Croatia SUP Week - Everything you need to know!
We’ve put together this detailed guide on our Paddleboarding Holiday in Croatia to give you all the info you may need before booking and for simple planning once you’ve confirmed your spot!
We’ll be covering:
Destination
Logistics - flights and transfers, departure
WhatsApp group
Arrival day
Itinerary
Accommodation
Food and Drink
Free time
Paddling
Hiking
Cycling
Packing and packing list
DESTINATION
We’ll be making the island of Molat, in the Zadar Archipelago, our base for the week. The Zadar Archipelago is the densest island group in the Mediterranean, with over 300 small islands. Only 89 are permanently populated and some are just 50 metres apart. With incredible landscapes and clear waters, the Zadar Archipelago is ideal for those looking for untouched nature and isolation! Molat is just 23 sq kms in size with a permanent population of 250 people over three small villages. Boasting unspoilt nature, it's super green - covered with pine forests - with hidden bays and sandy and pebble beaches along the coastline. Off the tourist radar, this is a great little base for our trip with just a couple of restaurants so perfect for slowing down and connecting with nature.
LOGISTICS
FLIGHTS & TRANSFERS
The team will meet you in Molat, our base for the week, an island that is easy to get to from Zadar by ferry. You may find that you need to arrive a night before the start of your trip to be in Zadar in time for the ferry, or simply because of flight timetables. Zadar airport is around 20 minutes from the centre by taxi / uber or 30 minutes by bus.
Flight options from the UK:
This trip starts on Wednesdays. This is to ensure you can get the boat to Molat with the flight schedules that are currently scheduled.
Ryanair fly to Zadar and back on Tuesdays (and Saturdays if you want to extend your trip!) from:
Bournemouth
London Stansted
Leeds Bradford
Manchester
EasyJet fly to Zadar from London Gatwick on Tuesdays (and Saturdays if you want to extend your trip!)
If you arrive in Zadar the night before the ferry, we can recommend the Downtown Boutique Hostel if you are looking for budget accommodation.
You could also fly to and from Split and then take a bus to Zadar, however it will take 2-4 hours by bus to get to Zadar. There are various bus companies which travel this route.
British Airways, WizzAir, EasyJet and Jet2 fly from various UK airports to Split.
You will need to be in Zadar in time for the catamaran to Molat that leaves at 14:05 from just by the town centre. You can buy tickets for the boat at the office just by the boat. Tickets are around £6 each way and the ferry journey takes about an hour.
Flights and ferry tickets are not included in the cost of the trip and you are responsible for making your own way to Molat.
DEPARTURE
On the final day, our ferry will depart Molat at 06:50, arriving back in Zadar at 07:50. There is left luggage near the ferry port in Zadar, so if you have spare time before your flight home you can explore Zadar! It’s a beautiful town, so we do recommend this.
WHATSAPP GROUP
We will create a WhatsApp group for your trip; if you wish you can use this to plan any travel together.
Many guests arrange to meet at the airport before flying to us or arrange sharing taxis to or from the airport. Some choose to share a hotel or AirBnb at the airport in the UK before an early flight or in Zadar after a late one!
You’ll only be able to access the WhatsApp group once you have confirmed your booking with us.
ARRIVAL DAY
To help you ease into the trip and so that you know what to expect, here’s what generally happens on your first day.
We meet you at the ferry port in Molat and take you to your accommodation
Check into our apartments
First activity that afternoon - depending on weather and other conditions, but we’ll likely have a paddle to a beautiful beach and a short hike up to an archaeological site with amazing views of the area.
Dinner together and an early night ready for the next day of adventure.
Our activity choices are based on weather, wind and sea conditions, so please take our itineraries as a guide. We will make changes to ensure you have the very best possible experience with us and to make the most of local conditions!
ITINERARY
The itinerary on our trip page is very much a guide; see it a taster of the adventures you’ll have when you join us in Croatia. We will arrange our timetable for the week based on weather, wind and sea conditions. We are likely to make changes to the itinerary to ensure you have the best possible experience with us and to make the most of local conditions!
ACCOMMODATION
We will be staying in locally run apartments, dotted across the small village of Molat, all within a short walk to the harbour and where we meet for food. There will be 1-4 guests in each apartment. This accommodation choice supports our responsible and sustainable tourism ethos, and provides a comfortable stay for your holiday!
