KORNATI ISLANDS LONG SWIMS - CROATIA

The first full day of our trip involves a steady introduction to the area with a circumnavigation of the island of Krknata. From here we motor east along the coast to the small fishing village of Zaglav where we have lunch and video your stroke both above and below the water.

After time to rest after lunch we journey north to the twin islands of Mrtovnjak and Tukoscak. We carry out a figure-of-eight loop between them. As we swim we see the island of Lavdara, which we aim to circumnavigate later in the week.

The early evening is given over to a video session with your swim guides where we play back your stroke from earlier in the day.

Today we start off with a walk across Dugi Otok and into the wonderful Telaščica Bay, an 8km long protected bay which is home to over 25 sub bays and 5 islands. The walk is pleasant and gives excellent views of a number of our upcoming swims. We arrive into the isolated hamlet of Magrovica from where we start our first swim of the day around the prominent twin islands of Skolja and Farfariculak.

After enjoying lunch we walk to the famous Lake Mir salt lake (where you can swim!) and also take in the views from the top of the stunning Dugi Otok cliffs and check out where we will be swimming the following day. In the afternoon we travel up Telašćica Bay by boat and swim from the lighthouse at Vidilica, across the National Park boundary and to the main island of Kornati itself.

We travel by boat to the famous "Stene" of Dugi Otok, a dramatic series of cliffs (the biggest in the Adriatic) on the open sea side of Telašćica Bay. The cliffs are home to the nesting sites of Peregrine Falcons and Eleonora's Falcons. The swimming here is superb as we can see the cliffs fall to the ocean floor beneath. This is one of the undoubted highlights of the trip.

After returning to the hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy a well deserved rest after our morning’s 7km exertions.

We head east once again as we swim the 7½km from Zut (Croatia’s largest uninhabited island) to Sit. The swimming is a fantastic combination of coastal and island hopping as we complete up to 6 crossings during our journey.

The afternoon is taken over with a crossing from the lunar landscaped island of Kornati to the picture postcard islet of Svrsata. There is a real contrast between these 2 islands. Pebbled beaches and miniature reefs dot the route.

This is our final main swimming day and we travel by boat to the island of Lavdara that sits directly in front of Sali. We head west as we start our 8½km anti-clockwise circumnavigation of the island. The circumnavigation adds a feeling of accomplishment to this varied trip of coastal swimming and island hopping and gives you that sense of achievement that only going around an entire island can.

A relaxed start, as we swim from in front of the hotel across the bay. It’s a short swim to end a fantastic week of swimming in this land of a myriad of islands!

In addition to your daily non-swimming clothes, we also recommend that you bring the following items:

*Try to bring one clear lens and one tinted lens for different light conditions.

SwimTrek will supply swim hats. We will have a limited supply/range of flippers, rashvests and wetsuits available on the trip, however we cannot guarantee sizes for all. If you have your own flippers, rashvest or wetsuit, we would recommend you bring these with you in order to maximise your enjoyment of the trip. Please note that SwimTrek will provide water and electrolyte drinks in shared water bottles on your safety boat. If you prefer to use your own drink bottle, please feel free to bring one along.

Swimming Distances

Swimming Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, however you should be aware that certain marine life such as sea lice, jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis, please consult the office prior to booking.

Walking Distances

The walk from Sali to Telašćica Bay is around 4km long but if you don’t wish to do the walk you can travel by boat to the swimming meeting point. This being said, most SwimTrekkers take advantage of the hike. The majority of the walk takes place on recognised paths and tracks, however there may be cases where we walk along trails or other unsealed surfaces and care should be taken in these areas.

Temperatures

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. As a consequence, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible.

Group Size and Boat Support

This trip has a maximum group size of 15. The group will be split into a maximum of three groups, based on speed, with each group being accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort.

Boat support on this trip includes one main boat and two inflatable boats to be piloted by your SwimTrek guides and a local boat pilot. Please note that this boat support is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed.

To get to Dugi Otok (Sali), you will need to fly into either Split or Zadar airport and take the ferry from Zadar port. There are many different options for travelling to Sali, however the easiest is to fly into Split airport and catch the SwimTrek designated transfer from the airport to Zadar ferry port and then catch a ferry to Dugi Otok.

While we have outlined various travel options below, they are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. We always recommend checking www.skyscanner.net prior to making a booking. Whichever route you choose to take, we recommend confirming your flights and other travel arrangements as early as possible in order to avoid price rises and availability issues.

For further details on all airlines that fly into Split and Zadar, please visit the following websites: www.split-airport.hr / www.zadar-airport.hr. For a comprehensive list of Croatian ferry ports, and ferry timetables please see the following website: www.croatiaferries.com.

