Kayak Croatia Inn to Inn!

Croatia’s Undiscovered Coast:

Northern Dalmatia and the Sibernik Archipelago

Our brand new Hidden Places trip takes us to Croatia’s stunning Northern Dalmatian coast and its Sibernik Archipelago, much of which is off the main tourist radar. Deep green pine forests, dusky olive groves and an azure ocean complement the gleaming white limestone of these sleepy, unspoilt islands - this is a paddler’s dream. And there’s more! Close to the historic towns of Split and Zadar, and sandwiched between the coast and the Velebit Mountains, lie Europe’s most dramatic karst landscapes, now protected as national parks. Our adventure encompasses it all, as we journey by kayak and on foot through layers of history and to areas of intense natural beauty. En route we stay in charming, family run hotels in fabulous locations. We wander through medieval stone villages, stopping to sip coffee under the shade of jasmine and bougainvillea. We dine alfresco in harbor-front restaurants enjoying Croatia’s wonderful cuisine and wines. This is Europe at its best!

The adventure begins in Split, with a walking tour of Diocletian’s Palace, built by a Roman emperor at the turn of the 4th Century AD and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Heading to the Krka River National Park, we hike by its stunning waterfalls, and have a shake down kayaking session (with stand up paddle boarding as an option) on the quieter reaches of the river. We have time to enjoy the charming and history-steeped village of Skradin, capital of Roman Liburnia in the 1st century AD, and favored by Bill Gates as one of his favorite getaways! From here we set off with boat support, paddling through channels and into the Sibernik Archipelago. Our destination is the quiet, car-free island of Prvic: once a summer hangout for 15th Century nobles, now it has only a couple of small fishing villages. We settle into our atmospheric hotel, and spend the next few days paddling to surrounding islands, each with their own distinct character. We stop for picnics on deserted, pine-scented beaches, swim in clear waters and visit ancient, tucked away churches.

Paddling back to the mainland, we transfer a short distance to Novigrad, a scenic seaside village overlooked by a 13th Century fortress with a colorful history. This is our jumping off point for the fabulous canyons of Paklenica National Park. We explore them both on foot, and by kayak, when we paddle up through Novigrad Bay and up into the picturesque Zrmanja River canyon, on calm waters between steep limestone cliffs. A visit to the walled port of Zadar, with its Roman ruins, wraps up this wonderful adventure: one that is filled with superlatives!

Adventure Travel has been our specialty since 1991 when we started to explore the world's most spectacular places as photographers and writers. Several years (and several books) later we began sharing our experiences with others by developing and leading adventure tours. We founded Hidden Places Travel in 2000 and quickly became renowned for our unique, off-the-beaten-track itineraries. Our support of local communities and conservation projects gives our trips unprecedented access and our loyal following of repeat guests is a testament to our professionalism and nurturing approach.

We invite you to join us on one of our life-changing adventures.

Dag Goering and Maria Coffey