Trip Dossier for Croatia – Sea Kayak Adventure - Families Worldwide

Trip Dossier for Croatia – Sea Kayak Adventure
Trip Code: FCSK Issue date: 12 November 2012 Valid from: 1 st January 2013
Based on the beautiful island of Lopud your sea kayaking adventure includes visits to remote
caves and bays, cycle through the colourful villages of Sipan island, walks though Kolocep
island, swim, and snorkel in the warm waters of the Adriatic. Go dolphin watching off Sveti
Andrija; visit Neptune’s fountain at the beautiful Trsteno arboretum. During your free time,
relax on the beach or visit Dubrovnik and explore this beautiful walled city. Alternatively you
may prefer an optional excursion; like a boat trip to Mjlet National Park or go on a canoeing
excursion in Herzegovina and visit Mostar in Bosnia to see the famous bridge.
Day 1 Join tour Dubrovnik and transfer to Lopud Island
Please refer to Transfer Arrangements below for details on where and how to join the tour.
Join the tour at Dubrovnik Airport where you will be met by our local representative. You’ll then take a
short bus ride to the port where you’ll take the ferry across to Lopud Island. From here it is a short
journey to the guesthouse, your base for the next week. In the afternoon, there is plenty of time to
relax and unpack, or take a dip in the sea; which is only a few minutes walk from the guesthouse. Go
for an evening stroll up to Fort Kastio and watch the sunset fade over the Elafiti Islands. A tour of the
local area will take place prior to before or after dinner. Guesthouse – 7 nights (dinner)
Day 2 Mountain biking around Sipan Island
Following breakfast, you’ll wander down to the beach to meet your guides and collect your sea
kayaks. As well as being great fun; sea kayaks are the most suitable mode of transport around the
islands. It gives you the opportunity to see the islands from a different perspective and avoids the
hustle and bustle traffic jams! We recommend children kayak with an adult – to stop mum and dad
from capsizing! Full instructions and lifejackets are provided and your guides will be close by to help.
The next step is to climb into your kayaks and paddle to Sipan Island, where we swop our kayaks for
mountain bikes to explore this island further. Sipan Island is the largest island of Elafiti (Dubrovnik)
archipelago and is rich in cultural heritage. Discover the colourful villages of Sudjuradj and Luka
Sipanska. You’ll cycle around secret village routes alongside dense evergreen woodland, vineyards
and olive groves, and discover why many of Dubrovnik’s elite built their palaces and summer houses
on this beautiful island in days gone by. There is plenty of time to explore the island and even enjoy a
swim in the clear blue sea. Returning to Lopud late in the afternoon. (breakfast and lunch)
Day 3 Beaches of Lopud Island
Today you’ll kayak to the sandy beaches of Sunj Bay on Lopud’s southern side. Remember to take
your towel and beach ball. Snorkel, fins and diving mask are provided if you wish to explore the rich
and colourful underwater world of the Adriatic. It’s only a short walk, approximately 30 minutes back to
the village for dinner. Alternatively you can take the longer western route through the forest and along
the steep coastal path back to the village. (breakfast and dinner)
Day 4 Kolocep Island
Enjoy exploring the island of Kolocep, you will kayak into hidden dark caves, snorkel over colourful
reefs and hike up steep cliffs. Kolocep is one of the smallest populated islands in the Elafiti
Archipelago. It is popular for fishermen with its numerous small inlets and bays; a haven for lobsters.
Enjoy taking a stroll through forested areas, along coastal paths and down to the sandy beaches of
Gornje Celo and Donje Celo. The beaches are great to swim and snorkel from and go in search of
the Blue Cave, only accessible from the sea. Enjoy a delicious meal at a favourite kayaker’s haunt
before returning to Lopud late afternoon. (breakfast and lunch)

