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Jun - Oct
Embrace island life and paddle to secret beaches on this six night SUP and kayak adventure.
Beginner
Moderate
Home Comforts
From
£1,699
(USD $2,667.43)
Paddle Croatia's quiet archipelago
Ever wondered what Croatia looked like before mass tourism? This paddleboarding holiday delivers that answer through a 300-island archipelago adventure. Join SUP coaching, sea kayaking and cycling where rocky coastlines hide perfect swimming lagoons and fishing boats work dawn to dusk.
Learn paddleboarding fast, then discover bays only accessible from water, where pine forests meet turquoise channels. Switch to sea kayaks to cover more distance, cycle Molat’s hills and hike rocky paths for archipelago views.
Stay in a genuine fishing village where harbour life operates on island time.
An active agenda
No hidden costs
Daily lessons and guided tours through the Zadar Archipelago
Reach the outer islands, including a Cold War submarine tunnel or two
Cycle across traffic-free Molat, through island villages and over the hills
Rocky paths to the island's high points, with views across the archipelago
Explore the crystal-clear Adriatic with visibility down to 10 metres
Family-run apartments in the bay - share or have your own space
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, all catered for by a local family
Qualified local instructors plus your host
Harbour meet and greet on arrival and departure day
Activity Overview
SUP through 300 islands in Croatia’s hidden archipelago. New to watersports? Stand up paddleboarding is surprisingly quick to learn. Our instructors get beginners confident and moving within the first hour.
Glide through turquoise channels between untouched coastlines, navigating rocky shorelines to discover hidden coves with zero footprints. Stop in secluded bays and dive into crystal-clear water whenever you feel like it. This isn’t about chasing big distances or honing technique (but you will get coaching to build new skills), it’s all about discovery.
Activity Overview
Switch to sea kayaks for two days and cover serious distance to access the outer islands, unreachable by SUP. We’ll paddle much further offshore and possibly even explore an abandoned submarine tunnel or two.
Activity Overview
Cycle 9km across Molat on traffic-free roads (and 9km back, with a paddling and hiking break in between). No lycra required, just basic bike skills and some grit. Fair warning: there are some hills that’ll get your legs burning, but cycling on almost empty roads is pretty special. Wind through island villages and tackle the climbs for views across the archipelago.
Activity Overview
Don’t let the short distances fool you, these shorter hikes pack a punch. Rocky paths and Croatian summer heat turn what looks like a gentle walk into a proper workout. You’ll navigate loose stones underfoot and steady climbs, but reaching the island’s high points gives you a panorama that’s well worth getting sweaty for.
The Destination
Your adventure starts here
Make your own way to Zadar old town - there’s a bus directly from the airport or plenty of taxis. The trip starts soon.
Catamaran from Zadar to Molat, then straight onto the water for our first SUP session. Shake off the travel stiffness while instructors cover essential paddling skills as the sun drops below the horizon.
Dinner in a family-run dining room. The location stays put all week, but the menu changes daily with local, traditional dishes.
Leisurely breakfast, then we're paddling through Brgulje Bay with swimming and snorkelling stops.
Picnic lunch on a secluded islet. More snorkelling, then over to Brgulje harbour for ice cream before paddling back to Molat.
Free time, then dinner.
“Triathlon” day! Cycle across Molat to Zapuntel, then swap wheels for boards to paddle over to Ist. A short hike up to Snow Lady Chapel gives you views across the entire archipelago.
Picnic and swim at the bay, then reverse the morning. Get back on boards and paddle to Zapuntel, then cycle back to Molat.
Traditional 'peka' dinner - food cooked under hot coals - a Balkan staple.
Relaxed paddle to Paržine beach to work on your SUP skills.
Swim in the Adriatic then instructors lead coaching sessions. Try new techniques, learn some tricks and practice everything you’ve gained so far.
Hike up Straža Peak for local nature and history, then back down to toast the sunset with local wine.
Breakfast, then swap SUPs for sea kayaks. Launch from Jazi harbour and paddle Molat's southern coast, passing Glavica Point with the Velebit Mountains as your backdrop.
Stop at Sabuša Beach for snorkelling, picigin (local water-ball game), and picnic lunch.
Paddle back to Molat, free time, then dinner.
Kayak to Brščak islet, then along Dugi Otok's coastline to explore Cold War submarine tunnels. Continue to the sleepy island of Zverinac known for olive groves and crystal-clear waters.
Picnic in the harbour, swim and snorkel, then catch the car ferry back to Molat.
Final night dinner to celebrate your incredible week.
Early start for the catamaran back to Zadar. Packed breakfast and final Adriatic views before heading back to the mainland.
