Dalmatia, Croatia Trail Running Road Trip A division of Explorateur voyages Québec Licensee
Dalmatia, Croatia Trail Running Road Trip Croatia is known for its endless string of islands (over 1,100!) that runs along the Adriatic Coast. On a road trip and thanks to Croatia s excellent ferry network, we explore some of the prettiest: Brač, Hvar, and Korčula. We also travel through the Pelješac Peninsula, which is a wine paradise, and the area of Omis, a must for outdoor enthusiasts. Our driver takes us wherever we want to run and greets us at the other end of the trail. During your leisure time, feel free to swim in the Adriatic, nap in the shade, or visit the many historical sites that we encounter en route. In the evening, explore amazing cities before sitting down to sample a black risotto and a glass (or two) of local Malvazija. After all, you re on vacation
Your holiday at a glance Duration: 8 days, 7 nights What to expect: Sea and sun, a perfect balance of physical challenge and relaxation, fascinating cultural and historic attractions, exploration of a stunning natural setting Effort level: Adventure (10 20 km, +500 1000 m per day, mountainous terrain, some marked trails) Accommodation: 4-star hotels Guides: A guide from our team and a local guide who both specialize in adventure travel and trail running Group: 8 to 14 runners Price: See our website Dates: September 16 to 23, 2018
Highlights A dream holiday against the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea. Five routes on some of Dalmatia s most gorgeous islands and on the coast, among karst massifs, vineyards, lavender fields, and olive groves. A journey through time following the traces of the conquests that shaped Croatia s riveting history. A physical challenge suitable for intermediate-level trail runners who enjoy the great outdoors and hilly terrain. After your hard work, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters or savor a biela cava with the locals! Nomade Actif s special touch Professional guides who specialize in adventure travel and trail running. The expertise of a local guide, course director at Dalmacija Ultratrail, who knows Croatia s trails inside out. A private shuttle: our driver will drop us off at the starting point, meet us at the end of the trail, and take us to our hotels and to ferryboats as needed. Scheduled cultural activities, including a wine tasting and monastery tour. Come along and be captivated by Croatia s charm!
A few things to keep in mind Five consecutive days of trail running. Daily distance of 14 20 km with 250 600 m of elevation gain, including one day with 1045 m of elevation gain. Mountainous setting, rocky terrain. Short rain showers and brief thunderstorms are possible this time of year. Participants must have experience in trail running with a light backpack. Some unmarked trails. Participants must stay with the group.
Our local guide Marko Herman A certified kinesiologist, Marko needs only a trail and a pair of running shoes to be happy. Although he was born in Dubrovnik, he spent most of his childhood on the Pelješac peninsula, an area known for its spectacular trails. In recent years, he has participated in over ten ultratrail events and countless shorter races. He is course director at Dalmacija Ultratrail, whose very first edition in 2016 was a great success. He is also founder of a trail running club in Croatia. To him, Dalmatia is a trail runner's dream because of the diversity of its landscapes and the richness of its history, traces of which are found everywhere, even on the trails themselves, which sometimes date from over 2,000 years. He invites you to experience a sporting and cultural adventure in his beloved Croatia.
The price includes: - Two professional guides: one from our team and one from Croatia - 5 guided trail running outings - Private shuttle to transport luggage and runners - Transportation on ferryboats - Airport shuttle on arrival and departure - 7 nights in 4-star hotels, double occupancy - 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, snacks - An assortment of Xact Nutrition bars (one per day) - A wine tasting experience - A guided tour of the city of Split - First aid and telecommunication equipment carried by our guides - Pre-trip meeting - Taxes and service fees The price doesn t include: - Airfare and related costs (airport tax, luggage, etc.) - Meals other than those mentioned in the inclusions - Gratuities - Drinks - Contribution to FICAV (compensation fund for customers of travel agents: $1 per $1,000) - Insurance - Vaccines
Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Split, shuttle, briefing Shuttle from Split airport to the hotel for travelers arriving today. Briefing at the hotel with the guides. Free time. Day 2: Brač Island Breakfast at the hotel. Shuttle and ferry to Brač Island. We start at Vidova Gora (780 m), the highest summit on the Croatian islands; pass the Blaca monastery, which dates from 1570; and descend to the sea. Suggested free time activity: Zlatni Rat beach, whose shape changes with the tides. Overnight stay on the island. 16 km, +243 m Day 3: Hvar Island Breakfast at the hotel. Ferry to Hvar Island and shuttle to Brusje. From Brusje we run to Hvar Town via Malo Grablje, a 16th-century village whose inhabitants abandoned it in the 1950s in search of a better life by the sea. Suggested free time activity: a stroll in Hvar Town. Dinner tonight is offered by Nomade Actif. Overnight on the island. 16.4 km, +415 m Day 4: Korčula Island Breakfast at the hotel. Ferry to Korčula and shuttle to the trail, which crosses the eastern tip of the island. We run through Kocje, a protected area that features intriguing geological formations. Suggested free time activity: explore Korčula Town, which competes with Venice for the status of Marco Polo s birthplace. Overnight on the island. 19.8 km, +609 m Day 5: Pelješac Peninsula Breakfast at the hotel and ferry to Orebić. Our local guide takes us to places he knows well this is where he spent most of his childhood. We will climb Sveti Ilija Mountain. Wine tasting in the afternoon. Overnight in Orebić. 19.9 km, +523 m Day 6: Omis Breakfast at the hotel and shuttle to Omis (3 hours). Afternoon run in the mountains of the area, a former pirates lair and hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Overnight in Omis. 14.2 km, +1045 m Day 7: Return to Split Breakfast in Omis and shuttle to Split (1 hour). Guided tour of the city and farewell lunch. Free time and overnight in Split. Day 8: Departure for airport Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Split airport. N.B. This itinerary is provided for information only. The guides and staff reserve the right to modify it at any time for safety purposes or to ensure that the trip runs smoothly.
