Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon, 11th May 2019

/0 Comments/in , , ,

With more and more visitors to Croatia interested in including a bit of activity in their holidays – and more sports events being held – here’s an exciting event taking place near Zadar in May that many of the athletes amongst you may be interested in.

The sixth Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon will take place on 11th May 2019 in a stunning seaside location, with many benefits for the athletes taking part. Whether you’re someone that’s keen on triathlon tourism – as a solo entrant or perhaps even travelling a family – or are looking to take part in a triathlon abroad for the first time, this one is for you. The race is sure to draw in a large number of Croatian and foreign triathletes.

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon

The best thing about this triathlon, however, is that it is based around a beautiful holiday resort. That means that athletes – who will benefit from lower accommodation prices than in full season – can sleep right next to the start line. Your room and breakfast is but a five-minute walk away from the race start. You won’t have to worry about driving to the race location, struggling to find parking or forgetting essential bits of kit – because you only have a short walk from where you are staying. And that’s not to mention that all of this is right next to the gorgeous, crystal clear sea.

The Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort

The Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort offers up outstanding design, first-class facilities and Mediterranean flair combined with excellent service and a fantastic location. All athletes will be able to enjoy an exclusive wellness holiday at this luxury resort which not only features two first class hotels but also fine restaurants, comfortable apartments, modern sports facilities and crystal clear waters – not forgetting the wonderful Mediterranean climate.

The Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort
Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort_aerial

And you’re only a short distance away from the amazing town of Zadar. With Roman ruins, medieval churches, cosmopolitan cafes, trendy restaurants and interesting museums, Zadar is a must-see and certainly a great place to visit either pre- or post-race. Zadar also has two wonderful modern sights – the Sun Salutation and the Sea Organ, both of which need to be experienced first hand in order to get their full magic. And lets’s not forget Zadar’s epic sunsets! It’s not for nothing that Alfred Hitchcock proclaimed Zadar’s sunsets as being the most beautiful in the world!

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon kicks off triathlon season in Croatia 

As mentioned, this Zadar half triathlon is to be held on Saturday 11 May 2019, which is during the early part of the holiday season. Around this time of year, air temperatures average around 23° C whilst the average sea temperature of 18° C is high enough for swimming with wetsuits.

Triathlon Swimming

The race will start with 1.9 km of swimming in front of the Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora. Swimming is then followed by the bike course of 90k (9 + 4×18 + 9), towards the small Dalmatian fishing village of Petrčane, and then towards Nin, the oldest Croatian royal city and winner of the European destination of excellence, European Best Romantic Destination in 2016.

The bike route then continues through the picturesque villages of the colourful Zadar hinterland and then back to the Punta Skala Resort. The bike portion takes place on a gently rolling terrain without significant hills, but being a seaside race wind can be a factor. The cycling course is 2m above sea level at its lowest point, and 52m above sea level at its highest; there is a total climb of 430m and descent through 90km. All roads on the course are in excellent condition and traffic will be regulated during the first part of the route (9km), while the section (4 x 18km) will be closed for traffic.

Zadar Half Triathlon

Last, but not least, comes the run of 21k through the enchanting Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort. The run covers 4 laps with a course that is new for 2019 race – it is exactly 5.27km long with 14m altitude difference per lap.

Check out this teaser video to get a feel for the event:

Georg Unterkircher, General Manager of the Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort said:

“As great supporters of the Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon, we are excited to welcome athletes from all over the Europe on the respective race weekend. Our goal is to ensure that participants enjoy the best possible experience in advance of their race, from our carefully devised menus and ease of access to the start line on the morning of the race. With an exciting atmosphere and scenic course, it makes a memorable all-round experience for visiting athletes with their families.”

Race Director Zlatko Parac, Croatian triathlete himself said:

“Based on the experiences of the previous years and the athletes’ opinions, there will also be improvements on the organisational side, to establish this event both nationally and internationally. Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort is a popular venue for athletes with its fantastic location surrounded by the turquoise blue Adriatic sea, and as hosts they are keen to get involved in triathlon event and join in the spirit of Falkensteiner Triathlon weekend. We already know that there will be a lot of competitors from Croatia joining the competition for the first time and we believe our triathlon will fulfil their expectations. At the same time, we organise this race with the needs of the most demanding professionals in mind and we would prepare an abundance of prizes and other rewards!”

The triathlon will feature the ‘biggest independent prize purses in the Croatian Triathlon Calendar’, with general sponsor prizes in the form of accommodation vouchers for the Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort. A total value of €4500 will be allocated to the top five finishers in the male and female categories.

