Dalmatian Coast BAŠKA VODA 2019

Transcription

1 Dalmatian Coast BAŠKA VODA 2019

2 WELCOME TO Baška Voda Situated on Croatia s beautiful Dalmatian Coast, the small resort of Baška Voda is an attractive base from which to explore the local area. The town itself centres on the promenade and harbour, where you ll find a good selection of shops, bars and cafés. Immediately behind the town rise the Biokovo Mountains, the foothills of which form the basis of many of our walks. These impressive mountains rise to some 1,762 metres at the summit of Sveti Jure, and contain an intriguing karst landscape of shake holes and limestone pavements. On the lower wooded slopes you ll find secluded hamlets which overlook the busier coastline. Just to the southeast of Baška Voda is the larger 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk resort of Makarska, with its bustling harbour lining the large horseshoe bay. Ferries depart from here to the island of Brač, which we will also visit as part of the walking programme. This is a charming island with delightful harbour villages and hillsides rich with aromatic shrubs. A visit to Croatia is a fascinating cultural experience and your walks and sightseeing visits will give a great insight into this charming country.

3 ACCOMMODATION Hotel Bacchus Obala Sv. Nikole Baška Voda Tel: The 4-star Hotel Bacchus is located on the seafront in the resort of Baška Voda overlooking the crystal clear Adriatic Sea and the island of Brač. There is a peaceful pebble beach in front of the hotel where sun loungers and beach towels can be rented, and behind lies the rest of the village and the towering Biokovo mountains. Bedrooms: There are 27 en-suite bedrooms, many with superb views of the sea or the mountains behind. Facilities in each room include airconditioning, hairdryer, satellite television, telephone, mini-bar and safe deposit box. Tea and coffee making facilities are not available in the bedrooms, but hot drinks can be bought from the bar. Facilities: The main area for meeting fellow guests is the lounge bar on the ground floor. The hotel has an attractive restaurant with large windows that take full advantage of the sea views. This opens onto the terrace where meals can be taken in good weather. On the lower floor, there is a modern leisure suite with a sauna and small spa pool. Internet access is available. Meals: All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. Special diets are catered for and we ask that you take a few moments to chat with the management on arrival. Breakfast: Served from 7.30 am to 9.30 am. The buffet offers an extensive choice of hot and cold items. Evening meal: Hotel Bacchus offers a 3-course evening meal served in the restaurant at around 7.30pm. The main course is ordered at breakfast from an extensive menu which offers a mixture of Croatian and international dishes, and, as might be expected of a coastal location, there are a number of fish and seafood options. Local dishes include Dalmatian pašticada (beef stew), lamb ala peka, fish brodetto and fish stew. The starter is selected from a superb extensive hot and cold buffet including soup and salads. Water, beer and a good selection of wines are available. Tea or coffee is served after dessert. Lunch: Sandwiches can be bought from the local bakery and there are a number of shops where you can buy ingredients for your packed lunch. On some days it may be possible to visit shops on our walks or eat in a local café. Your leaders will advise you of the options. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Guided Walking ITINERARY A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Baška Voda you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day. Easier Walks: 5 to 7 miles (8-11km) on good paths, with some steep descents and rocky sections. Up to 1,100 feet (360m). Harder Walks: 7 to 11 miles (11-17½km) with some steep ascents and descents and some very rocky sections. Up to 2,200 feet (660m) of ascent in a day. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. Day 1: Arrival day Depending on your arrival time you may have the opportunity to see a little of Baška Voda before your evening meal. On the first evening our leaders will explain more about our walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests. Day 2: Villages and coast around Baška Voda Today our walks start and finish at the hotel to enjoy the foothills of the Biokovo Mountains which 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk rise above the village. Both groups will descend to the coast at the neighbouring resort of Brela. We will then follow the coastline on a promenade through small beach resorts with the opportunity to pause for a drink or swim on our way back to Baška Voda. Easier Walk: We explore the mainly abandoned Dalmatian village of Topici before continuing northwest, parallel to the coast, walking through small tourist resorts en route back to Baška Voda. On wide paths with wonderful views this is a

