Day 1 · Gorski Kotar
Arrival in Gorski Kotar
You arrive in Gorski Kotar, a forested mountain region known as the Green Lungs of Croatia that sees few visitors. Check in to your guesthouse and settle in for the week ahead.
Self-guided · 8 days · Risnjak to Krka
Self-Guided Walking & Hiking Croatia National Parks
A week on foot through five national parks and one nature park, at your own pace. We organize your stays and park entrances, give you local recommendations and support you 24 hours a day.
Trip at a glance
- Style
- Guided from €1,790Self-guided from €1,390
- Duration
- 8 days/7 nights
- Parks
- National Parks Risnjak, Northern Velebit, Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica, Krka, and Nature Park Velebit
- Walking
- 2 to 6 hours a day
- Start and end
- Gorski Kotar to Skradin
- Stays
- 3 or 4-star hotels and guesthouses
- Season
- All year round
Overview
Five national parks and one nature park in a week
This Croatia national parks hiking tour links six protected areas in eight days. You walk in the mountains of Gorski Kotar and Velebit, around the lakes of Plitvice, through the canyons of Paklenica, Krupa and Zrmanja, and beside the waterfalls of the Krka river. Between the hikes you spend time in Zadar, Šibenik and the small towns where you stay.
Each day is a walk of between two and six hours at your own pace, with a private en-suite room in a 3-star hotel or guesthouse booked for you. We organize the stays and the park entrances, give you local recommendations and are available for support 24 hours a day.
Highlights
What you will see
- The summit of Veliki Risnjak at 1,528 m, with views to the Adriatic, Slovenia and the Alps on a clear day
- A walk on the Premužić Trail, the ridge path of Northern Velebit with sea and islands below
- The sixteen lakes of Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Krupa and Zrmanja canyons, with Kuda’s Bridge and a 13 m waterfall
- Velika Paklenica canyon and its mountain hut, with optional rock climbing
- Skradinski Buk and the seven travertine waterfalls of the Krka river
- Walks through Skradin, Zadar and Šibenik between the hikes
Itinerary
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 2 · Risnjak National Park
Climb Veliki Risnjak (1,528 m)
Risnjak takes its name from the lynx, called ris in Croatian, and covers the Risnjak and Snježnik massifs and the source of the Kupa river. The main hike climbs Veliki Risnjak (1,528 m), with a rest at the mountain hut below the summit. On a clear day the view reaches the Adriatic, Slovenia and the Alps. A gentler option is a walk through the Kupa valley, often called the valley of butterflies.
Day 3 · Northern Velebit National Park
Walk the Premužić Trail
Northern Velebit is Croatia’s youngest national park, known for its wild, well-preserved landscape. Today’s walk follows a section of the Premužić Trail, laid out along the mountain ridge in the early twentieth century. The sea and the islands lie on one side and inland Croatia on the other, and the trail was built for gentle walking without steep climbs or descents. In the afternoon you travel on to the Plitvice area.
Day 4 · Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sixteen lakes of Plitvice
A 15-minute drive brings you to Croatia’s oldest national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sixteen turquoise lakes are linked by waterfalls and travertine pools and ringed by beech and pine forest. You walk beside the water and past the falls, and the paths climb to viewpoints that show the whole chain of lakes at once.
Day 5 · Krupa and Zrmanja canyons
Kuda’s Bridge and a 13 m waterfall
The day moves south to Velebit Nature Park and the canyons of the Krupa and Zrmanja rivers, a landscape that looks like a film set for a western. The hike starts in Golubić, a village of around thirty people, and leads to Kuda’s Bridge over the Krupa. From there the route continues to a 13 m waterfall on the Zrmanja and returns to Golubić. You sleep in a small coastal town, and Zadar is within reach for an evening out if you want it.
Day 6 · Paklenica National Park
Velika Paklenica canyon, then Skradin
Paklenica holds two canyons, Mala (small) and Velika (big) Paklenica. You walk up the big one to a mountain hut inside the canyon. The limestone walls make this a well-known climbing destination, and guests who prefer to climb rather than hike can add rock climbing for the day at an extra cost. In the afternoon you travel an hour south to Skradin, a small town on the brackish Prokljan lake at the gateway to Krka National Park. There is time for a swim at the town beach, the climb to the 14th-century fortress, the marina and the local shops, bars and restaurants.
Day 7 · Krka National Park
Krka’s seven waterfalls and Šibenik
The Krka river drops 242 m over seven travertine waterfalls. The highlights are Skradinski Buk, the island of Visovac with its Franciscan monastery, and the Roški waterfall. You walk beside the falls and can swim in the river if you like. In the afternoon a short drive takes you to Šibenik for a stroll through its narrow lanes of old stone houses and a look at the Cathedral of St James.
Day 8 · Skradin
Departure
The trip ends in Skradin after breakfast. Guests who want more time in Croatia can add an extension, for example Mount Dinara, the highest peak in the country, Biokovo Nature Park, a walking and island-hopping stay, Dubrovnik or another region.
