Get away from city hustle and discover the highlights of Velebit Nature Park. Climb to the most attractive mountain peak, ride a bike downhill by macadam road from 1832 and enjoy in lots of breathtaking viewpoints of Zadar hinterland and archipelago from 1100 m height. Enjoy the sight of emerald green Zrmanja river.
DATES: by appointment
SIGHTS and ATTRACTIONS:
Velebit Nature Park is the largest protected area in Croatia. Impressive mountain range 145 km long creates natural barrier between inland and coastal Croatia. It is included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Majstorska cesta is macadam road 41 km long built in 1832. It was the first road that connected continental and coastal Croatia. It took entire 11 years to built it trough wild and rocky terrain. Nowadays this road is in its original condition as it was in the 19th century and it is inscribed in the Croatian List of protected cultural goods.
Tulove grede (Tulo’s Rafters) are conglomerate of white limestone cliffs looking like crown rising from the body of a massive peak. Its unique landscape and rough beauty is perfect for photography lovers.
Zrmanja river flows through wild and rocky landscape and creates magnificent Canyon which is more than 200 meters deep.
PLAN OF THE TOUR:
START: 08:00
END: 16:30
Duration: 8:30 hours
Hike and Bike Velebit tour starts from Zadar at 8:00 towards Velebit mountain and ride by macadam road built in 1832.
At the foothills of Velebit’s most attractive mountain peak Tulo’s Rafters, starts an 1:20 hours long climb towards the top of the peak. As we reach mountain top, you will have 30 minutes long pause to rest and enjoy in breathtaking panorama of Zadar hinterland and archipelago from more than 1000 m high.
After that follows 40-minutes descend towards foothills of the mountain peak.
There, new adventure begins. Easy downhill cycling until first stop – one of the most beautiful viewpoints and small chapel built to honor hero of the Croatian Homeland war.
Shortly after we will stop near the rock that exceeds the road. There our guide will explain techniques of stone breaking and the construction of the first road that connected northern and southern Croatia over the karst Velebit mountain.
Ride continues until the next stop – small church of St Francis, built by the Austrian Emperor Francis I in 1832 to commemorate the newly built road.
Next stop is the birth house of Luka Modrić, World and Europe’s best football player in 2018 and one of the best players of famous Real Madrid football club.
Cycling adventure continues through asphalted road till magnificent viewpoint above the Zrmanja Canyon. This plateau served as a filming location for numerous movie scenes about Indian chief Winnetou based on Karl May’s novels.
Here ends our cycling adventure and we depart towards Zadar.
Return to Zadar at 16:30.
PRICE: 120,00 EUR per person
Minimum number of registered persons: 4
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- transfer by air-conditioned vehicle from Zadar
- experienced hiking guide
- mountain bike CUBE Ltd
- helmet
- Velebit Nature Park admission
- insurance for consequences from injuries
- VAT
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- lunch
- personal consumption
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION FOR HIKING:
Difficulty: moderate (medium demanding)
Effective climbing time: 1:20 hours
Effective descending: 40 minutes
Distance climbing: 1500 meters
Distance descending: 1500 meters
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION FOR CYCLING:
Difficulty: easy (constant downhill cycling and few kilometers of plain)
Effective cycling time: 3 hours
Distance : 25 kilometers
Type of the road: asphalt and macadam
RECOMMENDED AGE: kids older than 12 years and adults
GUIDES: licensed Croatian, English and/or German speaking guides
WHAT TO BRING: hiking boots or sneakers without plastic sole, small backpack for your stuff, rain coat, sun cream, lightweight jacket, energy bar, 2 bottles of water (3 liters), mobile phone, money, your ID
Toilet: unavailable at the mountain
