Self-guided · 8 days · Zagreb to Dubrovnik
Kayak, hike, walk and cycle your way down Croatia at your own pace, from the Mrežnica canyon to the islands off Dubrovnik. We book your stays, activities and park tickets.
Trip at a glance
Overview
This self-guided Croatia multisport tour travels the length of the country, from Zagreb in the north to Dubrovnik in the south, with a different activity almost every day. You paddle a river canyon with a guide, then walk among the lakes of Plitvice, hike into the Paklenica canyon, cycle to the waterfalls of the Krka and kayak along the island of Koločep near Dubrovnik. In between you see Zadar, Trogir, Split and Ston.
We book your hotels, your activities and your park tickets, give you local recommendations for every place and are available for support 24 hours a day. The days are yours to run: you set the pace, choose where to eat and drive yourself between the places.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 · Zagreb
You arrive in Zagreb at your own pace and check in to your hotel in the capital, which we have booked for you. Zagreb is easy to enjoy on foot, with museums, cafés and a lively bar scene. If you can, come a day or two early to see more of it, and we are happy to help with an extra night.
Day 2 · Mrežnica River
This is the one guided day of the week. You drive south of Zagreb to the upper Mrežnica and join a guided group to paddle the green canyon the river cuts through continental Croatia. The boats are stable two-person inflatable kayaks that are simple to steer, even if you have never kayaked before. There are stops along the way, and the bold can jump from the small waterfalls into the pools below. When the water is high, the group uses rafts.
After the paddle you drive on to a village near Plitvice Lakes for a quiet evening in the Croatian countryside.
Day 3 · Plitvice Lakes National Park
The park gate is only a few minutes from your guesthouse, and your entrance ticket is included. Plitvice is Croatia’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where sixteen turquoise lakes step down through waterfalls and travertine pools, framed by beech and pine forest full of wildlife. You choose your own route among the park’s marked trails, along the shores and past the falls, to lookouts where the whole chain of lakes comes into view.
In the afternoon you drive to the coast, to a small town below the Velebit mountain, where the mountains drop straight into the sea.
Day 4 · Paklenica National Park
Paklenica protects two canyons on the seaward side of Velebit, Mala (small) and Velika (big) Paklenica, and your entrance ticket is included. You hike up Velika Paklenica at your own pace, between high limestone walls, to one of the mountain huts inside the canyon.
The evening is free in Zadar, a coastal city of Roman and Venetian remains, medieval churches, cafés and restaurants.
Day 5 · Krka National Park
Skradinski Buk is the most famous sight on the Krka: seven travertine falls with a total drop of 242 m. Your bike rental and park entrance are included, so you pick up your bikes in the small town of Skradin and follow the riverbank on an easy ride to the falls. If you prefer not to cycle, you can take the park boat instead.
At the falls you leave the bikes and continue on foot, including a visit to the ethno village. Its restored water mills still grind wheat, and you can see how cloth was washed and pounded, how fabric was woven and how horses were shod. A boat trip to Visovac island and its Franciscan monastery can be added at an extra cost.
In the afternoon you drive to Trogir, a medieval town whose old center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the evening free for its narrow streets, terraces and market.
Day 6 · Split and Ston
A short drive brings you to Split and Diocletian’s Palace, the Roman emperor’s residence from the 4th century that still forms the heart of the city. After free time there, you drive south along the coast to the Pelješac peninsula.
In Ston you can walk a section of the stone walls that once guarded the town and its salt pans. The entrance ticket is not included and is paid at the gate. The bay is known for its oysters and mussels, and Pelješac is one of Croatia’s best-known wine regions, so the local reds are worth a try. In the evening you reach the Dubrovnik area and settle into a village guesthouse for two nights.
Day 7 · Elafiti Islands
Koločep, Lopud and Šipan are the three inhabited islands of the Elafiti archipelago, a short boat ride from Dubrovnik. Your round-trip boat to Koločep is included in the price, and on the island you rent sea kayaks, also included, to paddle along the shore beneath the cliffs at your own pace, in some of the clearest water of the Adriatic, so bring a swimsuit. Pine-scented paths, stone houses and small gardens make the island village worth a wander.
In the evening you visit Dubrovnik to walk the Stradun, see the city walls and enjoy the old town after dark.
Day 8 · Dubrovnik
After breakfast you set off for the airport, the bus station or your next stop. Dubrovnik rewards a few extra days: walk the city walls, take the boat to Lokrum island, ride the cable car up Mount Srđ or make a day trip to Montenegro. We can help you plan it.
Note on itinerary: The program can change because of weather, water levels or other exceptional situations. Safety and comfort come first.
