Paddle Dalmatia: Elaphiti and Beyond

Trip Details

Trip Length: 8 days/7 nights, Sun-Sun
Arrival/Departure Point: Dubrovnik
Accommodations: 3 nights tented camping/ 4 nights private guest house rooms.
Tour Inclusions: 7 nights accommodations, all meals except breakfast day 8, kayak gear, instruction, guiding, transfers, mountaineering tents
Tour Price: € 1.660,00
Single Supplement: additional  € 135,00

2025 Departure Dates:  May: 13 / June: 4 / Sept: 1 / Oct: 8

Custom tour dates upon request for groups of 4 or more. PD tour is not offered in summertime when campground are crowded with RVs

Paddle Dalmatia: Elaphiti and Beyond

Paddle Dalmatia is an expedition style tour, a way to get to know the whole Dubrovnik region by kayak. We begin by paddling north from Zaton Bay, a beautiful narrow bay two kilometers long just outside of Dubrovnik, to Ston, the border of the old Dubrovnik Republic. Ston was built as a fortress town to defend Dubrovnik from northern invaders. Ston is famous for its well preserved 15th-century defensive walls, the longest in Europe, and salt mines, as well as its delicious mussels and oysters. On the way, we travel along the mainland coast that was once the path of ancient Roman travelers. From Ston, we paddle south, leaving the mainland coast for the outer uninhabited Elaphiti Islands of Olipa, Tajan, and Jakljan, to Šipan, the largest and most remote of the three inhabited Elaphiti islands. Šipan has two villages, Suđurađ to the east (closer to Dubrovnik) and Luka Šipanska to the west. The furthest out of the inhabited islands in the Elaphiti group, Šipan is the least visited by tourists. From Šipan we paddle to Lopud, the middle island of the Elaphiti chain. Without roads or cars, Lopud is a charming village of just 200 people. Inhabited from ancient times, Lopud has acquired an interesting combination of old stone houses, palm tree parks, old gorgeous mansions surrounded by orchards of colorful lemon, orange, and kiwi trees. Our last stop before we return to Zaton is Koločep, the closest Elaphiti island to Dubrovnik, where we paddle along dramatic cliffs and caves on the outer open-sea side.

Paddle Dalmatia Tour Map

While we pack and carry all our gear in our kayaks for the whole tour, we lighten our load after day 3, when we move from tented camping to more luxurious private guesthouse accommodations. We eat fresh and organic delicacies at cozy restaurants and guesthouses. Finally, we are constantly charmed and mesmerized by the old customs and relaxed island lifestyle as well as the rich Mediterranean flora and fauna present in this beautiful area of Croatia.

Itinerary: Sunday to Sunday

Day 1: Transit day
Arrive in Dubrovnik/ car transfer to AKT's office in Old Town/ sight see. 4 PM: meet at AKT office for gear issue and luggage storage. Car transfer to overnight campground/ orientation dinner at a seaside Zaton Bay restaurant
Day 2: 8 – 10 km
Equipment issue/ basic paddling and rescue instruction in Zaton Bay/ paddle north along the coast to Trsteno (Game of Thrones film site). Picnic lunch on a cove beach/ explore Trsteno's famous 15th cent. arboretum. Overnight camp in an olive grove/ dinner at a Trsteno's only restaurant
Day 3: 18 km
Kayak north to Slano Bay/ swim, snorkel, relax in secluded coves along the way. Final night of camping under the stars/ dinner at a family restaurant in Slano
Day 4: 18 km
Paddle north to the walled town of Ston, historically Dubrovnik's northernmost line of defense. Overnight in a guesthouse in Broce village on Pelješac Peninsula. Hike Ston's meandering hilltop walls/ dine on the region's iconic black risotto and mussels
Day 5: 22 km
Leave the coast, paddling south to the outermost uninhabited Elaphiti islands, Olipa, Tajan & Jakljan/ picnic lunch in the "outer islands".  Overnight in a hotel in charming Luka Šipanska on Šipan Island/ dinner at local fish restaurant in the bay
Day 6: 18 km
Paddle Šipan Island's open sea side along towering limestone cliffs/ stop to cliff-jump and swim in Green Cave. Explore Suđurađ's ancient stone churches and family fortress/ feast on a 5 course lunch in a family home. Paddle to Lopud island/ overnight in Lopud town, the liveliest of the Elaphiti Island towns
Day 7: 22 km
Paddle the outer side of Lopud island to Koločep Island, the smallest of the 3 inhabited Elaphiti Islands. Snorkel in Blue Cave (seasonal)/ climb Koločep's cliffs for spectacular views/ finish in Zaton Bay. Overnight in Dubrovnik or Zaton Bay guesthouse/ dinner on your own at one of Dubrovnik or Zaton's many fine restaurants
Day 8: Transit day*
Breakfast on your own in Dubrovnik/ Zaton. Transfer to airport for departure flight
* you may make a departure flight at any time