FAQs

Croatia SUP and Hike Adventure

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Travel Information

  • Flights are not included in our adventures.

    The closest airport is Zadar.

    Ryanair has many flights from the UK to Zadar.

    You may find that you’ll need to arrive a night before the start of your trip to be in Zadar ready for meeting us.

    Saturday October 5 & 12:

    You may find that you’ll need to arrive a night before the start of your trip to be in Zadar ready for meeting us.

    Our team will collect you from one of two pick up points and times:

    STN 07:50 ✈ ZAD 11:10 | Ryanair FR8388

    We will ask you to confirm where you will be meeting us in advance.

    Friday October 11 & 18:

    On the last day of the trip you will return to Zadar old town at 07:50 am. This is when your trip with us ends.

    There is a direct flight back to London on this afternoon, we would recommend enjoying a day in Zadar (you can leave your luggage at the left luggage place near the ferry port) and then heading back to the airport for the following flight:

    ZAD 18:20 ✈ STN 19:45 | Ryanair FR8389

  • Our team will collect you from one of two pick up points and times:

    • 10:15am Old Town Zadar - in front of the eastern pedestrian entrance to the city wall.

    • 11:30am at Zadar airport.

    If you are arriving the day before and are spending a night in Zadar, we recommend getting an Uber / Bolt from Zadar Airport to Zadar Old Town. It will take approximately 20 minutes and will cost around 30€.

    You will likely be on the same flights are other Gutsy Girls, you'll be connected via a WhatsApp group to arrange shared travel.

    There is also a local bus that runs from the airport to Zadar. You'll find the timetable here.

  • There are many more flights from all UK airports to Split. The journey from Split to Zadar takes 2 - 4 hours by bus. Please see "Getting from Split Airport to Zadar" for more information.

    • Buses from Split run to and from Zadar bus station. To get there from where the catamaran from Molat docks, it's a 25 minute walk or you can take a taxi / Bolt / Uber.

    • There are lots of buses between Zadar and Split each day, but you need to be sure to catch a fast bus (about 2.5 hours), not a slow one which can take 4 hours.

    • There are no buses which go direct to / from Zadar from Split airport, but the airport is on the Zadar side of Split, so you don't want to take the bus all the way to / from Split which would add an extra hour to your journey.

    • You should get on and off the bus to Zadar at Trogir which is about 5km away from Split airport (towards Zadar).

    • There is a very regular airport bus (every 20 minutes) from Split Airport to Trogir and back, taking 10 minutes, or a taxi / Bolt / Uber.

    • You can book the buses from Trogir to Zadar and back online HERE.

    • Please make sure you leave plenty of time to get to Zadar. You may need to fly a day before your trip starts to ensure you are in Zadar in time for our transfers.

  • Depending on your flight times, you may need to spend a night before or after your trip.

    Zadar is a lovely town to explore and many of our guests enjoy adding this in to their holiday!

  • There are plenty of great accommodation options in Zadar. We recommend choosing accommodation in the Old Town as this is where most tourist sights and restaurants are based! You'll also be in walking distance to where the catamaran to Molat departs.

    We recommend the Downtown Boutique Hostel if you are looking for budget accommodation.

    You may also wish to share rooms and apartments with other guests on your trip, you can arrange this via your whatsapp group.

  • You will start your adventure by going to the mountains.

    We will be in the mountains for 2 nights, before returning to Zadar to catch the catamaran to Molat.

    We will be on the island for 4 nights and return to Zadar at 07:50 on the final day.

  • You can buy tickets in person in Zadar from the Jadrolinija ticket office once you are in Zadar. You will do this together as a group with your host's help once you arrive back in Zadar from the mountains. You don't need to buy these in advance.

Mountain

  • The hiking part of this adventure is considered moderate to challenging, we will be trekking on rugged terrains with sections that are loose underfoot.

    You do not need to have much previous hiking experience, but you must be physically fit and comfortable hiking for several hours at a time.

    On your arrival and departure day in the mountains you will need to carry your backpack with your clothes and shared food (approx 10kg).

  • Yes!

    Before we head up to the mountains, you will have a chance to pack a smaller bag just for the two nights we spend up there.

