Skadar Lake Boat Tour Review: Is It Worth the 2 Hours?

Planning a trip to Montenegro? You might just be eyeing up Skadar Lake, and possibly thinking if a boat tour is up your street. We’re here to tell you all about our own whirl on the “Sunsetsunrise Private Boat Tour” to help you decide if this two-hour adventure is something that floats your boat (no pun intended, perhaps!). Honestly, getting out on that shimmering water was truly something. We’ll run through everything, from what we actually saw and did, to little bits like how to get there and what to expect from the folks running the tour.

Setting Sail on Skadar Lake: The Initial Impressions

The first thing that you see is Virpazar, this tiny town serving as the jumping-off spot for almost all Skadar Lake adventures. Now, the “Sunsetsunrise” crew were there waiting, very easy to spot and properly welcoming. The boat was is that spotless kind of clean. It was, like your favorite armchair but floating, which is always a plus. Even at first glance, there was something special to behold, honestly; it looked as though we were about to go into some pretty great landscapes.

The journey kicks off super quick and suddenly you are going to find yourself whisked away from the shore. Then the views begin popping off. Honestly, it is kind of gorgeous. Think wide-open waters meeting super-lush greenery and hills, the perfect intro to what Skadar Lake is all about. That feeling of gliding across the water with the sun warming your face is hard to beat, so don’t take it lightly.

Wildlife Encounters and Scenic Wonders

Ok, so here comes the stuff that we think will blow you away, even though your breath is still going to get knocked out. The birdlife out there is actually a proper sight. If you like your twitching, Skadar Lake is where to get some very good seeing. We’re talking graceful herons standing super-still in the shallows, quick little kingfishers darting over the water and those proper impressive Dalmatian pelicans just chilling on the water.

What’s so good too is that your boat driver actually doubles as this expert guide, really pointing stuff out and telling you those facts about what you are seeing. I actually learned a load about the park’s birds, and those conservation projects happening to keep the animals safe, so that’s good to hear.

Then, for when you thought you had peaked for scenes and sights, we turned around this small bit of land, where we’re greeted by those super-old monasteries popping up, along with old buildings from before, around, I think it was, the 14th and 15th centuries. These were sat right on the waterline. It seems, very much like you’re watching history unfold right in front of your own eyes. It felt just the perfect balance of nature and history, that.

The Private Tour Advantage: Is It Worth Splashing Out?

Now, let’s speak very openly about it. Going private for boat trips isn’t the cheapest trick, that is just very obvious. However, honestly the benefits are that noticeable that we do believe you can absolutely notice what a positive addition it can be, as long as your money is very wisely spent. The fact you will get one single skipper, who does what you need and does the things that match you really brings something special to it.

Want a long bit in a specific place to get photographs? No stress. Want the lowdown on birdlife and where to spot them best? Your guide is almost very certainly gonna be super up to scratch. Also, you will get that added perk of it all being completely away from people; there’s no struggling for room to see anything and so on.

If you go out in a group trip you may just get this really good, generic experience, but going solo just, in a way, amps it up just slightly to make something you may just properly remember.

Is Two Hours Enough? The Tour Duration Deconstructed

Does a two-hour tour very really cover the full lake, then? No, arguably not, yet you do get shown round a super-memorable part of Skadar. Those calm parts with big bird numbers and little hidden bits are more than covered, so it gives you plenty without tiring yourself too much, or going outside of your schedule.

I had some very old knees from bad football choices over the years and for me two hours was absolutely ideal for sitting, getting information and just seeing amazing scenery. We’d always, on every holiday, pack so much in, just constantly being out and about; a fairly concise boat ride meant we actually enjoyed something without any aching.

Should you want even longer tours, the good folks at Sunsetsunrise, as far as I remember, offer many extended choices for different parts of the lake. So there should just be something you might think is up your street.

Getting There and Getting Sorted: Practical Information

You’re wondering how the heck you get to Virpazar, then? Many do; trust me. Truthfully, it’s super accessible by bus from Podgorica or, indeed, Bar. As I remember, rides run proper frequently so should align almost ideally with the tours. Should you very understandably hire a vehicle when in Montenegro, you will get some fairly smooth rides with proper clear routes that have parking near the departure bits.

It could be very smart to align travel arrangements beforehand, specifically when thinking of traveling from further afield. Montenegro is much smaller than where I live but trips will, very typically, always seem longer because of the terrain. Bookings and times can basically get set directly with Sunsetsunrise; just that way you are secure for when you are planning to visit.

We had some questions from what we’d heard on travel groups that we follow online but our emails ahead were taken properly quickly. So there should not be much to very hugely worry about, to be fair. Just ask what is buzzing in your head, that is the ideal thing to do.

Sunsetsunrise Private Boat Tour: The Verdict

For those eyeing up Skadar Lake as you’re away in Montenegro, you might be thinking a boat ride sounds up your alley. Speaking of the “Sunsetsunrise Private Boat Tour,” arguably it does very well, offering stunning peeks around nature, little historical teases, with an extremely tailored solo experience.

That two-hour timing feels a perfect way to soak a fair bit up, which I know can matter a great deal on a well earned holiday, offering snippets with minimum stress. If the cost seems too much, the solo thing really changes things up for the better to give that money true weight.

Yet with scenery to drool at, loads to hear and just those peaceful parts floating out there, we wholeheartedly recommend the Skadar Lake experience.