The race has grown steadily but is limited to 400 competitors (single and relay competitors combined). This makes it far from overcrowded, retaining the charm of a small well-organised race that takes place in a fabulous setting.

The main race will also be joined by an aquathlon (time-trial event) with the swim portion in the 25m pool of the Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora and a 5k run event. For anyone that needs a warm up a weekend earlier, you could take part in the official Zadar Half Triathlon Training Camp 2019 (4 – 10 May 2019) by Adriatic Coaching (Croatian Pro triathlete & coach Dejan Patrcevic). Just a few kilometers away, there is also the unique Wings for life World Run Zadar race.

Course finish

Benefits for triathletes

The Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort is able to offer participants top-of-the-line accommodation at extremely affordable rates (special rates on accommodation for competitors with BB service). Middle distance competitors who have booked accommodation at the Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort are entitled to the following discounts on the registration fee: 50% discount on entry fee for individuals and the same amount in € for relays, when staying a minimum of one night in Hotel & Spa Iadera 5*, Family Hotel Diadora 4* and Premium Apartments Senia.

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort

More information

Full information about the triathlon can be found on the official website zadarhalf.com.

More information on the Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort can be found at www.falkensteiner.com/en/hotels-residences/croatia or elements.falkensteiner.com/en/hotel/punta-skala.

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Triathlon / Zadar Half Triathlon
11th May 2019
Punta Skala Resort, Croatia
zadarhalf.com

Hostel Dalmatia

Hostel Dalmatia – where the mountains kiss the sea

/0 Comments/in , ,

If you’re thinking about a trip to the Dalmatian coast in the off season but are concerned that everywhere will be shut outside of the major towns and cities, don’t be! If you know where to look, there’s still plenty of places to enjoy!

One such place is Hostel Dalmatia, offering travellers a tranquil getaway in stunning nature. Located in Marusici on the Omis Riviera, just a 1/2 hour south of Split on the way to Dubrovnik, between both Omis and Makarska along the scenic Dalmatian coast. The hostel is close enough to Split and other larger towns to enjoy their nightlife, but also in a quieter location for those looking for serenity and a more relaxed pace.

Hostel Dalmatia

Hostel Dalmatia

The friendly living room

Marusici itself is divided into a lower and upper village, with the highway from Split dividing the town into the two parts. The upper village has a small church, and is home to Croatia’s 3rd largest olive oil producer, Orgula, which has tours and tastings in-season. Hostel Dalmatia is in the lower village, and two beautiful pebbly beaches – each with its own unique charm and character – are within a 5-minute walk from the hostel. There are lots of hidden gems in the nearby towns and villages, and the hostel owners love to share their knowledge with all the guests who become like family.

Hostel Dalmatia

Sunset from the rooftop

Hostel Dalmatia

One of the nearby beaches

The hostel has 3 private rooms, each with its own bathroom and balcony overlooking the Adriatic and the nearby island of Brac and surrounding mountains. There’s also a mixed-bed dorm room with its own bathroom and balcony as well. All rooms have air-conditioning and heating, and there is strong free wi-fi throughout the hostel. Enjoy the views from the huge terrace overlooking the sea, while also enjoying the laid-back vibe that all guests enjoy during their stay.

Best of all, the hostel is open year-round! To inquire in the off-season, message the hostel directly regarding off-season availability and rates (as the online calendar is offline during this time).

Hostel Dalmatia
Put Borka #20, 21318 Marusici
hosteldalmatia.com

Dugi Otok Triathlon Long Island in September embraced by nature

/0 Comments/in , ,

The inaugural Triathlon Long Island on the gorgeous Dugi Otok (near Zadar) will take place on September 23rd – surely one of the most picturesque triathlons or sports activities in Croatia this year. Dugi Otok (its name literally means ‘long island’) is known far and wide for its pristine natural environment, although it remains a pleasantly low-profile destination, despite Croatia’s current popularity.

Triathlon Long Island

At 43km long and just 4km wide, Dugi Otok has plenty of relatively untouched natural beauty for everyone to enjoy. With plenty of hidden coves, sheer cliffs, ancient ruins and gorgeous white pebble beaches, the island is the perfect place for travellers seeking unforgettable scenery and historical sites. In particular, the southeastern coast of Dugi Otok is marked by steep hills and cliffs, whilst its northern half is cultivated with vineyards, orchards and sheep pastures. The centre of the islands see a series of karstic hills rising to 338m at Vela Straža, the island’s highest point.

