The tear of Europe

If you’re seeking an adventure, we’re ready to share it to you. Together, we’ll explore the local beauty of the Tara river and enjoy its charming and unique nature.

The adventure starts in Zabljak, under the famous bridge Djurdjevica Tara. Its height is so great that when you look down from the bridge into the abyss, our boat looks like a nutshell with a few ants with it.

You can go rafting through 90% of the canyon. It is a three-day adventure for anyone who wants to experience something new and unusual in their life by visiting this natural wonder.
With the first stroke of your oar on the boat, and with the first kilometer, you will have the opportunity to feel what we’re talking about.

In next three days needed for a relaxed journey through the canyon, you will experience many things, and in the three days we can promise you unreal scenes of beauty, only interrupted by the adrenaline rush of passing through the foamy and boiling rapids. 
We will pass Lazo`s rock, the narrowest pass in the canyon. Legend says that a long time ago, a young man named Lazo from Durmitor mountain jumped from the rock on the other side of the river on a bet, over the river (and the bet would not be so interesting if someone didn`t whisper to us that Lazo could not swim).

When you visit Sige Bajlovica, you will be speechless and blinded by the beauty of thousands of caves that, in their century long symbiosis, covered with ancient moss, making a scene of unreal and unique beauty leaving you with a lifetime impression that in one moment you have moved to some other time, to some other planet. 

The most attractive area is the stretch from our camp Encijan to the place called ’Scepan polje’, where two rivers, Tara and Piva form river Drina. Tara river is also known as ‘Tear of Europe’ because its crystal clear and drinkable water. 

Did you hear about Tara canyon?

Tara river canyon is 149 km long with depths reaching 1300 m, and it is the deepest and sharpest canyon in Europe, and second deepest in the world, after Grand Canyon of Colorado in the USA. It is also one of the most beautiful canyons in the world, with its towering cliffs, lush forests, and crystal-clear waters. The canyon is still a big mystery with over 80 registered caves, still not investigated enough.
The Tara river hosted the World rafting championship in 2009, a testament to its reputation as one of the best rafting destination in the world. 

Tara river canyon is a God given place, a miniature paradise on earth, like it was made for rest and enjoyment.

Tara river rafting stages

There are two main starting points for rafting on the Tara river.

In the upper part of the canyon, the starting point is Splaviste, near the famous Djurdjevica Tara Bridge and the tourist center of Zabljak. Two or three day trip takes us through the entire navigable part of the canyon of river Tara, from Splaviste to Scepan Polje. During the tour, rafters will stay overnight in the canyon, at the hotel at Radovan Luka and at our camp Encijan. The water level and time of year will determine the lenght and difficulty of the rafting tour.

The lower part of the Tara river canyon is the most exciting rafting stage for a good reason. This section of the canyon offers the largest concentration of cascades and rapids, making it an exhilarating experience for rafters of all levels. This section is the most popular rafting stage, with thousands of tourists passing through each summer.

Rafting on the Tara river is a unique experience, as no two trips are ever the same. The season, water levels, and the river’s speed collectively determine the trip’s challenges and duration. For example, the most popular rafting stretch from Brstanovica to Scepan Polje can be completed in 30-45 minutes in April or May, but can take up to 3-4 hours in July and August.

You have the freedom to choose the stages you wish to raft and the period that suits you best from May to September. Rest assured, whether you’re a beginner or an expert, your adventure promises to be both safe and extraordinary.

Basic Information

The total lenght is 144 km (Montenegro 133 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 40 km)

The depth reaches 1300 m in some part of the canyon.

Famous monumental is 100 meter high bridge on Djurdjevica Tara

Foca (located in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina); Zabljak( located in northern Montenegro); Niksic (located in the west of Montenegro); Sarajevo (located in central Bosnia and Herzegovina); Trebinje( located in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina); Podgorica (located in central Montenegro); Mostar (located in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Sarajevo International Airport (B&H); Podgorica International Airport (MNE); Dubrovnik International Airport (CRO)

