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| Kayaking |
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White-water kayaking |
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| Clear and warm, green
waters of Croatian rivers spring in the mountain foothills, run
though canyons, and spill over limestone barriers in the
sparkling curtains of waterfalls. It is their beauty that takes
our breath away, not the danger sometimes inherent in them.
However, if you are not an expert, you can always avoid high
waterfalls and dangerous rapids, opting instead for the shore.
High water levels in springtime offer a true and exhilarating
white water experience, while summer tours are ideal for
beginners. All major tourist centres organize daily kayaking
excursions down the Rivers Kupa, Gacka, Zrmanja, Trebižat.
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| And while you glide
silently down the river the landscape around you is ever
changing - whether enclosed by a forest or opened up by a lake
nestling in the embrace of a meadow. Watermills, wooden bridges,
churches and monasteries all bear witness to the long standing
tradition of a life with the river. The banks of the deepest and
most thrilling canyons are reached only by the sun and by often
barely negotiable tracks. Rowing along in your kayak you may
well discover a site that even many local people have never
seen. Although kayaking has a long tradition in Croatia and our
rivers are amazing, it is not a mass sport. Once on the river
you and your group will most often be alone with nature and her
inhabitants - fish, birds, amphibians and small mammals. |
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Sea kayaking |
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Traveling by kayak
through the Adriatic differs greatly from paddling experiences
on oceans, on the Mediterranean or in the northern seas. A
clear, warm sea, countless small coves and beaches, make sea
kayaking on the Adriatic by far the best in Europe. On your
voyages you will be accompanied by small shoals of fish, and
encounters with tunas and dolphins are by no means rare.
Travelling by kayak, you get to sea places that a yachtsman
could never reach - hidden bays with sandy, pebble or rocky
beaches, shallow lagoons, caves. Numerous cultural monuments,
striking architecture and local customs complement and further
enrich an already glorious experience.
From the Brijuni Archipelago in the north to the Elafiti islands
and the island of Mljet in the south, island groups provide an
ideal venue for an island-hopping adventure: from tiny port to
tiny port, from bay to bay - just a few miles of rowing and many
dockings. Distances between the islands are not great, and being
in a kayak you can easily enter river mouths (Mirna, Zrmanja,
Krka, Cetina or the Neretva delta). |
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The greatest interest
is inspired by the national parks on some of the islands -
Mljet, Brijuni and Kornati. It has to be stressed that each of
those possesses its own quite specific qualities.
Located in front of the old Dubrovnik port is the tiny island of
Lokrum, and on it an exceptional forest reserve. Each and every
one of the thirteen Elafiti islands is a first class kayaking
destination: wonderful nature, summer residences dating from the
Renaissance period, small wooden churches and a serene life
without motor vehicles. Quite apart from the features of
interest, this will ensure regular provisions and a safe trip on
the way from Cavtat or Dubrovnik, to Mljet. |
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The Croatian sea is
relatively safe and pleasant for a kayaking trip. Most islands
elongated in shape and run parallel with the mainland coastline,
which means that one side is always protected from rough winds
and waves. Regarding winds, you must reckon with the midday
maestral, the NE bora and SE jugo (southerly).
Equipment
Due to the many very sharp rocks it is safer to use a
polyethylene kayak rather than laminated or collapsible ones.
Two-seater or single-seat polyethylene kayaks manufactured by
recognized European producers are available for hire. It would
be remiss of you not to bring along a mask, snorkel and
flippers, since they enable you to enjoy the clear and rich
underwater world. It is not difficult to find overnight lodgings
in a camp, on an island, in a pension, apartment or hotel; nor
is it a problem finding a shop to replenish your provisions |
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