The island is also home to the stunning Telašćica Nature Park, which acquired protected area status in 1980 because of its valuable flora and fauna, geological and geomorphological phenomena, versatile sea bottom life, and interesting archaeological heritage. The Park is also in immediate contact with two other protected areas, National Park Kornati and the significant landscape of the Sit-Žuz Island Group.

Telascica Nature Park

A triathlon is an increasingly popular way of spending your holidays or getting to know a new destination, and Croatia is no exception to this! Dugi Otok itself abounds with numerous bays that are ideal for a triathlon. Telašćica Bay is one of the safest natural harbours on the Adriatic, and therefore one of the potentially most scenic triathlon destinations. The bay itself is protected from winds and waves; part of Telašćica Nature Park, boat speeds are also limited, contributing to the safety of the entire area.

Triathlon Long Island

The swim section of Triathlon Long Island starts at Sakarun bay – one of Croatia’s most loveliest spots, known as a true paradise beach. Shallow waters and a sandy sea bottom are set off by dark green pinewoods on land, shimmering white pebbles on the beach, and a sea that changes hue during the day, depending on the position of the sun.

Sakraun

After a 1900m swimming lap in a counterclockwise direction, triathletes then head south on a 90km long bike ride (1266m elevation ride) towards Telašćica Nature Park on the southeastern part of island. Dugi Otok is perfectly designed for a bike competition such as this, and the course will be closed to public traffic.

With the bike course finishing near Telašćica, the run part of the Triathlon will then cover a 21km course through this Nature Park – one with breathtaking views and a stunning panorama. The Triathlon Long Island finishes in Sali, the municipal and administrative centre of island and the largest settlement with the largest population. Sali is a typical Dalmatian village with thousands of years of fishing tradition and ancient olive groves that surround the village.

Triathlon Long Island
Triathlon Long Island - Dugi otok, Pantera bay and Veli rat
Dugi otok, Pantera bay and Veli rat

Ivan Peri, one of the race organizers and a member of Triathlon Club Zadar, says:

“Dugi Otok is, as its name suggests, the longest island of the Zadar archipelago and offers everything that is needed for organizing a unique triathlon experience: a long road and the beautiful sea. Swimming at the sandy beach of Sakarun, cycling along the length of the breathtaking island of Dugi otok (from Sakarun to Telašćica Nature Park) and continuing with running through the park takes the power of the entire experience to a whole new level, while also stimulating our motivation to be even faster and better. Join us on this beautiful triathlon adventure and see why you’ll never forget Dugi otok.”

Ivana Čari, director of the Tourist Board of Dugi Otok, says:

“We appreciate team from Triathlon Club Zadar recognizing the opportunity this premier triathlon event brings for Dugi Otok in our island’s sports tourism development. All our guests come to tell us not to change anything, to preserve natural beauty and mystery. That’s why our slogan is Dugi otok – undiscovered island. The island is characterized by a dramatic landscape of great contrast, with steep slopes, thick pine forests, numerous sandy beaches, hidden bays, and coves. It is a perfect place for those in search of tranquility and relaxing holidays, swimming in the stunningly turquoise sea, enjoying sea and sun. We do hope all the participants will enjoy our magnificent island as we are delighted to welcome them.”

To really get a feel for the island, check out this Triathlon Long Island teaser clip:

Dugi Otok is the perfect destination for those who want to combine racing triathlon and relaxation; ‘switch off’ from the world and take a break from your routine. It’s still an undiscovered Croatian island of adventure and peace at the same time, providing a unique low-cost late season island race destination in the European triathlon calendar, on an island abundant in nature and perfect for outdoor activities. At the race finish, you’ll also be able to experience the island fair featuring crafted products and festivities common to this small community.

Registering for Triathlon Long Island

Registration for the event is currently open. Fees for registering for Triathlon Long Island until 15 July are:

  • Licensed athletes – €70
  • For non licensed athletes there is additional fee of €10
  • Relay race (licensed & non licenced) – €90

Registration fees from 15 July until 1 September:

  • Licensed athletes – €100
  • For non licensed athletes there is additional fee of €10
  • Relay race (licensed & non licenced) – €120

All athletes from Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia have a 40% discount on the price.

All participants who book their accommodation with a partner of the event are entitled to a discount on 20% on accommodation.

For a code name, go to the website contact.

Go to www.triathlonlongisland.com/register to register your place!

Telascica

How to get to Dugi Otok?

The closest airport to the island is Zadar Airport – see our page on Getting to North Dalmatia to see who flies there, and Getting to Zadar for other transport connections to the town.

