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This is the main Zrmanja canyon day: sit-on-top kayaks in normal water, or larger rafts if the level is high, starting at Kaštel Žegarski about an hour from Zadar. No prior paddling is needed, children from six can join with an adult, and the route takes you into the limestone gorge with time to swim. Family departures are offered as a separate rate if you want a quieter group.
We'll meet you at Kaštel Žegarski and get you onto two-person sit-on-tops, or onto rafts if the river is high. The gorge closes in quickly, with clear water, limestone walls and living travertine falls, and the group stays small enough that you're not lost in a crowd. Family departures run as their own start if you want a quieter day.
Halfway we stop to swim and eat whatever snack you packed; that's the long pause, so nobody is rushing you back into the boat. Jumps are only if you want them and we say the landing is clear. Then you paddle on to the take-out and we transfer you back to the same village. A typical day is on the water around 10:00 and back by mid-afternoon.
Kaštel Žegarski is in the Zrmanja hinterland of North Dalmatia, postcode 23450, about 75 km from Zadar and a similar distance from Šibenik. The meeting point is the river base in the village. From Zadar the drive is via Smilčić and Obrovac: stay on the main road at the big junction rather than turning down into Obrovac town, then follow signs to the start.
The canyon is a karst gorge with living travertine falls, and the Krupa waterfall sits on a premium departure if you book that rate. You will need your own transport to the village unless you add a Zadar or Biograd transfer. Parking is at the base, and the van brings you back there at the end so the drive out is the same road you came in on.
No kayaking or rafting experience is required. Children from six can take part with a parent, and the two-person sit-on-tops are the usual craft in low water because they are stable and easy to steer after the briefing. You should be happy to get wet and to follow simple paddle instructions.
When the river is high the group uses rafts instead of kayaks, which is a safety choice rather than an upgrade you pick. Skip jumps and swims if you are pregnant or injured. Everyday fitness is enough for a four to five hour day, and the guide's call on the water stands.
Departures are kept as small groups, with a separate family start available if you want to avoid a mixed adult trip. Guides brief in the village before you enter the canyon, and kit includes a buoyancy aid, helmet and paddle, plus a long neoprene suit and rain jacket if the day is cold.
You paddle two-person sit-on-tops in normal water, or rafts when the river is high, and a van brings you back to the same base in Kaštel Žegarski so the drive out is the road you came in on. Waterproof tubs are there for a camera or a drink, and if the weather is too rough we move the day where we can, or refund it.
No. The briefing in Kaštel Žegarski covers how to sit, how to paddle and how to stay with the group, and the sit-on-top kayaks are chosen because they are stable for first-timers.
If the river is high the group uses rafts instead, with a guide in the boat. Either way you are not expected to arrive with skills from another river.
In normal low water you paddle two-person sit-on-top kayaks. When the level is high we switch to large rafts, which is a safety decision on the day rather than a choice you make at the start.
A single-seat kayak exists as a separate rate if you want your own boat. Family exclusive and premium Krupa departures are also separate rates on the same product.
Yes. The minimum age is six, and a child should be with a parent or responsible adult. Family departures are offered so you can avoid a mixed adult group if you prefer.
Tell us ages when you book so boats can be paired properly. The packraft day on this river is twelve and over, so do not book that one for a younger child.
The meeting point is the river base in Kaštel Žegarski, postcode 23450. From Zadar follow Smilčić then Obrovac, stay on the main road at the big junction instead of turning down into Obrovac town, and continue to the village.
Allow about an hour. A Zadar or Biograd transfer is a separate rate if you do not have a car. Parking is at the base while you are on the water.
Plan on four to five hours from check-in to the van back, including the briefing, time on the water and the picnic swim stop. A common pattern is meet around 09:30, on the water at 10:00 and back by 14:30.
The trip runs most days through the summer season, so it is an easy add-on to a stay in Zadar or on the coast.
You get a buoyancy aid, helmet and paddle, plus the kayak or raft. In cold weather a long neoprene suit and a rain jacket are added. Waterproof tubs are available for a camera or a drink.
You still need your own swimsuit, shoes that can get wet, a towel and a dry change. Food is not supplied, so pack a snack for the picnic stop.
Rain on a normal summer day rarely stops the paddle. If conditions are extreme we will try to move you by a day or two, and if that is not possible the payment is refunded in full.
The one-day cancellation tiers still apply if you cancel yourself: eight or more days free, two to seven days half charged, one day or no-show charged in full.
The standard descent is the Zrmanja canyon from Kaštel Žegarski. A visit to the Krupa waterfall is on the premium departure, which is a separate rate.
Do not assume Krupa is included if you booked the tour-only rate. Ask us if you are unsure which option you have.
Yes, four guests. If your own party is smaller you may still run if other bookings that day make up the number.
If the minimum is not reached you will be offered another time or a refund. Family exclusive rates are for when you want the departure to yourselves.
Eight or more days before, no charge. Two to seven days before, half the booking is charged. One day before or a no-show is charged in full.
If we stop or move the trip for safety, you are offered another date or a refund under the same one-day terms.
About the centre
Kaštel Žegarski
Operated by Raftrek Travel, a partner of adventuro.