Useful Information Group supervision Group of 8 to 14 runners. This tour is entirely supervised by a guide from our team and a local guide. They make sure that everything runs smoothly, oversee the technical and logistical aspects of the excursions, ensure that the quality of the services is high, and above all, share their knowledge of the country. Our guides are adventure travel professionals who are experienced in trail running and certified in wilderness first aid. Other local staff: driver. There will be a group information meeting before departure. Daypack Our guides look after the well-being of the entire group and carry first aid, navigation, and communication equipment for this purpose. However, the group s safety also depends on well-equipped runners. Make sure to wear a running daypack that fits you well and that you have tested before your holiday. Each runner must carry: Water: minimum 2 litres in a hydration bag or water bottles. Trail food: we provide an assortment of Xact Nutrition bars (one per day), and there will be snacks in the support vehicle (e.g., granola bars, nuts, dried fruit). You are responsible for bringing any other energy product you would like to use during the trip. Protective gear: windproof jacket, insulating midlayer, ski cap, thin gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, whistle. Personal first aid kit: bandages and dressings, antiseptic wipes, personal medication, etc. Accommodation 4-star hotels, double occupancy. Single occupancy available for a supplementary fee.
Useful Information Food Price includes 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, and snacks in the support vehicle (e.g., granola bars, nuts, dried fruit). Breakfast typically consists of cold meats, cheese, bread and jam, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, tea, and coffee. For lunch and dinner, you will find a good selection of eateries to fit any budget in the towns and villages where we will be staying. Dalmatia was long part of the Venetian Empire, while inner Croatia belonged to the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. As a result, Croatian cuisine is a tasty fusion of the culinary traditions of Italy, Turkey, and eastern Europe. Some dishes you will not want to miss are the squid ink risotto and roasted lamb (janjetina), which is said to be marinated at birth when it comes from certain islands where rosemary grows abundantly! Climate In mid-september, Dalmatia offers the best of all worlds: the hottest time of the year is past but the sun is still shining even though the Adriatic is starting to cool off. This time of year, the average temperature is 23 C during the day and 14 C at night. The sun can be strong, and it is not unusual for temperatures to climb above 25 C during the hottest part of the day. You can expect to be warm while you are running, so make sure to eat and hydrate enough and take along the appropriate clothing and accessories. Average monthly precipitation is 60 mm in September. Some rain showers or short thunderstorms are possible. Money and currencies The currency in use is the kuna (HRK). The euro is rarely used, but it may come in handy for certain expenses. The best way to withdraw money during the trip is with a debit card. Before the trip, check your bank s transaction fees and make a note of the telephone number to call if your card is lost or stolen. It is customary to pay in cash in most restaurants, cafés, and businesses. You will have an opportunity to withdraw cash in the towns where we stay overnight. Large businesses and chain stores accept credit cards, especially Visa and MasterCard. Even if you plan to use cash most of the time, we recommend that you bring two cards in case one is lost, stolen, or defective. Traveler s cheques are less and less common, but may be useful in the event of total loss. If you choose this option, be sure to ask for cheques in kunas.
Useful Information Tipping Tipping is of course at your discretion, but as an indicator of the standards in the travel industry, adventure travel guides (from your travel agency and from the local team) usually receive about Can$10/day, per person. Although tipping is not widespread in Croatia, in restaurants a tip of 5% 10% is appreciated. In cafés, bars, and taxis, it is common to round the bill. Travel insurance It is vital to take out medical insurance to cover expenses in case of hospitalization abroad or repatriation, and cancellation insurance to cover the nonrefundable portion of the cost of your trip. Explorateur voyages, the travel agency with which we are associated, offers full travel coverage, with or without cancellation insurance. Please contact us to request a quote. If you choose to purchase cancellation insurance from Explorateur voyages, you will be able to do so when you make your final payment. However, if you choose to buy cancellation insurance from another provider, please note that you may have to do so when you make your initial deposit. Finally, if your credit card provides insurance, you must make your initial deposit with that card. Visa and passport requirements For holders of a Canadian passport, no visa is required for stays of 90 days or less. Your passport must be valid for at least three months following the date you plan to leave the country. Health, vaccines, and safety We recommend that you contact your local travel clinic or community health department to find out what vaccines are needed and what precautions to take.
Useful Information Electricity Power socket: type F. Voltage: 230 V. Frequency: 50 Hz. Visit this website to see socket types: http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com Internet and telecommunications Most hotels offer free WiFi, but some hotels may charge for it. In large cities, some restaurants and cafés have WiFi, but it is not widespread in small towns and villages. Cell phone coverage is good in cities but variable in rural areas. You can purchase an inexpensive SIM card (around Can$25) at most newspaper kiosks and convenience stores. Equipment and luggage Your main luggage can be a backpack or a duffel bag. Some are equipped with handles or wheels. We do not recommend using a hard suitcase, especially if it is bulky, because it will limit the available space when the group is travelling together. Remember to label all your bags with your name and address. A complete list of the required equipment will be sent to you when you sign up for the tour. Feel free to contact us with any equipment-related questions; our guides are here to help. Information and registration For any questions about this tour or to sign up, please contact us. This tour is organized in collaboration with Terra Ultima / Explorateur voyages, Québec licensee.