Dates: June 1-10, 2008
Starting & Ending Place: Dubrovnik, Guesthouse in Zaton Bay
Airport: Cilipi, also known as the Dubrovnik airport
Latitude: Dubrovnik 42°38' N
This trip will once again be lead by Tim and Lena Conlan, owners of Crossing Latitudes.
During this exciting paddling adventure we will stay at local guesthouses and embark on day trips by kayak or bike. On day 5 we will pack up all personal belongings in waterproof bags and paddle to another island guesthouse. This is a self supported trip with no motorized support craft. Crossing Latitudes staff will guide the trip with help of a local Croatian guide. No previous experience is needed but folks with experience can count on as much paddling as they want.
Crossing Latitudes is flexible and we are more than willing to split our group up according to needs and desires each day. It is your vacation and we are there to ensure that you have a blast! The Adriatic Sea is warm and clear. Strong tides, big winds and swells are uncommon but we hope to get at least one day of some more challenging seas. This is a perfect trip to learn how to paddle well or to further improve your skills.
Day 1: Sunday June 1 Arrival in Dubrovnik. Please provide us your flight itinerary so we can meet you at the airport. We will bring you to our guesthouse at Zaton Bay - just outside Dubrovnik (included in your fee). At 6:00pm we will meet for a Welcome chat, trip orientation, personal packing review and dinner.
If you fly in a day before or early this day we highly recommend you to take the tour of the Old City wall around Dubrovnik. Please let us know your itinerary and if you want us to help you book a room an extra night at the guesthouse where we all stay together tonight.
Day 2: Monday June 2 After breakfast at guesthouse we will have a bit of time to finish up our personal packing in dry bags and water proof bags. Any extra luggage such as your suit case or duffel bags can be stored at the hotel.
Together we will travel to the Ferry terminal and board a ferry. The ride out to the island of Sipan will take just under 2 hours. One we have checked into our Guest House we will enjoy lunch and then walk down to our kayaks. An introduction to our fleet of kayaks, safety orientation and some fun paddling is next on our schedule of things to do. Previous paddling experience is not required for this trip - just an adventurous spirit. Teaching fun and safe paddling is what Crossing Latitudes is all about. For folks with paddling experience this might be a good opportunity to play around, practice some skills and get wet.
Our day will end with a great dinner at Marko’s - one of the many local restaurants in our small community of Sipan Luka.
Day 3: Tuesday June 3 After breakfast provided by our Crossing Latitudes staff we will walk to the kayaks and get ready for a day trip. Today we hope to paddle to the "outer islands" along the inside route the islands. Kosmec, Golec, Crkvina, Tajan and Jakljan Islands (approx. 18 km) are names that will become familiar to you. When we get hungry there will be a picnic lunch on a beach somewhere.
Of course there will be opportunities to work on technical paddling skills such as low and high braces and the Eskimo roll. The water is warm and clear _ you do not want to miss out on getting wet!
In the late afternoon you might take a walk to the top of the island (approx 2,5 hours round trip). The islands of Elafiti are very lush and we have truly enjoyed identifying wild flowers, trees as well as experiencing the small chapels and ruins along our trail. Dinner will once again be at local restaurant. All meals are included in the trip cost and we hope the meals we share together will not only be very tasty but also very memorable.
Day 4: Wednesday June 4 Today you can choose to paddle to the "outer islands" along the outside route. This route is a bit longer than yesterdays trip. Paddling to Jakljan and Olipa Islands is approx. 25km round trip.
On our Crossing Latitudes trips you always have options _ some folks might choose to go biking today instead. The distance peddling from Sipan Luka to the other side of the island and the community of Sudurad is about 10 kilometer. Sudurad is a nice community with some interesting cultural buildings and a beautiful old church. The road is flat and the biking is easy.
Whether you go paddling or biking we will provide a picnic lunch and of course the group will all be together for dinner again. Sharing stories and enjoying each other company ads to all Crossing Latitudes trips.
Day 5: Thursday June 5 After breakfast we will pack up all personal belongings in waterproof bags again and load our kayaks. We will paddle from Sipanska Luka to the island of Lopud (approx. 15 km). If the weather and sea conditions are good we will paddle on the outside and experience some rock gardens and arches to paddle under. Maybe we will enjoy lunch at Sudurad before we cross over to Lopud island.
We will check into our guesthouse on Lopud and maybe take a walk and explore the islands in the late afternoon. You can also stay by the beach and work on paddling skills.
Tonight's dinner might be barbecue served by our host family or at a local restaurant.
Day 6: Friday June 6 Today's paddle from will take us to the island of Kolocep Island and back (approx. 12-25 km). Lunch will be at Skerac restaurant, one of the best in the area, especially for kayakers.
For those of us who didn't get to explore the island by foot yesterday _ this might be the day to do it. The walk up to the old ruins are a cultural experience as we walk by peoples homes and gardens. We will swing by the old chapel of St Peter and the views from the top of the island are fantastic.
At dinner we once again get together and share stories and enjoy a home cooked Croatian meal.
Day 7: Saturday June 7 Some folks might paddle from Lopud across to Trsteno along the mainland coast today. This trip offers a walk through the Roman Gardens and to the old olive oil factory. Coming back you might head across to Sipan and make another stop at the community of Sudurad before making the final crossing over to Lopud.