    The rest of our luggage will be kept safe for us.

    We recommend taking a 30-40 litre bag for the hiking section and just packing what you will need for these 2.5 days and 2 nights.

    You will need to carry this bag up to our mountain hut accommodation, so try to pack light so you can carry it comfortably!

  • It can get chilly up in the mountains, even in the summer, so please make sure you pack enough layers including a warm fleece, wind and waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers and perhaps an insulated jacket and hat for the evenings.

    Make sure you also have a long sleeved top to cover up in the midday sun, a sunhat, sunscreen and a 30-40l backpack to carry what you need for our time in the mountains.

    You also need proper hiking boots with ankle support for this trip. (See "What footwear do I need for hiking?")

    If you have hiking poles, feel free to bring them. They are completely optional, but can help protect your knees and improve efficiency!

    Have a look at our packing list.

  • Hiking boots with good grip and ankle support are absolutely mandatory on this trip. 

    This is for your safety and comfort. If you buy a new pair of boots for this trip, please make sure you wear them in first. There’s nothing worse than blisters appearing on the first day of a multi-day hike! 

    Please DO NOT wear trainers - you really need good ankle and foot support on this hike. If you arrive with nothing but trainers you will not be able to join the hikes and no refund will be given.

  • We’ve teamed up with fantastic climbing guides to offer an afternoon of climbing for all levels. The Paklenica gorge has hundreds of sport climbing routes, up to 30 metres high.

    Over the course of 3 hours, we’ll climb up to five routes. This will be a great introduction to rock climbing for beginners and we can offer more challenging routes for more experienced climbers!

  • If you are afraid of heights, we cannot arrange a different activity for you and we do recommend you try it.

    On a Gutsy Girls trip, you’ll never be forced to do an activity you don’t feel comfortable doing, but we encourage you to approach our adventures with an open mind, and it’s an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone in an incredibly supportive environment.

    There will be opportunities to try small sections of the climb before you commit to a longer route and we can accommodate you if you decide not to continue. 

    We’ve had guests who are scared of heights find that the supportive approach of the group and guides help them climb what they never thought possible! Our guides are highly trained to support you through the experience, so if you are nervous they’ll help and give words of encouragement, and you don’t have to climb very high if you’re not comfortable.

    There is no pressure for you to complete or join the activity; we will support you no matter what you choose. 

    Please note though that we cannot switch our activities or offer discounts should you wish to not take part, and we won’t be able to leave you elsewhere, but you can help with the climbing from the bottom and still feel part of the experience!

    There will be other (world class!) climbers in the vicinity who are also amazing to watch!

  • Before we go to the mountains you will have some time to repack your belongings, leaving what you don’t need in the mountains in storage. 

    If you are joining our May trip there will be a shorter turnaround time, we recommend separating your luggage as best you can before you arrive. Or have your packing list ready, so you feel prepared!

    Pack as light as possible, you will need some space in your bag for group shared items too.

    You will need a 30-40l backpack.

    You will be wearing:

    • Clothes for hiking and climbing 

    • Hiking boots. 

    We will check the weather in the mountains before your trip, be prepared to bring:

    • Warm hat 

    • Buff

    • Sweat wicking t-shirt for hiking (light weight merino wool)

    • Fleece (mid-layer)

    • Waterproof jacket (hard shell jacket) 

    • Waterproof trousers 

    • Lightweight insulated jacket (synthetic or down) 

    • Swimwear

    • Clothes for the evenings (Sportswear is fine!)

    • Sunhat

    • Sunglasses

    • Suncream

    • Hiking socks

    • Microfibre / lightweight towel 

    • Hiking poles (optional) 

    • 2l Water bottle(s) or camelback

    • Sleepwear 

    • Earplugs (optional)

    • Flipflops or lightweight slippers for the mountain. 

    • Cash - For wine, beer and soft drinks from the mountain hut

    • Head torch

    • Snacks - We’d suggest a bag of sweets, 2-4 energy/cereal bars. 

    • Toiletries - keep it lean, it’s just 2 nights! 

    • Kindle or book (incase you need a hand sleeping!)