Day 5 Free day
Today is a free day to relax on the beach, snorkel, take a hike up to Fort Kastio, the highest point on
Lopud Island or take a ferry across to Lokrum Island Reserve reputedly, where Richard the Lionheart
was shipwrecked. Visit the sea caves where the water is translucent blue and green, then carry on to
Bettina Cave, a perfect spot with a nice pebble beach for swimming and snorkelling. We recommend
exploring the old city port with its backdrop of monumental stone fortresses and red roof tiles.
Alternatively, take a boat ride across to Dubrovnik; a beautiful city to explore. One of the first things
you should do is walk right round the city walls to get a feeling for the medieval and baroque wonders
of this ‘jewel of the Adriatic’ as described by George Bernard Shaw. With its stone ramparts reaching
right down into the clear blue Adriatic Sea, the old town was completed in the 13 th century and is
virtually unchanged. One of the pleasures of Dubrovnik is to sit at one of the many cafés and watch
the world go by. (breakfast)
Day 6 Kayaking and Dolphin Watching
After breakfast, it is time to depart for your sea kayaking adventure to Sveti Andrija Island, a popular
spot for dolphin watching and bird-spotting too. See pods of up to 30 Bottlenose dolphins, you may
also see Risso, Stripped and Cuvier beak dolphins. For the keen bird watcher, there are Eleonora
falcons, Manx and Cory shearwaters as well as European shags. In these waters there have also
been occasional sightings of giant devil rays, monk seals, blue-fin tuna and swordfish too.
Alternatively, you can participate in an optional canoeing excursion down the Trebizat River in
Herzegovina. This includes a visit to historic Ottoman town of Mostar, in Bosnia. This is a town where
East meets West, and you will see the famous Old Bridge that became a symbol of the recent war
which has been faithfully rebuilt to the exact same specifications. Browse through the bazaar and visit
a mosque and an old Turkish house. Remember to take your passport with you. Or another optional
excursion is to take a boat trip to Mljet Island Natioanl Park whose salt water lakes can be explored
on foot, by bike, canoe or kayak. All optional activities are €70 per person and require a minimum of 4
persons.
Day 7 Visit to Trsteno Village and Arboretum
Today you’ll kayak to Tresteno village and visit the arboretum; home to a collection of exotic plants
and trees. Make a wish at Neptune’s fountain and enjoy the breath-taking views across the islands
and paddle in the cascading waterfalls. Paddling back to Lopud Island late afternoon, to get ready for
this evening’s festivities. Tonight celebrate a great holiday at the sunset farewell party.
Day 8 End tour Dubrovnik
Sadly it is time to depart and transfer across by ferry and bus to Dubrovnik Airport.
Please refer to Transfer Arrangements below for details on transferring to Dubrovnik airport.
This holiday is sold in co-junction with our partners Huck Finn
Each itinerary is planned many months in advance and although it is our intention to operate the
itinerary as printed in the brochure and detailed here, it may be necessary to make some changes
as a result of alterations to flight schedules, climatic conditions, limitations of infrastructure or other
operational factors which are beyond our control. As a consequence, the order or location of
overnight stops may vary from those outlined but we will always endeavour to keep you informed of
any such changes. Included meals are indicated in the daily itinerary. Please remember international
flights and trip dates do occasionally change, so please always purchase flexible tickets.

