PADDLE OUT TO SEEK WITHIN
Pathseakers is a new company opened by two outdoor enthusiasts and seasoned sea kayaking guides who whished to share their knowledge and experience with all nature lovers. After years of sharpening our skills and interacting with people from all over the world, listening to their feedback, it was time to start a company that's going to bring you the ultimate experience of an active vacation. We aspire to make everyone enjoy and preserve the outdoors, whether it be seeking new routes in a kayak or new paths in the mountains with us.
MEET OUR GUIDES
Ivor Kajfež
The co-founder of Pathseakers comes from Zagreb where he got his Masters at the Faculty of Kinesiology. He specialized in sailing and kayaking and worked as a part-time professor in Water sports. Ivor is an ACA ( American Canoe Association ) Level 3 Coastal Trip Leader, a licensed lifeguard on open waters, and has a Wilderness First Aid certificate. In the winter months when the sea gets too cold, he retreats to the mountains in Zagreb where he runs a ski school. When he’s not at the sea or in the mountains, Ivor plays football, pets dogs, and enjoys a cold one with his friends. He’s on a mission to show travelers from all over the world the beauties of his country from any vantage point and terrain.
Ivan Stojanović
Co-founder of Pathseakers with a background in journalism, history, and IT which he traded for a more adventurous line of work of active travel. Growing up in the country’s capital Zagreb he always had many interests and passions which later in life resulted in a career choice that is everything but boring and simple – adventure tour guide and office manager. If you give him a chance, he’ll talk your ear off with local history, society, cuisine, and natural beauties and for all other topics, don’t hesitate to ask anything. In his free time, this ACA-certified trip leader likes to read and enjoys all sorts of music so if you have any suggestions for reading or are in search of a new music playlist he’ll appreciate both inputs and questions, so there is an idea for a conversation on a long transfer or at a lunch table. If your French needs work, his does too so you can both practice in a judgment-free zone
EQUIPMENT WE USE
Kayaks
Does a kayaking beginner need a highly manuverable surf edition kayak to explore calm waters of the Adriatic? Probably not, but it’s a lot more fun. We have chosen the model „Leo“ from P&H Custom Sea Kayaks for our single kayak option. The Leo is a versatile, cruising sea kayak which is very responsive, but also has superb stability. It’s an expedition kayak made for longer journeys, so you are going to be really comfortable while exploring the islands and hidden bays around Hvar.
Don’t worry, if you want to have a paddling buddy in the kayak with you who does all the work while you take amazing photos, we also have tandem kayaks. Prijon Poseidon is a beast of a vessel that comfortably fits two people with all their belongings and has a rudder system that helps keep you on your course while aiming towards one of many uninhabited Paklinski islands.
PADDLES
Would a regular plastic/aluminum paddle take you from point A to point B? Yes, but our Ophion full carbon lightweight paddle makes it a lot easier, plus you look cooler. Designed especially for touring the seas, this paddle is perfectly balanced and shaped for maximum efficiency. With everything mentioned and an adjustable lenght system, it will help you feel like an experienced kayaker even if you never held a paddle.
Life Vest and Spray skirt
Do you really need a highly buoyant life jacket designed for white water kayaking? Well, the Adraitic is pretty dense because of high salt concentration, making it harder to sink, so probably not. But our HIKO Mikmaq life jackets have had non-swimmers comfortably floating around and jumping out of the kayaks to take a break in the refreshing sea while paddling around the islands. We’ll pair it up with a HIKO spray skirt that goes around your waist and the cockpit of your kayak to keep you protected from the elements because one way of ruining a vacation is to get sunburned.
DRY BAGS
It’s all in the details. Our HiKo dry bag compliments the colors of your pfd so you look stylish when we land on the beach. Use it to keep your stuff dry, fill it with ice and beer or use it as a pillow to snooze on the pebbles, it’s up to you.
SNORKELING MASK
Want to snorkel in one of the clearest seas in the world? Don’t worry,we’ve got you covered…with a full face snorkeling mask. Explore the underwater world of the archipelago in one of many tranquil coves while taking a break from paddling.
None of the equipment mentioned above is crucial for having a good time on a kayaking tour, but it’s what makes Pathseakers stand out and give you an experience like no other on the Adriatic.
F.A.Q.
Yes, our tours are suitable for children ages 5 and up. Our adventures are modeled in such a way that they can cater for the whole family. Previous notification is needed to prepare the appropriate gear and children must be accompanied by an adult in a double kayak but kids are more than welcome to join us and explore our beautiful coastline and scenery.
To participate in one of our tours a low to moderate level of fitness is needed. We pride ourselves in our ability to imbue passion for kayaking to anyone so we start all of our trips with a detailed overview of what is ahead of us, gear and kayaking instructions and safety preparation. Our tours are moderately paced, with physical and active parts spaced out in between plenty of time to rest, enjoy and soak up the beauty of the locations we visit. Kayaking portions on all of our tours are between half an hour and an hour at a time, a level of activity most if not all people can easily manage.
We understand that our guests are on holiday and with that fact in mind we try to be as flexible as we can with all the requests. As a company we do not have a cancellation fee but we appreciate a fair warning about canceling a trip or not showing up so we can plan accordingly and take other bookings.
Through years of experience and research we came up with minimal requirements equipment should meet for the tours. Then we built up from there and went for a fully professional kit of equipment every traveler gets to use and enjoy. Kayaks are sit-in touring sea kayaks, both single and double ones. They are comfortable, stable and comparatively fast so they offer a great experience on the water. Each guest is also provided with a professional level PFD or buoyancy aid, a spray skirt and dry bags for safely storing and bringing their belongings on the tour. To make the activity more enjoyable for all and less strenuous for paddles we went with hand made carbon paddles that are at the same time sturdy and very strong but light and make kayaking very fun and easy. We also provide each guest with a full face snorkeling mask to use for exploring beautiful coves and beaches we frequent.
While we pride ourselves in organizing memorable and fun experiences, safety is and will always be our primary concern. Kayaking is an activity that is affected by not only weather conditions but also the conditions on the sea and that is a fact we take into account before confirming any tour we do. We try to stay on top of the weather and prior to organizing any trips we check multiple weather forecasts so there are no surprise changes of plans. That being said, sometimes weather can still surprise us all and we need to notify the travelers about a last minute cancellation if the conditions are really unfit for a safe and fun tour.
If you are having trouble figuring out what would work best for you, consider contacting us for more details. We are available pretty much at all times over the phone, WhatsApp or through Instagram and will be more than happy to walk you through the trips step by step and clear everything up so you can make an educated decision and make sure you found what really suits you best. In case we miss your contact at any given time, make sure we will reach out and contact you back shortly.
Our kayaking tours are composed of a mix of solo travelers, couples and groups. Once a two person minimum requirement for a tour is met, we can pair you with one of the other guests based on everyone’s preferences, set you up in a single kayak or even have a guide join you in a double kayak for comfort and safety reasons, if required.
We take the readiness of our guides seriously so everyone is internationally certified as a kayak instructor (American canoe association), have certificates from the Croatian chamber of commerce in the field of adventure tourism and regularly attend refresher courses in wilderness rescue and similar outdoor activities and knowledge. On top of formal education and training all of our personnel regularly partakes in different outdoor activities to sharpen their skills and to be ready for any type of situation that can arise both on and off the water.
