Day 25: The Dinaric Alps and Whitewater Rafting

Updated: Sep 12, 2022

5/31/22

We drove here when it was dark, so I did not know the view that was waiting for me when I woke up. I got out of bed on the top window, pulled open the curtain to let in the light and was greeted with this alpine meadow washed in early morning sun.

I took a moment to walk through the field and say hello to the wildflowers and take in the peaceful beauty. The only sounds were faint birdsong, the buzz of bees and the gentle wind through the grass.

The middle of nowhere never felt so good!!

I really loved it here. We stayed at Ethno selo Izlazak in Pluzine, Montenegro, which is in the high majestic Dinaric Alps.

Here's the view to the lake below.

After breakfast, we got in the van and traveled the winding mountain roads through tunnels and along the river to go white water rafting.

On the river Tara, we paddled 16km through class 3+4 rapids.

Nobody flipped, but the guide did throw someone in! 🤣

We also got some elevation, tons of spray, and the people in the front especially were constantly drenched.

The river Tara is the border between Bosnia and Montenegro.

The water was ice cold, 45 degrees, straight from the melted snow, so it had a blue color!

We went for a swim, and it was genuinely the coldest water I've swam in even in a wetsuit.

We left our phones behind, but our guide got some good pictures.

Off the sides, there were many beautiful mountain waterfalls, one of which we stopped to explore.

Everyone had so much fun, saying this was an exhilarating experience, and I have to agree.

There were two boats for our group, and there was some friendly competition to be in the lead, so we paddled hard, and we had some fun having a splash war with our paddles when we got close. This was a teambuilding experience for us.

Our professor even came with us on the boat. Such fun!!

Here are some more images to give you a taste of this magnificent area.

Ella made friends with the little sweet old cat at the lodge. He chose her and plopped himself down in her lap and just stayed there. He was sooo happy!