What to know about BIH

The canyon is protected

as a UNESCO World Heritage site

What our dear guests had to say

Aleksandra
Aleksandra
2021-07-13
Verified
PRICELESS !!! We were delighted first time we came here, and second we were overwhelmed again. Encijan is arranged and clean but still wild, without exaggerating - a real fairy tale. Tara, one of the most beautiful river I have ever seen, here is unreal, almost like emerald. People and service were excellent all the time and we felt like home. Just imagine yourself deep in the highest river canyon in Europe , surrounded with untouched nature and peace. One is for sure, this atmosphere and scene you will never forget. Unique place and people and much more 🙂
Milana L
Milana L
2021-06-22
Verified
So great When I decided to go rafting with my boys and friends, I expected beauty, but now I was thrilled. The camp is beautiful. The service is top notch. Great food. A great skipper on rafting. I would recommend it to anyone who loves untouched nature, relaxing by the river and the chirping of birds and a real Tara experience. We will definitely come again.
Ivana Petkovic
Ivana Petkovic
2021-06-19
Verified
Raj za ljubitelje prirode Nestvarno mesto uz samu reku Taru! Prelepa priroda, neverovatna reka i boje koje okruzuju kamp. Ljubazno osoblje, raznovrsna i ukusna hrana! Profesionalni skiperi, osoblje na usluzi 24h. Domaćinska atmosfera i dobar provod! Sve preporuke!
Kristina K
Kristina K
2021-06-08
Verified
The most amazing place I have been going to this camp 4 years in a row now with my friends... This is the most amazing place, beautiful camp - like from the fairytale 🙂 Nature is unreal, view and the river also. Food in the camp is the best food we ever had, you can't buy this in any restaurant 🙂 Definitely we will be going again and make visits traditionally once a year at least!
Marko
Marko
2021-05-24
Verified
We'll be back Apsolutno bez ikakve zamerke na bilo šta. Domaćin je, pre svega, gospodin. Osoblje je prijatno, sve je laganica, bez ikakve frke i žurbe, što apsolutno i priliči ovakvom mestu. Stvoreno za opuštanje. Hrana je odlična, smeštaj i kućica u kojoj smo bili uredni i čisti. Definitivno se vraćamo, možda čak i jako brzo.
Darko D
Darko D
2021-05-23
Verified
Darko Odlicno mesto za odmor i beg od urbanog zivota... Rafting sa obucenim skiperima se pretvara u pravo zadovoljstvo posle prvog zaveslaja... Hrana preeedobra, usluga i atmosfera takodje... Vidimo se ponovo...
Dino Sehic
Dino Sehic
2020-09-08
Verified
Unforgettable rafting Beautiful nature, great hosts, delicious food, positive energy all around ... For true lovers of untouched nature and its hidden beauties on the way out of the Tara canyon, a camp that rests both soul and heart. Beautiful people who will welcome you and recharge your batteries with their positive energy. All in all, rafting to remember and a desire to come back again.
Jana T
Jana T
2020-08-25
Verified
Vraćaćemo se! Prvi put sam u Encijan došla kada sam imala 9 godina. 15 godina kasnije - i dalje se vraćam. Možda je dovoljno reći da se desilo da mi je pao rođendan na vikend kada smo u kampu i da gazda, kada je to saznao, angažovao ljude da mi donesu tortu u kanjon. Milan Šerpas i ekipa učine da svako ko dođe odluči da obavezno dođe još jednom, ili bar preporuči drugima da posete. Smeštaj je udoban i čist, Milan uvek vodi računa da na najbolji način rasporedi goste po njihovim potrebama. Smeštajne jedinice su od 3 do 7 kreveta, uglavnom bungalovi. Toalet i tuševi su odvojeni od jedinica, ali ih ima veliki broj te je čekanje zaista svedeno na minimum. Volela bih da dočaram oduševljenje moje ekipe hranom, ali ću ipak ostaviti da se još neko sam iznenadi. Bitno - raspon i izbor su ogromni, niko neće ostati gladan a i ukoliko iz bilo kojih razloga ne možete da jedete nešto iz tog izbora, oni vam uvek dodatno spreme nešto. A obradovaće vas i krofnama! Mesta za odmor i opuštanje ima i više nego dovoljno - od hamoka, preko ležaljki, stolova sa stolicama na više mesta u kampu. Vaše je samo da nađete šta vam se najviše sviđa. Spust niz reku je sjajan, nekad dinamičniji u zavisnosti od doba godine (jul-avgust je najniža i najmirnija voda; april-maj najviša i najbrža). Skiperi su jako iskusni i fenomenalni momci. Spust kao spust nije opasan što svedoči da sam ja išla sa 9 godina a moja sestra sa 5. Dobija se kompletna oprema i uz slušanje instrukcija koje daje skiper - nema opasnosti ni za najmlađe. Posle večere često bude svirka sa muzikom uživo, kamp ima svoje ozvučenje a vrlo često i gosti nose svoje zvučnike te može i da se proveseli uveče. Upaljena je logorska vatra, ceo kamp je osvetljen malim fenjerima te je ambijent uveče možda i lepši nego tokom dana. Za one koji bi ranije legali i žele kompletan mir preporučujem da traže smeštajne jedinice bliže toaletima a dalje od šanka/kuhinje/centralne vatre. Kamp se nalazi na samom početku dela koji je predviđen za spust i u tu tačku dolaze ljudi i iz ostalih kampova, tako da ne dozvolite da vas razočara što se najduže vozite dok drugi brže stižu. Vaša nagrada je da ujutru ne morate u opremi da se vozite do početne tačke, već samo sednete u čamac i krenuli ste. Šanse su da ćete na par dana zaboraviti obaveze i samo se isključiti od stresa. Dolazila sam sa mnogo ljudi u životu a dobila sam samo jednu zamerku: Što smo došli samo na tri dana?
Jasmina Miljkovic
Jasmina Miljkovic
2020-08-23
Verified
Nema bolje Već sedmi put smo muž i ja gosti ovog kampa, što govori o tome da li smo zadovoljni. A malo je reći da smo zadovoljni, jer ono što pruža ambijent, osoblje, kvalitet usluge i hrane retko gde se nalazi. Ovo mesto je naš privatni raj, beg od histerične svakodnevice i prilika za mentalni i fizički reset. Besprekoran domaćin, uvek zanimljivi gosti, a svaki sledeći dolazak je nova avantura koja pruža i više nego što očekujemo. Nema greške. Za svaku preporuku! Ivan i Jasmina Miljković, Beograd
Isidora Miljković
Isidora Miljković
2020-08-19
Verified
Mind-blowing! Not your average, generic camp! With all due respect to other camps, there's no comparison between Encijan and others! Location of the camp is unbeatable, untouched nature all around, beautiful cabins and common place that conform to surrounding nature and a view of magnificent turquoise Tara. The staff couldn't be more polite, they really make you feel taken care of. And the food is.. WOW! And if you have some special requests regarding your nutrition (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.), you need not worry, all your wishes will be met with. August of 2020 was the second time I went to Encijan, first time with my family and this time with friends, so it's safe to say that this camp is perfect for everyone and for every occasion. And I had fun every time 🙂 In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Encijan! ♥