5 popular walk with numerous places to stop after lunch for a swim in the brilliantly clear waters of the Adriatic. 6 miles (9½km) with 1,100 feet (330m) of ascent. Harder Walk: The harder walk will ascend to a high mountain col. Using a part of the extraordinary Napoleon s Old Road we ascend to possibly the best lunch spot of the week with views in every direction. A stony descent takes us to the coastal promenade for a delightful return to our hotel. 10 miles (16km) with 1,900 feet (570m) of ascent. Day 3: The island of Brač The island of Brač lies approximately four miles offshore from the mainland, and is about the same size as the Isle of Wight. The island s coastline has a series of attractive harbour villages, two of which will be visited on our walks. We travel to Brač by boat from Baška Voda harbour. We will arrive at Sumartin harbour and from here walk to a secluded cove and through olive groves to the equally attractive harbour at Povlja. Here our boat will be waiting for the return trip. Easier Walk: After time to explore or enjoy a relaxed morning coffee in Sumartin, we ascend out of the town and enjoy a wide track above the east coast of the island with stunning views across to the mountains on the mainland. At the hamlet of Rasotica we see how the local inhabitants collect water where there are no natural springs, before a possible swim in the nearby picturesque cove. A good track leads us to lunch in the shade of an olive grove before walking to the north coast of the island with its basilica and harbour. 7 miles (11km) with 400 feet (120m) of ascent. Harder Walk: This coast to coast walk follows the route of the easier group but takes on an additional descent to a second picturesque cove for our picnic lunch. 9 miles (13km) with 800 feet (240m) of ascent. Day 4: The foothills of Biokovo Mountains Both walks will start at the village of Makar, which sits on the hillside not far from Makarska, commanding superb views of the coast below, making their way via differing routes to Tučepi. Easier Walk: On mostly good paths, this gentle paced walk reveals the contrasts between the traditional life at the base of the Biokovo range and the welcoming facilities of an attractive coastal resort. We visit old churches, small villages and botanical gardens along the way. 6 miles (9½km) with 500 feet (150m) of ascent and 1,200 feet Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5

