Kayaking in Croatia

We are traveling towards Croatia and land at the airport south of Dubrovnik. From there, we will be picked up by minibuses and driven to our accommodation in Slano, where we will have dinner and get to know each other. We will talk a little about the days ahead and make set a plan for tomorrow.

The day begins at the breakfast table, where we eat, plan our day, and pack. Today we’ll visit the largely uninhabited and exceptionally beautiful island of Jakljan. We test the water temperature and play around in the kayaks while our local guide prepares the packed lunch we brought along. We eat a little and look around what could have been a popular tourist hub on the island if an unresolved conflict from the 30-year-old civil war in Yugoslavia hadn’t put a stop to the investment plans. We paddle from untouched Jakljan to the quiet but often-visited harbor of Sipanska Luka. Here we’re served a delicious dinner and replenish our energy reserves.

Today’s kayaking trip takes us along the west coast of the island of Sipan. We’ll visit a beautiful rock arch—famous as a starting point for cliff divers who aren’t afraid of heights. From there, we’ll head to the lush underwater cave off Sipan. Here we’ll break out our snorkels and masks so we can explore both the light and the underwater life. The rocks around the cave are also great for jumping and diving for those who enjoy that sort of thing. After lunch in the charming fishing village of Sudurad, we’ll leave the kayaks behind and bike back to Sipanska Luka (6 km). Along the way, there’s plenty of history and scenic viewpoints with churches and chapels, as well as the chance to taste the local grapes growing right by the roadside. For those who don’t like cycling, there’s a local bus. Before dinner, you can go for a swim, relax with a cold drink, explore Luka, or take a hike to a hilltop with a great view.

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel on Sipan and let our Croatian friends transport our luggage to the neighboring island of Lopud. We cycle to Sudurad (6 km) and paddle around the west side of Lopud to the large beach at Sunj. Here we’ll have lunch and relax on the beach for as long as we like, before walking back to Lopud town on the opposite side of the island (20 minutes). In the afternoon, you can relax in Lopud town, swim and sunbathe, or explore the island on one side or the other. Whatever you choose, we’ll meet up again for dinner and end the day together.

This is the toughest day of paddling, but also the day with by far the most spectacular cave experience. The Blue Cave on the island of Kolocep is almost invisible at high tide, but the light underwater is a truly magical dark blue. We eat our packed lunch in a pleasant hiking area far to the south of the island. From the southernmost points, we have a great view of the bustling harbor and the old town of Dubrovnik, but as soon as we turn north again, we are far away from the city’s hustle and bustle. This day of paddling lasts a little longer, and the afternoon light as we walk back to Lopud town is simply beautiful. The trip back to Lopud town takes about 25 minutes.

You can spend this day however you like. For those who never tire of being active, our Norwegian guide offers both instruction and skill training in kayaking on this day. Would you like to learn the Eskimo roll in warm water and comfortable conditions? Maybe you need to practice turning techniques, self-rescue, support strokes, or buddy rescue? Perhaps you’d like to learn to surf the waves if conditions allow? You can also take the ferry to Dubrovnik for sightseeing and shopping, or relax in the town of Lopud or Sunj. In the afternoon, our guide will take those who wish to go to Lopud’s highest point, where we’ll enjoy a stunning view of Dubrovnik and the mainland, as well as Kolocep, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

After breakfast, we’ll head over to our kayaks at Sunj Beach and set off toward the mainland and the beautiful arboretum in Trsteno. Here, we’ll see a wide variety of rare plants and trees, have lunch, and explore the filming location from the famous TV series *Game of Thrones*. We’ll paddle back to Lopud town via the east side of the island and wrap up our kayaking trip by returning the equipment. We’ll conclude our stay on the islands with a nice farewell dinner together.

We’ll take an early ferry into Dubrovnik, have breakfast together upon arrival, and spend the day exploring the city. Dubrovnik offers history, shopping, and activities for everyone. How about a stroll along the city walls, or exploring the exciting city streets? A cable car ride up to the city hill? A boat trip to Cavtat with stand-up paddleboarding? After a day in Dubrovnik, our Croatian friends return with our luggage and drive us to the airport. A wonderful week is over, and we regret not booking a later return flight. Depends on where home is, we arrive home today. On group tours we arrive together in Oslo. Thank you for this time!