Zadar is also a key transport hub with ferry connections to the surrounding islands. From Zadar, Dugi Otok is served by regular Croatian Jadrolinija ferries to Brbinj, 12km south of Božava. A high-speed passenger shipping line and a ferry line connect Dugi Otok island (Sali village) with Zadar (peninsula) daily through four round trips; journey time is 1 hour 20 mins; cars are permitted. Brbinj village has a connection with Zadar through a ferry boat line. The departure point of the line is the ferry port Gaženica in Zadar. Božava village also has a connection to Zadar (peninsula) through a high-speed passenger shipping line with one trip a day.

More on Triathlon Long Island and Dugi Otok

Please see  www.triathlonlongisland.com for full details on the event.

For more on Dugi Otok, see the Dugi Otok Tourist Board website, or the Nature Park Telascica website.

With thanks to Jurica Cvjetko for content and images on Triathlon Long Island.

Triathlon Long Island
Dugi Otok, Croatia
23rd September 2018

Triathlon Long Island
Goulash Disko

Goulash Disko Festival returns to Vis island this September

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Amongst the many music festivals and events held in Croatia every summer, here’s one that’s rather unique! Goulash Disko, taking place on the island of Vis (12th – 16th September 2018), is the first crowd-funded music festival – 100% independent and sponsor free!

Goulash Disko

Held in the beautiful little town of Komiza on the amazing island of Vis (one of our favourites – and that of almost everyone else that’s been there!), the five day festival in fact also includes an opening concert on day zero, and and extra Day+1 to help extend the party. There will also be before and after parties held in Split and Zagreb, so if you want to experience a island festival and combine it with the delights of these two cities, this is just the thing.

About Goulash Disko

As mentioned, Goulash Disko is an entirely crowd-funded music festival. They aimed to raise €25,000, with all money going towards attracting a stellar line up and building the best possible infrastructure. And as of 30th April, they are fully funded (and then some) – congrats to them!

The festival knows no limits and loves to explore new sounds and genres rooted in the Global Underground. Expect world infused and eclectic music styles! There will also be performers and workshops of different kinds – non-music related – that will spice up the whole program of the festival.

Iva and Yves are the duo behind Goulash Disko. Having started the night 7 years ago when they lived in Dublin, they settled in Croatia and came up with the idea of organising the first ever crowd funded music festival in the world. The rest, as they say, is history! (And what an excellent choice of location for such a festival!)

Since then, the community has grown even more. There are regular Goulash Disko events that take place in Croatia and Slovenia, and you may even have come across happenings in Berlin, London, Paris or Vienna. Hundreds of artists are now part of the movement.

Goulash Disko

Goulash Disko

Goulash Disko

Goulash Disko Line Up

Among the first names that have been added to the bill are Channel One (UK), of the world’s greatest and best known dub reggae sound systems, run by legendary selector Mikey Dread, and featuring MC Ras Kayleb. Those in London will surely know them – they’re one of the main sound systems at the Notting Hill Carnival each year.

Guts (France) is one of the main producers on the French hip hop scene. His set will be eclectic, dynamic and highly danceable.

Mop Mop Trio ft. Anthony Joseph (UK/Italy) are one of the most interesting percussion based acts in the current world-jazz scene. Mop Mop will perform as a trio, and will team up with Trinidadian poet Anthony Joseph, who conjures up echoes of Gil Scott Heron and Isaac Hayes.

Cigarra (Brazil) is a DJ, producer and label manager of Tropical Twista Records. She grew up in the dense underground scene of São Paulo, and participated in the effervescence of its parties and festivals as well as in the original formation of the renowned Voodoohop.

Habibi Funk (Germany) is a label dedicated to reissuing stereotype-busting sounds from the Arab world; label owner and DJ Jannis Stürtz comes to Goulash with his crate full of records.

Other names on the bill include Kognitif (France), Bwoy De Bhajan (Denmark), Mr Raoul K (Ivory Coast), The Freeborn Brothers (Poland), Barrio Lindo (Argentina), Martha Van Straaten (Germany), Thomas Von Party (Canada), Dreems (Australia), Ko Shin Moon (France) and Jhon Montoya (Colombia), with more artists also being announced soon.

As you can see from the list above, Goulash Disko is truly a world music event!

The island of Vis

Those of you who’ve been to Vis know how wonderful this island truly is! With a fascinating history (the island was closed to foreign visitors until 1989), Vis is also the furtherest (large) island away from the Croatian mainland and has something of an untouched and very relaxed vibe.

Check out this stunning video to get an idea of the beauty of Komiza and Vis:

Komiza, Island of Vis – Aerial film from Istvándi Botond on Vimeo.

