If you were to observe Trogir area as a crown (yes as a crown, just go with it), there are two jewels that are the biggest and the most noticeable. One of them being Trogir and the other one is definitely the municipality of Okrug. Situated on south-west side of the Čiovo island, the villages Okrug Gornji and Okrug Donji make a perfect place for enjoying the 2 670 hours of sunshine that this island has yearly. This is one of the many things that our guests love the most and the reason they keep coming back. And if you’ve made a mistake and haven’t decided to book your holidays here, in the summer time there is boat connection from Trogir every 15 minutes.
Accommodation delights
When speaking of Okrug Gornji, or Donji for that matter, the choice of accommodation offers a wealth of possibilities. From holiday houses with gardens, barbecues, pools and movie rooms that can accommodate one or two families and the family’s family, to studio apartments for one or two people. Want something close to the heart of the village or is your preference maybe a Robinson style vacation on islet St. Fumija? The choice is yours! All these options make Okrug a favorite holiday destination in the wider Trogir area. Also, one of the accommodation highlights of Okrug is its campsites. There are two and both are exceptional. The first one is located on the main road overlooking bay Saldun, surrounded by pine trees that provide the ultimate shade on the hot summer days with carefully chosen and located camp houses with their accompanying relaxing bits and pieces that make your stay more comfortable by providing everything you might need to enjoy your holidays. The second camp is a more out-of-the-way spot on the south side of the island with views of the open sea and island Šolta. It is surrounded by pine and olive trees for the ultimate Mediterranean experience. Once you get here, there is no reason to leave until the end of your vacation, unless you want to go sightseeing or on an excursion because here you will find everything you need and more.
Mesmerizing shades of blue
And let’s not forget another upside to this place, and that is nature. Even though it is a vibrant village with thousands of people crowding its famous beaches in the summer time, there is still plenty of opportunity to enjoy solitude and less crowded spots by the sea. If you’re into buzz and fuss on the beach, the main one, which is almost 2 km long with bars and cafés, is the perfect choice for you. Massage stalls, children’s playgrounds and great places to have your cocktails from and a variety of food options are what makes this place the most popular beach of the island. If that is not your choice of relaxation, we definitely suggest the south side of the island, which is less crowded than Okrug Gornji. Cliffs instead of gravel beaches have a certain appeal. Moving along the south side, there is a small pebble beach called Vela Draga, surrounded by an untouched pine forest and it is the one of the favorite places on this side. You can’t get there by car, so it is not that crowded. The bay of Mavarčica is a place where small cliffs have areas where you can sun bathe the whole day or jump into the crystal clear sea. That whole area of Mavarčica and Bušinci has small beaches so everyone can find their piece of heaven in Okrug. If you are worried about finding food or drinks on that side, don’t be. There are places to do so, but just not as crowded as the main beach. On that side of Okrug, there are also a few great restaurants, so if your accommodation is there, you have nothing to worry about. One of the greatest delights of this side is the bays that have become very popular in the past years. Tatinja is the least crowded. There is not a lot of signposts that lead you here. Duboka and Duga are great places that have a great mix of gravel/pebble beaches and small cliffs with concrete. You will find fantastic choices for enjoying excellent meals and one of the best cocktail bars in Croatia. While Duboka overlooks the open sea and island Šolta, Duga has the most amazing view of islets St. Fumija and Kraljevac. Here, the turquoise color sea adds a whole new dimension and the shades of blue are mesmerizing. And don’t get us started about the sunsets here. The more you go to the west side of Okrug Donji at to the end of the island, in direction of the coves Branac or Pirčina, there is a greater chance that you will find a beach just for yourself.
Anchor in paradise
Speaking of bays in Okrug area, we have to mention possibilities for boaters. Even though the municipality doesn’t have a single marina, it is well known that Okrug is seventh heaven for all the visitors coming by their sailing boats, speed boats and yachts. Beside bays Duboka and Duga that are favorite place for anchoring for years already (much loved for the scenery but also for the restaurants with most amazing food) and Široka, the whole area between islands Čiovo, St. Fumija and Kraljevac is great for anchoring. Also, on the other side of the island, in Saldun bay to be precise, there are two spectacular coves called Racetinovac, where you can see the ruins of a summer house of the family Racetin, and Kančelirovac. Here you can enjoy untouched nature and tranquillity at its finest. So close to everything you might need and far enough from civilization. It is a win-win situation.
Run away
If you didn’t come with a boat and you would like to explore and enjoy the bays around the island. Okrug offers you so many choices how to get there. Renting a speedboat with a skipper for a day gives you the opportunity to enjoy the whole Trogir archipelago. There are many options to choose from. There are numerous one-day excursions starting from here. If you don’t want to go anywhere and still want a change of scenery or some adrenaline kick, you can always go on a kayak tour around local bays or have fun doing water sports, snorkeling or even diving. And if you are thinking about spending your time in a very active and exciting way, we recommend enlisting into the diving school at the diving center, one of the oldest diving centers in Croatia with decades of experience, situated in bay Mavarčica. People who like to continue their exercise regime whilst on holiday will find pleasure in running at dawn or cycling around remote cycling routes (fire roads), without bumping in to anyone (well, there may be same enthusiasts on the way) or along the coastline of main beach or south side of the village. Actually, all the runners will find Okrug great for their exercise. There is plenty to explore and it is great to enjoy the benefits of aerosol and pines scent to “run away” from stress and worries.
You will be fed whether you like it or not
After a whole day of laying around in the sun or if you’re tired from chosen activities, you will want to enjoy some more. We recommend to sit at one of the bars at the main beach at least one evening, ordering a cocktail or a bottle of good Croatian wine and enjoy the sunset. If you still haven’t, this will make you irreversibly fall in love with Okrug. You can stay at the beach bar hopping or you can go for a dinner. There are a few dozen restaurants in Okrug where you will definitely find something amazing to eat. We are not bragging, but food quality here is very high. During the summer, there are events where you can enjoy traditional music, watch a children’s play or listen to a concert of some of the Croatian music stars. Fishermen’s evening is when you can enjoy traditional food made by local fishermen. Oh, the flavors! Superb experience of staying here is accentuated by very friendly hosts. Locals here will accept you like you’re one of their own and even the older ones who don’t speak your language will make it their mission to be as welcoming as they can. Older generations here used to work hard cultivating scarce land of the island or they were fishermen, some of them still are. So, during your stay you will probably be fed by them at one point or you will be offered fruits from their gardens or fish they have caught and when you leave, you’re taking some olive oil from their groves, or homemade wine, or maybe some fruit liqueur -whatever it is, you’re not leaving empty handed. Isn’t it more apprehensive now that people keep coming back to Okrug with their families and friends year after year?!
Icing on the cake called Okrug Donji
Although the center and larger part of the municipality is Okrug Gornji, 3 kilometres to the west, at the end of the island, like icing on most amazing cake, is Okrug Donji. Being much smaller and “out of the way”, this settlement is more enjoyable, away from all the summer fuss. But don’t let this fool you, you have everything you need here as well for perfect holiday. Local shop, few restaurants and bars are there for all your needs. And if you want to go out and find out about the area, there is a decent bus connection to Trogir for that. North and west side of the village are surrounded by gravel and pebble beaches underneath pine trees for the perfect shade. South side of the village is more of a wild side, even though there is no nudist beach per say in Okrug, hidden beaches in Okrug Donji make a perfect spot not to be bothered. In other words, as you can see, Okrug is perfect for any kind of vacation!
