Hiking the National Parks of Croatia (8 Days)

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Come and enjoy Plitvice‘s world-famous travertine barrier waterfalls, the high peaks of Risnjak and Velebit mountains, as well as yet more stunning waterfalls in Krka National Park and the “Winnetou” mountain canyon of Paklenica. Activity levels may vary from easy walking to more challenging mountain hiking while your guide will adjust the routes according to your abilities and wishes.

After taking in the stunning views and experiences of each day, relax back at the hotel or the Velebit mountain hut, taste delicious traditional Croatian cuisine or go for a short swim in the nearby river or sea. In short: the perfect active holiday on foot is waiting for you!

Short Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrival in Zagreb or Rijeka; taking up lodging in the Dobra River valley

Day 2 – Walking/Hiking in Plitvice Lakes National Park

Day 3 – Hiking up Risnjak Mountain

Day 4 – Trekking into Northern Velebit with overnight stay at Alan Mountain Hut

Day 5 – Trekking in Northern Velebit National Park – Day 2

Day 6 – Walking in Krka National Park

Day 7 – Hiking around the canyons, caves and mountains of Paklenica National Park

Day 8 – Goodbyes & transfer to Zadar Airport 

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrival in Zagreb or Rijeka and take up lodging in the Dobra River valley

Your guide meets you at the Zagreb or Rijeka Airport in the afternoon. (Details of arrival times and pick-up places will be arranged during the booking process. Pick-up at Pula or Zadar Airport available upon request.)

After a short introduction, you will be transferred to our beautiful hotel in the Dobra River valley right across an old Croatian castle, where you can settle into your room, meet the other members of the group and discuss the plans for the week with your guide. Relax, enjoy your welcome dinner and go for a walk or a swim in the calm river.

Day 2 – Walking/Hiking in Plitvice Lakes National Park

The UNESCO World Heritage Site and most popular National Park of Croatia is waiting for you: Plitvice Lakes. The karst stone landscape has allowed this paradise of 16 lakes, uncountable waterfalls and little caves to be created.

As we walk along wooden pathways, you will marvel at all those cascades around you.Your guide will choose a fitting route for your group, which may include some hiking up the mountain, as well as a boat tour across the biggest lake.

A mixed day of walking, picture taking, lunch at a park restaurant, hiking and just tumbling around in amazement. Back at the hotel, relax and prepare for more.

Day 3 – Hiking up Risnjak Mountain

After breakfast, we will head up into the „Gorski Kotar“ (Highlands) of Croatia. Rich forests and mountain meadows interspersed with white rocks make for great hiking. Around us in the wilderness are hiding the „big three” European species of mammal predators: the bear, the wolf and the lynx (who gives this National Park its name).

After 2 to 3 hours of light to moderate incline we reach the peak of „Veliki Risnjak“ at 1528m, from where you can savour views all around Northern Croatia, down to the islands of the Kvarner Bay and up to the Alps in the North, providing a clear day. Enjoy your lunch package and a drink at the mountain hut before we head back into the still and mighty forest, possibly visiting another peak along the way.

Now that you are used to the elevation, let‘s head for more peaks, and let‘s stay overnight in the mountains!

Day 4 – Trekking into Northern Velebit with overnight stay at Alan Mountain Hut

Northern Velebit National Park is everything you would expect to find in the Alps: mountain peak next to mountain peak, beautiful meadows above tree level, bizarre rock formations with large rock faces around every corner. The difference to the Alps is that from the Croatian Velebit mountain range you not only see mountains but also look down onto the Adriatic Sea and its countless islands!

We will drive up to our trailhead and take everything we need for an overnight stay, as well as lunch packages. This day our objective is to hike the Goljak mountain ridge up to its 1605m peak, enjoying great views to either side, and then continue on to Alan Mountain Hut for afternoon relaxation, dinner and the overnight stay.

Day 5 – Trekking in Northern Velebit National Park Day 2

After breakfast at the mountain hut and packing up our belongings, we head up the ridge toward more mountain peaks: Alancic, Seravski vrh, possibly Veliki Kozjak (all above 1600m) and others offer wonderful views down to the Sea on the one hand and over to the hills and forests of the interior on the over.

Meanwhile, most stunning are the endlessly different features of the karst formation landscape. Nearby, mountain caves open up ways into the dark, the deepest extending almost 1400m down! These wonders we leave to cave explorers. Stopping here or there for snacks, pictures or to fill up our bottles with fresh mountain water, we make our way back to the minivan in the afternoon.

Now it‘s time for us to leave the interior and take up quarters in Northern Dalmatia right by the Adriatic Sea, where you can go for a swim in crystal-clear water or lay on the beach before and after tasting Dalmatian food and wine specialities for dinner.

Day 6 – Walking in Krka National Park

On this day we will discover the magnificent waterfalls of the Krka River. First, we will take a walk around the famous Skradin waterfalls, where the first European hydroelectric power plant was built and used to electrically lighten up the streets of Sibenik as the first city in the world in 1895. Then, we will take a boat tour up the river, marvelling at its stunning beauty on all sides.

