Hike and Fly from a Catamaran in Croatia
Anchor below a coastal mountain, hike up with your paraglider and fly back down to the beach next to the boat. Sveti Ilija on Pelješac and Biokovo above Makarska are both on the coast. This is how a hike and fly day works.
Hike and fly in Croatia means you anchor the catamaran below a coastal mountain, walk up with your paraglider on your back and fly down to the beach next to the boat. After the flight the tender picks you up, and lunch is on deck.
Below are the mountains you can reach from the boat, how a day like that works, and how the rest of your crew can join even if nobody else flies.
Why the boat makes hike and fly easier
On a normal paragliding trip you need a car at the top or a ride back from the landing. With a catamaran the boat is your base camp. It drops you on the beach in the morning and picks you up from the same beach after the flight.
You also get a different mountain every few days. The coast between Split and Dubrovnik has high slopes that drop straight into the sea, and the boat moves between them while you sleep.
The rest of the crew doesn’t wait around. They swim, paddle the SUPs or snorkel in the bay, and from the deck they watch you come down.
Where to fly from the boat
| Takeoff | Area | Anchor near | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sveti Ilija (961 m) | Pelješac | Orebić | Marked trails from the coast, views over Korčula and the Pelješac channel |
| Biokovo (around 1,760 m) | Makarska riviera | Makarska | The highest takeoff, a long flight over the coast with Brač and Hvar in front of you |
| Smaller island hills | Vis, Hvar | Bays below the hill | Short hikes and short flights, good when the boat is on the islands anyway |
Sveti Ilija on Pelješac
Sveti Ilija is the mountain above Orebić. It’s 961 m high and you start the hike almost from sea level, so you earn the flight. Marked trails go up from the coast.
From the top you look over the Pelješac channel to Korčula. The boat stays in front of Orebić or on the Korčula side, and after landing you’re back on board in a few minutes.
Biokovo above Makarska
Biokovo is the big one. The takeoff is around 1,760 m, high above the Makarska riviera, and it gives the longest flight of the three. You have Brač and Hvar in front of you the whole way down.
It’s too high to hike from the beach in one morning, so most of the way up is by road and you walk the last part. The boat waits in Makarska.
The islands
Vis and Hvar have smaller hills. The hikes are shorter and so are the flights, but you’re already there with the boat. When the wind is right on the day, it’s an easy add to an island week.
How a hike and fly day works
- Check the forecast the evening before. Your skipper looks at the wind for the next day and helps pick the mountain. If it doesn’t fit, you sail on and try another day.
- Go ashore early. The tender takes you to the beach with the wing, harness and water. Pilots usually fly early, before the sea breeze gets strong.
- Hike to the takeoff. You walk at your own pace. Non-pilots hike up and fly tandem, or walk back down.
- Fly down to the beach. You land on the beach near the boat. The skipper sees you from the deck.
- Back on board for lunch. Pack the wing, the tender takes you back to the boat, and the afternoon is for the bay.
If you don’t fly: tandem with a local pilot
You don’t need a licence to join. If someone in your group wants to fly, we book a tandem flight with a licensed local pilot. You hike up together, and the pilot does the flying.
Everyone else can come on the hike for the view and walk back down, or stay with the boat. Tell us in your inquiry who wants to fly, and we’ll plan the route around the mountains.
Pilots: what to bring
Bring your own wing, harness and reserve. A paraglider packs into a rucksack, so it fits in the cabin or in a deck locker. Wear proper hiking shoes, the trails are rocky.
You fly on your own licence and your own responsibility. Check the local rules for the site before you fly.
Which route fits
Our Split to Dubrovnik route goes past all of it. It sails along Brač and Hvar, which you see from Biokovo, then Vis and Korčula, right across the channel from Sveti Ilija.
If you also want wind on the water, combine a flying week with our wing foil cruise. The boat goes where the wind is, and on calm mornings you fly.
FAQ
Can I do hike and fly in Croatia without a paragliding licence?
Yes, as a tandem passenger. We book a licensed local pilot who flies with you. You hike up together and land on the beach near the boat.
Where can you hike and fly from a boat in Croatia?
Sveti Ilija on Pelješac and Biokovo above Makarska are the main ones, and Vis and Hvar have smaller hills. All of them are on the coast or on islands, so the boat can wait below.
What about Vidova Gora above Bol?
Vidova Gora is the highest point on Brač, and the view over Zlatni Rat is famous. It’s close to Brač airport, though, and flying there needs clearance from the airport. Ask us before you plan around it.
Where do you keep the paraglider on the boat?
In its rucksack, in your cabin or a deck locker. A catamaran has more storage than a sailboat of the same size, so a wing or two is no problem.
What if the wind isn’t right for flying?
Then nobody flies. You sail on and try the next mountain, and the day goes to swimming, SUP or a walk ashore.
Send us your dates, who flies and who wants a tandem on WhatsApp or through the booking page. We’ll suggest the boat and the mountains.
