Sea kayaking in Croatia

COUNTRY:: Croatia
DEPARTURES:: 2012: 21 Apr, 28 Apr, 5 May, 12 May, 19 May, 26 May, 2 Jun, 9 Jun, 16 Jun, 23 Jun, 30 Jun, 7 Jul, 14 Jul, 21 Jul, 28 Jul, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 18 Aug, 25 Aug, 1 Sep, 8 Sep, 15 Sep, 22 Sep, 29 Sep, 6 Oct, 13 Oct
PRICE:: From €560 - €740 (8 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:: The price depends on the season and includes half board accommodation, activities, local taxes, transfers, guides, insurance. Camping and self catering appartment option available. Min age 8. Single room supp. 20%. Child discount 10% (8-14yrs).
VOUCHERS:: Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

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Holiday Details
5 reviews

Sea kayaking in Croatia

How this holiday makes a difference

Environment

We have brought sea kayaks to Elafiti islands in late 80's because we thought this was the most beautiful area in the Adriatic Sea. Kolocep, Sipan, Lopud, Ruda and St. Andrija islands, as well as Trsteno bay with all their beauties and secrets are within easy reach of kayaks. Kayaks make Lopud attractive also before and after summer when not much is happening.

On our trips we bike on paved roads only, walk and hike on existing paths and tell our guests not to feed, fish, hunt and disturb animals.

In our office we minimize printing actions and recycle paper. Part of our staff is vegetarian and because of that we try to provide quality vegetarian meals on our trips. We support orphan bear shelter in Kutarevo.

Community

We do not take commission from owners of rooms or apartments that our guests stay in. We make living by providing kayak and related services and believe in fair revenue distribution.

Zaton is a bay with three small fishermen villages only ten minutes drive from Dubrovnik - too close to the most beautiful town on the Mediterranean to make many visitors stop and stay here and not just to drive on. Being close to Dubrovnik caused Zaton season to be only eight weeks long, not even a quarter of the season of the big and well known neighbor. Sea kayaks that we introduced gave it a whole new dimension: while the main road cuts it off of its hinterland, kayaks allow its guests to smoothly float to its hidden coves, caves and beaches just outside the bay or on Elafiti Islands - Daksa, Kolocep, Lopud, Sipan... Kayaking season here is at the moment five months long but we keep our kayaks there for the local kids to use almost year round. That keeps them busy outdoors and also prepares them to become our future guides and partners some day.

By booking this trip you bring much needed income to the people who are still recovering from the war-torn years as this was the area severely affected by war. This trip ensures that the local people benefit as much as possible in the form of jobs (we employ local guides and drivers) and provision of accommodation (we use family owned hotel or home stay with local family) most of all that negative environmental impacts are kept to the minimum.

We use local transfer services, buy food from the small farms and work on developing responsible waste management by stimulating waste recycle. By buying local products you are supporting this countries’ economy and helping Croatia to stand on her feet again!

We consider as our responsibility to lead efforts to maintain and preserve the integrity of this fledgling sector by petitioning the introduction of tighter controls over the use of the country’s natural resources. As a company, we support the local community by building camps in partnership with local families, building bridges and accesses to the rivers. In order to preserve traventine barriers on Zrmanja River we have built a wooden detour bridges.

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Sea kayaking in Croatia

Reviewed 18 Aug 2009 by Rosie Tanner

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Kayaking around Kolocep Island and visiting the luminous Blue Cave half way around the island, which we could only swim into and out of.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Check the details carefully! Our "stay in family homes" and local food advertised on the website was changed without notice into a stay in a quite large hotel (300+ people) with buffet meals. I only found this out by chance when we were mailed just before we left that we would be staying on a different island. The other families on the holiday were also not informed beforehand about the changes; they had also expected to stay in local homes. The children enjoyed the pool at the hotel, but I would have preferred to stay in accommodation rented out by locals, as had been suggested on the companies. The tour operator and Responsible Travel both dealt with my complaint before the holiday with very professional mails explaining why the change was made. We stayed locally by ourselves after our kayaking holiday and I felt that that benefited the locals more than staying in the hotel; the service was personal and the room better.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Unsure. In the hotel, towels were changed daily, the airco was put on when we were out of the room... not sure if the hotel employed real locals or who the owner was. The manager was French and, although excellent, definitely not local. Kayaking was a great way to travel of course and visiting local restaurants for lunch benefited the locals running them.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Great activities - kayaking, biking, walking - but the stay in the hotel wasn't what I had expected.

Read the operator's response here:

Dear Ms. Tanner,
I am the manager of the tour company and I would like to give you more insight information which resulted with the change from Lopud to Kolocep. We operate kayaking and multi-sport packages from both islands and Zaton Bay since 1988. We have established good collaboration with all - restaurants, hotels, families who rent rooms or apartments and others. We prefer Zaton Bay in spring and autumn as in those periods there is hardly anything happening on the islands - even the restaurants are closed. Lopud has the most hotels, restaurants and family owned pansions and villas. Kolocep has one hotel and few houses suitable for accommodating groups on such an active holiday. The hotel was too expensive for us.

