WORDS:
GETH ROBERTS &
Zoltan Bruckner

PHOTOS:
Geth Roberts,
Duncan Greene &
Zoltan Bruckner

About Geth 
Geth founded Sea Kayaking Wales seven years ago, along with Kirsty, and is SKW’s head coach, providing BCAB awards, coaching, and mentoring to SKW participants and the coaching team. He has also helped drive the SKW expedition programme, hosting opportunities in Norway and Scotland. In addition to kayaking, Geth enjoys biking, running, and spending time in the mountains – he has three children, ranging from ten to four years old.

About Sea Kayaking Wales 
Based in Anglesey, SKW offers expedition and holiday opportunities in Scotland, Norway, and Pembrokeshire. They hope to add Mediterranean and Irish destinations to this list. Check www.seakayakingwales.com for more information. Sea Kayaking Wales also offers progressive coaching courses on Anglesey, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. It is a provider of all British Canoeing Leadership, Coach, Safety, and Personal Performance awards. Clubs/groups are also encouraged to hire SKW for meets and expeditions. SKW is also a dealer of Sea Kayaking UK, Tiderace and Zegul sea kayaks. You can demo most models on the course opportunities. Check out www.skwkayaks.com for excellent course participant deals.

A Mediterranean sea kayaking hub – Krk, Croatia

In recent years, the sea kayaking communities of Hungary and the UK have forged a partnership through Felfedezők Explorers Sea Kayaking and Sea Kayaking Wales (SKW). Explorers, coaches, and community members have travelled to Anglesey and Pembrokeshire to join SKW for adventures and advanced training, taking full advantage of Wales’s renowned tidal race coastal features and progressively challenging sea conditions. Now, the collaboration continues in the Adriatic: this September, Explorers Sea Kayaking will host SKW members for a unique experience on Krk, Croatia. Earlier this April, SKW coaches Geth Roberts and Duncan Greene were invited to Krk to sample its exceptional sea kayaking and deliver BCAB (Non-Tidal) Sea Leader Training and Assessments for the Explorers team.

Krk: An Adriatic Kayaker’s Playground
Krk, the joint largest island in the Adriatic Sea at 406 km², is a true gem for sea kayakers – just over half the size of Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Wales. The island’s landscape shifts dramatically from the rugged, forested hills and rocky shores of the north-west to the sun-baked, sparsely vegetated terrain of the south-east. Krk’s coastline is punctuated with hidden coves and crystal-clear waters, offering a diverse range of paddling environments, from sheltered bays to more exposed sections where wind and waves add excitement and challenge.

Beyond its natural beauty, Krk is rich in history, boasting remnants of Roman settlements and impressive Venetian architecture in its pretty villages and towns. This unique blend of Mediterranean scenery, dramatic cliffs, and centuries-old heritage makes every sea kayaking journey both visually stunning and culturally fascinating.

Wildlife & Ecosystems
Krk’s rich marine and coastal ecosystems offer sea kayakers fantastic opportunities for wildlife encounters. The island’s waters support a variety of fish species, including the excellent Atlantic bluefin tuna. Lucky paddlers may also see dolphins playing nearby or catch glimpses of sea turtles surfacing alongside their kayaks. The rocky shores and cliffs are home to seabirds such as cormorants, Adriatic gulls, and the occasional buzzard or peregrine falcon.

Among Krk’s most impressive residents is the Eurasian griffon vulture – these majestic birds, with wingspans reaching up to nine feet (rivalling the Scottish white-tailed eagle), are often seen soaring above the island’s dramatic cliffs and riding thermals over groups of anxious-looking sheep. Inland, Krk supports populations of wild boar, deer, and a remarkable diversity of birdlife, with 222 species recorded by Observation.org.

Šilo: The Home Base for Exploration
Felfedezők Explorers Sea Kayaking’s base on Krk is the welcoming village of Šilo, located on the island’s sheltered northeastern coast. Šilo offers a wide range of comfortable studio and apartment accommodations, making it an ideal spot for visiting paddlers and groups. The village itself is charming and relaxed, with easy access to the sea and all the essentials close at hand – perfect for both training and winding down after a day on the water.

One of Šilo’s unique advantages for sea kayak training is its substantial sea wall. On windy days with a dynamic sea state, the team made great use of this feature for progressive skills development, offering a safe yet challenging environment in which to practice leadership, rescues, and boat handling in real-world conditions.

Beyond the water, Šilo is also an excellent base for those who enjoy land-based activities. Wooded biking and hiking tracks exit the village north westwards, winding through scenic landscapes and offering excellent routes for running, cycling, or simply exploring the natural beauty of Krk. These trails provide a perfect way to start the day with a morning run/walk or unwind after a journey on the sea, making Šilo a well-rounded hub for adventure and relaxation alike.

Our Favourite Sea Kayaking Trips on Krk
Krk offers an exceptional variety of sea kayaking routes, each with its character and set of challenges. Among our favourite trips are three standouts that showcase the island’s dynamic coastline, technical paddling opportunities, and breathtaking scenery:

Northwards from Plaža Sveti Marak:
Launching from the sheltered beach at Sveti Marak and its useful harbour wall, this route heads north around a distinctive, technical headland. The area is renowned for its excellent performance in dynamic sea conditions, making it an ideal setting for practising boat handling in rough water. The headland just beyond the sea wall offers a mix of rock gardens and wave action, delivering both excitement and a chance to refine skills in a progressively challenging environment.

Southwestwards from Vrbnik:
Departing from the picturesque harbour of Vrbnik – a town perched dramatically above the sea – this trip explores a stunning stretch of coastline. The route features impressive cliffs, hidden coves, and crystal-clear waters, offering numerous opportunities to land and explore. Vrbnik itself is worth visiting for its historic charm and vibrant local culture, making this trip a favourite for combining paddling with a taste of Krk’s unique heritage. We certainly had our best post-kayaking beers here.

