What you get on this adventure: An experienced and certified local guide with extensive knowledge of the area Transportation to and from the Zadar airport Accommodation for each night as indicated in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary Transportation during the tour Bike rental Kayak rental All entrance fees and tickets during the tour Accommodation : During your stay hotels and private accommodation, you will share double bedrooms. Accommodation in the area is limited and will be reserved upon your reservation of the trip. You will be comfortable enough to have all your basic needs met but the highlights of this trip will be daily adventures! Meals : All breakfasts during the trip are included and consist of traditional Croatian breakfast foods (bread, cold cuts, coffee/tea, etc.). For lunch and dinner, your guides will give you recommendations for the best local restaurants and bistros. Snacks and beverages are not included. Bring a water bottle and fill it up anytime! What’s not included: Anything not specified in the itinerary Transportation prior to and after the trip Snacks and beverages Personal equipment E-bike rentals Trip and medical insurance

How fit do I need to be?

These guided tours include hiking, biking, and kayaking. They are perfect for intermediate hikers and bikers with good fitness and riding abilities looking for a new challenge. You need to be able to hike for several hours a day while carrying a light daypack. You can expect four to eight hours of hiking and biking every day in varying terrain and temperature conditions. On occasion, you might have to do some scrambling on mountainous karst, but there are always easier ways of getting around the difficult parts of the trail. You can rent an e-bike to help you cross some of the more strenuous parts of the trail. Contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

How can I prepare for this tour?

With 4 to 8 hours of activitiy daily, this adventure requires good fitness levels. You can build up your exercise routine to include more cycling, paddling (cable row machines are a great alternative) and running or hiking longer distances. Training is the key to success and the more time you dedicate to training, the easier the tours will be!

What if I’ve never mountain biked or kayaked before?

For this tour, you should have prior biking and hiking experience. A guide will further explain the different mountain bike techniques and body positions to get you feeling comfortable on the trail. This tour is perfect for intermediate-to-advanced riders and hikers with previous experience with multi-day tours. As for kayaking, no previous experience is needed. Expect your core and leg muscles to ache the next day—in the best way possible.

What about required equipment?

Prior to the start of the route, the guide together with each traveler will review the material to ensure that everything necessary is available. Here’s a general list of the equipment you need to bring: Personal hiking gear Pack large enough to carry all the items listed Backpack for daily tours, climbs and hikes Wind and waterproof jacket with hood A warm pullover or fleece jacket A pair of long pants and a pair of shorts T-shirts for warmer days Spare clothes for layering and free time Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Hiking boots or shoes (whichever is more comfortable for your hiking style) Bathing suit for kayaking and beaches Synthetic T-shirt with UV protection for kayaking and hiking Water sandals (or regular shoes if you don’t mind making them wet) Beach towel and sandals or flipflops Sunhat Hiking poles — optional (but recommended) Headlamp Pocket knife Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Sunglasses Bike shorts and gloves are optional (but recommended) Camera — optional (but recommended) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes, you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: Group tours need at least 4 people to operate. Once 4 people pay a 30% deposit, we will notify you that the trip is confirmed and you can start booking your flights to Croatia. Private tours can be created for 1 to 8 people. It is recommended to have 2 or 4 people in a group to get the best sense of adventure racing. Cost is per person and it does not decrease as the group grows. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has minors under the age of 18 , contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Deposit and cancellation policy

A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies, and deposits are no longer refundable. The remaining 70% of the amount is paid the latest 2 months (60 days) prior to the departure. For last minute bookings, you’ll have to pay the full price right away. You’ll be connected to your guide right after booking the trip, and you can talk to him about the details of the itinerary. The trip date will be confirmed when the minimum group size (4 clients) is reached. If that minimum is not reached, the guide can cancel the trip at the latest 2 months before the trip departure. Please note that the likelihood of a trip not happening is very low. Your 30% deposit will be fully refundable until 2 months prior to the trip. All deposits are refundable at a later date if the trip is not yet confirmed. In case you need to cancel the trip, the following cancellation costs would be incurred: 100% of the price of the trip is refundable before the group is guaranteed 70% of the price is refundable if canceled 59 days or more before the departure, once the trip has been confirmed 50% of the tour price is refundable if canceled 30-59 days before the departure 25% of the tour price if refundable if canceled 16-29 days before the departure If you cancel the booking 15 days or less prior to the departure date, the trip is non-refundable.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to your adventure in Croatia, you can fly into Zadar Airport in Croatia. Your guides will come and pick you up from the Zadar airport, and also drop you off at the end of the trip. You can also fly into Zagreb Airport or Rijeka Airport. If you’re not flying in, once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. <img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-54432" src="https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map.jpeg" alt="" width="593" height="322" srcset="https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map.jpeg 1032w, https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map-784x425.jpeg 784w, https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map-768x417.jpeg 768w, https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map-888x482.jpeg 888w, https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map.jpeg 1568w, https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map.jpeg 1536w, https://57hours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/croatia-map.jpeg 1776w" sizes="(max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px" />

What about bad weather?

