Guided · 8 days · Risnjak to Krka
A guided week on foot through five national parks and one nature park, from the forests of Gorski Kotar to the waterfalls of the Krka.
Trip at a glance
Overview
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 guided walk of between two and six hours, with local food in the evening and a private en-suite room in a 3-star hotel or guesthouse. Your guide speaks English and drives the group between the parks.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 · Gorski Kotar
Your guide meets you at Zagreb or Rijeka airport, or at any other location in those cities, and drives you into Gorski Kotar. This forested mountain region is known as the Green Lungs of Croatia and sees few visitors. In the evening the group sits down to a welcome dinner and the guide talks through the week ahead.
Day 2 · Risnjak National Park
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
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 drive on to the Plitvice area.
Day 4 · Plitvice Lakes National Park
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
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, where your guide tells the legend that goes with it. 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
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 drive 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
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
After breakfast in Skradin you are driven to your drop-off in Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar or Split. 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
| Day | Where | Walking | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Zagreb, drive to Gorski Kotar | – | about 1 h 45 min |
| 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
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 | €7,235card€6,990bank / Wise | €7,442card€7,190bank / Wise |
| 2 guests | €3,923card€3,790bank / Wise | €4,130card€3,990bank / Wise |
| 3 guests | €2,784card€2,690bank / Wise | €2,991card€2,890bank / Wise |
| 4 guests | €2,474card€2,390bank / Wise | €2,681card€2,590bank / Wise |
| 5 guests | €2,163card€2,090bank / Wise | €2,370card€2,290bank / Wise |
| 6 guests | €2,060card€1,990bank / Wise | €2,267card€2,190bank / Wise |
| 7 guests | €1,956card€1,890bank / Wise | €2,163card€2,090bank / Wise |
| 8 guests | €1,853card€1,790bank / Wise | €2,060card€1,990bank / Wise |
| Single room supplement | €290card€280bank / Wise | €362card€350bank / Wise |
| Upgrade to 4-star accommodation | €217card€210bank / Wise | €290card€280bank / Wise |
Every Saturday, all year round.
Any other date on request. The tour runs all year round, with some program changes in winter in case of heavy snow.
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. 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.
Seven breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners are included, and your guide recommends restaurants and shops for the rest. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available with advance notice.
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.
Add Mount Dinara, Biokovo Nature Park, a walking and island-hopping stay or Dubrovnik at the end of the tour.
Photos
FAQs
The tour starts in Zagreb and ends in Split. Pick-up is included at Zagreb or Rijeka airport, or any other location in those cities, and after breakfast on day 8 you are driven to your drop-off in Zagreb, Rijeka, Zadar or Split.
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.
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.
We price every group size from 1 to 8 guests individually, with the per-person rate getting lower as the group grows. For 9 or more guests, contact us for a custom quote.
The price includes 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners, with water and 1 non-alcoholic drink per person at every included lunch and dinner. For the other meals your guide recommends local restaurants and grocery shops. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available with advance notice, and any other dietary needs should be mentioned when you book.
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. Families and groups of friends 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.
Children from 6 years old can join when they travel with a parent or legal guardian. A reduced price applies to children, so ask us for the current rate. One child at the reduced price shares a room with the parents, and two or more children can have their own room.
Yes, if you travel alone you can pay the single room supplement for your own room. You may also be able to share a room with another solo traveler on the same departure, so contact us to ask about this.
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.
Standard departures run every Saturday, all year round, and a departure on any other date can be arranged on request. In winter the program may change in case of heavy snow.
Yes. The guide may adjust the program because of weather, water levels, the preferences and abilities of the group or other exceptional circumstances. Safety and comfort come first, and every reasonable effort is made to follow the plan.
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.
Walking & Hiking Croatia National Parks
Choose a date to see your price. Dates that are greyed out are not available.
Walking & Hiking Croatia National Parks
8 days / 7 nights · private guided tour
Your message has been sent, and we will reply to you by email shortly.