We take you on an adventure off the beaten tourist path – hiking, kayaking and cycling in the interior's amazing untouched wilderness! Starting at
$934 per trip
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 – Kayaking the Upper Mreznica Canyon Day 4 – Cycling down from Risnjak National Park along the Kupa River Day 5 – Rafting/kayaking on the Kupa River Day 6 – Goodbyes & transfer to Zagreb or Rijeka Airport
There is no better place to spend hot summers days then in the mountains and on the rivers of the Croatian Highlands (“Gorski Kotar”). This area has so much to offer, but still only few people have discovered its secrets. We take you rafting/kayaking on the Mreznica and Kupa rivers, on an easy bicycle tour along the river shore and, of course, to the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park. Your guide will adjust activities and routes according to your abilities and wishes. After the experiences of each day, relax back at the hotel, enjoy your delicious traditional Croatian dinner or go for a short swim in the nearby river. The green heart of Croatia is waiting to be discovered – by you!
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 the wilder places of the tour.
Day 3 – Kayaking the Upper Mreznica Canyon After breakfast, and taking a lunch package with us, we drive together to our base camp at the amazing Mreznica River, which is the cleanest and most beautiful Croatian river, as locals rightly say. You will receive safety gear (and neoprene suits, if necessary) and change. Safety talk and off we go. This tour, a combination of kayaking and canyoning, will take 4-6 hours all together. Riding down waterfalls – even if you have never done it, believe us, it‘s fantastic and your guide will keep you safe! If the falls get too high, we can jump from the cliffs, go on natural water slides or walk around them, it all depends on the situation and your comfort level. This is a trip full of adrenaline and you will see a lot of Mreznica‘s beauties. After landing, we changing into our dry clothes and head back down through little villages along the river to our hotel.
Day 4 – Cycling down from Risnjak National Park along the Kupa River This amazing cycling tour is fantastic for both young and old, experienced and inexperienced bikers. We start off from the National Park's visitor centre down a paved road with some gravel parts and soon arrive at one of the most unique and spectacular places of all Croatia: the Kupa river source. 168m deep (!), rich turquoise-coloured and crystal-clear – you have probably never seen something like this! From there we follow the river down on well-paved local roads and may decide to cross over into Slovenia for part of the trip, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant there. In the village of Brod na Kupi we head for our nearby rafting base camp on the smaller Kupica River, where we have some refreshments ready for you. If time allows it and you are up for some more cycling, we will take a forest trail up another creek to the famous 70m-high waterfall of Zeleni Vir. After riding down to the base again, our driver will take us back to the hotel.
Day 5 – Rafting/kayaking the Kupa River Let's hit the water one more time! Depending on the season and water level, we will choose the best section of the river for you. Again we will take lunch packages with us and again you will receive safety and paddling introductions before you start floating down this amazing, wild, untouched river with steep forested mountains on each side. Your guide will keep you safe through some exciting rapids and help you discover the rich plant- and wildlife all around you. For example, the Danube Salmon has managed to survive in this river section, even while he cannot make his way down to the Black Sea anymore, as he did long ago. Back then, there was much more activity on and around the river then today, since it formed an important part of the trade route between the Adriatic Sea and the centre of the Austro-Hungarian empire. At the end of this river adventure, it's time to wrap up the trip with another Croatian-style feast, while sharing pictures and thinking back over all the exciting moments of the week.
Day 6 – Goodbyes & transfer to Zagreb or Rijeka Airport Time to say ‚Goodbye‘! Depending on your further travel plans, after breakfast your guide will transfer you to the Zagreb or Rijeka Airport or some other place in the area.
Group size: Usually, the group will consist of 6 to 8 guests plus one guide. The minimal group size is 4 guests.
Who can come along? All activities can and will be adjusted to the fitness level of the group. We do not expect any prior experience in the activities planned. During the booking process, we will check in with you as to your physical shape, health condition and special food diet. Families, couples, singles are all welcome. Children from 8 years may come along.
You will stay at an idyllic 3-star hotel near Novigrad na Dobri. Each room includes its own bathroom and shower, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and TV. 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. 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 at the hotel.
Prices include: - All transfers during the trip, including pick-up and drop-off at the airport - 5 nights of ***-accommodation with breakfast and dinner - Tourist taxes - 4 days of organised day trips - Qualified, English-speaking outdoor guide (German or Swedish-speaking possible upon request) - Insurance - Entrance fees for National Parks and the like
Prices exclude: - Airfare from and to Croatia - Lunch packages or lunch at restaurants - Snacks (we will make sure to stop at local stores for stock-up)
Personal Equipment: We will let you know exactly which personal items you will need to bring along with you. If you buy new hiking boots, make sure to thoroughly wear them in several weeks before the trip.
Arrival Time & Place: If possible, please arrange to arrive at the airport before 4pm on our first day. Pick-up at other places is possible upon request.
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.
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