Croatia is known for its pleasant climate, but you should nevertheless be prepared with the right gear, especially in the mountains. It’s very hot and sunny during the summer, but short thunderstorms can always happen. Rest assured, your guide will know the correct course of action if the weather throws a curveball!

Do I need an insurance policy?

We highly recommended that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. As we’ve recently seen, travel plans can be abruptly halted, so it’s a good idea to purchase travel insurance that covers cancelled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. For peace of mind, we suggest you consider both options of insurance. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

Why should I book with 57hours?

With us, it’s all play and no work for you! 57hours is an open platform that connects you with trained and certified outdoor adventure professionals all over the world. Using our tech-savvy, we make it super easy to find and book adventures worth tackling, with guides worth booking, all gathered from the first-hand experiences of the locals who adventure in these amazing locations.

Covid measures in Croatia

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Croatia, please refer to Croatia’s COVID-19 and Travel Info. Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

Adventure Racing for Everyone: Explore Croatia the Active Way

Imagine an outdoor sport that requires athletes with diverse sets of skills to work as a team. Now combine it with the karst wilderness of the mythical Velebit Range, cracked open by canyons where meandering rivers run wild.

It might sound intimidating, but what if we told you that you can follow in the footsteps of the world’s toughest adventurers as well?

In a week of hiking, mountain biking, orienteering and kayaking, these trails will push you to new limits on an adrenaline-charged journey from sea to summit—and back again. Discover tours inspired by the best adventure racing circuit in the world, adapted for those who enjoy truly active holidays.

Mountain bikers on a macadam trail near Tulove Grede

Ascrambling near the coastal city of Zadar

What is Adventure Race Croatia?

Adventure racing. Sounds exciting, intimidating, tough and profound all at once. But what is it exactly?

AR is not your ordinary challenge. It is the ultimate test of human endurance that pits athletes against themselves, other teams, and the harsh environment
—a lifetime of adventure packed into 72 hours.

In 2001, the greatest challenges around the globe were chosen to establish the Adventure Racing World Series. Among them is the renowned Adventure Race Croatia (ARC), which takes places in the wild, contrasting outback of the Dinaric Alps. On this ever-changing beast of a race, only its immense beauty and unforgiving difficulty remain constant.

WILD VELEBIT SCENERY
CLEAR BLUE ADRIATIC
HIKE AND BIKE
SWIM, KAYAK, ORIENTEER

Mountain bikers smiling and raising their hands as they ride near the Croatian coast

Explore the Croatian outback without the struggle

Since 1989, outdoor lovers have been turning their passion for adventure into a lifestyle by testing their limits on this multi-disciplinary challenge. Packing only basic gear, food, and a map with checkpoints, relentless co-ed teams of four traverse rivers, mountains, valleys, caves and anything else that gets in their way to get across the finish line.

But you don’t have to suffer to experience the thrill of adventure racing. While the race was created for those with a competitive spirit, ARC created several shorter and less strenuous tours for those who seek out their limits and live life off the beaten path.

Who are these adventures for?

Feel the joy of hard work on tours created for active people

Follow in the footsteps of AR legends and recreate the best parts of previous races at your own pace.

These tours are perfect for you if you are…
… a regular, active person looking for a challenge
… seeking the thrill of pushing yourself to a different level
… looking to try AR but with more breaks, sleep and comfort
… training for an adventure race.

The organizers of the ARC distilled the essence of all the previous races into unique itineraries for true adventurers and natural beauty seekers. Use your strength, agility, and awareness to navigate trails on both land and water—and find out what you’re really made of.

A group of adventurers trekking on Velebit during a sunny day

Find a new challenge on the ridges of Croatian Dinarides

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP IN OUR WEBINAR

Choose from three pre-made tours or opt for a private adventure

A group do adventurers rafting down a rushing river of Zrmanja

ARC Rushing Rivers Tour

There’s no better way to witness the less-known side of Mediterranean paradise. Leave behind the shiny Adriatic coast and enter its mountainous heart—in the most adrenaline-driven way possible. Become one with nature as you bike along rocky paths, scramble up lofty karst formations, kayak in wild whitewater rivers—and find strength in moments when there seems to be none left.

Duration: 5 days

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Happy trekkers posing on one of Velebit's viewpoints

ARC Hike, Bike & Kayak Tour

Each day of the tour will bring a rousing new challenge. First, ascend the mighty Velebit, home to an endless array of fascinating karst features and two national parks. Feel the pressures of everyday life dissolve as you tame the playful rapids of Zrmanja. To scratch your MTB itch, journey to the Čikola River Canyon, and wrap up your adventure with a fascinating hike along the limestone peaks of Bojin Kuk in Paklenica NP.

Duration: 8 days

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Best of ARC Bike Adventure

Over one week, you’ll bike through the wildest areas of the Dalmatian interior, following macadam trails that were created for the past ARC races! Experience rugged karst landscapes, river canyons, and ancient roads—until you reach the pristine waters of the Adriatic coast. After crossing the whooping 310 miles, you’ll know what it’s like to push (and surpass) your limits, while becoming one with nature.

