for an extra cost.

Return To Dubrovnik

After breakfast, we set off through the dramatic Piva Canyon, where the winding road tunnels through cliffs and hugs the brilliant blue glacial river leading to Piva Lake, where we’ll have a brief stop to enjoy the views. Onwards to Dubrovnik, the drive is primarily through rural Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country that bore the brunt of the fighting during the Homeland Wars of the 1990s. The region is home to many rural stone villages and agriculture. We pass through Trebinje, the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a well-preserved old town center, then stop for lunch at a typical Bosnian restaurant along the Trebisnjica River, one of the world’s longest “sinking rivers” where its course disappears at certain points into subterranean karst waterways to then re-emerge at the surface in springs.

We arrive back in Dubrovnik in the late afternoon, which may provide some free time to explore this ancient city. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, its Renaissance parks, medieval stone palaces, and unobtrusive monasteries harbor centuries of heritage. Lose yourself in the maze of narrow city streets, visit the shops, galleries, and coffee bars, or take in a street performance – the history and beauty of the old city never fail to astonish its visitors. Our farewell dinner will be hosted at an iconic local restaurant serving delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Return Flights Home

Our last morning is yours to enjoy. Follow your nose to find breakfast at one of the many street cafes, restaurants, or taverns. The inviting aromas spreading throughout the narrow city streets will let you know when you have found the right place! After filling our bellies and saying goodbye to this beautiful city, we will transfer back to the airport in time for the outbound flights.