Note on itinerary: The program can change because of weather, water levels, the group’s preferences and abilities or other exceptional circumstances. Safety and comfort come first.
Route
The route at a glance
| Day | Where | Walking | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, Gorski Kotar | – | – |
| 2 | Risnjak National Park | 5–6 h | up to 25 min each way |
| 3 | Northern Velebit National Park | 3–4 h | 2 h + 2 h 30 min |
| 4 | Plitvice Lakes National Park | 5–6 h | 15 min |
| 5 | Krupa and Zrmanja canyons, Velebit Nature Park | 5 h | 2 h |
| 6 | Paklenica National Park, then Skradin | 4 h | 1 h |
| 7 | Krka National Park and Šibenik | 2–3 h | 20 min each way |
| 8 | Departure from Skradin | – | – |
Inclusions
What is included in the price
Included
- 7 nights in private en-suite rooms in charming 3-star guesthouses and hotels
- 7 breakfasts
- National park entrance fees
- All organization of the trip
- Restaurant recommendations in each location
- 24-hour support
Not included
- Guide
- Transport between the parks, fuel, tolls and parking
- Lunches and dinners
- Flights to and from Croatia
- Drinks
- Optional rock climbing on day 6
Prices and dates
What it costs and when you can go
Price per person by group size
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 | €3,923card€3,790bank / Wise | €4,233card€4,090bank / Wise |
| 2 guests | €2,163card€2,090bank / Wise | €2,370card€2,290bank / Wise |
| 3 to 4 guests | €1,646card€1,590bank / Wise | €1,853card€1,790bank / Wise |
| 5 to 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 |
- All prices are for your own group, in euros per person. The more guests in your group, the lower the price per person.
- The solo (1 guest) price already includes your own private room. You do not need to add the single room supplement if you are traveling alone.
- If you want a single room in 4-star accommodation, add both the single room supplement and the 4-star upgrade.
- For 9 or more guests, contact us for a price.
- 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.
- If most of your trip falls between June and September, the June to September price applies.
- Transport between the parks is not included. You arrange it yourself.
Departure dates
Choose your own start date.
The tour runs all year round, with some program changes in winter in case of heavy snow.
Book online
See the free dates, pick one and book. Prefer to talk first? Use the message form below.
Booking and cancellation
30%Deposit when you book. Non-refundable.
70%Balance, due 30 days before the tour.
100%Due at booking if you book within 30 days of the tour.
- Bank transfer or WiseThe discounted price
- CardThe standard price
Cancellation charges
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
Practical information
Accommodation
Private en-suite rooms in 3-star hotels and guesthouses. Families and groups can ask for a whole private house or apartment, and 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.
Meals
Seven breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are not included, and we give you restaurant recommendations in each location.
Walking times
Between two and six hours a day. The longest days are Risnjak and Plitvice Lakes at 5 to 6 hours, and the Premužić Trail section is built for gentle walking.
Support
We are available 24 hours a day throughout your trip.
Getting around
Transport between the parks is not included. You arrange it yourself.
Extensions
Add Mount Dinara, Biokovo Nature Park, a walking and island-hopping stay or Dubrovnik at the end of the tour.
Photos
Photo gallery
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Where does the self-guided trip start and end?
You start in Gorski Kotar on day 1 and the trip ends in Skradin after breakfast on day 8.
Which national parks does the tour visit?
The route covers five national parks, Risnjak, Northern Velebit, Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica and Krka, and one nature park, Velebit Nature Park, where you hike the Krupa and Zrmanja canyons. Zadar and Šibenik are visited between the hikes.
How many hours do you walk each day?
Walking time is between two and six hours a day: 5 to 6 hours at Risnjak, 3 to 4 at Northern Velebit, 5 to 6 at Plitvice Lakes, about 5 in the Krupa and Zrmanja canyons, about 4 at Paklenica and 2 to 3 at Krka. Arrival and departure days have no hiking.
How big are the groups?
We price every group size from 1 to 8 guests, with the per-person price getting lower as the group grows. For 9 or more guests, contact us for a price.
What is included in the price?
Seven nights in private en-suite rooms with breakfast, national park entrance fees, the organization of the whole trip, restaurant recommendations in each location and 24-hour support.
How do we get between the parks?
Transport between the parks is not included. You arrange it yourself.
Where do we stay?
You stay in private en-suite rooms in 3-star hotels and guesthouses: two nights in Gorski Kotar, two near Plitvice Lakes, one in the Starigrad area and two in Skradin. 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.
Can I travel alone?
Yes. If you travel alone you pay the single room supplement for your own room.
Is there a guided version?
Yes. The guided Walking & Hiking Croatia National Parks tour follows the same route with an English-speaking guide who drives the group between the parks.
Can I extend the trip?
Yes. Extensions can include Mount Dinara, the highest peak in Croatia, Biokovo Nature Park, walking and island hopping, Dubrovnik or any other place in Croatia.
When can I go?
You choose your own start date. The tour can run all year round, with some changes to the program in winter in case of heavy snow.
