Sea Kayaking
Croatia did not start on a good note for me as I was pickpocketed in Zagreb. I lost all of my money, my credit & debit cards, driving license & many more IDs. But Parampara asked me to keep faith & told me not to judge the entire nation by this incident.
I was not excited for anything except Split. This was mainly because Irena had arranged a sea kayaking trip with Given2Fly Adventures. I always wanted to try sea kayaking.
Split was beautiful! It was my favorite Croatian city for sure. The architecture, climate, people & sea, everything was just perfect. Only thanks to Split, I have a good image of Croatia in my mind. Sorry Zagreb, I still won’t recommend you to people.
Our lovely AirBnb host Irena had arranged this sea kayaking trip, so I reached the designated spot with my friends in the morning. I met Mariana & Bozo from Given2Fly Adventures there. Mariana is the brain behind this adventure company. Bozo took us to the starting point.
I changed into more comfortable clothes, all set for the very first sea kayaking trip of my life. It started with learning few important things about sea kayaking. Mariana & Bozo explained it pretty well. After that, we wore our safety jackets, put our valuables in big airtight & waterproof containers provided by Given2Fly Adventures.
We put our kayaks in the sea, sat in it & the trip began! I was so excited that I forgot all the training given by Bozo & Mariana. I started paddling without synchronizing with my partner. The kayak didn’t move much because we were not in sync. I realized my mistake & then began our journey.
Excitement level = MAX
We paddled for about 2 hours in the open sea. Mariana showed us quite a few spots around. We also saw some of the Game of Thrones locations from a distance. Just when I thought I am becoming an expert in paddling (and in sea kayaking overall), I came across a sea kayaking race. There were a dozens of kayaks, where kids were paddling it. Their synchronization, discipline, and speed were astonishing! That put me back in my senses that I still sucked.
After arriving at a secluded spot, we had few protein bars to regain some energy. Mariana gave us snorkeling equipment. Again, this was my first time at snorkeling as well. This was even more exciting because we were going inside the sea!
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- That’s me.
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- That’s Parampara
I took time to understand the entire activity but after that, it was truly beautiful. The snorkeling experience cannot be described in words. You have to do it to understand its beauty. Mariana & Bozo deserves a standing ovation for the work that they do & the smiles they bring on people’s faces each day.
Sea kayaking was an unmatched experience for me because it showed me how small I am in an open sea. It made me realize how I don’t even know a fraction of this beautiful planet. Its crystal clear water made me understood the importance of preserving our home planet. In few moments spent alone in the middle of the sea, it helped me understand myself a little better. In a matter of 6 hours & 2 beautiful activities, it changed me as a person for better!
That’s Bozo with us!
Thank you so much Mariana & Bozo for this wonderful experience. All the best to Given2Fly Adventures for future. May you bring smiles on a lot more people’s faces. I’d also like to thank Irena for arranging this activity for us & of course, letting us stay in your beautiful home!
Croatia is good. Split is the best.
Check out Given2Fly Adventures | Check out Irena’s beautiful apartment
So sorry to hear about your negative start in Croatia, but what a way to turn your experience around 🙂 It looks like a lot of fun, and I’m glad your anticipated highlight did not let you down. I’m yet to visit Croatia, but when I do I may have to spend at least a little time in Zagreb…I’m sure it will be worth it, if only for the other highlights on offer that would be still to come!
Sounds like so much fun! You must be confident with your swimming I guess…
It was a lot of fun. You don’t need to be confident with swimming because of life jackets & trained staff! 🙂
It was quite heartbreaking as I lost all the money for my remaining trip! But nonetheless, sea kayaking was a beautiful experience. You can spend a day in Zagreb. But keep more days for Split, Omis, Dubrovnik & Plitvice National Park! 🙂
I love sea adventures for that same precise reason you mentioned – It’s incredible how small and inconsequential we are in this big big world, isn’t it? Your experience sounds enthralling!
Sorry for that unfortunate incident in Zagreb. Your wonderful experience meeting and making new friends and learning to kayak somehow made up for it. Looks fun, I would like to try kayaking in the future.
