One of the best activities you can do around Split is to go rafting on the Cetina River by Omis. The nature is amazing, rafting is fun, and it is suitable for everybody (except kids under the age of 6).
I have done rafting several times since I moved to Croatia, and I cannot recall a trip that I did not enjoy.
Recently, I went on a very special rafting trip with my family. What made it so special was that my daughter was our skipper, as she had just started being a rafting guide this summer!
In the video below, you can see how our trip went.
Organizing the Rafting
You can go rafting on the Cetina River from around mid-April until October. I recommend you book at least one day ahead. There are plenty of rafting companies operating. I think every day in the summer season, more than 60 boats go down the river.
I am, of course, a bit biased as my daughter works for the company, but I think you should check out Rafting Pirates. Their reviews speak for the quality of the trip they offer.
Regardless of which company you choose, the meeting point is 5 to 6 km up the River Cetina from Omis. You can, for a fee, also arrange pickup in Split and in Omis.
Please note that not all companies offer the same packages. As you will see in my video, we visited a cave and also jumped from a cliff, but not all companies offer this as part of the tour.
What You Need to Bring for Rafting
- Full stomach: Make sure to eat a proper breakfast or lunch before your rafting trip, as the tour does not include food, and 3 to 4 hours of rafting does require some strength.
- Sunscreen
- Dry clothes
- Old shoes (trainers or sandals) that you don’t mind getting wet (if needed, you can also rent water shoes from the rafting company)
- As few valuables as possible (guides/employees will keep your valuables during the raft, no worries, they will be safe)
- Swimsuit and towel
- If you wear glasses, something to strap them with
- Energy and good mood
Our Rafting Trip
Our rafting trip started at the meeting point of Rafting Pirates, 6 km up the River Cetina, where we parked the car.
We were greeted by Neno and Heike, the owners of the company, who made sure everybody was ready. After changing into rafting clothes, we jumped in the bus, which drove us about 15 km up the river to our starting point.
At the starting point, we met the other guide, and we got handed a lifejacket and a helmet. When the whole family was ready, Caroline (my daughter) gave us instructions on how to raft and which commands she would use.
Then we all got in the raft and practiced navigation before we started paddling down the river. The river constantly shifted between stretches where we had to paddle to maintain speed and small waterfalls, where Caroline had to guide us through.
After about an hour, we had our first stop, where we could go swimming. The water was colder than the seawater I am used to, but after being in the water a bit, it was nice.
After swimming, we continued down the river, again with a mix of paddling stretches and smaller waterfalls. Then we reached one of the highlights, the cave.
Before reaching the cave, everybody was asked whether they wanted to go through the cave or walk around it. We exercised a bit of group pressure among the family members, so everybody agreed to go through the cave 😁
Explanation: If somebody does not want to go through the cave, they have to go on shore at a specific spot, where there is a path they can follow to go around the cave. The boat then continues down a smaller waterfall and shortly after drops off those who want to go through the cave. After the second drop-off point, the guide takes the boat down a steep waterfall where guests are not allowed to be in the raft.
As mentioned, we all took the route through the cave, which was a real adventure (check it in the video).
After the cave, it was time for some more paddling. Our next goal was to get to the 5-meter cliff, from where we could jump. I skipped the jumping as I have done it several times before, so we decided to head on after a short stop at the cliff.
After about 3 hours on the river, we reached our end station, where we took out the raft and loaded it onto a trailer. Then we walked to where we had parked the car and changed into some dry clothes.
My Thoughts about the Rafting
The trip was a fantastic nature adventure. Doing the trip with the family made it even more fun, as we could mess about all the time.
My daughter was an excellent skipper. She put us to work and made it clear she was in charge, not her dad! 🤔
The whole organization was great. We were with 10 boats from Rafting Pirates starting at the same time, so from time to time, we had to wait for slower boats, but the guides made the waiting time super enjoyable.
The water in the cave was really cold, so I would only do it on a sunny day. Otherwise, it would take too long to warm up.
The photos you see in this post were taken by the company. They do that on every tour, so when you finish rafting, you can buy a CD with your photos.
After rafting, we went back home to Split, but many people eat in the area. Two popular restaurants are Radmanov Mlinice and Kastil Slanica, both located between the Rafting parking and Omis. They serve various grilled dishes and, of course, River Trouth. I have eaten at both places and was never disappointed.
FAQ Rafting
How much does rafting cost?
A trip with Rafting Pirates costs 45€.
Is rafting dangerous?
No, if you listen to the skipper, you are perfectly fine. They are there to make sure everything is done in a safe way.
Is it physically hard to do rafting?
You will have to paddle, so you will get tired, but it is not too hard.