Choose your ADVENTURE !

According to our many years experience in outdoor tourism, we are able to offer you more variants from our well designed arrangements (or packages) from one day and multiple days adventures tour in our country.

We have created programs which will exceed all your expectations! Whether you are an adrenaline junkie, nature lover, history buff or even foodie – do not worry, we have got you covered! Choose a program that fits your personality the best and live through an unforgettable experience!

It`s your choice

  • Package that offers visit to National park Sutjeska, primeval Forest Perucica, experience rafting along Tara River, and as a crown at the end, enjoy in the view from the B&Hs tallest mountain.
  • Hiking trough one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe. Jeep and photo safari trough National park Sutjeska combined with Tara River Rafting.
  • Taste rafting and experience two relaxed nights in the heart of the Canyon! Package for those who do not rush, and want to spend one more night in the Camp after rafting experience, and go back on trip home, really relaxed.
  • Trekking along most beautiful part of National Park Sutjeska, visit to Primeval forest Perucica, Prijevor plateau and swimming in emerald green Trnovacko lake at the bottom of Mt. Maglic all combined with Tara rafting

Attractions from our region

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a heart shaped land, has a lot to offer when It comes to tourism. Spacious mountain views, emerald green lakes, beautiful landscape and picturesque towns. West and the East meet here, so you will learn a lot about cultures, traditions and people.

Share what you have learned with your friends at Encijan’s campfire. When It comes to the tours that we organize, here are some destinations that we recommend you to visit

  • Sutjeska National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in this part of Europe, and certainly the most beautiful and diverse.
  • If you are looking for a unique and unusual adventure, dare to walk into the unknown and feel the rush of adrenaline while exploring Tara river canyon ... come with us and conquer the deepest canyon in Europe ...
  • Canyon Nevidio is one of the last discovered canyons in Europe, and It still hasn’t been fully explored. Nevidio is known for It’s wild beauty and an even more unusual name.
  • The most beautiful and largest mountain in Montenegro, which is also a national park. "Durmitor National Park" consists of a massif of Durmitor, the canyons of the rivers Tara, Sušica, Draga and Komarnica. It is known for Its picturesque breathtaking landscapes is a true place of unreal beauty

Additional information

Organic food

Our traditional homemade cuisine and organic food prepared at our Camp Encijan, which we offer as part of our packages, is another reason why most of our long term and satisfied guests wish to visit us again. The huge amounts of our delicious home-made food is prepared with love and in a traditional way, entirely from fresh organic food which we provide from our natural surroundings. In a moment, every new bite know to send you to some other and slightly forgotten dimension, in a time of our grandmother’s cuisine. Our home cuisine is the main reason why our guests decide to come back again and again.

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Accommodation

Camp Encijan has capacity of 100 beds in 15 mountain huts (bungalows). All huts are built entirely from natural materials, breathable and comfortable. Furniture within the bungalow is new. Two mountain houses – chalets (each 55 m2) are fully furnished with new furniture and comprise of bathroom, kitchen and a spacious living room on the ground floor and two double bedrooms in the attic. Toilets, sinks and showers are decently furnished, immaculately clean and fully meet the needs of a modern person.Hot water is available in showers.

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How to reach us

At the border crossing of Scepan Polje, when submitting documents to border police officers, it is necessary to emphasize that you are going to the Tara canyon to Brstanovica. After completing the registration (in case you coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina turn round and turn back only 100 m, and if you are coming from Montenegro, you go only 100 m forward) where you turn off right from the main road and turn on the local asphalt road leading along the river Tara towards Brstanovica. For more information on how to get to us, see the link below.

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