10 independent reviews for Canoeing and kayaking holiday in Montenegro, Lake Skadar
Reviews for Canoeing and kayaking holiday in Montenegro, Lake Skadar
Sam Blunt review 17 Aug 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The scenery, the tranquility, our brilliant guide.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be physically prepared for some quite long paddles, quite hard work when the wind is against you. And be prepared for wild camping - no onsite favilities!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It benefited local people in that it supported some local businesses and provided employment. As it was a kayaking trip, I guess it reduced environmental impact versus travelling by motor boat.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
ExcellentCoral Morgan review 15 Jul 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Up at 6.00am with the rising sun, solitary swim at 7.00am in the deepest part of the lake, Raduš. Paddle round the bay looking at scenery and the wild life at 8.00am, all before breakfast at 9.00am. Being able to jump out of the kayaks to cool down in the warm lake often during paddling. Seeing wildlife up close, frogs sitting on the Lilly pads, water snakes up close, and shoals of fish in the clear water.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would thoroughly recommend having some experience of paddling before this trip as there are long open crossings, here a good paddle technique is an advantage. Be prepared for long periods of inactivity if the days are very hot as the itinerary may have to change. Remember to take waterproof sun cream so that you don’t have to reapply after every dip taken.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel this holiday benefited the local people as we ate at local restaurants where available.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I really enjoyed paddling though beautiful scenery and swimming in the warm lake with very few human encounters. I did find paddling with two novices in the group very frustrating. Waiting for them to catch up during the longer open crossings as they were unable to maintain a steady pace without stopping to rest frequently because of lack of paddling technique.Kirstin Shirling review 25 Jun 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being outdoors, meeting local people, and seeing a new country in an ecologically sustainable way.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Arrive with a can-do positive attitude... things change.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good, fun, adventurous.Angela Mclean review 23 Jul 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Kayaking back to camp by starlight after a fish dinner at a remote hamlet beside the deepest part of the lake.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is a wonderful trip. I was really glad I took binoculars because there were so many birds to watch going about their birdy business. I did wish I’d taken more factor 30 suncream. We were never too hot because you can just pop into the Lake, but there is no shade when you are kayaking! This is wild camping,but in quite a civilized environment. We stopped for beers and cokes on several occasions, then melted back into the countryside to find somewhere to make camp.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we bought food at local restaurants and our progress was close to zero impact. We hope that this kind of tourism supports conservation in this exceptional environment.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a magical week, suspended between the water and the sky. Gigo is a superb guide and we all enjoyed talking to him about his beautiful country. The two nights glamping at the beginning and end were very comfortable and the OK Corral is a lovely, welcoming spot.Philippa Throssell review 12 Jul 2015
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole week......the superb location, accommodation, flora and birds, our hosts were brilliant, knowledgable, helpful, available, resourceful, adaptable.......and relaxed. It is a beautiful country, people friendly, food fresh, transport cheap, stunning......2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Enjoy the activities and then have a look around the country on your days off.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely...4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was amazing to be so busy and active and yet be so refreshed,Kay Audoire review 8 Oct 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The kayaking was amazing, the lake is so quiet and often ( nearly always) you are the only people out there! The scenery is stunning, it's quite amazing.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take walking boots for the walks, a torch for the evening walks back from the village and just Enjoy being out of the rat race for a week.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, Boujana, a lovely girl from the village took us out on one of our kayaking trips, we ate at local restaurants And twice in people's homes (amazing food)4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a great experience, I would strongly advice people who like a "off the beaten track" kind of holiday to give it a go. Ben and Emma who run the holidays are very accommodating and will have a memorable time.Liz Cush review 23 Jun 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole trip was amazing, stunning scenery and lovely villa. We loved the hikes, out in the countryside seeing the local landscapes and the amazing insects. The stops for the wild swims in clear cool streams and sitting under waterfalls. The kayaking on the lake with the visits to the islands and swimming. It is a holiday we will never forget.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go prepared to join in with the activities, they are great.