About Zoltan and Felfedezők Explorers Sea Kayaking
Zoltan is the founder of Felfedezők Explorers Sea Kayaking, a community-focused business founded eight years ago with strong similarities to Sea Kayaking Wales.
We’re Explorers Kayaking, a touring and coaching team dedicated to sea kayaking. We lead sea kayak tours and provide coaching on rivers, lakes, and the sea. The majestic River Danube and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean are our home bases.

From winter pool training courses and regular weekly coaching sessions on the Danube and the islands of Croatia, to multi-day expeditions in Greece, Corsica, Croatia, and Wales, we explore our amazing world and connect people through sea kayaking.

We design small-group experiences that we enjoy, so that you always have a genuine and energising experience with us. Always looking for ways to develop our skills, we enjoy paddling with our friends and colleagues from Wales several times a year. We’re certified British Canoeing Sea Kayak Leaders (SKL/ASKL), experienced paddlers from all walks of life – coaches, outdoor educators, and lifelong ‘water people’.

For us, kayaking isn’t just a (social) sport – it’s a way to explore and connect with the natural world, as well as our courage and curiosity to build confidence, and share time on the water with each other.

Baška to Otok Prvić Island
This adventure begins at Baška, a vibrant seaside town at the southern tip of Krk, and crosses open water to the wild, uninhabited island of Prvić. The journey is defined by towering cliffs and a sparsely vegetated, almost lunar landscape, home to soaring Eurasian griffon vultures. Paddlers are rewarded with dramatic views and a true sense of remoteness that makes this one of the most memorable trips in the region.

Each of these routes highlights a different aspect of what makes Krk such a special destination for sea kayakers: technical challenges, scenic beauty, and a deep connection with both the natural and cultural heritage of the Adriatic.

Building Skills, Strengthening Community
The recent collaboration between SKW and Explorers Sea Kayaking on Krk wasn’t just about enjoying the scenery. The focus was on joint skill development, leadership, and sharing ideas. The BCAB (Non-Tidal) Sea Leader Training and Assessments, provided by Geth and Duncan, emphasised the importance of situational awareness, clear communication, effective decision-making, and group formations/leader positioning – key elements for building trust and creating rewarding, empowered group experiences in dynamic marine environments.

Participants took the lead in planning routes, assessing weather and sea conditions, troubleshooting real-life scenarios, and practising leadership skills on their ‘home’ waters. Regular on-water feedback and group discussions, along with post-paddle reflections, enabled everyone to adapt and grow – both as individual paddlers and as a cohesive team.

The Bora Wind
The Bora wind has a significant impact on Krk, shaping both the island’s environment and the experience of those on the sea. We experienced it for six hours on day four of our course, postponing our sea kayak training until 16.00. Originating from the mainland mountains, which rise to around 1,500 metres (about 4,900 feet), the bora is a classic catabatic wind.

It forms when cold, dense air builds up over the mountains and then rapidly descends toward the Adriatic, resulting in sudden, powerful gusts. Wind speeds often reach 30–50 knots (55–90 km/h), with even stronger gusts possible, quickly turning calm seas into challenging and dynamic conditions. Deceptively, the wind may locally abate whilst the main bora is ongoing, only to return suddenly. We checked lots of weather station wind reports before venturing back onto the sea at Šilo for our post-bora paddle.

Fortunately, weather forecasts for Krk are generally reliable at predicting bora days, giving paddlers the chance to plan and take necessary precautions. Even with a warning, the intensity and unpredictability of the bora demand heightened vigilance, adaptability, and strong group leadership to ensure safety and maintain cohesion during any sea kayaking adventure on Krk.

Getting to Krk from the UK
Travelling to Krk from the UK is straightforward, with several convenient options available for individuals and groups. The most direct route is by air: Rijeka Airport, located on Krk itself, receives seasonal flights from several UK airports, particularly during the spring and summer months. Upon arrival, it’s just a short drive to key destinations on the island, including Šilo.

For those preferring a wider choice of flights or travelling outside the primary season, Zagreb and Pula airports are also viable gateways. Both offer regular connections from the UK and are within a few hours’ drive of Krk. Rental cars are readily available at all airports, making onward travel flexible and hassle-free. Geth and Duncan drove onto Krk after a wild, storm-lashed nighttime drive from Zagreb – mountains, rain, and darkness thrown in for good measure. Their car was a rental Dacia so basic and battered it looked like it had just limped back from the Paris-Dakar rally. With the engine whining and every hill a heroic struggle, the car’s main feature seemed to be ‘character.’ Geth’s rental choice highly amused Duncan.

Alternatively, travellers can reach Krk by car via mainland Europe, crossing the impressive Krk Bridge that connects the island to the Croatian mainland. This option is popular with those planning an extended road trip or bringing their kayaking equipment.
Whether arriving by air or road, Krk’s accessibility makes it an appealing destination for UK sea kayakers seeking adventure in the Adriatic.

Looking Ahead
With the September Krk event on the horizon, excitement is building on both sides. The partnership between our communities is more than just a series of trips; it’s a shared commitment to adventure, learning, and mutual support. Whether paddling the tidal races of Wales or the sunlit shores of Krk, the focus remains on growing our communities, strengthening connections, and making every journey memorable.

Looking forward, we’re eager to connect with even more sea kayaking communities around the world. By building these global relationships, we can offer our members richer experiences, broaden the scope of our adventures, and create new opportunities for leader development exchanges. If you’re part of a sea kayaking community interested in collaboration or exchange, we’d love to hear from you and invite you to Krk or Anglesey.