INFORMATION

Into the wild Croatia tour will take you to the hinterland of Dalmatia where you will learn about history, biodiversity, and culture of the region. Engaging in different activities such as cycling, hiking, sea kayaking, and packrafting to visit those wonderful sites.

Even though we included some of Croatia’s well-known gems, the tour will take you to less known places. For our guests, however, to experience the real Croatia, we present our Into the wild Croatia tour, out from the classic tourist routes.

Taking a step Into the wild Croatia

We will cycle and walk through Krka National Park, packraft its upper part and visit the royal town of Knin. Sea kayaks will take us across the sea to the green Zlarin Island, next to UNESCO heritage site – st. Nicholas fortress. Before taking a step Into the wild we will have a chance to explore another UNESCO site – the town of Sibenik.

Afterward, we will head towards the North, to the emerald Zrmanja River, and her sister Krupa. There’s no better way of exploring the two rivers than trekking and packrafting. Getting to know these rivers really means  getting Into the wild Croatia. While learning about the traditions of the hosts, you will also treat your taste buds to traditional, homemade and homegrown, Croatian cuisine, wines, and liquors.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Arrival to the Destination – Skradin

Upon your arrival in Croatia, we will transfer you to Skradin and accommodate you in the Skradinski Buk hotel. Skradin is a small picturesque town named after the world-famous waterfall on the river Krka. It is the oldest Croatian settlement with the status of a town. It was once the capital of the Roman Liburnia and the most important war harbor of Croatia and Bosnia in the 14th century. Apart from a great history, Skradin and its surroundings are places of unique natural beauties. The breath-taking view over the town from the bridge on the highway towards Split was nominated for the prestigious Golden Flower of Europe award for the best sightseeing point on European highways. We will meet in the hotel lobby for a get-together dinner and presentation of our ‘Into the Wild Croatia’ program. You are free to enjoy an evening walk around the town and its pubs. Find out which is your favorite Croatian wine, beer or ice-cream.

Accommodation: Skradinski Buk hotel; Van drive from airport: Split 1:30 min or Zadar 45 min 

 

DAY 2 – Cycling Krka NP circle and exploring Krka National Park

Today on our ‘Into the Wild Croatia’ tour we take our bikes from Skradin to the 44-meters high Skradinski Buk waterfall and visit one of Croatia’s most popular national parks, the Krka River National Park. The fantastic karst formations and travertine waterfalls make it a beautiful swimming area. This is the famous place where the second hydroelectric power plant in the world was built, just three days after the first hydroelectric power plant in Niagara Falls. After walking, sightseeing and taking breath-taking pictures, we will make swimming and picnic break under the great Skradinski Buk waterfall. After this relaxing first part, we continue our cycling day by exploring the countryside surrounding the Krka River National Park. There is hardly a better way to get around the area of the park than cycling. This biking route will lead you through Croatian history all the while enjoying the landscape of forests and hills. We will bike to the shores of Visovac Lake where the boat will take us to Visovac Island and a Franciscan monastery. After sightseeing the monastery and the museum, the boat will bring us back to the shore where we’ll have a beach break for our picnic lunch. On our way back to Skradin we have a magnificent ride downhill with a scenic view over the Prokljan Lake.

Accommodation: Skradinski Buk hotel; cycling: 4-5 hours, moderate – van support if needed. 

 

DAY 3 – Sightseeing town of Knin, packrafting upper part of Krka river

Today we will have a short van ride to the town of Knin. It is the oldest town in Croatia and hometown of four Croatian kings. We will visit the famous fortress in the morning and learn about Croatian history – from antics all the way to the Croatian war of independence. It is the second-largest fortress in Croatia and the most significant defensive stronghold. Knin is surrounded by nine mighty mountains, colorful lakes flank it and seven rivers pass through it. One of them – the famous Krka is our new destination. We will packraft down the upper part of the Krka River, exploring all the way to the National Park.
On our way back to Skradin, we will stop for a very special wine tasting and tapas. You’ll have a chance to learn of the winemaking tradition in the area and taste award-winning wines and liquors.

Accommodation: Skradinski Buk hotel; packrafting: 3-4 hours, river class II-III 

 

DAY 4 – Sea kayaking Zlarin Island, sightseeing Sibenik

The sea kayaking day starts from Zablace, a little village close to Sibenik. After a short introduction to paddling, we start our expedition to the island of Zlarin, which is only 2 kilometers from the mainland. After paddling along the coast of the island, we come to the town of Zlarin, a perfect place for a picnic break and some swimming. We slowly finish up our day with paddling along the island and the beautiful Sibenik coastline. We have the view of its remarkable fortress at the very entrance to the town. After a beautiful day of sea kayaking on the Adriatic Sea and before our return to Skradin, we can make an optional detour to visit Sibenik town for inspirational sightseeing. An ancient town with a lively Mediterranean spirit and its breath-taking cathedral make it an unavoidable destination.

