Conveniently nestled among the Adriatic Sea, Pannonian plains, and Dinaric Alps, Croatia is overflowing with national parks, waterfalls, spectacular wildlife, and idyllic landscapes—nowhere else in Europe can you encounter so many contrasting sceneries in a matter of hours. And as you revel in the blue and green hues of Istria and Gorski Kotar, take a break in charming towns and cities whose welcoming locals will take you on a gastro-journey with their delicacies and unique tradition. Let thousands of years of architecture take you back in time.
After arriving in Zagreb, make your way to your accommodation, where you’ll meet your guides, get settled and go over the itinerary. You’ll have the evening to yourself—use it to explore the city and try out some local restaurants. If you’d like to see something different, join an evening tour with the “coprnice”—costumed guides who will take you through Zagreb’s mysterious history of medieval witch hunting.
Accommodation: Hotel Jägerhorn, Zagreb
After breakfast, head out for a walking tour of Zagreb. Take a ride on the funicular to the old city center, then walk along the Strossmayer Promenade to reach the Gradec Plateau. After enjoying the gorgeous views, head back to the hotel and head to Mrežnica for an exciting paddle in the river’s upper course. Dynamic rapids will alternate with calmer sections where you’ll be able to enjoy a refreshing swim. If you’d like to take it easy instead, go for a scenic hike around the rapids. However, if it’s epic memories you’re looking for, try diving off a nearby 26-foot cliff! As you journey on, the lush vegetation and white cliffs will lead you to a serene freshwater source. In the evening, your guides will transfer you to your accommodation for the night withing the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Walking: 2 hours
Kayaking: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast and a picnic-style lunch
Accommodation: Villa Knežević, Plitvice Lakes
Today you’ll tour the amazing Željava Air Base and see underground tunnels left over from the Cold War and an abandoned Douglas C-47 plane located at the entrance. Afterwards, proceed to Bihać right across the border and have a traditional Bosnian lunch and a cup of exquisite turkish coffee. Rest for a bit and head back to explore the Plitvice Lakes, a splendid UNESCO World Heritage site. Blessed with a gorgeous chain of lakes and caves connected by waterfalls, this national park is a unique natural wonder full of amazing photo-ops. If time allows, you might even reach an abandoned Tito’s villa and enjoy the views from a viewpoint above the great waterfalls. Head back to you accommodation and get some sleep — tomorrow brings a new and exciting adventure!
Walking: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast and a picnic-style lunch
Accommodation: Villa Knežević, Plitvice Lakes
This will be the most active day of the trip. After a traditional Croatian breakfast, you’ll head to the strict nature reserve of Bijele and Samarske stijene. Have fun exploring the area before you head to another wonderful national park, Risnjak. Your local guide and his trusted wolfdog will take you on an authentic adventure in the Croatian wilderness. Keep an eye out for tracks belonging to Risnjak’s rich wildlife: wolves, bears, and even lynx the park was named after—one of the most elusive carnivores in Europe. Afterwards, your guide will host a short workshop on edible plants and herbs that can be found in the area. Following the lunch break, you can choose to rest your legs or explore the park some more.
Walking: 5-6 hours
Distance: 4.5-5 miles / 7-8 km, depending on the chosen trails
Meals: Breakfast, cheese tasting, and a picnic-style lunch
Accommodation: Centar Delnice
Note: This itinerary depends on the weather and road conditions. In case the conditions don’t permit going to Samarske stijene, your guides will rearrange the itinerary and make the most of the day.
Head to Istria for a biking journey on the beautiful Parenzana Trail! Winding along a historic railway through the heart of the Istrian peninsula, this biking trail connects all the top attractions in the region. 123 kilometers (76 miles) long, it links 33 towns from Poreč to Trieste. Today you’ll cross around 60 km (37 miles). Follow old tunnels and viaducts to Grožnjan, visit the truffle mecca of Livade, and enter the medieval fortress of Motovun. You’ll meet a family of truffle hunters who will tell you about the history and culture of the region before taking you on a short hike in search of these “fragrant diamonds”. In the evening, explore Rovinj, one of the most picturesque cities in Istria. You’ll spend the next two nights in an apartment on the coast.
Driving: 2 hours
Biking: 7 hours
Truffle-hunting: 2 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and truffle tasting
Accommodation: Sunset Residence or Hotel Lili, Rovinj
Today you’ll visit Pula and its world-renowned Roman amphitheater. After a short tour, head to the Lim Channel, a delightful Adriatic inlet and one of Istria’s most recognizable features. Try out the local oysters and clams prepared by your host, whose delicacies wowed Anthony Bourdain himself. In the afternoon, you’ll go kayaking across the channel with several swim-stops along the way and a visit to a pirate cave where the infamous Henry Morgan hid from the British army. Head back to Rovinj for the night and enjoy the beauty of this amazing town.
Kayaking: 3 hours
Distance: 11 miles / 17.5 km
Meals: Breakfast and oyster tasting
Accommodation: Sunset Residence or Hotel Lili, Rovinj
Full of vivid impressions and memories, you’ll head to the airport in the morning. Transfers are not included, but your guide can help you with arrangements — your guides can take you to Venice, Milan or Zagreb, depending on your travel arrangements. Say farewell to Croatia and start planning your next adventure!
Included:
Add-ons:
Not included:
This tour is for beginner to intermediate hikers and bikers with good fitness and riding abilities. You should be able to hike for several hours per day, carrying a light daypack. Each day you will hike, bike, kayak or raft—usually for several hours, sometimes a bit longer.
The mountainous karst terrain can be challenging. On occasion, you might have to do some scrambling but there are always easier ways of getting around the difficult parts of the trail! That said, if you are looking for adventure and up to the task, you’ll be rewarded immensely.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more active adventures in Croatia here!
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:
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.
Croatia is home to mostly steady weather, but you should be prepared with the right gear nonetheless. It’s pretty mild and sunny this time of year, but the same white cloud shielding you from sunbeams can easily turn into a stormcloud within minutes. Rest assured, your guide will know the correct course of action if the weather throws a curveball!
Group sizes and pricing
Min. age requirement:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
To get to Zagreb, most people fly into Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb. There are two options of reaching your accommodation in Zagreb from the airport, by public transport or taxi:
Other options include flying into Venice, Italy, or Beograd, Serbia, both 4 hours away from Zagreb. If you opt for a bus ride to Zagreb, there are two easy ways to reach the hotel from the main station, by tram and by taxi.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, likely at your hotel in the city center.