Via Dinarica Private Tour for experienced trekkers

DAY 1. Arrival

Arrive at the airport of your choice: Zagreb, Rijeka, or Zadar. Optional transfer to the mountain hut Zavižan, stopover at one of the supermarkets for food supplies, and meeting with the mountain guide. Zavižan is one of the best-known localities in the Northern Velebit National Park. Located at 1594 m above sea level, is the mountain hut Zavižan and the oldest high-altitude weather station in Croatia, established in 1953. Since Velebit forms a natural border between continental and Mediterranean regions of Croatia, two different climates clash at its uppermost parts – the maritime and the continental climates - resulting in unpredictable weather conditions. This makes the Zavižan weather station invaluable to the meteorological community. Depending on the time of arrival, your guide will take you to one of the Zavižan area peaks (Veliki Zavižan 1676 m, Balinovac 1601 m, Zavižanska Kosa 1620 m, Vučjak 1644 m). The scenic vistas provided by this group of peaks are sure to take your breath away.

Have dinner and let your guide present a detailed hiking program for the following days.

DAY 2. Premužić

Trail After breakfast, you will embark on the first stage of hiking and join the well-known Premužić Trail, built in the 1930s using the drystone technique. The 57 km trail was laid out and constructed by the forestry engineer Ante Premužić, a passionate mountaineer and lover of Velebit, along the mountain ridge from Zavižan to Baške Oštarije in central Velebit. As there are virtually no steep ascents, the route is also suitable for visitors unaccustomed to mountaineering. Branching off from the Premužić Trail are several paths that climb up to some of the most spectacular peaks of northern and central Velebit – of course our guide knows them all. The route section between Zavižan and mountain hut Alan is perhaps the most beautiful part of the Trail, and it's a total of 15 km long.

Duration: 6-7 hrs

Length: 16 km

Lowest point: 1340 m

Highest point: 1634 m

DAY 3. Still on Premužić Trail

The second part of the Trail that leads from Alan mountain hut to the mountain hut Kugina kuća, which used to be a forest ranger’s house in central Velebit, is approx. 20 km long, taking you around 7 hours to complete and it is categorized as a mid-difficult stage. The trail will take you along the maritime slope at equal elevation, interchanging forest, and meadows. Needless to say, you will encounter extraordinary viewing points and views to be long remembered.

Duration: 7-8 hrs

Length: 20 km

Elevation gain: 482 m

Elevation loss: 879 m

Lowest point: 959 m

Highest point: 1622 m

DAY 4. Seaview

You will awaken along with a fresh mountain breeze. Make sure you do your morning stretching routine as today’s stage is also mid-difficult, approx. 20 km. This stage presents a true liaison of karst and forest terrain. Here, you will witness the white limestone proudly adorning the green environment extending southeast, in parallel with the Adriatic coast. This hiking stage will couple you with the natural attractions of Velebit. Take a deep breath of this fresh mountain air, stop for a moment and look around. Allow time for yourselves to fully feel the surrounding nature on this stage. Arrival to Baške Oštarije and overnight stay at the mountain hut Vila Velebita.

Duration: 7-8 hrs

Length: 20 km

Elevation gain: 801 m

Elevation loss: 830 m

Lowest point: 728 m

Highest point: 1317 m

DAY 5. Paklenica National Park

After three stages of quite a tempo, it's time to slow down and get ready for the remaining part of your trip. In the morning, a driver will take you to Karlobag for grocery shopping. Weather permitting, relax at the beach for an hour or two, and then, after the shopping, you still have the fourth stage, 6 km long. Today’s stage is easier and goes through the wonderful National Park Paklenica. In this area, you will see the parts of Velika (big) and Mala (small) Paklenica. These two ravines are the result of Velebit’s rivers piercing through stone, at some points more than 300 m high. This is how nature created the perfect conditions for the climbing routes. Passing through here you might see sport climbing enthusiasts taking advantage of moderate climate and protected nature. After a few hours, you will reach the mountain lodge Paklenica. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting ready for the remainder of the trip.

Duration: 2-3 hrs

Length: 6 km

Elevation gain: 400 m

Elevation loss: 0 m

Lowest point: 150 m

Highest point: 496 m

DAY 6. To the top

Preparations for the fifth stage include a plentiful breakfast with morning body stretching as the most difficult stage of the journey is ahead of you. Start with the ascent a bit earlier so that you have enough time as the stage ends again at the mountain lodge Paklenica. The first part of this stage goes through the forests of black pine and beech wood. The trail is pleasant for walking and not strenuous. The second part, however, taking you to the second-highest summit of Velebit called Sveto Brdo, is steeper, goes up-down a few times losing gained elevation, but the reward is well worth it. Standing at its 1751 m of altitude, Sveto Brdo (Holy Hill) is only 6 m lower than Vaganski Vrh. Still, we find it to be the best view in Croatia. It is overlooking extensively at both the inland and the coast. Take some time for yourselves and your thoughts and let the feeling of unity with nature overflow you. From the summit, you will head back towards the mountain lodge Paklenica for the last overnight on the mountain.

Duration: 9-10 hrs

Length: 20 km

Lowest point: 480 m

Highest point: 1751

DAY 7. Goodbye

Depending on your flight schedule, you will bid farewell to the mountain and head towards Starigrad. Starigrad is a place where the sea touches the mountains and if needed here your transfer to the airport of your choice will be waiting for you. We are convinced that you will joyfully remember this mountain trip that will make you want to discover the rest of Via Dinarica.

IMPORTANT!

The remaining balance is required to be paid at least 21 days before arrival unless specified otherwise in the specific offer.

If your arrival is within 21 days in the moment of making a reservation, you will need to pay the full amount within 24 hours to make the reservation valid.

Please note our Cancellation and no-show policy is as follows:

• Reservations canceled thirty (30) days or more before the date of arrival will incur a 6% charge.
• Reservations canceled twenty-nine (29) to twenty-two (22) days before the date of arrival will incur a 30% charge.
• Reservations canceled twenty-one (21) to fifteen (15) days before the date of arrival will incur a 50% charge.
• Reservations canceled fourteen (14) to zero (0) days before the date of arrival will incur a 100% charge.