Duration: 8 days

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The ultimate playground for an active vacation

Sights and sounds of remote areas devoid of tourists, crystal clear rivers of Gorski Kotar, the turquoise Adriatic sea, and views of sunrise and sunset over rugged valley mountains and distant islands—each hour brings a rousing new scenery.

A man standing in green and yellow field with Velebit mountain in the background

Winding river Zrmanja and it's canyon photographed from air

Cyclists riding down a macadam trail with spacious fields around them and Tulove Grede in the background

Two people scrambling along the via ferrata on Cikola river

Canyons of Paklenica and Velebit photographed from air with Adriatic sea in the background

Colorful fields surrounded by the blue and green Vrana Lake

The mythical Velebit

Rising above the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea, Velebit is a sight to behold and respect. With lush forests and lavish vegetation softening its barbed peaks, Velebit nurtures its tough-guy look to protect its two national parks and more than 70 endemic species.

The mountain is a wilderness haven intricately made up of barren ridges, deep canyons, steep walls, and waterfalls, perfect for exploring.

Zrmanja

This raging river cuts through the karst landscapes all the way to the Adriatic Sea, boasting wild waterfalls and tufa barriers along its meandering course. Deep in Zrmanja’s unplugged wilderness, a thrilling kayaking adventure awaits.

Tulove Grede

Tulove Grede, an exquisite conglomerate of white limestone peaks and pillars piercing through the blue skies. And leading up to them, an iconic dirt road with a majestic bird’s eye view of its switchbacks from the 19th century. This 0.5-mile long marvel is found in one of Croatia’s protected areas.

Čikola Canyon

Emerging from the foothills of a towering mountain, the Čikola River snakes its way through Dalmatia’s fields. Its tame waters at the beginning soon transform into rushing flows, carving an astounding, 430-foot-deep canyon featuring travertine limestone. And the best part—you get to choose how you witness these out-of-this-world views: by pedaling on its dirt roads, walking its flowy hillsides, or by a via ferrata climb above the canyon floor.

Mala Paklenica Gorge

Snuggled in the southern slopes of Croatia’s longest mountain, Paklenica is a designated national park boasting a seamless blend of high peaks and crystalline sea. Its unrestrained wilderness is home to abundant wildlife and endemic species, some of which can be spotted by hiking, climbing, or biking in Paklenica. For stellar views of the Adriatic, a visit to scraggy limestone peaks of Bojin Kuk is a must.

Vrana Lake

Just a 10-minute walk from the sea gets you to the largest natural lake in Croatia: the Vrana Lake. Sitting parallel to the calm Adriatic, this lake is one of the largest swamp areas in the country, providing shelter for hundreds of thousands birds. Walking or cycling around the lake might just be the best way to see its riches and spot endangered species.

Vrtlina Cave

One of Velebit’s many intricate trails leads into a well-hidden, colossal cave. The 900-meter long and 200-meter deep cave exhibits massive stalagmites, stalactites and calcium carbonate formations with eccentric crystals. Explore the underground world of Velebit, which is just as fascinating as what’s above the surface.

Knin Fortress

Knin, a small city in the Dalmatian hinterland is famous for one of the oldest medieval fortress in Europe, which became a symbol of Croatia’s fight for independence. The fortress was built in the 9th century, the period of the Early Croatian Republic. King Dmitar Zvonimir even held a permanent residence there. Today, it is a living monument of culture and includes a museum, exhibition galleries and a restaurant.

Choose your tempo with a bespoke itinerary

Craft your journey together with the organizers of the ARC. These tours are always fully customisable and unique for each group. Your group chooses the location of one of the previous races, duration of the tour, level of support, desired level of suffering and additional activities. Your wishes are thrown in a think tank, sprayed with ARC essence, and out comes one of the best experiences you’ll remember for life.

Just like the real thing, this tour is best suited for a team of four. You should be reasonably fit and have a general idea of how hard you want to push yourself. The rest is your guide’s concern.

FLY IN
ENJOY THE ADVENTURE
EXPLORE WILDERNESS
TRY OUT NEW SPORTS
DEBRIEF AND RELAX
FLY OUT

Biking along a macadam trail bordering with Dalmatian drywall in the outback

Adveture racers, navigator in the front with a map, and Dalmatian coast in the back

Sea kayaking near a city on Dalmatian coast

Meet your guide and ARC creator

Igor Dorotić was born to craft adventures, which he’s been doing since 2008. Beside refereeing in the Adventure Racing World Series, Igor has also created Adventure Race Croatia, where teams of 4 navigate their way for 5 days non-stop through the most beautiful wilderness with only maps and their own power..

His drive and passion for discovering new hidden gems is second to none. Spending years outdoors finding the best paths for the race, nobody knows the secret spots of the Croatian outdoors better than him.