Lake Skadar is undoubtedly one of the underrated gems of Montenegro, a country that is- as you may have already discovered- an underrated gem itself.

Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans, with its shores spanning significant sections of not only Montenegro, but Albania as well.

When in Lake Skadar, you go on a boat tour. To fail to do so would be like going to Naples and skipping the pizza. Technically possible, but deeply foolish.

However, not all boat tours in Lake Skadar are created equal- something I found out the hard way.

Below, you’ll find the best Lake Skadar boat tours- covering every starting point, travel style, and budget.

Note: I’m assuming you didn’t just come to Montenegro for Lake Skadar. If I’m correct in that assumption, make sure to check out my tried and true 10-day Montenegro Itinerary when you’re done here.

What Makes a Great Lake Skadar Boat Tour?

In order to understand what a good Lake Skadar boat tour looks like, let’s first examine an example of a bad one.

Think a large boat, loud and packed with people. This may (somehow) be something people enjoy on a beach trip, but the vibe of Lake Skadar is undoubtedly a peaceful one and the boat tour should reflect that.

You also want a nice amount of time on the lake, ideally two hours. Many tours only go for one, and usually don’t give much of a discount.

Then it’s good to have little add-ons, such as a sample of local wine- which pairs tremendously with the vibe. However, I still recommend you bring your own bottle anyway (see Tips below), so this doesn’t matter too much.

The Best Lake Skadar Boat Tours From Virpazar

Virpazar is the town most commonly associated with Lake Skadar in Montenegro, as it is located right on the shore and is home to a dizzying number of boat tour agencies.

If I had to guess, most of you are in or around the Virpazar area right now. If you are, good job- getting a tour from Virpazar is, of course, often far cheaper than from the bigger hubs like Budva and Kotor.

Virpazar has many options. This is something that’s made clear pretty immediately, as you will likely be quickly accosted upon entrance to the town by a loud, pushy man offering you free parking. More on him and other things to watch out for later. But for now, suffice to say that you should not take the free parking.

Here are the best Lake Skadar boat tour options in Virpazar!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you book your tour, please make sure to click through my links as I earn a small commission at no cost to you!

Kingfisher Boat & Kayak

Best for: a reliable, can’t-go-wrong choice

If you’re in Virpazar and don’t want to put much thought into this, go with Kingfisher.

They’re a reputable, consistently highly reviewed company that will give you an amazing tour.

The boat ride is 2 hours long on a traditional wooden boat (a must), taking you through the beautiful landscapes and includes sightseeing, swim time, and a sample of local Vranac wine.

Another pro for Kingfisher is that they offer lots of different start times, which isn’t always the case. In my opinion, it’s best to go at sunset- it’s by far the most magical.

In the summer, they offer tours that start at 6:00PM- this is the one to take if you want to catch the sunset.

But a nice daytime ride is also always great.

Tours cost a little over €20, and it should include the €5 park fee.

Note: Kingfisher offers another slightly more expensive option that includes a visit to the Kom Monastery. You can click here to check it out!

Boat Milica

Best for: family-run vibe, varied route and tour length options

This is another extremely solid option, all around.

Boat Milica is family run and emphasizes it, which gives it a bit more of a personal feel than Kingfisher.

The thing I like best about Boat Milica is the variety they offer: when you click the link below, you’ll see that they offer a variety of options based on tour length, and other choices like a sunset ride and the ‘wild route’.

There is definitely something for everyone offered at Boat Milica. And we haven’t even discussed all they have to offer here (stay tuned).

Price is €20, although this doesn’t include the €5 park fee. You can check availability below- note that you have to select a date to see all the tour options!

Best Lake Skadar Boat Tours From Kotor/Budva

You don’t necessarily have to be in Virpazar to go on a boat tour of Lake Skadar.

There are plenty of tour options from outside Virpazar, with most providing pickup from larger tourist hubs like Kotor and Budva (among some others).

These tours are a great way to manage your time, especially if you are on a relatively short trip to Montenegro and want to maximize what you do and see.

Gray Line Montenegro Tour

Best for: seeing more of Montenegro in one day

Gray Line provides a beautiful day trip.

Not only do you get a boat tour of Lake Skadar, but you also get a quick stop at the famous Sveti Stefan resort, see another beautiful national park (Biogradska Gora), and stop at the Tara River Canyon.

Biogradska Gora has a beautiful lake itself that you can see in the photo below- the water is incredible and you can take a boat there too!

Meanwhile, the Tara River Canyon is one of my absolute favorite spots in Montenegro. I would even recommend visiting it again as a separate day trip, as the tour doesn’t have enough time to drive to the prettiest sections.

Gray Line provides pickup from specific points in either Kotor, Budva, or Tivat, and also has an option for a more expensive private tour that will pick you up almost anywhere in the general region. You can see more details with the link below.

Prices from Budva or Kotor are around €100, which is excellent value for everything that you’ll see. Do note that food, drink, and national park entrance fees are not included in the price.

Note: The link above may not take you straight to the page, but all you have to do is click the first option (titled “Kotor: Lake Skadar and Biograd Day Trip & Boat Ride”).

Royal Services Montenegro Tour

Best for: those who want the lake as the main event

If you’re outside Virpazar but don’t want to be sitting on a bus for as long, this may be a better choice.