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, Ben and Emma have immersed themselves in the local community, employing local people and the lunch at Tanya's (a local villager, where we stopped off on a hike) was amazing.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A fantastic week with action packed days.Jane Barnes review 28 Jul 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Swimming in mountain pools and lakes, from the breathtakingly cold to the sublimely warm. Kayaking across an almost deserted lake and feeling special and privileged to be able to share in such a spectacular landscape. We were fortunate to have Ben as our guide and host to this little corner of Montenegro, his love and enthusiasm for the area and it's people is obvious and I would challenge anybody not to enjoy all that was on offer. Just sitting on the balcony and watching the world go by, the sun go down, the fishing boats return, whilst drinking a glass of wine is a glorious way to end each day and is a memory that brings a smile to my face even now.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
JUST DO IT! If you don't have a car, I personally would recommend staying in the village rather than the villa, which I am sure is lovely, it's just that I like being independent and being able to wander to the restaurants and bakery and little supermarket was a real treat. If you have a car you could explore more of the area on your free days, but we found the train from the village to be very convenient.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
From taxi drivers, to restaurateurs, to people who have rooms to let and the amazing Tanja who serves the most delicious of local dishes all obviously benefit from the tourists coming into their area, but you also get the feeling that they are proud to share it with you. It is possible to travel to Montenegro by train as we did. This option is not for the feint hearted as it takes 3 days but it adds to the sense of adventure as well as being a slightly more Eco friendly way of travelling.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This has been an incredible holiday, we didn't stop saying how wonderful it was all the time we were there. Everything from the scenery, the food the activities, the people, they all joined together to make an unforgettable holiday and one that I want to recommend to all my friends, especially those who said, 'where's Montenegro, what are you going there for?' Ben and Emma have obviously worked hard at creating tailor made holidays for what can sometimes be disparate groups of people and they have put together walks and activities that will work for different needs and interests and whilst there were times when you may have felt personally challenged, you never for a moment felt pressured into doing things that you weren't comfortable with.Mandy Reynolds review 1 Jun 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Kayak trips on Lake Skadar blew me away. The relative solitude combined with the impressive landscapes on both the Montenegrin and Albanian sides of the lake made it one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Our group agreed on taking two kayak trips, and they were both absolutely amazing.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This holiday can be as active as you make it, but I would suggest taking advantage of the water-based activities. I was particularly lucky to hitch a ride to the coast with a couple staying in the villa on our day off. I found it would have been easier to hire a car, but it's definitely do-able without one.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
On our second kayak day, Ben brought a local guy with us on the trip. Though Ben is extremely knowledgeable of the area and the history of the area, Marco Jr was able to give us a bit more insight on the area because he grew up there. At one point, he even called his grandmother to determine whether a guest's guidebook had the correct name for a small coastal town (it was wrong). Ben and Emma have set up the business to offer locals a piece of the tourism they bring to the area via the bakery and various restaurants. It seems that the country hasn't quite figured out its an incredible adventure tourism spot, and I think Ben and Emma are helping it greatly in that respect.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
My week spent at Villa Miela was everything promised and more than I could ask for. Ben did a wonderful job introducing me to Montenegrin culture and life, literally upon setting foot in the Land Rover. The kayak tours allowed us to visit the most incredible sites along Lake Skadar with absolutely no other tourists around. The operator has excursions that provide you with access to places and people you would be unable to find and facilitate on your own. The other guests in the Villa were wonderful, up for adventure and incredibly kind and generous. I really couldn't have wished for a better holiday.Mike Jewson review 7 Sep 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Ben and Emma are wonderful people and they really have something very special going on with Villa Miela and the activities they provide. The Lake Skadar region is unspoilt, undeveloped and teaming with biodiversity. The Montenegran people we met were all very friendly indeed in the most sincere of ways.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to be hot, wet, tired and very happy!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The activities were all closely associated with the local population. We drank spring water direct from mother nature, ate local figs, grapes and other produce and carp and trout from the lake. Ben and Emma hire local people to assist with the hikes, kayaking and Villa maintenance.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I rate the holiday very highly indeed. We did a lot in a single week and came back relaxed and happy. We would definitely come again sometime.Holiday Reviews
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