Discovering Island Interiors

The sun has risen and another beautiful summer day has started. Your yacht is lazily rocking on the alluring water and you take a morning swim before a delicious breakfast. You hoist the anchor and slowly leave the cove where you spent the night as the daily breeze announces another portion of relaxed sailing.

After a swim break surrounded by beautiful nature, you start the engine and dock the yacht in the next marina, ready for a lunch in a local tavern. The rest of the activities on such perfect days usually include sunbathing on the deck under the sails and sipping refreshing beverages in the shade of the bimini. And you repeat this every single day of your sailing vacations. One would say: “What a perfect concept for holidays!” I totally agree, and it is one of the reasons why more and more people charter sailing yachts.

However, I somehow got a feeling that people are not using their holidays to a maximum. When visiting islands, they are mostly focused on the narrow belt between the coast and the first bar or restaurant, which is a mistake because island interiors can often be just as spectacular as the coast.

Hvar

Skippers are not there only to manage the sails and safely dock the yacht, but also to be helpful in their suggestions. That is why I always advise my guests to spare some time and discover what is hidden deeper on islands because it is the best way to get the full picture of the place and the region. To start this adventure you don’t have to do anything but employ a bit of effort and forget laziness.

One of the best ways to discover the Croatian islands is by bike. The cycling routes are appearing everywhere, the quality and quantity of bikes are increasing and the tracking paths are getting more and more exciting. The result of such an adventure? Spectacular views of the Adriatic and the neighboring islands encounters with interesting people (cheerful locals living traditional lifestyles) and discovering exciting places. Swim breaks while cycling or hiking are also possible and unforgettable, especially on hidden beaches which are impossible to reach by car or even by boat.

For example, national parks on Mljet island and the Krka river are perfect places to visit by bicycle. You do not have to be an athlete to do it because cycling paths are undemanding. It would be a shame if you didn’t hike through pine woods of Lastovo island natural park, while more and more people are visiting Šolta as well just to do a cycling tour on it, not to mention north Adriatic islands such as Lošinj and Cres.

Mljet

I will end this post by quoting my friend: “Move your buttocks and discover what’s offered next door. It’s there but you can’t see it despite your healthy eyes, move!” Think about it when planning your next Adriatic trip and remember that you only live once

I wish you a calm sea, a fair wind and a strong mast!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.