After a stop on the island of Visovac and a short visit of the 14th century Franciscan monastery there, we arrive at yet another set of amazing cascades that culminate in the Roski slap. Here we are even allowed to go for a swim! Besides, we will enjoy lunch at a restaurant and walk around in amazement, before boarding our boat for the trip back to the park entrance.

This is probably our most relaxing day, and by this time in the week, you have earned that!

Day 7 – Hiking around the canyons, caves and mountains of Paklenica National Park

Our last full day together leads us into a mountain canyon, where many scenes of the “Winnetou” movies were shot – the Velika Paklenica

 After one hour of easy uphill hiking along the gorgeous river, we arrive at Manita Cave, where we will take in the beauties of underground formations and even fauna (52 different species of invertebrates have been identified here)! The cooler cave air is a welcome break from the Croatian summer.After this stop, we hike on, up a moderate climb to the mountain hut „Dom Paklenica“, our lunch spot. From there we can decide for the easy route back or a further climb up to one of the many mountain peaks in the park.

Back at the hotel we will enjoy the last evening together, share pictures and impressions and remember the many exciting moments of the week.

Day 8 – Goodbyes & transfer to Zadar Airport 

Time to say ‚Goodbye‘! Depending on your further travel plans, after breakfast your guide will transfer you to the Zadar Airport, some other place in the area or back to Rijeka/Zagreb.

Specifics:

Accommodation & meals: The first 3 nights we will spend in an idyllic 3-star hotel near Novigrad na Dobri, then spend one night at Alan Mountain Hut and finally transfer to another small hotel or pension on the coast near the city of Zadar. Each hotel room includes its own bathroom and shower, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and TV.

Meals: While staying at the hotels, every day you will have a buffet breakfast and a local dinner menu at the hotel. For lunch, most days we will stop at a local restaurant. For lunch, most days we will stop at a local restaurant. When our trip takes us too far away from the restaurants, or if you prefer to bring lunch with you, you can order a lunch package for (usually) 10€/package at the hotel. Besides, we will make sure to stop at local stores to stock up on snacks.

Staying at the mountain hut: There we will also enjoy dinner and breakfast, which will be good-sized, simple mountain meals. We will take a lunch package for the first day and lots of snacks for the second day on the Velebit with us.

For the overnight stay at the hut, you will need to bring a light sleeping bag with you  (extra blankets are, for hygienic reasons, not available). You will receive more details about this in your little equipment list after you’ve booked the trip.

Travel arrangements:

A pick-up at the Zagreb or Rijeka Airport is included in the prices. Please ask us for pick-ups at Pula, Zadar or Split Airport, which we will provide for a surcharge.

The standard drop-off location is Zadar Airport, but we can arrange a place more suitable for your travel plans, if you wish (e.g. Rijeka/Zagreb).

You can, of course, arrive in your own vehicle and either take it down to Northern Dalmatia with you, or we drop you off, where you parked your car for the week.

Arrival time: If you arrive by flight, please arrange to arrive at the airport before 4pm on our first day, if possible.

Group requirements:

Group size: Usually, the group will consist of 6 to 8 guests plus one guide. The minimal group size is 4 guests.

In case you book a trip, but the minimal group size is not reached by 3 weeks before departure, you have the following options: we can run the trip as a private tour for you for a surcharge, we can give you a full refund or we can reschedule you for another week.

Minimum age: Children from 10 years on are welcome to come. 

Fitness & experience level: Moderate level of personal fitness required. All day trips can and will be adjusted to the fitness level of the group. We do not expect you to come in athlete-like shape. As long as you are generally motivated for hiking in mountain environments, your guide make the trip work for you. After the initial booking, we will check in with you as to your physical shape, health condition and special food diet. 

Languages:

Our guides speak English and Croatian as well as German or Swedish. If you would prefer a German- or Swedish-speaking guide, please contact us and we will see, who is available for your travel dates. However, please note that the entire group will likely be international and the common language spoken will therefore be English.

Personal Equipment:

After booking your trip, we will send you a detailed list of personal items you will need to bring along with you – like hiking shoes or boots, backpack. We will also answer question like “Do I need hiking poles?” there.

Dates & Prices:

Departure Dates: If you would like to book this trip on a different date than available online, please contact us directly, since we may be able to shift dates around.

Singe-use rooms: Available upon request for a 30% surcharge.

Child discount: Valid for children up to 15 years of age.

Low season: May 1st to June 24th; September 8th to October 31st

High season: June 25th to September 7th

Prices include:

- All transfers during the trip, including pick-up and drop-off at the airport

- 6 nights of ***-accommodation with breakfast and dinner

- 1 night at a mountain hut with dinner and breakfast

- Tourist taxes

- 6 days of organised day trips

- Qualified, English-speaking outdoor guide (German-speaking possible upon request)

- Insurance

- Entrance fees for National Parks and the like

Prices exclude:

- Airfare from and to Croatia

- Sportswear and personal items

- Lunch packages or lunch at restaurants

- Snacks (we will make sure to stop at local stores for stock-up)

Customize this trip!

We love to accommodate your special wishes! If you would prefer a private trip just for your family or friends and want to swap one experience for another, just let us know – we will work out an offer for you and tailor your adventure holiday according to your desires.