Kayak Holidays Croatia | Huck Finn Adventure Travel Croatia

8 days

Duration

Croatia

Location

14+

Age

5/10

Activity level

Jul-Aug

Dates

4-16

Group size

Experienced river guides and kayakers will show you the necessary skills in form of a kayaking school and take you along the most beautiful rivers in Croatia. You will have a chance to learn more about river kayaking and paddling techniques. With this trip you will get to kayak down some of the top kayaking rivers in Croatia – Mreznica, Korana and Zrmanja.

The course includes flat and whitewater sections of these three rivers. We will start our trip in Zvecaj by the Mreznica River, whose flat and warm waters are ideal for beginners’ lessons. The trip slowly progresses from class I river sections through classes II and III as you master paddling techniques, steering and maybe even learn how to eskimo roll! Our second base for the holiday will be Korana Village in Plitvice Lakes National Park.

This kayak holiday is suitable for kayak enthusiasts with little or no experience.

Day	Activities	Location	Overnight	Meals
1	Arrival, relaxing	Zvecaj	Zvecaj Hotel	D
2	Kayaking instructions	Mreznica River	Zvecaj Hotel	BD
3	Kayaking	Mreznica River	Zvecaj Hotel	BD
4	Kayaking	Mreznica Canyon	Korana Village	BD
5	Free day	Korana Village	Korana Village	BD
6	Kayaking	Korana River	Korana Village	BD
7	Kayaking	Zrmanja River	Korana Village	BD
8	Departure	Korana Village		B

Arrival to destination - Zvecaj Village

Leaving Zagreb or Rijeka airport behind, we make our way to Zvecaj village, our base for the next three days. Here we have the unique opportunity to spend a few days close to the river and learn the basics of kayaking, which we will need for later excursions. After settling into your accommodation, we will meet in the riverside restaurant for dinner and brief orientation where we will have the chance to discuss the upcoming holiday and get to know our fellow travelers.
Accommodation: 3*** hotel on Mreznica River bank; Meals: D; Drive: 1h from Zagreb airport, 1.5 h from Rijeka airport.

Kayaking Instructions

We start our day with kayaking instructions on the river bank by our hotel. Your kayaking instructor will show and teach you all the basic steps one needs to enjoy kayaking. You will gradually learn how to paddle correctly, how to maneuver the kayak and all the information needed before going out on the river by yourself. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the pure and untouched nature. Later in the afternoon we will rewind our day and go through all that we have learned. Before dinner there will be enough time to relax and enjoy a swim in the clear emerald Mreznica River.
Accommodation: 3*** hotel on Mreznica River bank; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 3-4 hours, Class I-II, easy.

Lower Mreznica River Kayaking

Embark on a kayaking expedition down the emerald Mreznica River. The journey meanders through a spectacular landscape of lush forests and open meadows. Due to its biological diversity and variety of habitats, the Mreznica area should soon be categorized as a Croatian nature park. It is home to many threatened and protected plant and animal species that you may get the chance to observe. These include 4 species of birds from the “red list” of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – the Golden Eagle, the Lesser Spotted Eagle, the Western Capercaillie and the Great White Egret. The day will be filled with swimming, jumping off the waterfalls and enjoying beautiful nature. After a light picnic, we’ll paddle back to the hotel.
Accommodation: 3*** hotel on Mreznica River bank; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 3-4 hours, class I-II, easy; Drive: 15 minutes to start point.

Upper Mreznica Canyon Kayaking

This morning we’re back on the water in the upper Mreznica canyon. Our route takes us from the hotel to a point approximately 45 minutes away where we’ll start our expedition into the canyon. We travel through a gorge so narrow and deep that the sun enters for only a few hours each day, around noon, creating spectacular light effects. Paddling by cliffs of carved white rocks, lush vegetation and cascading waterfalls, we will arrive at a strong freshwater spring. We continue our journey to the second highest waterfall on the Mreznica (8m), a magical place ideal for swimming and a picnic. After a break, our base until the end of the week will be Korana Village, a peaceful and charming village situated at the doorstep of Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Accommodation: Private guesthouse in Korana Village; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 3 – 5 hours, class II-III, moderate; Drive: 1 h each way. Please note that in case of very low water levels the trip can only be done downstream – in that case the duration of kayaking is 2-3 hours.