Rest & Refuel
We’ve booked a range of apartments, run by the families that call Molat home. Based across the village and bay, the accommodation is comfortable and clean, with options for private spaces or communal living. Most apartments have air conditioning in the lounge areas, however some bedrooms offer fans instead.
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Breakfast and dinner is served in a private dining room and cooked by the family who live there. Filling packed lunches are carried by the guides and enjoyed on the islands we paddle to!
During this trip we’ll be treated to traditional local dinners of fresh fish, peka cooked meats and delicious salads, washed down with a glass of wine.
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Book now
The essentials
| Accommodation |
Home Comforts A range of family run apartments dotted throughout the village and harbour. |
|---|---|
| Food and Drink |
All meals included. All dietary requirements are catered for.
|
| Fitness Level |
2
Moderate Five consecutive days of paddleboarding, kayaking, cycling and hiking in July and August heat is what makes this trip genuinely demanding. The activities are accessible, but doing them back-to-back in the sunshine is what your fitness needs to be ready for. If you’re doing regular cardiovascular exercise and full active days in the heat don’t faze you, you’ll manage well. You'll Need to Be
|
| Skill Level |
1
Beginner No paddleboarding or kayaking experience is needed, your guides teach everything from scratch. You do need to swim 50–100m confidently and be comfortable getting on and off boards in rocky conditions. Beginner is the skill level. It’s not an easy trip. Check the Fitness Level above. Not sure what level you are? Our Trip Rating Guide explains how we score fitness and skill. |
| Packing List |
This list is an indication of the specialist items you will need, and might need to invest in before your adventure! For a full list of what you’ll need to bring, check out the trip guide. We Provide
You’ll Need
|
| Travel |
Meeting point is Molat harbour. Fly into Zadar, then catch the catamaran from Zadar Old Town across to Molat. Alternative routes and travel information are in our trip guide. |
| Not Included |
|
| Trip Code |
CROMALISH |
We’ve got you covered
No. This trip is beginner friendly and our guides will teach you the basics. You need to swim 50-100m confidently and feel comfortable in water, but zero SUP experience is required. Experienced paddleboarders are welcome, but will need to be aware this adventure is for beginners.
Good stamina and endurance is required. You’ll be active 5-6 hours daily, mostly on water. This isn’t elite athlete territory, but you do need cardiovascular fitness for consecutive active days, as well as upper body strength to get back on your board. If you do regular cardio and can handle a full day hike, you’ll manage.
We’ll paddle 5-12km daily, cycle 18km (optional) and hike 4km with 200m ascent. There’s also one multi-sport day combining all three. Be prepared for five back-to-back active days in the summer heat.
Red and Starboard SUP boards, carbon fibre paddles, leashes, safety gear, sea kayaks, 20L dry bags, snorkelling equipment, bikes and bike helmets. You just need swimwear, aqua shoes, and sun protection.
Swimwear or sportswear, UV protection t-shirts or rash vests (long-sleeved preferred), a cap or sun hat and neoprene aqua shoes with good soles. Don’t pack wetsuit booties or flip flops. In cooler conditions you may want to bring a shorty wetsuit.
Zadar Airport sits 20 minutes from Old Town and you’ll need to be in Zadar by approx. 13:30 to catch the boat. You may need to arrive a day early depending on flight times.
Don’t forget to book your catamaran tickets in advance. Visit www.jadrolinija.hr/en to book.
There is one catamaran each day between Zadar Old Town and Molat. You must get the catamaran on the first day of your trip or you will miss 24 hours of your adventure. There is no private transfer to the island.
You are responsible for booking your catamaran ferry ticket which needs to be bought in advance to avoid it selling out. Book tickets from www.jadrolinija.hr/en.
One catamaran runs daily. If your flight doesn’t align, arrive in Zadar the day before – alternative transport will cost more than a night in a hotel.
It’s warm to hot in summer with intense sun exposure – there’s a reason Croatia is becoming such a renowned location for beach holidays. However there are occasional rainstorms and high winds on the Adriatic too.
Absolutely. Our itineraries are guides of what you’ll do each day, however we trust the guides to choose what’s best based on the weather and sea conditions. Sometimes we might start early to paddle before the wind picks up or it gets too hot, other times we’ll switch activities around. Safety always comes first.
We’ll stay in simple, clean, locally-owned apartments across Molat village. There’s air conditioning in shared spaces and fans in bedrooms. All apartments have WiFi included.
Choose twin rooms in shared apartments, private rooms, or private apartments.
Yes, easily. A local family prepares all meals for our group. Flag allergies or requirements in advance though as island shopping is minimal and meals are planned in advance.
Yes we recommend €50-100. Molat accepts cash only, however there are no ATMs on the island so withdraw cash in Zadar or bring it with you.
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