Getting to Goulash Disko

Split is the best airport to fly to – see our Getting to Split page for details of flights from the UK and Europe. From there, there are daily ferries and catamarans to Vis Town – see more on our Getting to Vis page. From Vis Town, there are buses across to Komiza.

Goulash Disko - Vis Island

Tickets for Goulash Disko

Early bird (i.e. crowdfunding) tickets have sold out, but regular tickets are available. These cost 1,000 Kunas (approx. £120/€135/$158) and can be purchased here.

If there’s a group of you, you can buy 5 tickets for the price of 4!

Accommodation for Goulash Disko

A temporary campsite will be set up for Goulash Disko attendees, open from 11th to 18th September. Situated on a protected piece of land and shaded by palm trees, the campsite will be accessible by both cars and camper vans. In order to cover costs, use of the campsite costs 200 Kunas for the 7 days. (An additional €15 is payable to Komiza Town for parking if you have your own car or camper van.)

There are plenty of private accommodation options as well – rooms and apartments in Komiza, with something for every budget. Check out our Accommodation on Vis page (which includes options in Komiza).

Goulash DIsko

Goulash Disko - Accommodation

Goulash Disko

More on Goulash Disko

Check out all the information on the festival on the official website www.goulashdisko.com. Do be sure to also look them up on Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud for all the latest festival news.

Goulash Disko
Komiza, island of Vis
12th – 16th September 2018
www.goulashdisko.com

2018 Soundwave Boat Parties (Credit: Jane Anderson)

2018 Soundwave Festival boat parties announced

/0 Comments/in , , ,

As many of you know, this year will see the last ever Soundwave Festival take place in the beautiful Tisno on the Croatian coast. Held from 26th to 30th July 2018, we’re sure the final festival – also its tenth event – will pull off some amazing days and nights of music and partying. And this week, exciting details of the all important boat parties were excitingly announced!

2018 Soundwave Festival Boat Parties

Boat parties are an essential part of any Croatian festival, and Soundwave is no exception. The Argonaughty is the original party boat for Soundwave, one which has already hosted many voyages over the past 9 years on its hallowed decks. This vessel will also be used for this year’s boat parties – and this last series on the twinkling Adriatic waters promises to be extra special. Taking place across the afternoons, evenings and deep into the balmy nights, the boat parties are a magical and intimate few hours shared with like-minded people from around the world.

2018 Soundwave Boat Parties (Credit: Jane Anderson)
Credit: Jane Anderson
2018 Soundwave Boat Parties (Credit: Jane Anderson)
Credit: Jane Anderson

2018 Soundwave Festival Boat Parties Line-Up

Thursday 26th July

Main Squeeze 10th Birthday – 13.00 – 16.00
DJ Bobafatt
DJ Mo Fingaz

Good Life Boat – 16.30 – 19.30
So Fresh So Clean
Chunky
Rich Reason
Good Life

Lakota x Caramello – 20.00 – 23.00
Jonny Dub B2B Chunky (Hoya:Hoya)
Agbeko
Caramello DJs
Lakota DJs

Friday 27th July

Disco, Boogie, Afro Boat – 13.00 – 16.00
On The Corner Soundsystem
Bedmo Disco
Disco Ali and Noah

First Word – 16.30 – 19.30
Children of Zeus
Yazmin Lacey
Kaidi Tatham
Gilla

Global Funk and Soul Boat – 22.00 – 23.00
So Flute
Tuckshop
MC Kwasi

Saturday 28th July

TBA – 13.00 – 16.00

Mr Scruff and Friends – 16.30 -19.30
Mr Scruff and Friends

Very special guests
MC Kwasi

Soundcrash and Tru Throughts – 22.00 – 23.00
Anchorsong (DJ set)
DJ Cheeba
J-Felix ft Sophie Paul (live PA)
Rho (PA)

Paul Jonas

Sunday 29th July

Total Refreshment Centre Boat – 13.00 – 16.00
Special guests TBA
Total Refreshment Centre DJs

Reggae Boat – 16.30 – 19.30
Channel One
Reggae Take Over
Meltout

Eglo Records – 20.00 – 23.00
Alexander Nut
Joey Rebelle
Danuka

Monday 30th July

Riot Jazz – 13.00 – 16.00
Riot Jazz
Chunky
Bane
DJ Rich Reason

Hidden Boat – 16.30 – 19.30
Very special guest TBA
Martin Loose Cuts
Moneypenny

The Final Voyage – 20.00 – 23.00
Friends and Family

2018 Soundwave Boat Parties (Credit: Jane Anderson)
Credit: Jane Anderson
2018 Soundwave Boat Parties (Credit: Jane Anderson)
Credit: Jane Anderson

Tickets for the 2018 Soundwave Festival Boat Parties

Tickets for each boat party cost £22/€22.50 and can be bought here: http://bit.ly/sw18boatparties.