Transfer Arrangements:
Airport transfer will be provided from Dubrovnik airport to the joining the guesthouse on Lopud Island
and vice versa. The normal designated group flights for this itinerary are shown below, however you
should check at the time of booking for the latest information.
All departures: British Airways – timings may vary
BA2678 Depart London Gatwick 09:10 / Arrive Dubrovnik 12:55
BA2679 Depart Dubrovnik 14:25 / Arrive London Gatwick 16:10
If you are arriving and departing on different flights to the designated group flights (whether you have
booked flights with Families Worldwide or otherwise), you may take advantage of these transfers only
if your flight times coincide with the designated group flights. Otherwise, you will need to make your
own transfer arrangements – private transfers can be booked in advance at an extra cost, please
contact us for details.
Optional Activities
These excursions can be arranged, subject to availability, through your tour leader:
Boat trip to Mljet National Park (full day) €70 per adult, €70 per child
Canoeing Excursion & visit to Mostar (full day) €70 per adult, €70 per child
Prices are per person; they are a guideline only and are subject to change. Prices given may also be
subject to a minimum number of 4 participants.
Climate The weather in Croatia on the coast is a Mediterranean type of climate with warm sunny
summers and mild winters. Average monthly temperatures are given below for Dubrovnik.
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Max °C 12 13 14 17 21 25 29 28 25 21 17 14
Min °C 6 6 8 11 14 18 21 21 18 14 10 8
Rainfall mm 139 125 104 104 75 48 26 38 101 162 198 178
Accommodation
Stay in beautiful stone villas/ guesthouses only a few minutes walk from the lovely sandy beaches of
Lopud Island. There are 5 rooms/apartments to each guesthouse each with 2, 3 or 4 beds. Each room
is en-suite with air-conditioning. The guesthouses are only 50 m apart from each other and close to
cafes, shops and restaurants. Breakfast is served in the guesthouse, and other meals lunch or dinner
depending on the itinerary may be taken back at the guesthouse, or on the beach, a BBQ at the
guesthouse, and even on a farm.
Is this right for your family? This is a great fun active holiday using kayaks as your main form of
transport to get around the islands. There are both one or two man kayaks and we recommend that
an adult always accompanies a child in the kayak. No previous kayak experience is required as full
instruction and all safety equipment is provided. Accommodation is in a delightful guesthouse just a
stones through from the beach close to local restaurants, cafes and shops. This holiday is based on
half-board, including breakfast and either lunch or dinner depending on the itinerary, with exception
on the free day where only breakfast is included.
Lone Parents Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some
countries, including the UK, require documentation confirming that the individual has authority to
travel with the minor. It is crucial that you contact the relevant country embassy for further information
on exactly what may be required. These details can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth
Website under the appropriate country www.fco.gov.uk/travel
Currency The unit of currency is the Croatian Kuna (HRK). At the time of writing (November 2012)
UK£1 = 9.41 HRK and Euro 1 = 7.53 HRK. We recommend that you change money at the airport.
Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and some souvenir shops. ATMs (bank cash dispensers)

can be found in town centres but there may be a bank fee for using this service. You will find that you
can pay for some items - taxis, some restaurants - in Euros.
Local Costs
A small bottle of mineral water (500ml) £0.50
A large bottle of mineral water (1 litre) £0.85
A can of coke (soft drinks) £0.70
A carton or bottle of fruit juice £1.00
A bottle of beer £1.00
A fast-food meal – excluding drinks £4.00
A three course meal – excluding drinks £15.00
*Based on a mid range tourist restaurant.
Passports and Visas British passport holders do not require a visa to visit Croatia for stays of less
than 3 months. Please ensure you have 6 months’ validity on your passport.
Tipping is a recognised part of life and, although at your discretion, you will be expected to reward
service. Please remember that all tips should be a way for individuals to thank staff for good service.
We recommend £2 per day per person for your tour leader.
Language The official language is Croatian, however younger Croatians will understand some
English; German and Italian are widely spoken on the coast.
Security Whilst the vast majority of travellers never experience anything untoward it is worth taking
precautions particularly in urban areas. You should take sensible precautions in crowded areas such
as street markets and airports, where pick-pocketing is common, and keep clear of any street
disturbances. Don’t wear jewellery, never leave your bags unattended, keep large amounts of money,
cameras and mobile phones out of sight when walking in town centres, and avoid walking in city
centres after dark. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to
the documents themselves, together with details of credit cards. Leave copies at home with a friend or
relative too. Safeguard valuables, important documents and cash. We recommend you deposit
valuable items and important documents in the hotel safe, where practicable.
Insurance Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory when joining a trip with Families
Worldwide. To arrange cover for single or multi-trip, please contact one of our family travel
consultants.

Clothing & Equipment List for Sea Kayak Adventure
The following list of clothing and equipment is intended to be fairly comprehensive and experienced
travellers may well take a good deal less luggage than we recommend.
Clothing
Trainers or strong sandals (all purpose wear)
T-shirts
Long sleeved shirt
Long casual trousers
Shorts/short trousers
Fleece or sweatshirt
Lightweight windproof/waterproof jacket
Swimwear
Sunhat (styled to cover face, ears and neck)
Extra footwear that can be worn in the water
Equipment
Soft-sided bag (50-80 litres)
Lightweight daypack
Sunglasses and neck cords/straps – so they don’t fall in the sea!
Camera, memory card(s)
Passport
Cash, credit/debit cards
Money security belt/pouch
Insurance documents
Trip information and itinerary
European travel adapter
Inspect repellent
Personal first aid kit
Sunscreen
Washing kit (wet wipes and dry anti-bacterial handwash are useful)
Water bottle
Binoculars
For details regarding hand luggage restrictions please visit www.baa.com