FEELING MY OWN BODY
Take advantage of the many sports on offer in the region!Zadar and its surrounding area offer numerous opportunities for sports, either before or after indulging in its culinary and cultural pleasures:
The BoraTours Team in the Borik Resort can show you the best places to visit in the region around Zadar, and has plenty of insider tips to offer you!
BORA TOURS
Majstora Radovana 7
HR-23000 Zadar/Kroatien
Phone: 00385 (023) 33 77 60
Fax: 00385 (023) 33 77 61
info@boratours.net
The Croats absolutely love sport. Football, basketball and handball are all particular favourites.
You probably already know the most famous Croatian sports personalities:
Goran Ivanisević: the most successful famous tennis star produced by Croatia. In the mid-1990s the victor of Wimbledon was especially feared on account of his powerful service game.
Janica Kostelić: in 2005/06, this exceptionally talented 24-year old was the Overall World Cup Winner in Alpine skiing. Janica Kostelić was also among the top medal winners in the last World Championships and the Winter Olympics.
Drazen Petrović: the best-known Croatian basketball player, he was killed in 1993 in a motorway accident in Bavaria, and is still mourned by many of his compatriots. He remains the most successful ever European basketball player in the NBA.
Davor Šuker: his vital goals made him a national hero as Croatia won third place in the 1998 Football World Cup.
Diving
General:Divers in general need a diving licence, available for approximately 15 euros from diving centres and certain travel agents along the Adriatic coast; it is valid for one year. Diving permits are only issued to divers who can produce a certificate issued by an internationally recognised diving school.
The popular Extra Divers Diving School in the Falkensteiner Hotels & Resorts Borik complex is located close by:
Extra Divers Diving School
Majstora Radovana 7
23000 Zadar
Phone: 00385 (023) 337644
croatia@extra-divers.li
A comprehensive list of over 150 diving centres is available on the homepage of the Croatian National Tourist Board. The Croatian Diving Federation in Zagreb (phone/fax 00385 (01) 424 063) also provides information on dives and diving courses.
Diving around Zadar:
Almost 40 percent of Croatia’s islands lie off the coast of northern Dalmatia, totalling 383 islands, islets and rocks. Forming part of the Zadar archipelago and easy to reach by boat are Dugi Otok, the largest of northern Dalmatia’s islands, and the islands of Ugljan and PaŠman, which are linked by a bridge.
A particular feature of this "aquatorium" is that it is possible to find locations in all weather conditions sufficiently protected from the wind and waves to allow you to dive in safety. Not far from Zadar can also be found the Kornati islands, a beautiful island group consisting of some 140 uninhabited islands, islets and reefs. Characteristic of the Kornati Islands are the differently shaped, bizarre and unusual relief structures and their high cliffs, making diving in this region a fascinating experience.
Attention!!!
Around the island of Pag are numerous shipwrecks. As they lie in depths of over 40 metres, it is not possible to dive to them using compressed air. In future however it will be possible for divers to reach the wrecks using a gas mixture for deep (i.e. technical) dives. This type of diving requires considerable specialist knowledge and experience, and the number of divers capable of this type of dive is therefore relatively small.
Zadar’s underwater worlds:
Diving in the TelaŠčica natural park and the Kornati national park requires a special diving permit, and diving expeditions are normally organised by the accredited diving centres located on the island of Murter and in the area between Biograd and PrimoŠten. Most of the diving areas are determined in advance to ensure diving safety. The Kornati national park and the archipelago between Zadar and Šibenik are popular diving destinations, and for this reason, many divers organise their activities with knowledgeable local guides.