Hotel Ville Kolocep - the only source of jobs for the Kolocep island inhabitants - went bankrupt during the recent conflict in former Yugoslavia. The new owner is a non-profit organization called The Isle of Knowledge. It has invested bank loans in refurbishing the hotel with the purpose of attracting younger population and visitors to the island not only for beach holidays in summer. It also serves the islanders - no more than a couple of hundred permanent inhabitants - to get better and affordable education. Therefore the rooms are equipped with Internet and large screens and there are spaces for lectures, workshops and seminars to be held year round.

The recession is taking toll on both islands. The big hotel on Lopud, owned by Italian corporation, will remain closed this summer as the corporation doesn't expect profit in this season, which also means no jobs for 50 local workers - hotel seasonal employees. This is not so bad for the other two hotels and families who rent rooms or apartments. Their bookings are good, also thanks to Easyjet airline which introduced inexpensive flights from UK to Dubrovnik. Nowadays it's inexpensive holidays that sell the best. Still, we are a bit concerned as construction is taking place in other three hotels on Lopud.

On the other hand Kolocep Island and its hotel found themselves in a very difficult situation. The bank could foreclose the hotel and sell it to another foreign corporation as the hotel could not pay the mortgage. We succeeded in finding investors (our partner and friend, a Scottsman-Croatian married to a Croatian - as well as their son, the father of two Croatian girls) to pay for the debts and we are trying to bring visitors and business to the island. In return, the hotel gave us the prices which allow our clients - like your family - to stay in much better quality rooms and enjoy the hotel beach, swimming pool etc. This is not a typical resort hotel in which one has to dress up to walk from the beach to the rooms. Kolocep is more attractive for kayaking, hiking and snorkelling and it is closer to Dubrovnik.

Reviewed 01 Sep 2008 by Dereck Tait

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The beauty of Lopud Island combined with the relaxing atmosphere.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Don't bother with self-catering. The choice of restaurants by the guide was v good. We were initially concerned that meals would be very 'institutional' but this was not the case.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Absolutely. Apart from which the guide was very environmentally aware.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent. One of the best holidays we have had in a long time. From booking the holiday (very responsive and helpful staff/system) to the guides who were brilliant. All this made for a wonderful time and one I would have no hesitation in recommending to friends.

Reviewed 24 Sep 2007 by Louise Ganthony

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

How beautiful Lopud island is. I almost cried when it was time to leave, I’d had such a great time.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Take a pair of neoprene fingerless gloves and shoes. Also, buy a strap / string for your sunnies and definitely wear a hat. Also, never underestimate how much water you'll need. When it's 40 degrees and you're spending the day kayaking you'll need a lot.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Definitely. Ana (the 80yr old lady who owned the apartment we stayed in) benefited, as did all the local restaurants we ate in.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

First class. Met some great people, did lots of swimming and snorkelling and had the best cup of hot chocolate in the world...ever!

Reviewed 22 Apr 2007 by Amanda Schonfeld

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Our Croatian hosts were extremely welcoming and open and made us feel welcome and a part of their life. This applied to our guide, the staff at our accommodation, as well as other people in the village.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

The water in April is still a little chilly, but once you are in and swimming it does not feel cold any more.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

It definitely benefited local people, and by travelling in Sea Kayaks and on bikes we believe that it had minimal impact on the environment.

Reviewed 05 Aug 2006 by Ross Saddington

Click to enlarge Sea kayaking in Croatia photo

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge Ross's fab photos from this trip.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The best part? Having part of the Adriatic all to ourselves as we paddled around the shoreline and between islands with only ourselves and the beautiful, calm, aquamarine sea to keep us company. I came back feeling physically tired (we kayaked about 50km and lugged our gear across Lopud island) but mentally refreshed and relaxed. It must be something to do with the rhythms of the waves?? We were also fortunate in that we had a fantastic set of people in our group.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

The holiday might not suit you if don't like long periods of physical activity, the heat, or have just recovered from a serious back or shoulder injury because your upper body will be aching for at least two days until it adapts.

One minor recommendation: don't bring expensive sunglasses, such as Oakleys (you'll break them, almost guaranteed!) and bring a cord for your sun glasses, otherwise you'll probably loose them at sea at some point. Also, bring a proper water proof sun block such as Aloe Gator SPF15, or Piz Buin SPF15 I Day Long. These sun blocks last for 8 hours and need only one application. I used them and did n't get any sunburn.

Finally, I would recommend hiring a room, instead of taking the campsite option, if possible. At the end of a hard day's kayaking you really appreciate a proper bed as opposed to sleeping in 35 degree heat in a tent.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

I think we benefited the local community because the restaurants we ate at were all run by locals as were the rooms we stayed in.

4. Any other comments?

It was the best holiday I've ever had! Thanks for helping me find this holiday!

Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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