Want a bit more from your holiday in Croatia? The country is the perfect choice for activity holidays. There is a wide choice of different sports you can participate in - you only have to decide how active you want to be!

Walking/Hiking
Croatia is perfectly suited for walkers, and there are numerous interesting walks to be had. The most picturesque ones tend to be those in the National Parks, such as the Plitvice Lakes and on the islands of Brijuni and Mljet.

Those who are interested in something a bit more strenuous - hiking - may like to head to Mount Biokovo (above Makarska) and the Velebit mountains (northern Dalmatia).

Cycling
British company 2 Wheel Treks organise cycling holidays in Istria, Southern Dalmatia and the Makarska Riviera, on which you stay aboard a motor boat. After a morning spent cycling, you can decide whether to cycle again in the afternoon, or spend it cruising aboard the boat. Sounds delightful!

Tennis
Who can forget Goran Ivanisevic's classic triumph at Wimbledon in 2001? If you'd like to emulate at least a bit of his success, why not head to a tennis camp in Croatia? Unfortunately, you won't be able to have lessons from Goran himself, but there are good coaches and schools located at various places along the coast. Many do not organise full package tours, but we have received information that JST Tennis can organise flights and accommodation as well as lessons in Istria.

Skiing
We received several enquiries from visitors about skiing in Croatia - no doubt prompted by the fantastic achievements of Croatian skiing stars Janica Kostelic and her brother Ivica. (Janica won 3 gold and 1 silver at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games at Salt Lake City, and a further 1 gold and 1 silver at the 2006 Games in Turin.) Unfortunately, we had to disappoint as Croatian skiing facilities cannot compare with those in nearby Slovenia, Austria and Italy. (Even Croatian skiers train in Austria!)

We wouldn't really recommend coming to Croatia for a skiing holiday. However, if you're in the country during the ski season, and a fancy having a go on the slopes, head to Bjelolasica, where the Croatian Olympic centre is located. Another popular skiing location is just north of Zagreb at Mount Sljeme.

Mount Sljeme hosts an annual World Cup race, currently called the Snow Queen Trophy although it is due to host male skiers from 2008. Read a great article about it from the New York Times: Zagreb Is Set To Crown a New Queen of The Hill (3rd December 2006).

Diving
Diving is a very popular activity, as the sea is calm and beautifully clear. There are also quite a few ancient artefacts - both Greek and Roman - in the Adriatic sea! Diving courses are available, but if you're an experienced diver and don't need any courses, you'll still need to obtain a diving permit. There are also some restrictions on where you can and cannot dive. See Pro Diving Croatia for extensive information.

Cricket
Sure, not a sport that you'd immediately associate with Croatia - but it is one that is slowly growing in popularity in the country. Or, to be more precise, on the island of Vis! As of May 2008, cricket tours are due to start of 5/7/9-days duration that include at least a couple of games against Croatian opposition. (Including, of course, Vis CC.) See www.viscricket.com for further details.

Sailing
See our section on Sailing in Croatia.

Activities in Croatia
Croatian Sport Fishing Association
Extreme Sports Summer Festival
Orienteering in Croatia

Tour Operators
Hidden Croatia
2 Wheel Treks
Val Tours

Articles
New York Times (3.12.06)
Zagreb Is Set To Crown a New Queen of The Hill (Skiing)

The Telegraph (4.9.06):
Open-water swimming in Dalmatia with SwimTrek

The Independent (10.07.04):
Long-distance swimming in the Adriatic with SwimTrek

The Sunday Times (16.05.04):
Different activities on the Croatian islands