July 21, 2024 – Looking to find those Croatian tours which have the true local, authentic flavour away from the crowds? Meet Authland.
People often ask me what makes Croatia such a great place to live. I could go on for hours on the subject after 23 happy years here, but if I had to give a concise answer, it comes down to three things – safety, lifestyle, and authentic experiences. Croatia is one of the safest places in Europe, and its lifestyle is legendary, but what takes a little more time to appreciate is the wealth of experiences available – many at a very local level – that cannot be experienced elsewhere.
I have been fortunate to have travelled extensively all over Croatia with this ‘job’ of mine in the last 15 years, uncovering so many incredible local experiences that many Croatians have never even heard of, and I often thought that a platform working directly with these local providers would not only promote these authentic experiences, but work with those providers for a more sustainable tourism. Anyone can go on a tour to Plitvice, Krka or the Blue Cave, but to explore the real Croatia, away from the crowds.
And then a few years ago, I was at a diaspora conference listening to some young Croatian startups pitching for investment, and I came across the very platform I had envisaged – Authland, which describes itself as
Authland is an internet platform on which guests and their hosts can quickly and efficiently find and book the best local experiences and things to do in their Croatian destinations. Wine, oil and cheese tastings, gastronomic tours, boat trips or adventure tours in nature led by experienced local guides. Such top-notch authentic services are available in one place, information about them, their location, prices and dates is transparent and clear, while it is possible to book in a few clicks.
Authland has grown considerably since I came across it a few years ago, with its tours primarily centred around 15 destinations in Istria and several Dalmatian cities, includoing Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Sibenik, working with over 100 local partners, offering more than 300 exclusive services in 14 different categories. These services include everything from wine and olive oil tasting, to cooking workshops and local gastronomic experiences, to adventurous quad safaris and boat trips. The platform enables travelers to easily research, book and manage their travel, ensuring a personalized and authentic experience to remember, all in just a few clicks.
But not just the coast – you can also check out one of the best tourism experiences I had in Croatia, the incredible gin and spirit tasting at Brigljevic distillery in Velika Gorica close to Zagreb. You can check out the video of our night in the video above, or learn more about the Authland tour here.
Looking to immerse with nature and sample some of the finest organic goat cheese in the country, while spending the afternoon with the goats. The Istrian Kumparicka goat farm is a firm family favourite day out complete with wine and cheese pairing after a tour of the farm and bonding with the goats.
Welcome to the Open-Air Museum – where the traditions, flavors, and stories of Dalmatia blend into an unforgettable experience! Embark on an exceptional tasting tour located between the charming villages of Jasenica and Maslenica, right at the foot of the majestic Velebit mountain. Explore the depths of the old mine and learn about the influence of the local wind, bura, on the cuisine of the Zadar region.
Croatian food, wine and olive oil is fantastic, so why not go one step further than just enjoying it and learn to prepare it, before enjoying your meal with a special wine pairing. The Mediterranean Style Cooking with Olive oil and Wine Academy is the perfect introduction to the food, wine and olive oil of the region.
Nothing symbolises Istrian cuisine more than truffles, so why not find out how truffles are found, then enjoy your find in the form of several dishes provided by the truffles you have unearthed? This is a fantastic day out for animal-loving kids, as they follow the specially trained dogs in search of truffle magic buries in the forest. And the Truffle hunting experience in Istria is a gourmet treat for the adults.
You can get more of a flavour of what is available by perusing the Authland official website.
But while Authland is expanding nicely with the addition of more quality local experiences, it is using its software to now make those experiences more accessible to tourism providers such as hotels, campsites and resorts through a new service called Authland Connect.
Authland Connect is a new innovative platform that helps hotels, campsites, resorts, and accommodation rental agencies to enrich their offer and create unforgettable experiences for travelers all over Croatia. The platform enables every facility and agency to offer its guests a selected selection of premium tours and activities, seamlessly integrated into the reservation system. You can see a demonstration in the video below.
The latest “addition” to Authland is a new investor and board member, Stjepan Buljat, better known
as the co-founder and former technical director of the company Cognism, whose valuation is now
close to one billion dollars, while he currently holds the position of Chief Innovation Officer.
I have to say I like it, and with the right support, Authland has the potential to bring the very best of Croatia’s local and authentic experiences to a much wider audience, to the benefit of local communities. It is a story I will continue to monitor.
