As always before any holiday, I go to my friends for recommendations (perks of having fellow travel blogger friends). I was given some fantastic suggestions, exploring the Old Town, heading up a mountain by cable car to have dinner or cocktails at the peak, or even take a day trip to Montenegro. But one friend told me to consider the Dubrovnik Sunset Kayak Tour. Allowing me to tour the walls by sea, they said it was “right up my street”. And they were right! I hadn’t been on a kayak since my trip to Australia, where I kayaked across Lake Tinaroo near Yungaburra. I checked my options, and found options for a sunset tour around the Old Walls on Viator and Get Your Guide.
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I came to Croatia with family and friends, so we didn’t book our Kayak tour until we were already out there. Unfortunately by the time we went to book Get Your Guide was full, but we found spaces on Viator so booked with them (I will link them both below). Both are operators I trust and making finding and booking activities so easy.
Getting Ready for the Sunset Tour
Our sunset kayak would be on our last evening in Dubrovnik, and with an early morning flight, our last adventure too. So what a special way to end the holiday. We had spotted the meeting place a few days prior when we had dinner at Dubravka 1836, a fantastic restaurant with stunning views (and not unreasonable prices either). So we had a rough where to go, but still had to navigate our way down the streets, and along the pathway that hugged the city wall.
The beach was chaotic when we arrived. Various tour groups launched from the same small beach, and our was at the end. We had to navigate through the groups so we could get kitted up and ready. We were given a tub for electricals, and a dry bag for our towels and clothes. Our guide also gave us a bottle of water each and set us up in lifejackets.
Paddling Past the City Walls and Into the Adriatic
After a brief tutorial, we were loading into our kayaks and heading out onto the water. Now i will admit it did fail to do a crucial bit of research. I genuinely thought we would go around the walls, not too far, stop regularly on beaches to relax and swim. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
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Our route would take us past the city walls, out into the Adriatic sea. We would paddle across to and then around Lokrum Island which I had visited earlier that day, as well as detour across the harbour to rest in Betina Beach Cave. After a brief rest we would paddle back out onto the water to enjoy the sun setting over the Old Town, before making our way back.
I love the gym, but I had recently pulled my back, so after hearing the route I was a little daunted. But I didn’t want to miss out, so before I knew it I was out onto the water. It was tough, but a lot of fun. I will admit though that as we approached Lokrum I wasn’t sure if I could make it all the way around and home.
Wine, Waves, and Lokrum Island
Before we approached the island, our guide paddle round and dropped a small bottle of white wine off for each of us to enjoy as we toured. I won’t lie, I did find this motivating. And I couldn’t resist cracking into mine straight away.
We continued to paddle, making our way around the island. It went surprisingly quick, considering I had walked half of it in the morning and it was exhausting. Admittedly I was walking up a steep incline then as I traversed the hills. But at least then we got to stop for a few little breathers along the way though.
The cave was crowded we arrived, clearly its an popular part of the tour. Our tour guide was the first in and then he dragged our kayaks to shore. We were given a little bit of free time here, just 20 mins, to relax and recharge.
Having been in the sun for hours now, I decided to immediately get in the water and float for a bit. My muscles were burning at this point. It was nice opportunity to chat to some of the other people on my tour, learn about their stories and hear their own travel tales.
Swimming, Cliff Jumping, and Betina Cave Break
Our first big stop was at the end of the island, we had a little cave to explore and could stop for a swim in the sea. A few groups had gathered here, and even those who decided not to swim enjoyed the chance to float and chat.
Some were brave enough to climb up and down some cliff jumping. They climbed to impressive heights, and as much as I wanted to try it, I had been partially accident prone this holiday. I love to test travel gadgets, but I didn’t fancy pushing my travel insurance to its limits.
It was time for our group to continue around the island. I hadn’t even realised how quickly we had gotten to the end. But now we had to cross the bay to reach the caves on the other side. The bay isn’t a particularly busy one, at least not at the time we were there. All the big superyachts were much further out, so I can’t regale you with tales of peril or near misses. Although we did get competitive and have a small race.
The Sunset Over Dubrovnik
All too soon my 20min break came to an end, and I had to get back in the kayak. It wouldn’t be so hard this time, we only had a short amount of time left of the tour. So with a burst of energy, we all paddled out of the cave. We got a bit closer to the Old Town, and then we all stopped. It was time for the main event, the sunset.
I said in my previous post, that one of the best sunsets in Dubrovnik is viewable from the Cable Car and Panorama restaurant. But I think that comes second to this. Relaxing on the water, watching the sun go down behind the city is nothing short of breathtaking. I couldn’t even check my phone as is my vice as it was safely stored in a waterproof tub.
We mostly sat in silence, just enjoying the last few minutes before the sun dipped below the horizon. But when the sunset was gone we had to start paddling back. Nobody fancied paddling back in the dark, but luckily we were close to our starting point. As we paddled home we saw some of the bars built into the walls, some with areas for people to cliff jump even with a few cocktails. They were all roped off so swimmers were at a safe distance from kayakers or boats.
Final Paddle and Farewell
Our guide stopped us just before we reached shore, we were offered discounts in a few restaurants and nearby bars. Sadly we already had plans, because I really fancied a burger. But before I knew it we was back on the move and bringing ourselves into land. I said my goodbyes to some of the others in the group I had gotten to know and our guide, and tried to find somewhere to change. We had been told there was changing rooms, but we couldn’t find them. Instead we used the outdoor shower and then changed out of my wet clothes underneath a towel. It was my last night in Dubrovnik, and I was to spend it in the Old Town. And after 3 hours of near constant exercise, I was more than excited for some food.
Dubrovnik Sunset Kayak Tour Frequently Asked Questions
You can find options for similar tours on both Viator and Get Your Guide. I have linked them both below so you can choose the one that works best for yourself. I booked mine with Viator this time around, as Get Your Guide didn’t have the availability.
Yes you cannot just turn up to a tour. Tickets sell out quickly, and I had to check a few providers before I could find a space. It really is a magical (but exhausting) tour. So if you are interested I would highly recommend booking before you fly.
There are no places to change on the beach. It is best to come prepared in your swimsuit. Afterwards I had to change outside with a towel to cover myself as I was heading straight into the old town after.
Sunscreen, towel and a change of clothes for after at the minimum. I’d recommend sunglasses too, and a waterproof camera or case so you don’t have to risk your phone when sea kayaking. I actually bought this zinc based mineral stick from LifeJacket specifically because I knew I wanted to do this. It was really easily to apply when wet and top up if I felt the heat too much on my shoulders.
You are given a small tub to store electronics and other things to keep them safe through your tour. Be aware though that the tub is small. You also get a dry bag for more flexible items like clothes. But this will get bashed more so won’t offer any protection.