The beauty of rafting lies within its general appeal. Rafting can be done in calm waters while enjoying natural landscapes and relaxing with your whole family. On the other hand, rafting attracts thrill seekers who enjoy participating in extreme sports.

It all depends on the river where rafting is practiced. Whitewater can be classified into 6 distinguished classes, where each has its own characteristics. Find out what are the classes of the international scale of river difficulty and how does rafting on Tara river rank on this scale.

White water classes

They are also known as the International Scale of River Difficulty, here you can see that there are six grades of difficulty in white water rafting. They span across from simple to very dangerous and rafting on higher class water can cause serious injuries or even death. These are the white water classes:

• Class 1: Very small rough areas, requires no maneuvering. (Skill Level required: None)
• Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, small drops, might require maneuvering. (Skill Level required: Basic Paddling Skill)
• Class 3: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe a 3–5 ft drop, but not much considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering. (Skill Level required: Experienced paddling skills)
• Class 4: Whitewater, large waves, long rapids, rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level required: Advanced Whitewater Experience.)
• Class 5: Whitewater, large waves, continuous rapids, large rocks and hazards, maybe a large drop, precise maneuvering. Often characterized by "must make" moves, i.e. failure to execute a specific maneuver at a specific point may result in serious injury or death. Class 5 is sometimes expanded to Class 5+ that describes the most extreme, runnable rapids (Skill Level required: Expert)
• Class 6: While there is some debate over the term "Class 6", in practice it refers to rapids that are not passable and any attempt to do so would result in serious injury, near drowning or death. If a rapid that was once thought to be impassible is run, it is typically reclassified as Class 5.

Tara river water class

Tara river is one of the top ten rivers in the whole world to experience rafting and is the most popular rafting river in Europe. The Tara river cuts the Tara River Gorge, the deepest canyon in Montenegro, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Europe. As a matter of fact, Tara river canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world, right after Colorado Grand Canyon.

During the year Tara river has a variation in the level and amount of water. Because of that, the excitement it offers varies throughout the year. The water level is highest in April and May, and then its rapids reach class IV, V and sometimes even level VI difficulty, measured by international standards. You don’t have to worry about safety, as long as you follow the most mportant safety rules. Our IRF certified instructors have all the necessary rafting skills required to keep you safe.

With the coming of real summer heat, the water level drops, with it, the waterfalls located on the river lose their power. In late September and early October, the water level is lowest. The specificity of Tara river is the fact that it is constantly changing, so every year the rafting experience is different.

Whether you want a peaceful and relaxing experience, or you seek a heart-throbbing adrenaline rush, Tara river has it all. Reserve your tour and we will see you on the river!