Want a
bit more from your holiday in Croatia? The country is the perfect
choice for wide range of activity holidays, a great and slightly different way of seeing the country whilst also taking on some new challenges! There is quite a choice of different
sports that you can participate in - it's up to you to decide how active you want to be!
One of the easiest ways of booking yourself on a activity holiday is with Active Holidays Croatia. They offer 7- and 10-day holidays featuring a very wide range of activities - rafting, canoeing, canyoning, trekking, windsurfing, plus much more - and can tailor your holiday to your experience level and particular interest. See the link above for full details.
Walking/Hiking Croatia is perfectly suited for walkers, and there are numerous
interesting walks to be had across the country. The most picturesque ones tend to
be those in the National Parks, such as Plitvice
Lakes, Krka and Paklenica National Parks 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!
Skedaddle are another company that offer cycling holidays in Istria.
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.
One such place is Tennis Camp Umag, which is home to an ATP tennis event each summer. Many do not organise full package tours, so you must arrange your own travel arrangements.
Skiing Over the years, we've 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; Ivica won a silver medal at the 2006 Games, and two silver medals in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver - that's a lot of medals from the Kostelic family!) Unfortunately,
we have 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 skiing World
Cup race, called the Snow
Queen Trophy although it does host races for both male and female skiiers.
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). If you're ever in Zagreb in January, try and attend the Snow Queen Trophy - it's a pretty exciting an unique event!
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.
Kiteboarding Kiteboarding - a popular sport around the world - can be enjoyed in Bol on the island Brac. Kiteboarding is a surface water sport that uses the wind to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). Generally, kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as freestyle or wake-style, whereas kitesurfing is more "wave-riding" oriented.
Situated in one of the most beautiful locations on the Adriatic, near the Zlatni Rat beach on the island of Brac (where there are ideal weather conditions - steady wind all day throughout the season), is the Yellow Cat kiteboarding centre which has been up and running for over 8 years. The centre is home to an area that is solely used for the purpose of kiteboarding, and employs trained and very experienced staff. The company have 3- and 5-day courses for students of all levels, needs and preferences. You can also email the Yellow Cat kiteboarding centre: info@zutimacak.hr for further info.
One of the easiest ways of booking yourself on a activity holiday is with 
