HOLIDAYS
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Plitvice Lakes National Park, which feature in some of Raftrek’s alternative tours.
And our trip included a spot of sea kayaking to the pretty island of Zlarin for a swim and lunch.
On our way back we moored at the imposing St Nicholas fortress – built to guard the entrance to the Krka River’s canyons and lakes, but more recently a location for Game of Thrones.
Back on dry land we spent the late afternoon strolling around the narrow alleys of the historic waterfront town of Sibenik, whose cathedral square was also used in the TV series.
The next day saw me rediscover the pleasures of cycling barelyused roads as we pedalled to Visovac Lake, where the Francis- can Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy sits on an idyllic island in the middle of the blue water.
A quick boat crossing took us to the 15th Century building for a short tour before we returned to beautiful Krka for the afternoon.
We also managed to squeeze in half a day hiking past a babbling river through the karst limestone cliffs of Paklenica National Park.
A real bonus on several days were the “after-activity” visits to picturesque old towns where we enjoyed well-earned ice creams of every imaginable flavour.
One day took us to Zadar – a town which the film director Alfred Hitchcock once said had the world’s greatest sunsets from its waterfront steps.
These marble marvels are built over the world’s first sea organ – an instrument which uses the lapping waves and wind to compress air through 35 speciallydesigned pipes to create a unique sound.
A day spent relaxing in Skradin’s old town and on its beach, plus an attempt at standup paddle-boarding, was followed by another highlight – kayaking through the rocky canyons of the Zrmanja and Krupa rivers.
This wonderful experience involved paddling down thrilling rapids and a lunchtime swimming stop at a waterfall followed by an even more impressive set of falls.
The finale was the option of taking your inflatable splashing over a 10ft fall – which fortunately turned out to be much safer than it sounds. We spent our final day rafting down an altogether different river – the Cetina, which runs through tranquil, green scenery resembling a jungle.
This was topped off by a few hours in Split’s old town which boasts another maze of quaint, car-free alleys.
Chilling in a restaurant is a wonderful way to soak up the atmosphere, but I’d recommend you allow yourself time to climb the cathedral tower’s steps for panoramic views of city, sea and mountains.
While you’re there, don’t forget to take a look around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.