Croatia Active Holiday Guide: Sea Kayaking, Sailing, Rafting, Hiking and Real Prices

Is Croatia only good for lying on a beach? Not at all! In my childhood, Croatia was the cheap beach holiday that Hungarians drove down to. However, when we spent 16 days there in August 2018, we hardly sat still. We paddled sea kayaks around the Elaphiti Islands for a week, sailed from Split, went rafting and zip lining in Omiš and hiked up to a fortress in the heat.

So in this guide I share the activities we loved, what they cost us and what they cost in 2026. I have checked every 2026 price on the operators' own websites. Which adventure would you pick first?

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Quick answer

• Sea kayaking: the Elaphiti Islands near Dubrovnik are perfect for a guided week. Adria Adventure's trip costs from €1,115 per person in 2026, or €1,190 in July and August.
• Sailing: a skippered day trip from Split with Opcija Tours costs €150–€170 per person (2026). No sailing experience needed.
• Rafting and zip lining: Omiš, about 25 km south of Split, is the adventure hub. The Cetina canyon zip line costs €80 per person in 2026.
• Hiking: climb to Starigrad Fortress above Omiš, walk Dubrovnik's City Walls or hike up Mount Srđ. Plitvice Lakes costs €10–€40 for an adult day ticket in 2026, depending on the season.
• Money: Croatia has used the euro since 1 January 2023. Our 2018 trip cost £2,657 for two, but tours cost more now.

Sea kayaking around the Elaphiti Islands

This was the main reason we chose Croatia. We had done a few kayak trips in the UK, and we wanted more. The Elaphiti Islands are a short ferry ride from Dubrovnik. Only the three biggest islands are inhabited: Koločep, Lopud and Šipan. There were no cars on Lopud when we visited, and it became my favourite place in Croatia.

We joined Adria Adventure's one-week guided trip. We paddled between 6 km and 18 km a day, explored sea caves, snorkelled from wild bays and went cliff jumping. On day 3 we got caught in a storm on the way back from Koločep, and one of our group capsized. We all had a good laugh about it later, but it taught me that you need an adventurous spirit on a sea kayaking trip! The Green Cave on our last day was definitely the highlight. Read the full day-by-day story in our Elaphiti Islands kayaking post.

The trip in 2026:

• Price: from €1,115 per person in May, June, September and October, or €1,190 in July and August. The single room supplement is €230.
• Dates: weekly departures from 30 May to 3 October 2026.
• Included: 7 nights in family-run B&Bs (4 on Lopud and 3 on Šipan), 7 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 1 lunch, airport transfers, ferry tickets, an English-speaking guide and kayaks with all the equipment.
• Age: the suggested minimum age is 15.

Who is it for? I wouldn't book it as your very first time in a kayak, as some days are long. However, if you have paddled a few times and want a guide to take care of everything, it is perfect. We were guests of Adria Adventure, but as always all opinions are my own.

For other options, see our guide to kayaking holidays for beginners. And if you are driving down to Croatia, an inflatable kayak is a fun way to explore calm bays on your own. The AM AQUA MARINA Laxo is one I recommend in my best inflatable kayaks round-up, as you can take it on the sea when conditions aren't too rough.

Sailing and island hopping from Split

A skippered sailing day trip

Tom has a day skipper licence, but we weren't ready to sail on our own in a new country. So we joined a small-group sailing day with Opcija Tours. We stopped in Stomorska on the island of Šolta for an ice cream. Then we anchored in a wild bay off Brač to swim and snorkel. In the afternoon the wind picked up, the motor went off and we sailed back to Split. I decided I much prefer swimming from a boat than from a beach. There is no crowd around you! Here is our sailing day trip from Split in full. We were guests of Opcija Tours.

In 2026:

• Price: €170 per person if only two of you are on board, or €150 per person for three or more.
• Season and times: daily from 15 March to 31 October. It leaves the Split waterfront (Riva) at 10 am and is back around 5 pm.
• Included: skipper, coffee, snacks, wine, fuel and snorkelling gear. Lunch isn't on the list any more. The boat stops in Stomorska on Šolta, where you can eat in a restaurant.
• The boat: a 10 m Triplast Y999, registered for 7 guests and 2 crew.

Brač: Zlatni Rat and Vidova Gora

We also did a big catamaran day trip to Brač, with a coach up to Vidova Gora, the highest peak on the Adriatic islands. From the top you can see the famous Zlatni Rat beach from above. Unfortunately that tour no longer runs. Summer Blues now runs a Hvar and Pakleni Islands trip instead. Read about our Brač catamaran day trip for the details.

You can still do it yourself. Jadrolinija's catamaran line 9603 sails from Split to Bol in about 1 hour 5 minutes. You can also hike up to Vidova Gora from Bol. However, I wouldn't do it in the midday heat of July or August!

Rafting, canyoning and zip lining in Omiš

Omiš sits where the Cetina river meets the sea. It is a great base if you love adventure activities, and many tours pick you up from Split too. Here is our Omiš adventure guide.

