Hiking tour in Croatia, Dinaric Alps and Plitvice

Hiking in Croatia

Hikes in the Dinaric Alps and Plitvice Lakes

Rising like a rampart from the cobalt blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia’s Dinaric Alps beckon hikers to a mountain hiking experience unlike others in Europe. Within these Alps, the limestone Velebit Mountains parallel the Adriatic Coast for sixty miles making up the most beautiful portion of the Dinaric uplift. The Velebit Mountains contain Croatia’s most extensive and most spectacular mountain landscapes punctuated with impressive knobs and domes, jagged crags, labyrinthine passages, and knife-edged pinnacles. The northern portion of the Velebit is protected in the Northern Velebit National Park (Nacionalni Park Sjeverni Velebit) which is also part of a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Through the heart of this splendid mountain environment winds a long distance hiking trail known as the Premužić Trail (Premužićeva staza). Following the crest of the Velebit Mountains, this high level hiking path was constructed in the early 1930s to provide access to this wild and scenic mountain region. Beautiful examples of dry-stone masonry can be seen along the route. From the trail, hikers enjoy views extending over the Adriatic Sea to the west and across the parallel ridges and forested foothills that descend to Croatia’s Lika region to the east. A journey along the Premužić Trail is the signature hiking experience for mountain hikers in Croatia and forms the core of our mountain hiking trip in Croatia. To round out your experience with Croatia’s mountains you’ll also explore the trails of the Risnjak National Park, the canyons of Paklenica National Park, and the unforgettably stunning waterfalls and lakes of the Krupa Canyon and Plitvice Lakes National Park.

The narcissus-spangled slopes of Snježnik rise above forest-cloaked hills in the Risnjak National Park.

Day 1
Overnight in Lovran
Lunch & dinner included
Depart Zagreb by vehicle bound for the town of Lovran on the Istrian Peninsula’s Adriatic Sea coast. En route, enjoy a hike in Croatia’s Gorski Kotar mountain range, a low crescent-shaped range of peaks that comprise the northernmost segment of Croatia’s Dinaric Alps. Here, peaks of white limestone rise suddenly and dramatically out of rolling hills deeply cloaked in beech and conifer woodlands. Today, enjoy a hike in the Risnjak National Park where trails wind through lovely forests and across meadows to the craggy limestone summit of Snježnik mountain. After the hike, travel by vehicle to the shores of the Adriatic Sea at the town of Lovran on the Opatija Riviera. Lovran’s origins date to Roman times, and in the nineteenth century the town became a fashionable resort for the Austro-Hungarian nobility. Revel in the delights of a Mediterranean evening and settle in for a two-night stay.

The coast of the Adriatic Sea at Lovran on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula.

At the summit of Učka mountain.

Day 2
Overnight in Lovran
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Travel by vehicle from Lovran to the Poklon Pass on the slopes of the Učka mountain which rises just behind the town. Unlike other Croatian coastal mountains, Učka is richly vegetated, and its lower slopes are cloaked in chestnut woodlands. Much of the mountain is protected in the Učka Nature Reserve. Today’s hike will take you through forests and along the mountain’s summit ridge for far-ranging views eastward across the Gulf of Kvarner, part of the Adriatic Sea. At the end of the hike, travel back by vehicle to Lovran where you’ll enjoy a second evening.

Enjoying the view from Učka mountain overlooking the islands in the Adriatic Sea.

Hiking through beech woods on the slopes of Učka mountain.

Hiking in the highlands of Krk Island.

Day 3
Overnight in Senj
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Travel by vehicle from Lovran around the Gulf of Kvarner to a bridge that provides access to Krk Island, one of the three major islands in the Gulf of Kvarner. Today’s hike leads up to the long, open limestone ridge that makes up Obzova, the highest summit on the island. The stark nearly treeless landscapes of Obzova stand in marked contrast to the green woodlands of Učka mountain, but the views from Obzova are sweeping and dramatic encompassing the deep blue of the Adriatic Sea and the cloud-capped peaks of the Dinaric Alps on the Croatian mainland. After the hike, travel by vehicle to the seaside town of Senj where you’ll enjoy a two-night stay.

The austere, lunar-like limestone highlands of Krk Island.

Evening at Senj on the Adriatic coast.

The well-engineered Premužić Trail winds easily through contorted limestone of the Northern Velebit mountains.

Day 4
Overnight in Senj
Breakfast & lunch included
Travel by vehicle from Senj to the Zavizan mountain refuge high in the Velebit Mountains. Near the refuge is a small botanical garden (botanički vrt) where you can observe a number of indigenous and endemic plant species before setting off on a hike along the scenic and superbly engineered Premužić Trail (Premužićeva staza). You’ll be hiking through the core of Croatia’s North Velebit National Park (Nacionalni park Sjeverni Velebit) on your way to the Alan mountain refuge where today’s hike ends. The trail winds through the limestone high country of the Velebit Mountains full of domed peaks, craggy pinnacles, and sinkholes—all characteristic features of karstic landscapes. You can choose to hike the entire route to Alan mountain refuge, or hike just a portion of the route. A vehicle transfer at the end of the hike returns you to the seaside town of Senj for the evening. Enjoy dinner on your own in Senj’s old town this evening.

Peaceful woodland trail on the eastern slopes of the Velebit range.

South of Kuča Alan the Premužić Trail passes through gorgeous mountain meadows high above the Adriatic Sea.