Route
| Day | Where | Activity | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Zagreb | – | – |
| 2 | Mrežnica River canyon | Kayaking, 3 h, guided | 1 h 45 min + 1 h |
| 3 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | Walking, 5–6 h | 10 min + 2 h |
| 4 | Paklenica National Park and Zadar | Hiking, 4 h | 10 min |
| 5 | Krka National Park and Trogir | Cycling, 4 h | 1 h 30 min |
| 6 | Split, Ston walls, Dubrovnik area | Walking, 45 min | 4 h |
| 7 | Elafiti Islands and Dubrovnik | Sea kayaking, 3–4 h | 20 min each way |
| 8 | Departure from Dubrovnik | – | – |
Inclusions
Prices and dates
Every price has 2 options: the standard price when you pay by card and a discounted price when you pay by bank transfer or Wise.
| Group size | October to May | June to September |
|---|---|---|
| 1 guest | €4,026card€3,890bank / Wise | €4,337card€4,190bank / Wise |
| 2 guests | €2,267card€2,190bank / Wise | €2,474card€2,390bank / Wise |
| 3 guests | €1,749card€1,690bank / Wise | €1,956card€1,890bank / Wise |
| 4 guests | €1,749card€1,690bank / Wise | €1,956card€1,890bank / Wise |
| 5 guests | €1,542card€1,490bank / Wise | €1,749card€1,690bank / Wise |
| 6 guests | €1,439card€1,390bank / Wise | €1,646card€1,590bank / Wise |
| 7 guests | €1,439card€1,390bank / Wise | €1,646card€1,590bank / Wise |
| 8 guests | €1,439card€1,390bank / Wise | €1,646card€1,590bank / Wise |
| Single room supplement | €290card€280bank / Wise | €362card€350bank / Wise |
| Upgrade to 4-star accommodation | €217card€210bank / Wise | €290card€280bank / Wise |
Choose your own start date, any day from April to October.
Other dates may be possible, so contact us to ask.
See the free dates, pick one and book. Prefer to talk first? Use the message form below.
If you cancel, we charge a share of the tour price, depending on when we receive your cancellation:
| When you cancel | We charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days before the tour | 30% of the price |
| 29 to 15 days before | 50% of the price |
| 14 to 8 days before | 75% of the price |
| 7 to 0 days before, or no-show | 100% of the price |
Credit card or bank fees are deducted from any refund: the fee charged when you pay and the fee charged when we refund.
Good to know
Private en-suite rooms in 3-star hotels and guesthouses, booked for you. An upgrade to 4-star accommodation is possible for €217 per person from October to May and €290 per person from June to September when you pay by card, or €210 and €280 when you pay by bank transfer or Wise.
Seven breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are not included, and we give you restaurant recommendations in each location.
Transport between the places is not included, and you arrange it yourself. We are available 24 hours a day if you need us.
Between three and six active hours a day. No experience is needed for the kayaking or cycling, and the longest day on foot is Plitvice Lakes at 5 to 6 hours.
Photos
FAQs
You start in Zagreb on day 1 and the trip ends in Dubrovnik after breakfast on day 8. You arrange your own way to Zagreb and home from Dubrovnik.
Guided river kayaking in a group on the Mrežnica, entrance to Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica and Krka national parks, bike rental at Krka, and the round-trip boat to Koločep with sea kayak rental there. Apart from the Mrežnica, you do every activity on your own, at your own pace.
Only the kayaking on the Mrežnica, which you do in a guided group. Everything else is self-guided, and we give you local recommendations for each place.
No. The river kayaks are stable two-person inflatables paddled with a guide, the Krka ride is an easy route along the river, and the sea kayaking is at your own pace along the shore of Koločep. Anyone who prefers not to cycle can take the park boat to the waterfall instead.
Transport between the places is not included, and you arrange it yourself, for example with a rental car. The driving times on each day of the itinerary show what to expect.
Seven breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are not included, and we give you restaurant recommendations in each location.
The trip is for your own group. We price every group size from 1 to 8 guests, and the price per person gets lower as the group grows. For 9 or more guests, contact us for a price.
In private en-suite rooms in 3-star hotels and guesthouses: one night in Zagreb, one near Plitvice Lakes, two in the Starigrad area, one in Trogir and two in a village near Dubrovnik. An upgrade to 4-star accommodation is possible for €217 per person from October to May and €290 per person from June to September when you pay by card, or €210 and €280 when you pay by bank transfer or Wise.
Yes. If you travel alone you pay the single room supplement for your own room.
No. The Ston walls entrance is not included, and you pay it at the gate if you want to walk the walls.
Yes. The guided Croatia Multisport Adventure follows the same route with an English-speaking guide who drives the group and leads the activities.
You choose your own start date, any day from April to October. Other dates may be possible, so contact us to ask.
Yes. Weather, water levels or other exceptional situations can change the program. Safety and comfort always come first.
Get in touch
Ask us anything about this trip, or tell us your preferred dates and group size.
Each trip is rated from 1 to 5. The rating mainly reflects the hours of walking per day and the terrain.
Self-Guided Croatia Multisport Adventure
Choose a date to see your price. Dates that are greyed out are not available.
Self-Guided Croatia Multisport Adventure
8 days / 7 nights · self-guided tour
Sample route · Day 4
Sample route. Distances and profiles can be adapted to your wishes, and you can always jump into the support vehicle if you don’t feel like biking anymore.
Elevation profile
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