Guide in Adventure Tourism – a training story

In the sea of ​​boring job ads, one stood out: a job vacancy for a Guide in adventure tourism at Raftrek Adventure Agency. I felt a rush of adrenaline imagining myself in that role – that’s what I was looking for, a new story worth living. I composed an email as best I could and sent it, hoping for a positive response.

Adventure with Raftrek Travel strated

It wasn’t long before I was packing for training. It was getting dangerously cold, even though it was already mid-April, and that was what worried me the most. I had a feeling that the time had come to step out of my comfort zone and steel myself, both body and mind.

We met that morning in front of the agency in Vrbani, a motley group of people with unfamiliar faces, who would soon become my little Žegar family. We talked excitedly as we drove south while the rain kept falling, revealing glimpses of our lives, knowing that one thing surely connected us, and that was our love of outdoor activities.

Coming to Zrmanja River – a guide in adventure tourism

I glanced at the area we were passing through as we approached the Zrmanja base, and was reminded of how beautiful this little Croatia of ours is. Untouched nature, small villages, a slow life that clears the mind and strengthens the body.

Upon arrival, we toured the property, and became acquainted with the place I would soon call home. I was amused by the fact that for the time being we would live without comforts, a simple life that was not always easy but was above all fulfilling.

We pitched our tents in a meadow right by the river, then gathered wood together and lit a large fire. It enveloped us in a pleasant warmth as we stood under the clear, starry sky.

Training for a life

Morning arrived as usual. I pulled on all the clothes I had brought and crawled out of the tent. I was surprised by the hustle and bustle in the kitchen, while we all waited our turn for coffee, making sure to show up for the meeting on time. Davor, who led our training, gave us the tasks we would perform every day and made it clear that discipline and order were among the basic things he expected of us.

“And now we’re going to the river, the water level is high enough to go down in a raft.”: Davor announced energetically. We put on our neoprene suits, pumped up the boat, took our paddles and all the necessary equipment and headed towards the river, where he treated us with some polished safety talk.

Going to the river brought me back to my factory settings. Silent, steady, magical, powerful, the Zrmanja spoke, drawing me in. We soon became one with the river and its flow. We paddled every day from Žegar to Muškovci, either by kayak or packraft. We stopped at risky places that needed to be remembered and properly secured for future groups/tours.

We also tried sea kayaking, paddling through the Zrmanja canyon, from Obrovac to Meka Draga, whose beauty attracted a German film crew who shot the cowboy movie Winnetou there.

Simple life- happy life

Every day was a new challenge. We cycled, hiked, learned numerous knots and signals on the river. We built showers, mowed the grass, walked our neighbors’ sheep. The days were full, there was no idle time. Learning new skills, changing routines, being in the fresh air, physical labor, and the feeling of a small community took their toll. The past was losing its meaning, the future didn’t worry me. I was where I was. Zrmanja, thank you.