Day 5
Overnight in Gospić
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Travel by vehicle from Senj to the Alan mountain refuge to continue your journey along the Premužić Trail. Head south on the trail following the ‘V” symbols that mark the route of the Premužićeva staza, part of the long-distance hiking route known as the VPP (Velebitski Planinarski Put) which traverses the entire Velebit range. As you travel southward, enjoy views of Rab and Pag Islands floating in the deep blue of the Adriatic Sea almost five thousand feet below you. On this day you can choose an “out-and-back” hike along the Premužić Trail, or if you want a longer outing, continue south a bit further before crossing the crest of the Velebit to conclude the hike in the old spruce forests of Štirovača. At the end of the hikes, travel by vehicle to the inland town of Gospić, capital of Croatia’s Lika region. Here you’ll spend the evening in a comfortable hotel in the center of town near the eighteenth century Baroque-style Cathedral of the Annunciation of Mary.

Heading south on the Premužić Trail.

Peaks and pinnacles! The view from Kiza looking south.

Day 6
Overnight in Starigrad-Paklenica
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
This morning transfer from Gospić to the mountain settlement at Baške Oštarije where the central and southern portions of the Velebit Mountains meet. This area is dominated by a spine of rugged, white limestone peaks known as the Dabarski kukovi. These peaks stand in contrast to the often grassy summits found along the crest of the central Velebit. The fin-shaped peak of Kiza is the destination for one of the day’s hiking options. The ascent of Kiza requires a bit of scrambling and should be undertaken only by sure-footed hikers. Alternately you can choose a hike along the ridge of mountains to the west and south of Baške Oštarije passing through meadow and woodland landscapes over the summits of Debela kosa and Jelarje. After the hikes descend to the coast by vehicle and drive to the coastal town of Starigrad-Paklenica where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Hikers en route to Jelarje.

An inviting pool in the Paklenica Gorge.

Day 7
Overnight in Starigrad-Paklenica
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Today’s hikes take you into the spectacular limestone Paklenica Gorge which constitutes the core of the Paklenica National Park (Nacionalni park Paklenica). As you hike up the gorge of the Velika Paklenica, the canyon walls rise abruptly on either side. You’ll pass the remains of several old water mills that are today preserved as cultural monuments by the national park authorities. The hike continues to the now largely abandoned villages of Ramići and Parići set on a wooded bench near the head of the canyon. At day’s end, return to your lodgings in Starigrad-Paklenica by vehicle.

Canyon of the Krupa River. (Photo credit)

Day 8
Overnight near Plitvice Lakes National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Depart Starigrad-Paklenica this morning bound for the delightful Krupa River, a small karst river that has carved a scenic canyon at the foot of the Velebit Mountains. Today’s hike through the Krupa canyon leads you down into the canyon to Kudin most (“Kuda’s Bridge”) a narrow, twelve-arched stone footbridge. Built of travertine blocks in the early nineteenth century it picturesquely spans the cascading waters of the Krupa River. Here, beneath the canyon’s dry, rocky walls, placid pools of deep blue water invite contemplation while swirling rivulets course through banks of lush vegetation. Continue downstream along the course of the Krupa River. Fig trees and reeds line the banks of the river whose water glows in vibrant shades of blues and greens. The calls of frogs and songs of birds fill the air. This is a magical place! A shorter, less strenuous hike in the Krupa canyon will also be available this day. After the hikes, travel by vehicle to the Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia where you’ll settle in for a two-night stay.

Krupa River Canyon. Kudin’s Bridge crosses to the right. (Photo credit)

Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Day 9
Overnight near Plitvice Lakes National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Hike through the lush, well-watered landscapes of the Plitvice Lakes National Park (Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera), a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Plitvice Lakes National Park was established in 1949 and is the largest national park in southeastern Europe. The landscapes of the park are a spectacular melding of flowing water and karst topography. A string of sixteen lakes each separated from the next by naturally-deposited travertine “dams” line a wooded valley and waterfalls plummet from side canyons. Dense woodlands of spruce, fir and beech shelter bear, lynx and even wolves. Many endemic plant species including fifty-five species of orchids make the park a botanical delight. Enjoy a choice of hikes along trails and boardwalks that wind through this enchanting landscape! Tomorrow morning, you’ll transfer by vehicle to Zagreb (or to Zagreb Airport) where tour services conclude.

Boardwalks wind through the well-watered landscapes of Plitvice.

Trail in Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Departure Day
Breakfast included
One complimentary transfer to Zagreb and the Zagreb Airport will be provided this morning. Planned departure time from Plitvice Lakes is 10:30 AM with a 12:30 PM arrival time at Zagreb Airport. Please see the “Departure Point” notes to the right for more information.

Mountain Parks of Croatia Movie

Croatia Slide Show

Croatia Slide Show for iPad & iPhone

The rooftops of Dubrovnik as seen from the walls of the old city.

Seeing Dubrovnik

If you haven’t been to Dubrovnik before, we strongly recommend that you plan on spending at least one or two extra days in this enchanting city either before and/or after this trip. Dubrovnik’s old walled city is easy to explore on your own. The following activities are particularly recommendable: 1) completing the circular walk along the top the city’s walls; 2) visiting the island of Lokrum; 3) riding the cable car (or hiking) up to Mount Srd for panoramic views over the old city and the Adriatic Sea.

The walled city of Dubrovnik.

Hiker on the Premuziceva staza, Northern Velebit National Park.

Other Resources

Take a virtual walk on the Premuziceva staza at the 360cities.net website! Very cool!
Learn more about Croatia’s national parks: Paklenica National Park, Sjeverni Velebit National Park, and Plitvice Lakes National Park.

The Premuziceva staza approaching the mountain hut of Rossijevo skloniste.

A view of the Adriatic Sea and Pag Island from the Velebit Mountains.

Typical mountain landscape in the northern Velebit.