More on the 2018 Soundwave Festival

Check out full details on the official website www.soundwavecroatia.com.

2018 Soundwave Festival
Tisno, 26th – 30th July 2018

2018 Soundwave Boat Parties (Credit: Jane Anderson)
Credit: Jane Anderson

Join Soundwave 2018 for their tenth and final edition

/0 Comments/in , , , ,

Here’s some exciting and somewhat bittersweet news about one of Croatia’s most popular festivals.

Soundwave 2018 will be celebrating its tenth birthday…and will also, unfortunately, be its last ever event. One of the longest running Adriatic festivals – along with the previously much-loved The Garden Festival and Outlook in Istria – Soundwave will conclude its epic odyssey in 2018.

Soundwave 2018

Running from Thursday 26th to Monday 30th July, Soundwave The Final Wave will the last chance to experience what is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best boutique events. Offering up a beautifully diverse music spectrum alongside a mesmeric holiday and festival experience, we’re sure many of you will be eager to head to the beautiful festival site, The Garden Tisno, for Soundwave’s last hurrah. Tickets are already on sale, so snap up some right away to be sure to celebrate with Soundwave next year.

Line-up for Soundwave 2018

As ever, some of the world’s finest live artists and DJs from across broken beat, reggae, afro, acid jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk, drum and bass and much more will be joining Soundwave. The first wave line-up has already been announced – in 2018, Soundwave will welcome Jordan Rakei, Romare (Live), Submotion Orchestra (Live), Horse Meat Disco, DJ Marky, Sons Of Kemet, Channel One Soundsystem, Riot Jazz (Live), Al Dobson Jr, Tenderlonious, Mahalia, Chunky, SNO, Desta, Jonny Dub, Rich Reason, DJ Gilla, DJ BobaFatt and DJ Mo Fingaz, with many more to be revealed.

Confirmed clubs, labels and collectives partnering up with Soundwave are Soundcrash, Hoya:Hoya, First Word Records, 22a Records, South London Soul Train, Main Squeeze, Bruk Up, Hidden, Tuckshop, So Flute and Good Life.

Soundwave 2018 - splashes and unicorns

Saying Goodbye to Soundwave

Noah Ball, one of Soundwave’s founders, explains:

“It’s not been an easy decision to bring Soundwave to a close in 2018, but for us it also feels like the right one to make, too. We’ve had an amazing run in Croatia, from the first years in Petrcane and now in Tisno, and we all look back with great pride and affection for what we have achieved in the last 9 years here in this wonderful country.

Finishing on our tenth year will bring everything together into one last adventure and we intend to make it a fitting climax for the festival and everyone who has ever been a part of it, from the music lovers around the world who come each year, the artists who are like our friends and all of the crew involved.

It’s going to be a very special few days next summer as we say goodbye to Soundwave, and we are putting together a line-up representative of the festival’s unique sound. It’s certainly going to be emotional – we hope to see lots of old faces and new joining us for this final edition!”

Tickets for Soundwave 2018

Early-bird tickets for next year’s Soundwave festival are already on sale, priced at £99. Tickets can be purchased here.

More information

Keep up to date on all the last news on Soundwave 2018 on the official website, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Soundwave Festival 2018
26th – 3oth July 2018 
The Garden, Tisno

Trogir 2009

Trogir Travelogue 2009

/0 Comments/in , ,

From Zagreb to Trogir

We rise early in the morning on our third day in Croatia, the day we’re moving on to Trogir and our first sights of the coast and the sea of the whole trip. Exciting times, as you can imagine; we were a bit like little kids setting off for the seaside.

We hitched our bags to ourselves and made the short walk to the bus stop for our 8.30am bus. Our bus was already waiting at its platform; we boarded to find we had been allocated four seats right in the back row – again, we find we’re a bit like schoolkids, only the naughty kind this time. Alas, a Croatian traveller joined us for the remaining backrow seat, so we couldn’t misbehave or at least use the spare seat for playing cards – I suppose she played the role of teacher, or something! (Note: I joke of course – we weren’t really going to misbehave!)

A couple of hours in, we stop off at a petrol station which had an unusual mountain-hut theme, even displaying stuffed animals such as a bear and a racoon (which looked very authentic). Shunning the high petrol station prices, we eat our pre-prepared sandwiches (cheese and kulen, yum!) outside in the hot sun.

On with the rest of the journey, which goes pretty smoothly. The new motorways in Croatia are pretty impressive, if motorways can ever be impressive, and we didn’t encounter any problems or traffic on our journey down. At a certain point, the road hits the coast and we see the sea and our excitement rises – we start snapping photos of the beautiful blue water and the bobbing boats.

Arrival in Trogir

We reach Trogir just after 2pm, and the first thing we do is to enquire about an onward bus to Dubrovnik for the next day. The lady at the bus station tells us that tickets for the two buses (at 9am and 12pm) are only sold on the bus itself. Which doesn’t present itself at a problem – yet. But more about that tomorrow.

Trogir Travel Guide 2009

Trogir welcomes us

We walk to our accommodation – the Palace Derossi – which takes no more than 5 minutes even with our heavy bags. Very luckily, the Derossi is just over the bridge onto the island of Trogir. We booked our rooms fairly last minute (2 days before!) on Hostelworld.com and paid approximately £35 per person for that one night. We chose the Palace Derossi as the price seemed about right, they had availability for two groups of two and the reviews on TripAdvisor seemed favourable – though one of the very few negative reviews for the place made me laugh so much, it actually made me like the Palace Derossi even more: “…Palace Serossi [sic] is not Palace at all and even not hotel”. Good going, Sherlock – I’m not sure what his/her idea of a hotel is (I didn’t have any problems with the place!) but how could one expect to actually be staying in a palace (for that price, at least!) is beyond me!

Beachtime in Trogir

We decide, now that we’re finally on the Croatian coast and having just spent 5 hours on a bus, that the most important thing to do first is to go for a dip in the sea to cool down! After enquiring at reception for swimming options, they helpfully give us a map and tell us of a number of beaches, including those we could reach by boat. We decide to head to the nearest one that’s on the island of Ciovo (which is joined to Trogir by another very short bridge) by foot and find that the “beach” is a bit of a stretch of the imagination; this beach is just a small pebble/concrete platform beach right by a road. I’m actually making it sound worse than it was; in all fairness, it was fine but not the kind of place you’d spend all day at. Anyway, you can swim in the sea – and that’s the main thing!

Back into town to change and head out for a bit of sightseeing, drinks and dinner. Trogir is a very small town and island, so it’s easy to walk around and see all the sights. We walked through some of the Old Town including to the small fortress at the eastern end of the island, and up and down the Riva, marveling at the fantastic yachts moored in the harbour there. (And secretly wishing we were on one.)

We stop off for some specially priced, happy hour cocktails at one cafe (30 Kunas each) for a pre-dinner drink. Then off we head to dinner – our guide book recommended no less than three restaurants on a street named Augustina Kazotica, so we troop up and down to look at the menus before deciding on Skrapa, described as “cheap and cheerful”. I would actually describe it as “delightful and delicious” – and my comment isn’t even related to the cheerful waiter who offered us a free drink of travarica before our meal. (Travarica is a Croatian herbal liquer…which is very strong!)

Now that we were on the coast, it was time to properly tuck into some seafood, something that we’d been waiting for for the entire trip. We opt for some delicious black risotto (with cuttlefish), sea bass and shrimp, washed down with another 1 litre carafe of house wine.

Trogir Travelogue 2009 - black risotto

Black risotto

Post-dinner, we opt for another little walk around town and get almost immediately get distracted by an ice cream stand. I’ve always known Croats as really into their ice cream and each stand always displays a riot of colour with assorted fruit flavoured options. Happy with seafood and ice cream in our tums, we decide to turn in for the night.

<< Zagreb Travelogue 2009

>> Dubrovnik Travelogue 2009

Say hello to the Edinburgh Scouts completing the Explorer Belt Challenge in Croatia!

/0 Comments/in , , ,

We were recently contacted by Craig from the Edinburgh Scouts, who is part of a group currently undertaking the Explorer Belt Challenge in Croatia.

The Explorer Belt is a Scouts challenge that involves travelling through a country for ten days while also completing different tasks along the way to get the know the country better. Craig and his group chose Croatia for their adventure, which means they’ve been walking from Zadar to Split. (Wow!)

Scouts Explorer Belt Challenge in Croatia

So far, the challenges they’ve completed in Croatia have been to do with learning more about Croatian culture and the country’s landscape. They’ve walked a mind-boggling 190km so far, including visiting the Biranj and Birnjac hills in Kastela, and Krka National Park. They’ve also had to carry all their kit – weighing 20kg – on their backs and are only allowed to spend 80 Kunas each a day.

