May 13, 2021 - This season, the Croatian coast has something to offer - vegan sailing vacations. Alvus Sailing has launched a new sailing tour with vegan dishes on board!

Although there are a handful of restaurants and shops with vegan options in big cities, on the Dalmatian Coast, Croatia has not been considered a travel destination for vegan vacations. That is, until now!

Matea and Marina from Alvus Sailing created a Vegan Sailing Vacation - a 7-day sailing tour from Split with vegan cuisine on board.

"The combination came as a natural consequence of our passions," Matea explains. She finished a sailing major in Zagreb and worked as a skipper in the summer, while Marina practiced plant-based cuisine. Partners at work and in life, they proposed the idea to their friend from a travel agency and the new tour was born.

It keeps up with trends in the sphere of caring about the meals of the guests during longer sailing trips. Here in Split, we already have companies that are trying to offer clients more than prosciutto & cheese - that actually doesn't fit for vegans. Enthusiastic sailors cook a dinner for the guests by themselves. "Since it is very cozy to have someone cook for you on the boat, I thought that could be a very good offer for tourists in general," Matea adds.

Besides, vegan cuisine for the tour is already thought out and tested many times by Marina. She is inspired mainly by Mediterranean cuisine which originally contains a lot of vegan dishes but also mixes it with Asian tastes. She uses different combinations and cooking methods to get different tastes and provides the guest on board 3 vegan meals with snacks per day. It seems especially valuable for regular vegans who, aside from top vegan vacation places, mostly in the US and Canada, still have this fear of eating only peanut butter and jelly on the whole trip. Split's offer of food witnessed positive changes over the last decade. Comparing blogs of vegans traveling in Croatia, we can see them reporting about 1 place per day for vegan meals in the city 12 years ago and, respectively, about 2-3 vegan places per day in 2020. However, even now it's recommended to have your vegan snacks with you while traveling, because it's not easy to find everywhere in Croatia.

Vegan Sailing Vacations welcome not only a vegan audience. For non-vegan people, this tour could be even more of an astonishing surprise, its creators suggest. Marina is willing to show the process of cooking vegan food and share recipes with anybody interested. As well, the guests will be able to participate in collecting edible wild plants on islands and implementing them in meals.

Meals on Marina's table look very delicious. But as a non-vegan person, I always wonder whether you will be strong enough for sailing stuff if you eat only plant-based dishes. The adventurous girls prove by their own experience that it's possible to strong as a vegan. Matea is working also as a fitness trainer.

"I can just say, I had a boxing session on Palagruža".

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November 5, 2020 - Made in Split, the incredibly luxurious Golden Horizon is the largest traditional sail ship in the world. Take a look at her before her maiden voyage in spring 2021

Croatia is no stranger to the biggest and most luxurious yachts in the world. But, none of them look like the Golden Horizon. Built in Split to the template of a square-rigged sailing vessel called France II from the year 1913, she is the largest traditional sail ship in the world.

British cruise company Tradewind Voyages is offering places on the first voyage of the ship. The first cruise the world's largest traditional sail ship will undertake will see her sail around the coast and islands of Scotland and England. For the moment, the Golden Horizon is still moored in Split, where she was built.

The ship has 140 cabins and all face outwards, offering views of the sea. The refined but casual interior of the ship's shared spaces are intended to offer all the luxury of a modern cruise ship, but with the romantic ambiance of a traditional sailing vessel.

The largest traditional sail ship in the world is 162 meters long and 18.5 meters wide. It has five steel masts, 35 sails and can accommodate 300 passengers and 150 crew members. It holds a two-floored restaurant that can seat all passengers simultaneously and a glass-bottomed swimming pool.

The design of the ship might be regarded as retro, but its considered construction was specifically undertaken in order to facilitate sustainable holidaymaking. The ship will use its sails and sea currents for around 70% of its propulsion throughout any season.

Accommodation on board varies in size, standard and cost. The premium offer is four apartments of 45 square metres, each with two bathrooms, two showers and a jacuzzi. 34 smaller rooms have balconies and jacuzzis, while the other passenger rooms with windows are located on the lower decks.

The first passengers are expected to board for the debut two-week cruise on 1 May 2021. After its maiden voyage, it will spend the rest of the season touring Iceland, England and Ireland, the Arctic, the Baltic Sea, Norway, Denmark, Spain and Portugal, with each cruise usually lasting seven or fourteen days.

All images © Tradewind Voyages

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There is just never enough time... 

So many things to see, so many islands to explore in addition to the wonderful city of Split. How to fit it all in?

How, for example, to visit the island of Korcula on a day trip, have a few hours in the historic old town, birthplace of Marco Polo, AND a few hours sailing around its coast and plethora of small islands. 

Possible on a day trip from Split? If you know the right agency... 

Meet the creative minds of Croactive Holidays:

Wishing to visit Korcula town and wishing to combine the visit with a sailing trip?

We have great package for you. You board on the fast ferry from Split at 7.45am, arriving to Korcula at 10am. At your arrival there will be a shuttle baiting for you to take you to the boat in the marina, from where you would depart your sailing adventure on a beautiful vintage sailing boat.

The sailing takes place till 2pm. The archipelago of islands spreading in the triangle between Korčula, Orebić i Lumbarda is a wonderful setting for daily sailing even by Dalmatian standards. These pine-covered islets, abundant with little pebble beaches, are a favourite local summer retreat ideal for relaxing picnic, snorkeling or activities such as sailing due to excellent wind conditions in the channel between Korčula island and Pelješac peninsula. Badija hosts a Franciscan monastery and there are lovely pathways around the island where you can meet deers, Vrnik used to be exploited for its stone– the abandoned quarry is still attraction with its remains, Romans left their traces on Majsan…

You will have free time to explore Korcula town till 6pm, when the ferry leaves back to Split.

Sound good? Check out the video below for an overview of the activity magic you can discover when in Split. Then visit the Croactive Holidays website to learn more.