6 (360m) of descent. Harder Walk: The most challenging walk of the week ascends on a remarkably constructed former mule track before contouring in welcome shade high above the coast. A slightly rougher descent takes us to a traditional café. 7 miles (11km) with 2,200 feet (660m) of ascent. Day 5: Free day Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Makarska: A relaxing option is to walk along the coast to Makarska. This is a generally straightforward walk, taking around two hours, with plenty of opportunities for swimming along the way. In Makarska you may want to have lunch in one of the waterfront cafés, before returning to Baška Voda on one of the regular local buses. Split: Split is the capital of the region and is located 50km northwest of Baška Voda. The city can be reached by local bus, and the initial approach to the city through rows of dilapidated apartment blocks appears unpromising. At its heart, however, is an enthralling old town of narrow streets and ancient buildings. The principal sights are the cathedral of St Domnius and the remains of Diocletian s Palace with its spectacular gates, museum and temple. Trogir and Krka National Park: A little further away is the equally impressive city of Trogir. Built on an island, this beautiful walled city has a maze of narrow medieval streets, elegant waterfront cafés, a wide waterfront promenade and dramatic fortifications. The city is also the best example of Croatian cultural life on the Dalmatian coast. The magnificent cathedral inspired UNESCO to name the town a World Heritage Site in The Krka River and its wonderful waterfalls define the landscape of Šibenik-Knin country and are the focus of the Krka National Park. The Krka waterfalls are a Karstic phenomenon. A popular option is to combine a visit to Trogir with the spectacular waterfalls in the Krka National Park, and your leaders will organise this if there is sufficient interest. For information on Baška Voda please visit www baskavoda.hr Day 6: Hillside Villages to Makarska Today's walks use panoramic elevated paths in the foothills of the Biokovo Mountains. The views along the coast and across to the islands are superb 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk throughout. Both walks will finish in Makarska, the largest resort in the area which has a popular bustling harbour, with time to explore the town, or perhaps visit a harbour-side café at the end of the day. Easier Walk: Starting at the village of Bast we ascend to the 15th century Church of St Rocca before contouring southeast on a wide path to a shaded lunch stop in the abandoned Dalmatian village of Baškovic. A gradual descent leads us to well-earned refreshments in Makarska. 6 miles (9½km) with 1,000 feet (300m) of ascent. Harder Walk: Also starting at Bast, this walk gradually ascends on a higher broad track on the flanks of the Biokovo mountains, initially in shaded forest before the views open out over Makarska. We can see the locations of walks earlier in the week on Brač and high above Makar, before descending towards Makarska to join the easier group at the harbour. 8 miles (13km) with 1,500 feet (450m) ascent. Day 7: Cetina Gorge The Cetina Gorge is an impressive natural feature that has been carved through the limestone of the Biokovo Mountains. We start inland at the village of Kostanje, behind the coastal mountain range. Easier Walk: Enjoying contrasting scenery to the coastal region, an easy morning through quiet villages takes us to a dramatic lunch spot with views to the Cetina River below. From here we follow a well-graded path through trees leading us to our boats which take us to a historic mill for refreshment, and through the gorge to Omiš on the coast. 7 miles (11km) with 800 feet (240m) of ascent. Harder Walk: We will take an alternative route to the easier route to visit a church for lunch with distant views high above the morning s path, and then rejoin the path down to and into the gorge. 8 miles (13km) with 900ft (270m) of ascent and 1,500 feet (450m) of descent. Day 8: Departure day In the evenings In Europe, our walking holidays continue into the evening. Enjoy a glass of wine or local beer whilst listening to your leaders outlining the next day s walks. After a leisurely evening meal, you may like to join your group on an evening boat trip, listen to live music or just relax in the bar with your fellow guests.

7 WALKING INFORMATION Your Walking Leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest on the route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guide who will accompany you on a walk to enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The maps available for this area are 1:100,000 scale and therefore do not detail many of the walking routes. Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. WALKING SAFETY We are committed to running our Guided Walking holidays in a safe manner and your co-operation with this is much appreciated. No outdoor activity can be 100% risk free; however, if you take sensible precautions and adhere to your leaders instructions, your holiday will be both safe and enjoyable. On the first evening of your holiday (dependent on arrival time, the leaders will give a short talk about safety on the walks we would ask everyone to attend. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7

8 Walking as a group: Our leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole and will show more caution over potential risks (such as bad or exceptionally hot weather than an individual or couple might make on a private outing. Walks may be modified or cancelled following the leaders assessment of the day-to-day situation. Your leaders will refuse to accept any guest whose clothing, equipment, behaviour or walking ability is considered unsuitable, and where it could affect the safety and enjoyment of other guests on the proposed walk. It is your responsibility to follow the leader s guidelines, for the benefit and safety of the group as a whole. If you leave the group, then your leader will no longer have responsibility for you. For safety reasons, we stipulate a minimum party size of two guests in addition to the leader. First aid: In line with current practice, each leader carries a group first aid kit but is not able to supply any medication, including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from water sources as required. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Croatian. English is spoken widely in shops and tourist attractions. Currency: Croatian Kuna Money: There are several ATM machines in Baška Voda where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialling the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a Croatian number Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