Others might just circumnavigate our own small island of Lopud (approx. 2 hours of paddling) and work on skills. This trip provides great opportunities to learn all the different kinds of self and assisted rescues as well as getting private instruction in bracing and the Eskimo roll.
Fresh fish, sea food and local meat are specialties but it is not difficult to be a vegetarian in Croatia. Vegetarian meals are provided in all restaurants. Tonight you might order your favorite dish again!
Day 8: Sunday June 8 This is our last day on the Elafiti Islands. You decide - a long day trip or a day on the beach working on skills? A paddle towards the open seas and St. Andrew Island, where only one family lives nearby the lighthouse or maybe a walk around the island or just hours of snorkeling?
Day 9: Monday June 9 After breakfast we will for the last time pack up all belongings in water proof bags and load our kayaks. You can choose to paddle back to Dubrovnik (3-4 hours) and Zaton Bay or you can take the ferry back to the city (1 hour ride). In one or another way we will all end up back at our guesthouse again and receive our stored extra luggage.
This afternoon you might have some personal time to explore Dubrovnik. Our End-of-trip-dinner will be served with the Old City.
Day 10: Tuesday June 10 Breakfast and a final group photo will mark the official ending of our adventure! Please don't hesitate to ask if you want to spend extra days and need some advice to where and what to explore in Croatia and the near by countries.
General Information: The price includes: All meals (except lunch on day 9), airport pick-up, transportation from our first meeting day until the last day, lodging in double accommodations, storage of luggage, group equipment such as commissary, rescue equipment, all sea kayak related equipment such as boats, paddles, spray skirts, life jacket, first aid kit, repair kit, bikes etc.
The price does not include: Passport fees ( a passport is required, tourist Visas are not required for stays up to three months), air fare, airport fees and taxes, accident and travel insurance, optional tipping to our guides, meals not included in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, medical fees, personal equipment, individual services apart from the group, personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls etc.
Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.
Pre- and post-trip accommodations: We recommend EDMONDS TRAVEL outside Seattle. They specialize in travel to Scandinavia but can help out with all travel around the world. "KJ" is our primary contact person, she will help you book tickets. Call: 1-800-261-3868. Email: kj@edmondstravel.com
Weather: There are two climate zones in Croatia; a temperate continental climate that prevails in the interior, and a pleasant Mediterranean climate that prevails along the Adriatic coast. Here there are an overwhelming number of sunny days and it is usually dry and hot in the summer. Average temperature along the seaside in the summer is about 77°Farenheit (25_C). At times, the elements could prohibit us from paddling or hiking but not from enjoying these spectacular places. A windbreaker and good footwear will also enable us to explore the islands, forests and villages by foot.
Language: The Croatian language (Croatian: Hrvatski jezik) is among the western group of South Slavic languages which is used primarily by the Croats. It is one of the standard versions of the Central-South Slavic diasystem. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to speak the native tongue. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great help. Our local guides all speak English.
Entering Croatia: At this time foreign visitors are not required to have a visa to enter Croatia - to check on visa requirements, visit the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: http://www.mvpei.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1615
Money: The Croatian currency is the Kuna, which is divided into 100 lipas. The word "Kuna" means marten, a weasel-like animal, whose fur Croats used for payment many centuries ago. The lipa is a lime tree, but we don't know the connection here! The Kuna is overvalued but is nevertheless a stable currency. The current exchange rate between the kuna and various world currencies can be found at the Croatian National Bank. As of November 2006 US$1.00 = 5.75 Kunas. Our advice is to take a bank card/cash card instead of bringing cash. ATMs are readily available in Croatia. US Dollars and Euros are easily changeable in Croatia. Hotel exchange rates are usually quite poor, you'll be better off changing money in a bank or in one of numerous ExChange offices.
Internet & Phones: Internet access is fairly commonplace in Croatia; broadband services less so, although coverage is increasing all the time. Something that passes for an Internet cafe can be found pretty much anywhere. Payphones appear pretty much everywhere. Buy a telephone card from a newspaper kiosk for easy use - these come in various denominations. There are two mobile phone networks in Croatia: T-Mobile and VIP.
Food & Drink: You get the standard international fare as in many other Mediterranean countries (pizza, pasta, meat dishes, fish). All food is safe to eat, restaurants are regularly inspected, there is no problem with drinking water. Seafood is a specialty along the Croatian coastline. Croatian beers are of a high quality. Zagreb's Ozujsko pivo or Karlovacko pivo are recommended. In Dalmatia, some red wines such as Faros or Dingac are exquisite.
Other information: Electricity is 220V, 50Hz. Croatia uses the standard European 2 point plugs. The weights and measures system is metric. The telephone code for Croatia is 385. Croatia is 1 hour ahead of GMT, the same time zone as the majority of Western Europe.
Kayaks: Prijon Seayak singles and French DAG Biwok double kayaks. The paddles are Prijon RIM or more and more Czech TNP and a few Werner paddles. Pfd’s are both American (Kokatat) and French DAG vests.
Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Europe, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Europe: +46-70-670 11 53. Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.
We are looking forward to our adventure together!
