ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Arrival in Zagreb

Our trip begins today in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The hostel is well-located for exploring the city’s main attractions. We will meet for a welcome drink and discuss the upcoming itinerary. Depending upon your arrival, we can organise either a cycling tour of Zagreb or a tour on Segway for an extra charge. Spend the evening enjoying the beautiful architecture, the old town, ancient monuments, and Zagreb nightlife.

Van drive from airport: Zagreb 30 min 

DAY 2 – Kayaking Mreznica canyon and Plitvice Lakes walking

This morning we drive from Zagreb to Slunj and prepare ourselves for a water day in the upper Mreznica canyon. We start our expedition upstream, travelling through a gorge so narrow and deep that the sun enters it for only a few hours each day, around noon, creating spectacular light effects. We continue our journey to the second-highest waterfall on Mreznica (8m), a magical place ideal for swimming and a picnic. After a break, we head downstream and finish the adventure back where we left our vehicles.

In the afternoon you’ll head to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a stunning landscape of lakes, forests, caves, and waterfalls. You’ll spend several hours hiking into the park, then head back to the start by boat and train. Return to Zagreb in the evening to enjoy the city.

Van ride: 1 hour one way; canoeing/kayaking or rafting: class II-III, 3-4 hours 

DAY 3 – Nature Park Medvednica (Bear Mountain)

Meet in the hostel lobby after breakfast and head out to Medvednica, the mountain embracing Croatia’s capital city. Zagreb citizens’ favorite destination takes us to Medvedgrad, a medieval fortress with a stunning view over the city. Just like Zagreb hikers used to do, we’ll take a tram leading to the bottom of the mountain and make our way up to the top on foot. Medvednica is a unique example of an almost fully preserved natural environment just out the back door of a large city. The mountain massif is covered by dense forests of beech, oak, and chestnut. Bikceviceva trail (2.5 miles) leads us through rich forest habitats to Puntijarka mountain hut. It would be a shame to miss out on a traditional lunch of warm bean soup with sausages. The peak, Sljeme, is only a short walk away (0.8 miles). We’ll visit the top of the mountain, including a ski resort famous for the Snow Queen Trophy slalom race held as a part of the Alpine skiing World Cup. On our way back to the bottom, we will pass by Tomislavov Dom to catch the route Bazulovka (meaning the bean trail). This will lead us to Medvedgrad (3.8 miles), a medieval fortress with a stunning view over the city. We will again use public transport (bus and tram) to get back to our hostel. Depart from Zagreb 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 guidebooks.

Hiking: 6-8 miles; Terrain: moderate, well-marked paths; Elevation: 3.395 ft. (1035 m, Sljeme), Van drive from airport: Zagreb 30 min

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

• 2 nights in double/twin room
• meals as noted in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, and D=dinner)
• use of kayaks, paddles, life jackets, helmets
• 3 days organized activities
• neoprene shorts and booties or sandals in case of cold weather
• park entrance fees
• Saturday transfers from/to Zagreb airport, bus or train station
• 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 16 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.

Accommodation

We use a great hostel situated in the very heart of Zagreb.

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, bread and pastries, pasta 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 is not valid

Single use rooms are available upon request, with 20% surcharge. Sharing a room with another person of the same sex is possible