The apartments are simple, clean, spacious and light, and have access to a kitchen, lounge space and bathroom, and they also have air conditioning. We tend to spend very little time in the accommodation - you’ll be out paddling most of the day and we’ll all meet for meals at the agriturismo which prepares our food for us. Most of our guests enjoy the two little cafes/bars on the island and spend time at the local (pebble) beach in their spare time.
We will buddy you up with other Gutsy Girls to share a triple or twin room, or you can choose to stay in a private room.
FOOD & DRINK
We work with a fantastic local family at an agriturismo (a working farm designed to also receive guests), who prepare all our breakfasts, lunches and dinners, just for us. The balanced meals our hosts create are traditional recipes which are deliciously fresh and use local ingredients. We’ll be provided with a big breakfast, while lunch is always a fresh packed lunch which we take with us on our days out, and delicious dinners are served with wine. Because we essentially have a private chef for the week, it is easy for us to cater for all dietary requirements!
FREE TIME
There will be a little bit of free time every afternoon (2-3 hours) for you to do as you please. This is a conscious decision to ensure you have the best time with us, you may feel tired - that good kind of tired - after our activities, so it’s a chance for you to rest your body! Some guests may choose to spend this time alone which we fully support; it’s your holiday!
Many of our guests opt to take it easy at Molat’s pebble beach or harbour or hang out at one of the two small cafes with a good book, or even take a little afternoon siesta!
The midday sun is very hot so we do encourage you to stay out of the sun in the hottest part of the day.
STAND UP PADDLING
Am I a beginner or intermediate?
We don’t ask you to show evidence of your SUP skills to join our trips, but we do ask that you are kind and honest with yourself about what level you are at the time of travelling.
We’ve carefully considered our levels to ensure that all guests join us for the best possible experience on the water:
Beginner
• You’ve never stepped foot on a paddleboard
• You’ve had one formal lesson
• You’ve paddled less than 15 hours.
Intermediate +
• You must have had at least one formal lesson that taught technique.
• You have paddle boarded more than 15 hours
• You are comfortable with choppy or windy conditions
• You are able to confidently control and turn your board.
What do I need to bring for the paddling?
We provide:
Stand up paddleboard
Paddle
Leash
Small dry bags
Personal Floatation Device
You will need:
Water shoes for getting on and off the board, NOT flip flops.
Raincoats in case we are unlucky with the weather!
We don’t provide wetsuits, so if you have a shorty or spring suit for the shoulder months (early June / late Sept) you might like to bring it - but it is not really required.
Beach towel or microfibre towel
A sunhat
Sunglasses
Sunblock
UV long sleeved top to cover up in the midday sun - this is non-negotiable - no heat stroke on our trips!
Throughout the week you’ll have expert SUP coaching; learning racing techniques and turns.
There’s the option throughout the week to give sea kayaking a try too!
HIKING
Our hikes are gentle climbs that are great for all levels and well worth it for the views from the top! No need for hiking boots on these hikes, trainers with good grip and support will do fine.
Make sure you have a long-sleeved top to cover up in the midday sun, a sunhat and sunscreen.
CYCLING
We’ve included a great morning of cycling on empty roads across the island. You don’t need to be an expert cyclist to enjoy this route, we’ll go at a gentle pace to take in the views.
Our bike ride is completely optional!
PACKING LIST
We'll keep it pretty casual, mostly we will live in active/sports wear.
Day bag (Rucksack for carrying belongings on hikes)
Swimwear
Water shoes (shoes you can get wet for exiting the water on sharp rocks). Avoid wetsuit booties as these are a nightmare to put on and flip flops are not secure enough.
Quick-drying leggings / or shorts
Long Sleeve top - To protect arms from bushes when hiking and to protect you from the sun
T-shirt - Ideally a UV protection tshirt/rash vest to wear in midday heat.
Cap/Hat -essential!
Sunglasses
Trainers / shoes for hiking
Casual clothes / sports wear for hiking and cycling
1-2 litre water bottle
Suncream
Towel - a lightweight one is fine, just for taking to the beach
Raincoat (just in case)
Light jacket for the evenings
Jumper for the evenings
Insect repellent
Shorty wetsuit/long john wetsuit - optional but may be useful for early or late summer trips
Waterproof case for phone
Sunglasses strap - to keep them safe
Cash - no ATM on the island