Optional Sea Kayaking or Plitvice Walking

Today you can be as active as you wish. You can relax by the river or take another optional trip from our offer. Several optional trips will be proposed in case you are keen on discovering more beauties that Croatia has to offer: sea kayaking in the Adriatic, or take a break from kayaking and explore the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park by walking.
Accommodation: Private guesthouse in Korana Village; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Drive: max 2 hours one way.

Korana River Kayaking

Today we explore another river ideal for kayaking. We start the trip in Slunj, kayak through the canyon in Rastoke, a small village known for its well-preserved mills and the picturesque little waterfalls. From there we continue downstream for 7 kilometers, learning the kayaking techniques and enjoying the scenery.
Accommodation: Private guesthouse in Korana Village; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 2-4 hours, class II-III, easy/moderate ; Drive: 30min each way.

Zrmanja River Kayaking (Velebit Nature Park)

We head south for kayaking down the magnificent Wild West-like canyons of the Zrmanja and Krupa Rivers. After short instructions and reminder on paddling, we push off for an afternoon of refreshing fun on the clear, warm and green waters of these Croatian rivers, considered two of the most beautiful in Europe. Waterfalls and easy rapids, hidden swimming pools and steep sided canyons – it doesn’t get better than this! Relax on the last evening in peaceful Korana Village while enjoying a traditional Croatian supper.
Accommodation: Private guesthouse in Korana Village; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Van drive: 2h each way; Activity: Kayaking, 3-4 hours, class II-III,moderate; Driving: 2h each way.

Departure Day

Depart Korana village for the airport and flight home. If you decide to spend more time in Croatia, our guides will be happy to recommend other beautiful places to visit – especially those you won’t find in tourist guide books.
Meals: B; Drive: 2 hours

This itinerary and the duration of the activities are subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, weather conditions and forecasts, water levels, special events of interest, etc. Huck Finn guides and trip leaders will do their utmost to ensure the best possible experience for their clients without compromising safety at any time. This may mean changing the original itinerary to avoid discomfort or risk which could be caused by exceptional situations. Huck Finn reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.

		8-day			5-day
	low	intermediate	high	low	intermediate	high
adult	670 €	760 €	840 €	560 €	620 €	660,00 €
single	804 €	912 €	1008 €	672 €	744 €	792 €

All prices are per person.

Seasons 2020
Low: April 18 – May 29; September 26 – October 17
Intermediate: May 30 – June 19; September 12 – 25
High: June 20 – September 11

Departure dates 2020 - Saturdays
July			18
August			15

Other dates on request.

Price includes:

7 nights accommodation
2 meals per day (dinner day 1-breakfast day 8)
use of kayaks / canoes, paddles, life jackets, helmets
use of neoprene shorts in case of cold weather (*bring your sandals or water shoes)
5 days organized activities
local taxes and river permits
Saturday arrival transfer from Zagreb or Rijeka airport
Saturday departure transfer to Zagreb, Zadar or Rijeka airport
skilled English speaking guide and assistance
ground transportation
insurance

Not included:

airfare
drinks and meals not indicated in the itinerary
tips and other personal expenses
optional trips

Arrival airports: Zagreb or Rijeka

Departure airports: Zagreb, Rijeka or Zadar.

Arrival and departure transfers: several group transfers between the airport and destination depending on arrival/departure time. Arrivals after 6 pm may be subject to surcharge of 30 euros per person.

Maximum number of participants: 16 guests per group. Larger groups upon request.

Minimum age: 14 years if accompanied by parent(s) Single use rooms are available upon request with a 20% surcharge. Sharing a twin room with another person is possible in case there are other guests interested in sharing.

Accommodation: please note that the houses in Korana Village have two or three bedrooms, with two rooms sharing one bathroom.

Optional trips are not included in price and can be booked and paid on spot. Optional trips cost approximately 40 – 70 € per person and are dependent on suitable weather conditions. The price is based on a minimum of 4 participants.