6. May 2020.   •     Ed

What would be your BEST Raftrek trip?

Krka National Park Cycling will thrill you with its natural beauty. Also its fantastic karst formations and travertine waterfalls, and attractive swimming areas. The two most famous locations in the Krka National Park are Visovac Island and Skradinski Buk and on our cycling tour we visit both.

So, WHY you ask?

The tour is the perfect blend of activities, natural beauty and historic sites. The Krka National Park Cycling trip departs from Skradin, a small town that was first mentioned in the 10th century. How attractive and desirable is the fact that in history it was ruled by the ancient Liburnians, Romans, Goths, Venetians and Turks, and over a short period the Austrian and French rulers were replaced.

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After a short introduction and the distribution of bicycles and equipment, we start our trip to our destination, the island of Visovac. We leave Skradin very soon and pass through hamlets, small olive and lavender fields along the local road. Driving straight, we come to our first challenge, cycling uphill across the hamlet of Velika Glava and Plast. The Krka River has found its way through the surrounding hills, to reach Visovac Lake. It is impossible to avoid one of these climbs. As we cycle gently uphill or in the worst case we push our bikes, we are rewarded with a view. The ride through the straight winding road while at the same time the view shoots at Dinaru Mountain. Croatia’s highest mountain.

Beautiful view of Visovac Lake

We walk through a couple of picturesque villages that are famous for their wines. Namely, the surrounding vineyards are located at higher altitudes, which is why characteristic and quality wines are produced. Wines became even more famous when famous American chefs tasted the wines while recording travelogues and shouted “Why, oh why, is there so much amazing wine in this country”. We leave civilization and head down to the lake. At the end there is a beautiful view of Visovac Lake and we come to a small boat dock.

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A view toward Visovac island | Raftrek Adventure Guide

We park our bikes on the shore and embark a boat that takes us to the island of Visovac. As soon as we land, because of the lush green vegetation and the calmness of the island, we feel as if we have found ourselves in another dimension. Hidden among the trees and perfectly landscaped gardens, the island houses the 575-year-old Franciscan monastery of the Mother of Mercy and the Church of Our Lady of Visovac. The Franciscan monastery is also a place of training for novices who, through the final one-year isolation, one day become friars.

After visiting the islands, we head back towards the mainland. In 7-8 minutes we are on land and the magical Visovac remains behind us. During the summer months there is a possibility of swimming in Visovac Lake on one of the nearby beaches. A short refreshment and a well deserved rest before we move on.

Skradinski Buk Waterfall

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For the sole part we return to the same path and start descending towards Skradin. We pass Skradin and we are already in the Krka Canyon leading to the most famous attraction of the Krka National Park. Passing through the dusty gravel road we arrive very quickly to the beautiful Skradinski Buk. waterfall. This time, too, we park our bikes in front of the entrance and head forward following the noise. Skradinski Buk is the longest waterfall on the Krka River. However over 17 steps, and  800 meters in length, eventually flow into one unique waterfall, the perfect place for swimming.

Walking around the waterfall, which in some parts is up to 400 meters wide, takes about half an hour. However, if you are a fan of photography and love unique locations, it can take up to an hour. 🙂 Here we feel a touch of history as we come across the remains of the old Krka hydroelectric power station. On August 28, 1895, just two days after the first hydroelectric plant in Niagara Falls, it was commissioned as the first hydroelectric plant in Europe. This is followed by a return to the same place and a swim break in front of the last and largest waterfall.

So, there you go, all this in just one Krka National Park Cycling day trip, what more can you ask for. This is why this is my favorite Raftrek trip. Hope to see you there soon!

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What is an Insiders choice?

An insider is an employee, or any other person who is privy to confidential, nonpublic information about a company. So, there you go, we have asked our great Raftrek office team to write about their favorite Raftrek Adventure trip. In the next couple of our blog post, we revel their choices. Stay tuned and follow our blog to read and learn more online!