Duration: 6 days

Location: Paklenica National Park, Velebit Nature Park, Zadar.

Activity level: ?

Activities: Hiking, Caving, Rafting or Canoeing

Day 1, Saturday:
Arrival, transfer to our hotel or pension in Paklenica region. Welcome drink, dinner.

Day 2, Sunday: 6/7 hours of hiking, ascent circa 1200 m.

We enter the national park through its "main entrance", the Velika Paklenica creek. It begins with a fantastic rocky canyon and while going up along the torrent the vegetation changes. Progressively, the Mediterranean one gives more space to pine and beech forest. We follow the torrent then leave it behind us to join the Vlaski Grad mountain hut where we will have dinner before spending the night together in the common dormitory. This hut doesn't offer much comfort (no mattresses) so it s good to have a camp pad .

Day 3, Mon.: 6/7 hours of hiking, ascent circa 800 meters.

Departure for a succession of the highest peaks, from east to west.We walk along the ridge offering splendid panoramas, sometimes on the continental area of Lika, other times on the Adriatic and its islands, starting with Sveto Brdo (1753m), Malovan, Vaganski (1757m) the highest top, through Babin Vrh to finally get to the mountain hut of Struge (1400m), dinner and night in the refuge. If there are not too many people around and if we are quiet enough, we might see the bear !

Day 4, Tue.: 5/6 hours walk, descent circa 800 meters.

It is with a little tear in the eye that we will leave Struge refuge to head to the Buljmo pass offering splendid view on the Velika Paklenica canyon, the Adriatic and its islands. We will make a beautiful loop in ancient forest, down to the Ramici hamlet where the last 2 inhabitants of the park live. We will lodge and have dinner in the neighbouring shepherd house where the owner will prepare for us the delicious typical "peka" meal in a joyful ambient.

Day 5, Wed: 2 hours walk, descent 500 m. Rafting or canoing

In the morning we go down the mountain through the majestic canyon of Velika Paklenica, we will follow the torrent passing along the foot of the imposing rock of Anica Kuk (more than 400 meters in height) where we will be able to observe ones climbing it before arriving in Starigrad-Paklenica from where we'll drive for an hour to the starting point of our adventure of the day:

Rafting or canoeing depending on the water level on the famous Zrmanja River within the natural reserve of Velebit! This river considered as one of the most beautiful karstic rivers by the Croatian geologists has, during millenniums, dug a deep canyon sometimes reaching a 300 meters depth. We will be carried by his current during more than 4 hours across falls, sedimentary cascades and barriers to a green meadow where we will have lunch. Dinner and lodging will take place in an hotel or pension in Paklenica region.

Day 6, Thursday:

After breakfast and before going to the millennial city of Zadar, we will stop for a "cave adventure" in the 830 meters long Modric cave: Our speleo guide will lead us through secret labyrinths and narrow passages to spectacular halls where strange host await us: pipe organs, cuttlefishes, crabs, fairies... The list of surprises nature and imagination can provide under the light of carbide lamps is practically unlimited. After those fascinating 2 hours we'll continue towards Zadar where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will be free to visit the old town or simply go to the beach. At the end of the day, transfer to the airport for those who are leaving.

Prices on request.

The price includes:
All meals from dinner of day 1 to lunch of day 6. Transportation in air conditioned vehicle. 2 nights in hotel or pension, 2 nights in mountain huts, 1 night in shepherd house. National park entrance fees. Rafting or canoeing and needed equipment and guide. Caving and needed equipment and guide. Hiking leader. Insurance in case of injury. Airport transfer.
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The price does not include:
Transportation to Croatia, drinks, tips and personal expenses such as souvenirs, etc.