Accommodation: Skradinski Buk hotel; Sea kayaking: 4 -5 hours

 

DAY 5 – Packrafting Zrmanja River, part 1 – to the Krupa river

Today on our ‘Into the Wild Croatia’ tour we change our base to the small village of Kastel Zegarski. We start down the river in our packraft boats and explore wonderful canyon all the way to the meeting with the Krupa River. There we will set up our base for the night and enjoy the calmness of this remote location. There’s a hidden surprise just a short walk away – a little oasis on Krupa river, perfect for an afternoon swim and some jumping in this clear river. We will spend the evening preparing dinner by the campfire and enjoying the home-grown produce from the local farms.

Accommodation: Camp; packrafting: 3 hours, river class II-III 

 

DAY 6 – Trekking Krupa Canyon

After breakfast, we will hike following the trail next to the Krupa River. This small river is protected by the Velebit Nature Park, so the only way to really experience its beauty is on foot. Some parts of the trail are covered in karst stones, so good hiking shoes are a must. Along the way, we will learn about a great love story of Kuda’s bridge, explore amazing karst cascades called Deveterci and visit an Orthodox monastery Krupa, built-in 12th Century. You’ll also have a chance to experience a local sheep farm and meet the farmers who are a true soul of the area. We return to our campsite just in time for a barbecue dinner and spend another night below the stars.

Accommodation: Camp; trekking: 4-5 hours, moderate 

DAY 7 – Packrafting Zrmanja River, part 2 – Krupa to Muskovci

After we pack up our camp, we continue our expedition down the Zrmanja river. This part is full of rapids and waterfalls, therefore be ready for an adrenaline rush. Zrmanja river passes through a deep, karst, canyon, once used as a set of a movie about Winnetou and well-visited today by the fans of the movie. Intact nature, clear waters and a bounty of flora and fauna make the Zrmanja one of the most beautiful Croatian and European rivers. When we arrive in Muskovci and disembark our packrafts, we will put up our camp for the last night, and after we will have some time to enjoy swimming and jumping down the waterfalls of Zrmanja. We will finish our tour with a traditional, farewell dinner in a restaurant next to the river and the campsite.

Accommodation: Camp; packrafting: 3 h, river class II-III 

 

DAY 8 – Departure

Depart from Muskovci for the airport and flight home. You are welcome to schedule your homeward transport for any time. If you decide to spend more time in Croatia, our guides will be happy to recommend other beautiful places to visit – especially those you won’t find in tourist guide books.

Van drive to the airport: Zadar 1 hour, Split 2 hours 

 

Note on Itinerary:
This itinerary is subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, weather, water levels, special events of interest, etc. Raftrek Guides and Trip Leaders will do their utmost to ensure the best possible experience for their clients without compromising safety at any time. This may mean changing the original itinerary to avoid discomfort or risk which could be caused by exceptional situations. Raftrek reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.

TRIP NOTES

What’s included

  • 4 nights in double/twin room
  • 3 nights in a camp (provided equipment: tent and sleeping mat)
  • meals as noted in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, and D=dinner)
  • use of all necessary equipment for the activities
  • 6 days of organized activities
  • neoprene shorts and booties or sandals in case of cold weather
  • park entrance fees and tourist taxes
  • skilled guide and assistance
  • ground transportation (private transport throughout)
  • local taxes

Not included

  • international airfare to/from Croatia
  • beverages and lunches or picnics as noted in itinerary
  • items of personal nature and optional gratuities to your guide(s)

Group size

Min 4 – max 8 people per group; larger groups are on request. Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. In case the minimum number of participants is not met but the guest/s still want to do the trip, the price increases by a percentage depending on the final number of participants.

Daily routes are rather short – 3 to 5 hours of easy activity- and not demanding, fit for all ages between 12 and late sixties (no previous experience is necessary). Designated family and adult departures ensure that you will be surrounded by like-minded travelers.

Accommodation

The 3* hotel Skradinski Buk is located at Skradin, only 300 meters away from the coast. It is perfectly situated for exploring nearby sites of interest in Sibenik-Knin County. You will be accommodated in completely renovated and refurbished rooms, equipped with air conditioning, mini-bar, satellite TV, telephone and bathroom.

In the second part of your holiday, you will be accommodated in our campsites along the Zrmanja river. Located in the heart of beautifully preserved nature, this unique canyon attracts attention and admiration of all visitors. We will provide tents and sleeping mats. There is no better place to relax and enjoy but in quietness and calmness of the river bank.

Air Travel

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate. Early arrivals / Extended stay notes – we include two transfers with each trip. These are usually the transfers on the first and the last day of the trip. In case you are arriving a few days earlier or extending your stay in Croatia after your trip with us, we can provide additional airport transfers.

Meals

Meals tend to be fairly heavy on the meats and sausages, breads and pastries, pastas and dumplings. If you have special dietary needs, please let us know as soon as possible. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated but we recommend that you bring along with you some of your favorite protein snacks.

PRICES

All prices are per person in EUR

Minimum age: 12 years if accompanied by parent(s)

Children discount does not apply

Single-use rooms are available upon request with a 25% surcharge. Sharing a twin room with another person is possible