What a fun experience! I’ve kayaked in the sea near where I live in the Pacific Northwest, but not where it is warm enough you can have an open kayak! Croatia is on my list, so maybe I’ll do it there too.
This looks like so much fun! I’d love to do this with my kids. And Split has always been high on my list. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Split is for sure beautiful but the cool and sea Kayaking seems to be adding an extra charm to it. Paddling for two hours that also in sync seems to be tough. But you did it and that is awesome. It seems you enjoyed this day forgetting your pickpocket incident.
Agree how some incidents can be so dispiriting and make us lose our trust in a person/place. But glad to know that split kept up your spirits and you guys had a great time. We haven’t tried Kayaking and Snorkelling but it does sound like so much fun. Croatia has always been our bucket list just hoping for the best time when we finally make to it. And split would definitely be on our list. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience.
Oops! Really sorry to hear about your bad experience at Zagreb! I do think kayaking and snorkelling in Split made up for some of it. Btw how much did it cost?
I did hear that Croatia has some amazing places for open sea kayaking. I did it myself once, near my home in England and it was a great experience. It always helps when the sea is calm and there are no currents to pull you in other directions. Sorry to hear you got robbed in Zagreb.
Sounds amazing. And when you quoted that sea kayaking made you realize how small we are in an open sea, I remembered similar feelings when visiting vast landscapes. Travel always makes me feel how small an entity we are in this world
I had my first Kayaking experience in Maldives and I was so scared. The one think i learned after my Kayaking experience was Marriage is like a Kayak. Both have to equally put an effort to the relationship, balance and work together to move it forward 🙂
The sea kayaking experience must have been so wonderful. I can see the fun you had through those pictures. I would love to visit croatia and experience the thrill myself someday.
What a shame you got pickpocketed but I’m glad you managed to carry on and still enjoy Croatia! I’ve been to Dubrovnik and did some kayaking there too, but Split sounds awesome, especially the snorkelling. Next time – I’d love to go back to Croatia.
Ah yes! It was the first time (I got pickpocketed & at kayaking). Split is awesome because of its people for sure. Dubrovnik was lovely, I missed visiting the Locrum island! 🙁
Do it! It’s more fun than these pictures 😀
This is such a beautiful metaphor! Thank you for sharing it. 🙂
True, one more landscape that always make me feel small & humble is the Himalayan range. 🙂
Split & Dubrovnik are equally fun. At both places, you can kayak around the Game of Thrones shooting locations. However, Split > Dubrovnik because of its friendly & fun people. 🙂
Haha! I was scared at first but then I had to ask for money from home. It was for some EUR 36 per person. 🙂
It was indeed very heartbreaking as I was looking forward to Croatia. The pickpocketing & some of the people we got in touch with in Zagreb & Dubrovnik were pretty ill-mannerd. Split was the best town in Croatia & I’m glad we went there. You must try Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling to get some peace. It sounds like an adventurous activity but its also sort of a meditation. 🙂
It indeed helped me forget the pickpocket incident. It was tough at first but once we got the rhythm, it was like a cakewalk. 🙂
Its fun indeed. Your kids would love it. You’re most welcome. 🙂
Try Kayaking in Croatia, Lara. Its wonderful. 🙂
All of my AirBnb hosts were so awesome in Croatia. I wish every person we met in the country were as awesome as our AirBnb hosts, Mariana & Bozo! 😀
Thank you! Do share your experience whenever you try out any adventures! 🙂
You’ll have to go back and kayak to it 😉
I have never done any kind of kayaking be it sea, river, or pond. Seems it needs to be given a try. Also, nice underwater shots of snorkeling. Zagreb seems more challenging though 😉
I went sea kayaking in Dubrovnik but sadly never made it to Split. Croatia has gorgeous waters to take a ride down for sure!
Woohoo!! What an adventure this must have been! I haven’t done sea kayaking ever, and I doubt I ever will – too chicken! Too bad that you journey there didn’t start on a great note, but as they say -all is well that ends well! 😀
P.S. Love reading about both your adventures!
Too bad getting pickpocketed in a foreign land, happened to us in Lisbon. But the kayaking experience is refreshing and uplifting.