Rafting and canyoning on the Cetina

We chose Dalmatia Getaway because it ran its trip when the river was quiet, so we had it to ourselves. The rafting itself is gentle, but the trip adds canyoning fun: rope swings, a cave behind a waterfall and cliff jumping. I jumped from a 5 m cliff after a long, long hesitation! Children can join too. We had an 11-year-old in our group who had a blast.

In 2026: the trip lasts more than 5 hours on up to 12 km of river. It includes light food and drinks, a free HD video and photos, and a free shuttle from Omiš, Split and Makarska. The website doesn't list a price, so ask them when you book.

Zip lining over the Cetina canyon

This was even cooler than my zip lining in Singapore. The first wire was the longest and the most fun. Wear trainers, as flip-flops weren't allowed on our trip, and bring a small backpack with water.

In 2026: ZIPLINE Croatia has 8 zip lines with a total length of 2,100 m. The longest is 700 m. It takes about 2.5 hours and costs €80 per person. It is for ages 7 and over, with a maximum weight of 140 kg.

Hiking in Croatia

Starigrad Fortress (Fortica), Omiš

This is my favourite short hike from our trip. We went up the steep route from the free car park after the tunnel and reached the top in 30 minutes. Then we came down the longer, sunnier path. The whole loop is about 4 km, so allow 2–3 hours. The tourist board says it takes about an hour to walk up. There is an entrance fee in the summer months, so bring some euros in cash. Go early, as there is no shade on the way down. Get the map and parking tips in our Starigrad Fortress hiking guide.

Dubrovnik: City Walls and Mount Srđ

After our kayaking week we had a day in Dubrovnik. We walked the 2 km of City Walls in about 1.5–2 hours and then took the cable car up Mount Srđ. Do both if you can! Here is how we compared the City Walls and the cable car.

• Cable car (2026): €30 return or €17 one way for adults. Children aged 4–12 pay €8 return. It is closed from December to March.
• City Walls: I couldn't confirm the 2026 price on the official website, so check the ticket shop before you go.
• Save money: you can hike up Srđ for free in about 45 minutes. It is a lovely walk outside the hot summer months.

Plitvice Lakes

We haven't been to Plitvice yet, but it is high on our bucket list. Tickets are sold for a set entry time, so book online in summer. According to the park's 2026 price list, an adult day ticket costs €40 from June to September (€25 in the late afternoon), €23 in April, May and October, and €10 in winter. Children under 7 go free. I have planned the best route in our Plitvice Lakes walking guide.

Real prices: what we paid and what it costs now

Our 16-day holiday cost £2,657 for the two of us. Without a few sponsored tours it would have been £3,982. Here is our full Croatia holiday cost breakdown. Remember that we paid in kuna in 2018. The fixed rate was 7.5345 kuna to €1.

Our other big costs were accommodation (£760 for 15 nights in Airbnbs), eating out (£450) and return flights to Dubrovnik (£410 for two in high season). Car hire was £225 for 8 days. Eating out wasn't any cheaper than London, so book places with a kitchen. I also found Pisak, Makarska and Cavtat much more reasonably priced than Dubrovnik and Split.

Planning your active holiday in Croatia

How we planned our two weeks

We flew into Dubrovnik and hired a car to drive up to Split and Omiš for the first week. The second week was the kayaking trip, which was car-free. If you only have one week, I would pick one base. Split works for sailing, island trips and Omiš. Dubrovnik works for the Elaphiti Islands and the walls.

Practical tips

• Heat: August was very hot. Start hikes early and carry lots of water.
• Crowds: Dubrovnik and Split can feel overcrowded in summer. Arrive early at the big sights, and try June or September if you can.
• Insurance: make sure your policy covers kayaking and other activities. We used InsureandGo, and our policy included kayaking.
• Entry rules for UK visitors (2026): you can stay up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on arrival and valid for at least 3 months after you leave. The EU's Entry/Exit System may take your fingerprints and photo at the border.
• Accommodation: look at home exchange if you want to cut your biggest cost.

FAQ

Is Croatia good for an active holiday?

Yes, really good! In two weeks we did sea kayaking, sailing, rafting, canyoning, zip lining and hiking.

Can beginners go sea kayaking in Croatia?

Yes, with a guide. We weren't very experienced, and a guided week around the Elaphiti Islands worked well for us. However, if you have never paddled before, try a shorter trip first, as some days on a week-long trip are long.

How much does an active holiday in Croatia cost?

As of 2026, a guided kayaking week costs from €1,115 per person, a sailing day from Split €150–€170 and the Omiš zip line €80. Add flights, accommodation and food. Cooking for yourself saves a lot.

When is the best time for an active holiday in Croatia?

I would go in June or September. It is less hot and busy than August, and the tours are running. The Elaphiti kayaking week runs from late May to early October, and the Split sailing trip from mid-March to October.

Have you been active in Croatia? Which adventure would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments!