September 20, 2018 – As Autumn approaches, so the tourism season focus changes on Korcula from the beach to the more active visitor. A look at how the island of Korcula is expanding its tourism offer from its key attracions of beaches, culture, and food and wine.
Dalmatia has made great progress with its tourism in the 16 years I have been living in Croatia. It took me some years to realise that Hvar was a wine island when I lived there, as most of the restaurants served very unappealing table wine by the litre, and fast forward to today, and Dalmatian island wines are highly prized internationally, with a growing number of excellent small local producers putting the region’s indigenous wines varieties on the map.
As with wine, so too with activities. Back then, apart from the beach and nightlife, there were standard tours to the predictable sights, but very little that was innovative, especially for the more active tourist who didn’t want to spend a fortnight just sitting on the beach.
Young local enthusiastic pioneers started to put together some adventure programmes for visitiors. One of the leading pioneers was Hvar Adventure, founded in 2006, offering an exciting package of sailing, kayaking, hiking, biking and climbing. Suddenly visitors to Hvar had a range of adrenaline options where they could really see the island up close, including parts unexplored by most locals. It was only a matter of time before such opportunities spread to other islands, and when one of the Hvar Adventure founders moved to Korcula to start an agency called Korcula Outdoor, adventure tourism on the isand suddenly got a lot more interesting.
Sea kayaking is one of the stars of adventure tourism in Dalmatia, a sport which many tourists have never tried before, but which is easy to get started on – for all ages – with a little expert training and supervision. The advantage of sea kayaking for tourists is the total flexibility it offers, allowing them to explore a destination up close, from surrounding islands and islets to hidden bays and coves. Too many tourists on the beach where you are? Simply head off to a less crowded spot. Apart from the joy of gliding through the water, the views of Korcula are divine, and popular stops such as Badija, Vrnik and Stupe are within easy reach.
Korcula’s pristine nature is open for all to explore. The islands lush fields, spectacular views and ancient heritage offer a great combination for a day’s hiking,and a hike on either Korcula or nearby Peljesac, whose Mout St. Ilija offers some of the best views of Korcula, is an excellent way to learn more about the flora and fauna of the region, its history and heritage. And those views… Given the peak season heat, the shoulder months such as September and October are better for hiking enthusiasts.
Korcula’s sailing tradition is part of the island’s soul, and the island boasts a unique boatbuilding tradition going back centuries. An additional challenge for experienced sailiors here is the Maestral wind, whose constant presence in the Korcula Channel produces a soothing steady afternoon breeze in Korcula Town. There is little doubt that this part of Dalmatia is one of the most picturesque sailing destinations in Europe, with its plethora of gorgeous islands, stunning mainland coast and a host of hidden bays, coves and restaurants to explore. First-time sailor, looking to take to the waves for a new persepctive of Korcula? The Korcula Outdoor team has a great range of sailing options, from the afternoon tourist to more experienced sailors. The beauty is there to be enjoyed by sailors of all skill levels.
Just as sea kayaking has rocketed in popularity on the water, so too cycling on land, and the island experiences an increase of cycling traffic in the shoulder season, where the roads are less crowded and temperatures less forbidding. For an island, Korcula’s roads are excellent, and there are also a number of offroad options, and the cycling options have been neatly packaged into a range of Korcula Outdoor tours. And don’t forget those fabulous vineyards – a glass or two of Korcula’s famous Grka and Posip whites is more than adequate refreshment for any cyclist, and bike and wine tourism is also on the rise.
Rock climbing options are still in their infancy on Korcula, but they do exist, but if you are looking for some climbing challenges, the Korcula Outdoor team can draw on its Hvar experience to offer you some of the very finest vews in Dalmatia. Not for the faint-hearted!
For many, the tourist season is coming to an end, but for others the main season is just beginning. To learn more about an autumn adventure holiday on Korcula could be just the ticket, visit the Korcula Outdoor website.