  • There is no wifi or phone signal in the mountains.

  • Yes! It's a simple hut, but there is electricity!

  • It is not possible to have a private room in the mountains.

Island

    • This adventure, perfect for those with a good to high fitness level, combines exploring stunning islands and mountains, rated from moderate to challenging. It's an intense, activity-packed week, but you don't need to be an elite athlete to enjoy it.

    • Activity Duration: Daily active time of 6-7 hours.

    • SUP Distances: You’ll be paddling 10-12km.

    • Hiking: 6km-9km hikes with ascents up to 800m on uneven terrain.

    • Cycling: 9km cycling route each way, featuring climbs and descents - optional activity.

    • Climbing: You’ll learn to rock climb - so a head for heights is a must!

    • Multi-Sport Day: Embrace a full day with 18km of cycling, 8km of paddling, and a 5km hike. It's a rigorous day, but cycling and hiking are optional.

    • Consecutive Activity: Prepare for 5 days of back-to-back of hiking, paddleboarding and varied physical activities. The week is action-packed which can be quite demanding.

  • Yes! This trip is open to all level paddlers

  • We provide carbon fibre paddles and a variety of Red and Starboard boards - touring and race boards, so you can have a go an various different boards over the course of the week!

    There may also be the option to try out sea kayaking too!

    You are also welcome to bring your own board for this trip.

  • You don't need to be a strong swimmer, but you must be able to swim 100m.

  • In the unlikely event that weather conditions prohibit us from paddling, we will arrange alternative activities - sadly we cannot control the weather but we can keep our fingers firmly crossed!

    We will ensure there are fun activities for you to take part in even if the weather is not ideal, and we cannot provide refunds for a change of activities due to weather or other conditions outside our control. 

    None of our itineraries are set in stone - we will always move things around to make the most of the conditions we have on any given day.

  • The weather in Croatia can be variable in Autumn.

    Please do ensure you have a high factor sun block (which is waterproof), a cap / hat and a t-shirt that covers your shoulders and is preferably long sleeved. 

    Please also bring a rain coat and waterproof trousers!

  • Yes! Please check out our packing list here.

  • Hopefully we'll have glorious sunshine on all our adventures, so we normally paddle in swimwear or sportswear. Remember a hat/cap and a long sleeved top that covers you in the midday heat!

    If the conditions are cooler, we recommend a long john or shorty wetsuit, though this is completely optional! 

    Bring a rain coat just in case.

    You'll need water shoes for getting on and off your board in rocky conditions

  • You don’t need to be an expert cyclist to enjoy our morning of cycling, we’ll go at a gentle pace to take in the views.

    Normal sports wear / leggings / shorts and trainers are fine - no lycra or padded shorts required!

    The bike ride is completely optional.

  • For our hikes on the island part of this holiday, you can wear running trainers however you must have hiking boots for the mountain section of this adventure.

  • Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides, however we cannot always guarantee this, simply because there are fewer female instructors available! 

    Our first priority is to work with the most highly experienced and considerate instructors and guides, who are patient, friendly and as passionate as we are about building women’s confidence in the outdoors.  

    Simply due to the ratio of men to women in the outdoors industry, sometimes this means our guides and instructors are male. 

    We keep a close eye on the feedback our guides receive from our guests as we believe that overall this is more important than their gender. We sincerely hope that as more women are introduced to adventure sports and activities, the amount of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.

Accomodation

  • We’ll be staying in a basic mountain hut. This is traditional to the Croatia mountains, it’s rustic and very simple.

    The beds are comfortable beds. You’ll have access to hot showers too.

    You’ll be spending most of the day out hiking and in the evenings we wrap up warm and sit on the terrace to enjoy the views.

    While the hut is simple, it does have it’s own swimming pool (unheated).

    We cannot offer private rooms, you will be in 4 bed rooms (bunkbeds).

    There is no wifi or phone signal at the hut.

    Bedding is provided. You will need to bring your own towel!

  • We will be staying in locally run apartments, dotted across the small village of Molat, all within a short walk to the harbour and where we meet for food. There will be 1-4 guests in each apartment. This accommodation choice supports our responsible and sustainable tourism ethos, and provides a comfortable stay for your holiday!