9 WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Please note that some of our Atlantic island and Mediterranean destinations are also in mountainous areas and at high altitudes (up to 4,000 feet) the temperatures can be as low as 0 C. You will need: comfortable outdoor clothing ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses small rucksack The following are also recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: camera personal first aid kit walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents FOOTWEAR We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Dubrovnik Airport. From the UK we offer flights from London Gatwick and Manchester which may arrive at different times. Please note that no meals are provided on most European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Where possible you will be met as you enter the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. Your leader may be on the same flight as you or may arrive on another flight. Occasionally we will ask our transfer coach company to meet you. The driver will be in the arrivals hall holding an HF Holidays sign. Please note that where possible we combine our airport transfers and you may have a short wait at the airport for the rest of your group who will be arriving on a different flight. You will be notified of this in your final confirmation letter. The onward journey to Baška Voda by coach takes approximately 3 hours. Halfway, we will stop in Bosnia and Herzogovina for a comfort and refreshment break. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Dubrovnik airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional flight times can be found on or by calling (1) ). Cost per single journey is Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Our Airport Taxi service is available on request. Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 9

10 linger a little LONGER If you enjoyed your holiday in our destination of Baška Voda, Dalmatian Coast, we recommend our holiday in Catalonian Spain, Roses. Two weeks or more Make the most of your break and enjoy a longer holiday either two weeks of walking at one resort or by combining complementary holidays, such as Sorrento on the Neapolitan coastline and Altamura, in the undiscovered region of Puglia. We arrange the transfers between the resorts so that you don t have to. See our brochure or website for more information. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, we recommend our Self-guided Walking holidays. In selected European destinations you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Worldwide From Alaska to Vietnam our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. SAVE ON OUTDOOR CLOTHING From time to time our outdoor clothing partners have special offers for our guests. Visit hfholidays.co.uk/partnerships to see the current offers. 10 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

11 RECOMMEND A FRIEND AND SAVE UP TO 50 Do you know someone who would enjoy our holidays as much as you do? Invite them to book a holiday and you ll receive up to 50! If you recommend HF Holidays to a friend, who then makes their first ever booking with us, we ll give you 50 off your next 7 night holiday or 30 off your next 3 or 4 night short break. Plus as a welcome, we ll give your friend, or friends, up to 50 off their holiday too, meaning savings for everyone! Claim up to 50 in three easy steps When your friend books a holiday, ask them to mention your name, address and the Recommend a Friend scheme at the same time. If they have never been on holiday with us, we ll give them a discount of up to 50 per person. We ll send you a voucher for up to 50 off a future HF Holidays break for each friend you have recommended. Terms & conditions apply, visit hfholidays.co.uk/raf for details. PATHWAYS FUND Last year guests donated 19,500 to our Pathways Fund and we spent 25,000 on projects. For more information on the projects the Pathways Fund has supported, plus how to donate, please visit hfholidays.co.uk/pathways HF Holidays continues to work in partnership with the Family Holiday Association to provide Feel Good Breaks designed to reward families who could not otherwise afford it with the gift of a break in the outdoors and the chance to spend quality time together. Help us continue this work by donating to the Pathways Fund. JOIN US TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW HF Holidays is the only UK holiday provider that s a co-operative. We re owned by our members who help shape our business for future generations. Join our award-winning and sociably responsible society that s passionate about helping others to enjoy holidays in beautiful countryside. For a minimum purchase of shares you can benefit from: Members loyalty scheme earn points on your holidays and use as a discount on your next holiday Member-only events and holidays Members come first with advance registration for the holiday you want 10% discount at our country house bars 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor 15% discount at Rohan 25% discount at Hi-Tec Annual interest on your shares ALREADY A MEMBER? There are many ways for you to further your support: Help choose our Board Attend member events Encourage others to join us Increase your shares at any time Top up to 1,000 shares to become an investment member with enhanced benefits Give membership as a gift To join or increase your investment call our Membership team on , membership@hfholidays.co.uk or visit hfholidays.co.uk/membership Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 11

12 Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY hfholidays.co.uk For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: +44 (0) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or between the hours of Friday 7pm to Monday 9am are: +44 (0) or