This day trip focuses on Lake Skadar more than Gray Line’s, including a boat ride (of course), a visit to a charming town on the shore of the lake, and a stop at the Pavlova Strana Viewpoint- which you can see below.

It also includes a quick stop at Sveti Stefan as well as some time in the town of Cetinje, one of my favorite towns in Montenegro. You also get to drive down the serpentine road to Kotor on the way back, which gives you incredible views over the bay.

Royal Services organizes pickup anywhere in the Budva area or near the old town of Kotor– there’s a map on the link below that will show you exactly where.

The trip also costs around €100, but keep in mind that this includes national park fees as well as pickup from your exact location.

More Adventurous Ways to Explore Lake Skadar

If a quiet, peaceful boat ride isn’t your thing, there are of course other options for you.

Boat Milica, which we’ve already discussed above, offers fantastic deals for other options including paddleboarding and kayaking.

Paddleboard on Lake Skadar (Boat Milica)

Paddleboards are always a good time.

Boat Milica offers a stand-up-paddleboard tour for anywhere from 2 hours (€30) to a full day (€60).

Paddleboards are a great way to explore the lake more personally– in addition to all the incredible scenery of the lake, you’ll be able to explore hidden channels and take breaks on secluded beaches that the boats don’t go to.

Kayak on Lake Skadar (Boat Milica)

Boat Milica really has it all.

If paddleboards aren’t speaking to you, Boat Milica also offers individual or 2-person kayaks to explore Lake Skadar on.

Like the paddleboards, you also get to choose between many options depending on how long you want to go.

Prices for the kayaks are significantly cheaper than the paddleboards (€12-17 depending on time you want to go for), as you take them out yourselves without a guide.

However, they give you plenty of details about where to go and secret spots to see before you go- so pay attention!

How to Choose the Right Lake Skadar Boat Tour for You

From Virpazar

Best all-around boat tour	Kingfisher or Boat Milica
Boat tour with personal, family feel	Boat Milica
Adventure option	Kayak or Paddleboard
Best budget option	Kayak

If you’re already in Virpazar, you’re spoiled for choice.

Both the boat tours I mentioned are around the same price and offer similar benefits. You can’t go wrong. Choose based off availability is what I would say.

I would opt for kayaking over paddleboarding personally, because of the price and because I don’t mind going without a guide. But again, this is more personal preference and you really can’t go wrong.

From Kotor/Budva

For seeing mainly Lake Skadar and surroundings	Royal Services Montenegro Tour
For seeing more of Montenegro	Gray Line Montenegro Tour

Unfortunately, you definitely get to be less picky if you’re coming from outside the area.

Luckily, these two tours are pretty awesome. And as I’d recommend all the stops they add anyway, they’re not really a problem. As long as you haven’t been to them already, of course.

If you really want a tour that’s strictly Lake Skadar, you can try and find something locally in Kotor or Budva, but I think you’ll have a tough time. Let me know if you find something good in the comments!

Practical Tips for Your Lake Skadar Boat Tour

Drive Past the Pushy Salesmen

As I briefly mentioned above, you will likely be waved down as you enter Virpazar and offered free parking by a rather bombastic man.

If you’re stopped, simply say you already have a tour booked and keep driving into town.

When my friends and I arrived for the first time, we didn’t have a tour pre-booked. And although I am generally wary of these sorts of scams, this man was able to sucker us in. A born salesmen, no doubt.

I was at least able to bargain down the price to €25 a person, after a tremendous amount of effort. But even so, I soon figured out it was a bad deal as the tour only lasted an hour, and definitely wasn’t the best quality.

He also will practically force you to give him a 5 star Google review.

My friends and I have since nicknamed the guy “Vanko” after asking ChatGPT for evil sounding Balkan names. Avoid Vanko at all cost.

Bring Food & Drink (Wine)

The region is known for its wine. So you better drink some wine.

Even though some tours offer small tastings, I highly recommend that you bring your own bottle of wine so you can have enough to properly enjoy.

I’d also recommend a snack, or packed lunches for the day trips from Kotor/Budva if you really don’t want to pay extra for meals.

Make sure to just reach out to the tour you choose beforehand and make sure they’re OK with you bringing your own supplies. I’d be surprised if it were a problem, but better to find out before.

Note: You can buy a bottle at a supermarket, or get one straight from a winery. I highly recommend you go for a tasting anyway while in the region, and I recommend Winery Kopitovic. You can reach them on WhatsApp to book a tour (+382 68 815 583).

Try to Go at Sunset Time

Lake Skadar gives off a very peaceful vibe. To fully lean into this natural vibe, I would recommend going on your boat tour at sunset.

The summer heat fades, the area quiets and the water reflects the soft light from the sun.

Sunset tours are only really an option if you’re already in Virpazar, as day trips come in mid-day to manage time and logistics.

Review Tour Information Before Going!

I’ve tried to give lots of details for each of the Lake Skadar boat tours I’ve included, but there’s no doubt I’ve missed some of the finer points.

Make sure to review the Get Your Guide pages after booking and even contact the tour group you choose directly. They often have specific instructions for things like parking and what to bring. They will likely contact you first, but you never know!

And with that, we conclude this post on the best boat tours from Lake Skadar! Whichever you choose, you’re sure to have an incredible time.