Scouts Explorer Belt Challenge in Croatia

Craig’s group have also been eating and learning about local produce so have spent some time at a local vineyard, as well as at an olive oil producer. Other challenges they’ve undertaken have included a beach clean (no doubt a great help to Croatia!), as well as meeting with local fireman to discuss their jobs, and learn more about the problems they face with forest fires. They’ve also conversed with as many Croats as possible to help with their research on how tourism has affected the coastal area of Croatia.

You can see photos of some of their adventures in this post.

Scouts Explorer Belt Challenge in Croatia

We’re sending a big hello to Craig and his group companion Alice, and wish them all the very best on their challenge!

UberBOAT now available in Croatia for transfers & day tours

/3 Comments/in , , , , ,

You’ve probably used Uber in your home city or when travelling abroad – and in fact it’s also available in several Croatian towns and cities. But what do you do when you want a private transfer on the Adriatic Sea?

Easy – Uber + boat = UberBOAT!

uberBOAT sailing

UberBOAT is a service that’s available in Split, Dubrovnik and the island of Hvar, and can be utilised with the existing Uber app. With UberBOAT you can transfer to a destination and back, for a half-day or full-day trip that you can plan out yourself. That means that you can easily visit some of the local islands that you may otherwise find tricky to reach – especially useful if you only have a short amount of time for exploring.

Private Tours with UberBOAT

For example, from Split you could visit all the delights of the islands of Hvar, Solta, Vis, Bisevo (and the famous Blue Cave), and Brac, including the popular town of Bol with its famous Zlatni Rat beach.

From Dubrovnik you may be thinking of visiting the tranquil Elafiti islands, the lush island of Mljet, Korcula or perhaps even off-the-beaten track Lastovo.

The captain of an UberBoat stays with the passengers for as long as they want. That means there’s plenty of time to visit the islands, do a bit of sightseeing, the sampling of local cuisine and even a bit of time to buy some island souvenirs.

uberBOAT captain

UberBoat fares depend on boat size, mileage and duration of the trip. An eight-passenger speedboat starts at 330 Kunas, with each additional kilometre costing 29 Kunas and each minute costing 2.60 Kunas. A larger boat costs from 660 Kunas and 36 Kunas per kilometer and 3.30 Kunas per minute.

uberBOAT dropoff

Private transfers with UberBOAT

UberBOAT also offer a simple and fast transfer to a destination and back. For example, a transfer from Split to Hvar costs 2,600 Kunas for an eight-person speedboat, or 3,300 Kunas for a 12-person speedboat (UberBoat XL). Split to Bol costs 2,100 Kunas (2,800 for UberBoat XL), Dubrovnik to Mljet is 3,820 Kunas (4,600 Kunas for UberBoat XL), whilst Dubrovnik to Korcula is 5,000 Kunas (6,000 Kunas for UberBoat XL).

UberBOAT app

All Uber captains have valid licenses and are exceedingly familiar with the Croatian coastline, so any trip is very safe as well as lots of fun!

To get a feel for the service, check out this video on travelling in style:

More on UberBOAT

For more details, check out www.uber.com/hr/en/u/uberboat/. But if you need a boat, simply open up the Uber app and get tapping to ‘hail’ a boat!

Video: Exploring Dubrovnik by Khurum Khan

/0 Comments/in , ,

We were contacted by award-winning filmmaker and photographer Khurum Khan, who recently visited Dubrovnik to film a truly wonderful video of the city. Titled ‘Exploring Dubrovnik’, it really captures the beauty and magic of Dubrovnik, featuring many of the city’s highlights – in particular the Old Town, the nearby island of Lokrum, and Mount Srd. The video also features some absolutely stunning aerial shots, which always provide an amazing viewpoint of the city!

‘Exploring Dubrovnik’ is well worth a watch – take a look at it below:

Khurum Khan is a London based award winning filmmaker who specialises in creating cinematic videos and portrait, lifestyle and travel photography. His short film ‘Musafir’ was nominated as Best UK film at the prestigious Raindance film festival in 2012, which is a Bafta recognised festival.

Over the years Khurum has travelled around the world shooting documentaries. His most notable one being ‘Road to Indus Valley’, were he travelled through 13 countries from England to Pakistan. The documentary featured on Sky TV. Currently he’s shooting travel videos of his journey and hoping to inspire young filmmakers.

You can see more of Khurum’s wonderful work on his YouTube channel, on Facebook and on Instagram. More details about Khurum and his work can also be found on this website www.khurumakhan.com.