Wooden Boat To Kom Monastery

Skadar Lake National Park Guided Boat Tour to Kom Monastery runs through Kingfisher. Rated 4.8 across 1,657 reviews. Runs 3 hours. From $36.

Overview

This three-hour boat trip from Virpazar crosses Lake Skadar in a traditional wooden boat to Kom Monastery, a medieval building on Odrin Hill that can only be reached from the water. The route passes through narrow channels where larger boats cannot go, past Vranjina's twin peaks, the old Lesendro fort, and islands covered in water lilies. Along the way the guide points out bird life, and one reviewer described helpfully being shown pelicans and kingfishers during the trip.

The tour runs with an English-speaking guide, with written guides in several other languages available, and there is a stop at Kamenik with local wine, juice and snacks. At the monastery there is a 30-minute visit to see its frescoes, and the return leg includes a short swim in the lake plus roughly 50 minutes of cruising and sightseeing.

It suits travellers who want nature and history in one relaxed outing, especially those staying in or near Podgorica, since Virpazar is about half an hour's drive from the capital. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the Kingfisher desk near the central bridge in Virpazar and check in 30 minutes before departure. Bring a towel and swimwear, as the dip at the end is a regular part of the trip.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in VirpazarCheck in at the Kingfisher information desk near the central bridge in Virpazar, 30 minutes before departure, to collect your boat ticket.
2. Cruise from VirpazarBoard the wooden boat and set out across the lake, passing through a narrow river canal below Vranjina's two peaks.
3. Lesendro and VranjinaPass the centuries-old Lesendro fort, known as the Key of Lake Skadar, with stops of about 10 to 20 minutes along the way for sightseeing and wildlife viewing.
4. Wine stop at KamenikA 30-minute stop with local wine, juice, snacks and food tasting.
5. Kom MonasteryA 30-minute visit to the medieval monastery on Odrin Hill, with its well-preserved frescoes and views over the lake.
6. Swim stopA 10-minute swim in the lake before heading back.
7. Return cruise to VirpazarAbout 50 minutes of cruising and sightseeing back to the Kingfisher dock in Virpazar. An extended lake cruise is available as an optional extra.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this trip.

• Getting there. There is no pickup. You make your own way to Virpazar, where parking is free in the village, and walk to the Kingfisher desk near the central bridge. One reviewer entered just the P16 map code and ended up at a viewpoint in the mountains, so search the full operator name instead.
• What to bring. The listing recommends a towel, beachwear, sunglasses, biodegradable sunscreen, water, a jacket and binoculars. The swim stop is short, and more than one reviewer described the dip at the end as a highlight.
• Pace and terrain. Most of the tour is spent sitting in the boat. The monastery is reached by an easy climb up steps, as one reviewer noted, so only modest mobility is needed.
• Food and drink. Wine, juice and local snacks are included at the Kamenik stop, but no lunch or meals are provided. Tips are also not included, and a meal in Virpazar after the tour is your own arrangement.
• Wildlife watching. Bird life is a feature of the trip, and the listing includes wildlife viewing at several stops along the route. One reviewer said the guide even helped with nature photography, so binoculars earn their place on the packing list.
• Weather plan. The operator may swap the boat, reschedule, or refund in full if there is rain or strong wind. A jacket is on the packing list whatever the season.

Common issues. The tour can be changed or cancelled because of weather, with the operator offering a reschedule or a full refund. Parking in Virpazar is described by the operator as not optimal, so arriving well before the 30-minute check-in window is wise. One reviewer missed the departure entirely after typing the wrong point into Google Maps and had to join a later trip without the monastery visit. Some past travellers also felt the guide commentary could be more consistent across departures.

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