Multi activity vacations in Croatia travel advice

Sipan’s secrets

Iva Stefan, from our Croatia activity vacation specialists Huck Finn Adventure, shares her Sipan secrets: “Sipan Island is an incredibly rich and fertile island, thanks to its freshwater springs. It was lucky enough to reach its peak of development at the time when the Republic of Dubrovnik was at its richest. There are still real fishermen living in Luka Sipanska and Sudjuradj, drying their colourful nets out in the open. Lopud Island also has nice sandy beaches, no cars on the island and is an excellent place for the families. Both islands are very nice, with beaches, hiking and biking.”

Una Ivanic, from our multi activity tour pioneers Huck Finn Adventure Travel, tells us more about Sipan: “Sipan, the largest island in the Elaphiti archipelago, is a good example of somewhere that we stay that doesn’t have many tourists. We’ve been there for years and Matko is always searching for new cycling routes and locations to go kayaking that no one has heard of before. We’ve even seen Sipan getting more touristy. It’s still not as popular as many of the other islands, even though it’s just an hour’s ferry ride from Dubrovnik, but we always want to have our activities in places that are untouched and unspoiled.”

“Having never taken part in a group vacation before, it exceeded my expectations. The families were well-matched, with children of similar ages. Daniel, our guide, was super helpful. A nice balance of activities and down time. Already worrying how I trump this next year. My girls, 13 and 15, loved it!”
– Tracy O’Sullivan on a multi activity vacation with teens

“Zipwire was good, canyoning was good, my kids liked just hanging out with the other kids. All activities were very well organised and professional. Consistently high standard. Both guides were lovely and made an effort to get to know everyone. Drivers very professional, the great transport really added to the trip. Get ready for an energetic week.” – Joanne Atkinson on a multi activity vacation with teens

“Excellent vacations, loads to do but no pressure if you’d like a sleep-in or an afternoon off! Absolutely amazing food – will definitely open your eyes to the world of plant-based meals. A reasonable level of fitness will probably mean you’ll get the most out of what is on offer, although all activities are tailored to the group and there is no pressure to participate. Most beaches are stony so do bring water shoes!”
– Phillipa Colby on a small group activity week in Vis

“There are lots of enjoyable times to remember from this vacation, but probably the main one for me is swimming several times each day in the warm, clear waters 10 minutes’ walk from the base in Rukavac. Join in the activities, have a go, but do as much or as little as you want. I liked the informal shorts and t-shirts environment. I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely what it says on the tin – relaxingly active.”
– Dave Duggan on a small group activity week in Vis

“There were two really good aspects of the vacation which made it memorable: firstly, a well-balanced set of varied, challenging and enjoyable activities; and, secondly, our tour guide Mirko, who really made the vacation fun with his good spirit, helpfulness and knowledge. Staying in a local village among local people certainly helped them. It also gave us a flavour of local life that we wouldn’t otherwise have got.” – Cormac Lucey on a multi sport tour in Croatia

“Kayaking down the Zrmanja River was incredibly fun. Got to go through some exciting rapids, but also had calm parts where you could really stop and appreciate the beauty around you. The two National Parks, Krka and Plitvice Lakes, were also incredibly memorable and unique. The colour of the water is like nothing I have ever seen before, a gorgeous blue-green, yet very clear. This is a great trip that has a perfect mix of activities with downtime to be able to relax. The trip covers a lot of ground, but you are never stuck in the car for too many hours on end. Our guides Luka and Victor were knowledgeable, incredibly friendly, and also very professional. I highly recommend this trip!” – Samantha Sherman on a multi sport tour in Croatia

“We loved seeing the beauty of Croatia, from the Elaphiti Islands to Plitvice Lakes and sites in between. The pace and variety of activities (biking, rafting, hiking, sea kayaking) were excellent. The food was outstanding as well. Pack as light as you can and plan to rinse items out overnight to reuse. Our leaders and group members also cleaned up litter at sites in several places, benefiting the local environment. And by patronising national parks (and paying the park fees), we supported Croatian conservation efforts. We especially want to recognise our guides, Dino and Tomislav, who were amazing: incredibly well organised, informative, patient, funny, flexible, and excellent leaders.” – Sue Johnson on a multi sport tour in Croatia

“The whole vacation was great, with the guide being informative, helpful and always polite, going out of his way to ensure everyone in the group was happy. Have a go! Our kids (12 and 14) surprised themselves every day with what they could do. The village we stayed in was beautiful and staying with local families does make a huge impact on their lives, as earning a livelihood is difficult in this area of Croatia, especially as many of the old industries which existed before the war do not provide employment anymore.” – JH Blight on a multi activity vacation based in Korana

“We visited an elderly couple who ran a farm with olive trees, goats and chickens. We paid to have lunch there, which was delicious and almost entirely from their own produce. Our guide gave the money directly to the couple and this allows them to supplement their income. Our guide was very aware of environmental issues and we did discuss local environmental issues such as recycling. We all chose not to do the day trip to Dubrovnik on the optional day, as the island we stayed on was so beautiful and we were able to use the kayaks, SUP and bikes there. Our guide also arranged a fishing trip for us.” – Gill Tomkins on a multi activity vacation based in Korana