    The apartments are simple, clean, spacious and light. You'll have a kitchen, lounge and some have outdoor space.

    All have air conditioning shared spaces, fans in bedrooms and wifi.

    We will buddy you up with other Gutsy Girls to share a triple or twin room, or you can choose to stay in a private room.

  • Mountains:

    There is no wifi or phone signal in the mountains.

    Island:

    All accommodation has wifi and you will have phone signal on the island.

  • Mountain:

    There is no air conditioning in the mountain hut however its much cooler here in the evenings.

    Island:

    The apartments have air conditioning in shared spaces and fans in the bedrooms.

    The temperatures do cool off in the evenings too.

  • There is a washing machine in some of the apartments however we would encourage you to only use this if absolutely necessary to be environmentally friendly and conserve water.

  • Your apartment will have hand soap. You will need to bring all other toiletries you require with you.

    The supermarket on the island has a very limited selection of toiletries.

Food

  • We can cater for all dietary requirements and we will request information prior to your arrival. 

    In the mountains, the food is simple and plentiful, but if you are vegan or have a restrictive diet you may need to bring some snacks or extra food with you for those two nights, as the food you are provided with may not constitute a proper balanced diet. Please email us if this is the case at bookings:gutsygirls.co.uk.

    On the island we work with a fantastic local family at an agriturismo (a working farm designed to also receive guests), who prepare all our breakfasts, lunches and dinners, just for us. The balanced meals our hosts create are traditional recipes which are deliciously fresh and use local ingredients.

    We provide a continental breakfast, including muesli, fruit, scramble eggs, meats, cheese, local honey and jams. Tea and coffee is provided.

    Lunch is a freshly prepared salads with carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up!

    Dinners are delicious 3 course meals prepared using local produce. Wine and non-alcoholic drinks are provided.

  • I'm afraid we can't provide discounts for guests who choose not to partake in wine with dinner.

  • There is a small local supermarket. Cash is advised as sometimes the card machine doesn't work!

    We would recommend buying toiletries or suncream in Zadar.

  • In the mountains the food is simple and plentiful, all of the food in mountain hut will be carried up from the town by the Hut owners mule and a few extra supplies will be carried by our guide and host. We may ask for you to also add a few things to your backpack too!

    Breakfast will be porridge, fresh breads, jams and local honey.

    Lunches will be sandwiches or traditional savoury pastries.

    Dinner will be traditional dishes, typical to the mountains, stews, galoshes and a peka- a slow cooked meat dish!

    For non-meat eaters and vegans, you'll enjoy hearty bean stews and lentils, giving you plenty of fuel for long days of hiking.

    We can cater for all dietary requirements, just let us know in advance!

  • We work with a fantastic agriturismo on the island who host us from breakfast and dinner, they also prepare us our delicious packed lunches.

    We can cater for all dietary requirements.

    Breakfast is a continental buffet with cereals, yoghurt, eggs, cured meats, cheeses and fresh bread, local honey and jams.

    Lunch is a salad prepared each morning, with plenty of carbs and protein to keep you going!

    Each night we will have a 2 or 3 course dinner, sampling traditional dishes with local produce. Wine and non-alcoholic drinks are provided.

Other

  • The water on the island is not drinkable. You can still use it to clean your teeth if you wish.

    You will be provided with a 6L bottle per person in your apartment and you'll be able to refill your water bottles at breakfast and dinner.

  • Yes, there is luggage storage available in the old town for £5-8 a day.

  • Yes!

    Croatian currency moved to the Euro in early 2023.

    Croatia still uses cash in most places, on the island the bars and supermarket only accept cash. You'll need a little cash for drinks and ice creams!

    We'd say €50-100 will be plenty.

    As a guide:

    • An ice cream costs €1.50 - €2

    • A beer costs €2 - €3

    You can withdraw Euros from the ATMs in Zadar or at Zadar airport, or exchange them at the airport or before you travel. There is no cash point in the mountains or on the island.

  • No, we won't be adding any more 2024 dates for this trip.