Diving schools:
EXTRA DIVERS WORLDWIDE
Majstora Radovana 7
23000 Zadar
Phone: 00385 (023) 337644
croatia@extra-divers.li
Diving centres in the city of Zadar:
AQUARIUS TRADE
PUT PETRICA 43
23000 Zadar
Phone: 00385 (023)230-925
Fax: 00385 (023) 230-925
dusko.paulin@zd.htnet.hr
ZADAR SUB
DUBROVACKA 20a
23000 Zadar
Phone: 00385 (023) 214-848
Fax: 00385 (023) 224 060
Mobile: 00385 (098)330-472
info@zadarsub.hr
www.zadarsub.hr
Hiking
"The gods wanted to crown their creation and on the last day they turned tears, stars and the sea breeze into ‘Croatia’!" George Bernard ShawCroatia contains very varied landscapes, whose contrasting interplay gives this land its special beauty. What are distant features in other countries are here close neighbours: sea, karst, wooded mountains and fertile plains.
Local footpaths:
Turanj via Biograd to Pakostane (approx. 15 km)
Natural park of Vransko Jezero / Pakostane - Vodice (approx. 21 km)
Excursion to Krka national park (approx. 12 km)
Vodice – Kastell, hiking in the Kozjak mountains (approx. 13 km)
Climbing
General:
Climbing is mainly practised in the Paklenica national park, which offers numerous walls of all grades. There are also individual free climber locations on certain islands in the lower Cetina. The Croatian National Tourist Board (link) offers online information about the various walking and climbing opportunities.
Paklenica:
The area of Paklenica is the most interesting climbing area in Croatia.
Its particular attraction lies in its proximity to the Adria-Magistrale road and its climate offering winter climbing in almost summer conditions, which cannot be found in the Alpine countries. At the bottom of the “Anica kuk” is a large meadow, called the “Anica luka”, which has a spring and which has served climbers for decades as a campsite.
In geomorphological terms, Mala and Velika Paklenica (Lesser and Greater Paklenica) are a combination of longitudinal valleys and gaps. The rock walls drop 1,000 m into the gorge, forming a series of jagged cliffs above (Rapavac 1617 m, Crljeni kuk 1661 m, Babin kuk 1431m, etc.). At the bottom of the valley, Paklenica has a much gentler gradient: it is carved down to older, impermeable geological layers, the source of many perennial springs and a permanent flow, the Paklenica mountain stream.
The final 2 km of the course of Velika Paklenica to the sea is the most impressive, with the wild beauty of the gorge and its vertical cliff walls. The crag of Anica kuk (712 m) soars on its eastern side with the highest cliff face in Velebit (some 400 m).
Mala Paklenica is 3 km to the east of Velika Paklenica. As ist name implies, it is smaller and shorter, but much more difficult to negotiate, as it is much steeper and waterless.
Mountaineers usually visit Paklenica when ascending or descending the peaks of the Velebit. This is made considerably easier by the “Paklenica” mountain refuge and the refuge on Ivine Vodice (the area around the spring of the same name). As a consequence of the war, the zone north of the line Oglavinovac - Buljma - Marasovac - Solila - Ivine Vodice - Bukva - Jasenice is at present not open to the public.
The protective regulations of the National Park govern climbing in the Paklenica area. Climbing is only permitted on the eastern side of the gorge, up to Anica kuk, and on the opposite side, up to the cave of Manita pec. Climbing is not permitted in the gorge of Mala Paklenica, as it is a protected wilderness area in which griffon vulturs nest.
Cycling
General:Cycle paths, as found in other parts of Western Europe, are not common in Croatia. For mountains right next to the sea, the national park of Paklenica nevertheless offers wonderful opportunities, both for walking and climbing.
Cyclists too love island-hopping! Join up with groups of other cyclists. Many firms offer boats to rent for island hopping with bicycles included in the price.
Locally:
The islands of Ugljan and PaŠman are ideal tourist destinations for cyclists and friends of nature. Visit the islands by bicycle to appreciate their true beauty!
The hilly but easy terrain of the islands of Ugljan link and PaŠman link is criss-crossed by numerous footpaths and cycle paths. Lovers of Mediterranean landscapes will enjoy the unforgettable panoramas, in particular the view from the 13th century Venetian fortress of Saint Mihovil.