A small selection of the airlines which fly into Split from various European cities are included below:

SwimTrek Transfer Service from Split Airport to Zadar Ferry Port

The transfer takes around 1½ hours with costs changing depending on the number of travellers that take advantage of the service. Please note, the transfer needs at least three passengers to run:

The transfer departs at 12:30 from Split airport, arriving in Zadar in time for the 15:30 ferry. You will need to purchase your ferry ticket (40 Kuna) at the ticket office prior to getting on the ferry. Please contact the SwimTrek office if you would like to take advantage of this. The ferry journey time is approximately 1 hour, full details on the ferries and their timetables can be found at the following website www.croatiaferries.com.

Return transfers can be arranged on location.

Public Transport Options from Split Airport to Zadar Port

Split to Zadar

When leaving arrivals, make your way to the far side of the car park. The number 37 bus leaves from here and will take you to Trogir, buses travel every 30 minutes and will terminate at the main bus station. The fare is approximately 12 -15 Kuna (€2) and the journey takes 10 minutes. The bus timetable can be found at www.promet-split.hr.

At Trogir bus terminal there are a number of services to Zadar (www.buscroatia.com). The fare should cost approximately 70 - 80 Kuna (€10) and the journey should take around 2 hours. The bus timetable can be found at www.buscroatia.com. Upon arrival into Zadar we recommend you catching a taxi to the ferry port, which is 10 mins away.

How to Find Your Ferry

There are three ferry lines that will get you to the Hotel Sali in Dugi Otok. You have the choice of two national lines, the 405, the 405a and a national high speed line, the 9406. For more information on timetables and where to collect your ferry tickets please click on the following link www.gv-zadar.com.

Directions to Hotel Sali from Dugi Otok Port

When you get off the ferry, take a left and walk straight down the road, past the pizzeria. When you see Kornat Restaurant, walk straight up the lane to the left of the restaurant. Continue up this hill for around 400m; you will see Biffe Bocac Restaurant, after which you should take a right, and the Sali Hotel Reception is 50m ahead of you. This walk should take no longer than 10 minutes.

A small selection of the airlines which fly into Zadar from various European cities are included below:

Public Transport Option from Zadar Airport to Zadar Port

The regional bus departs in front of the International terminal, the journey to the port in Zadar is approximately 20 minutes and the bus stops at the main bus terminal and then continues to the old town and finally the ferry port. Departure times for the buses to and from the airport can be accessed at the following website www.zadar-airport.hr. The price for a one way ticket with the airport bus is around 10 Kuna (€1.50) and tickets can be bought on the bus. Alternatively, a local taxi from Zadar airport to Zadar port will cost 85 Kuna (€10).

How to Find Your Ferry

There are three ferry lines that will get you to the Hotel Sali in Dugi Otok. You have the choice of two national lines, the 405, the 405a and a national high speed line, the 9406. For more information on timetables and where to collect your ferry tickets please click on the following link www.gv-zadar.com.

Directions to Hotel Sali from Dugi Otok Port

When you get off the ferry, take a left and walk straight down the road, past the pizzeria. When you see Kornat Restaurant, walk straight up the lane to the left of the restaurant. Continue up this hill for around 400m; you will see Biffe Bocac Restaurant, after which you should take a right, and the Sali Hotel Reception is 50m ahead of you. This walk should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Accommodation

We are based at the Hotel Sali for the duration of the trip. The hotel sits in a tranquil bay with views of the mainland. The accommodation is simple and functional and is ideally placed for our week of open water swimming. All rooms are based on twin-share and all have en-suite facilities. Single Supplements are available but these rooms are limited.

Meals

All breakfasts and lunches are included in your trip price, except lunch on days 4 and 6 which are at your own expense. This gives you a fantastic opportunity to explore and experience the local cafes and restaurants of your choice over the course of your trip. The average cost of dinner in a local restaurant is around 100-120Kn (30€).

Extra Expenses

You should bring extra money with you to cover such items as entertainment, dinner, souvenirs, etc. The local currency is Croatian Kuna (Kn). There is a cash machine on the island but it is advised to draw some local currency out before arriving just in case. You can also exchange currency at the hotel. Most restaurants will need to be paid in cash. You should allow around 180 Kuna (€24) per day but this will vary per person.

Passports and Visas

Croatia is part of the European Union. Non-citizens of Croatia require a full passport to enter the country, which should be valid for six months beyond the expected length of stay. Citizens of most countries, including all E.U. member states, U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter Montenegro for less than 90 days. Please note that visa regulations are subject to change and we advise that you check your personal visa obligations prior to travel.

Vaccinations

There are currently no essential vaccination requirements for Croatia, however it is advisable to re-check this information eight weeks before you travel. You should also ensure that your immunity to tetanus and polio is up-to-date.