Riding
The "Sinjska Alka" is a chivalric tournament in which riders in festive national costume compete to hit the Alka (two small concentric hoops hanging over the racetrack) with lances. The tournament has taken place since 1715 in commemoration of the victory of the outnumbered inhabitants of the town of Sinj over the Turkish army. The tournament always takes place on the Feast of the Assumption (15 August).International riding tournaments are held in Polača.
Polača, Phone: 00385 (023) 662 001
Club president Mr Bobanović, GSM 00385 (091) 5263 229
Hunting
The hunting reserves of Ravni kotari are suitable for hunting quail, pheasant and hares. Experienced hunters can also hunt jackal. At the edge of the karst areas of the southern Velebit it is possible to hunt small game (hare, grey partridge, rock partridge and snipe) and, in the higher mountainous regions of the hunting reserve, wild boar and chamois, stags and brown bears can be found.Hunting is only permitted with a valid licence. Further information is available from the Croatian Hunting Federation.
Croatian Hunting Federation
Nazorova 63
10000 Zagreb
Phone: 00385 (01) 483 45 60
Fax: 00385 (01) 483 45 57
www.hrvatski-lovacki-savez.hr
Sailing
Sailing from island to island, discovering the treasures of the Croatian Adriatic or simply drifting with the wind. Croatia is a sailor’s paradise.As nautical tourism is one of the most attractive aspects on offer, the Nautical Tourism Association has created a forum providing useful and indispensable information for sailors.
The 50 marinas, all of which are members of the Croatian Marina Group, have a capacity of over 13,200 sea berths and 4,500 land berths.
Udruzenje nautickog turizma Hrvatske HGK Zupanijska komora Rijeka
Bulevar oslobodenja 23
51000 Rijeka
hgkri@hgk.hr
www.hgk.hr
Fishing
A permit must be obtained before any sport fishing. To obtain an angler’s permit you will need some form of ID, e.g. a passport or driving licence. Licences are issued by travel agents and tourist offices in all towns along the coast.Licences are obtainable for sport fishing with fish hooks, with underwater harpoons, troll lines and fixed lines, as are licences for tuna fishing.
Fishing is permitted along the entire Adriatic coast, although it is restricted in the waters of the national parks (Kornati, Brijuni, Krka and Mljet) and in other, smaller locations.
The price for a licence (angler’s permit) varies according to the length of time (day, week or month) it is issued for.
For further information please visit the following Webpage www.mps.hr
Rafting
The rivers in the continental part of Croatia are lined with thick woods and mountains. The rivers nearer the sea are distinguished by their green banks and deep, rocky canyons. The wildwater degree of difficulty is on average III, and only on the Dobra and the Una is Class IV to be found.- The Dobra runs both underground and overground. Rafting is always first-class, as barrages and dams ensure sufficient flow.
- The MreŽnica has numerous waterfalls, and is otherwise tranquil. In the upper reaches rafting also includes elements of canyoning.
- The Korana rises in the Plitvice Lakes. Following heavy rain and snow melt, there is an interesting stretch below the picturesque Rastoka and down through the canyon.
- The Zrmanja has a high water level in spring. In summer small boats – kayaks and canoes – can be used to navigate the most beautiful canyon in Croatia.
- The Krka is navigable in the upper part of the national park on account of the inflow of the Butisnica, which is controlled by a barrage. Rafting is the only way to visit this untouched part of the park. The bank of the 12-metre high Bilusica Buk must be negotiated.
- The waters of the Cetina are fed though a tunnel to the hydroelectric station on the coast, meaning that not much water remains for rafting in the natural river bed. The thick vegetation along the river, the clear water, the high cliffs, waterfalls and caves nevertheless combine to make it a great experience.
Information on equipment: the rafts are made of tough material and are very agile. They are in use on all rivers in Croatia. A skipper is included in the price for organised rafting, as is the personal kit for each crew member: life jackets, neoprene clothing and footwear, helmets and paddles.
For more information visit rasah.hr
