Trip to Velebit mountain and Zrmanja Canyon

Tulove Grede, Jasenice, Zadar County, Croatia

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Duration

5 hours

Cancellation

Up to 2 days

Group Size

4 - 15 people

Languages

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Trip to Velebit mountain and Zrmanja Canyon

Overview

Trip to Velebit mountain and Zrmanja Canyon is unforgettable hiking adventure in Velebit Nature Park. You will enjoy the magnificent view of Zrmanja river canyon, climb the most beautiful peak of mountain Velebit, visit filming locations of Winnetou and birth house of Luka Modrić.

AVAILABLE: May to September

SIGHTS and ATTRACTIONS:

Velebit Nature Park is mountain range and the largest protected area in Croatia. The highest peak of the mountain reaches up to 1.757 m. Velebit is included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Majstorska cesta is a macadam road and the most beautiful mountain road in Croatia, offering spectacular views of the peaks of Velebit mountain, the Zadar hinterland and the sea. It was built in 19th century and it is 41 km long. It was the first road to connect the continental and coastal Croatia’s regions.

Tulove grede (Tulo’s Rafters) is one of the most attractive peaks of Velebit mountain. Extremely steep limestone cliffs and rough landscape served as filming location for many movies and definitely the most popular are those about Winnetou – fictive Indian chief, based on Karl May’s novels. Velebit is known as a mountain where movie character Indian chief Winnetou died. After the death of the famous actor Pierre Brice, his wife spilled its ashes across this magnificent mountain.

Zrmanja river is 69 km long and flows through the wild and rocky landscape creating magnificent canyon that is more than 200 meters deep.

PLAN OF THE TOUR:

START: 8:00 or 15:00
END: 13:00 or 8:00
Duration: 5:00 hours

Hike Velebit mountain and Zrmanja canyon is organized in the morning and in the afternoon. Departure is from Zadar towards the first location – Zrmanja canyon. You will stop shortly in a plateau overlooking Zrmanja canyon and admire magnificent 200 m deep canyon. This location served for the purposes of making Winnetou movies, representing Wild West while river Zrmanja was representing Rio Pecos.
After that you will drive towards Velebit Nature Park. The ride itself is unique experience because you will drive along old macadam road (Majstorska cesta) and you will enjoy amazing panoramic views as you climb towards the Velebit mountain. During the ride your guide will tell you stories and legends about construction of the road and you will stop to visit the church of St. Francis with unusual architecture built in 1832 by the emperor Francis II.
The ride continues to the foothills of Tulove grede, one of the most beautiful mountain peaks in Croatia. This is where you stop and exit the vehicle to start the 1,5 hour hike up hill to the top. Short walks are combined with short pauses for you to refresh and to photograph unusual karst formations and wildlife. At the top of the mountain you will have 30-40 min pause to enjoy the calmness of the mountain and breath-taking views from 1.100 m height.
After the pause follows downhill 40-min hike to the foothills of the peak, where the vehicle will be waiting for you. On your way back to Zadar, you will stop to see birth house of Luka Modrić, World’s best football player in 2018.
Hike Velebit mountain and Zrmanja canyon ends when you return to Zadar.

PRICE:
75,00 EUR per person

Notice: minimal number of 4 passengers is required for this tour

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

transportation with air-conditioned vehicle
experienced hiking guide
admission for Velebit Nature Park
insurance for consequences from injuries
VAT

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

lunch
personal consumption

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF HIKING:

Difficulty: moderate (medium demanding)
Distance climbing: 1500 meters
Effective climbing time: 1:20 hours
Distance descending: 1500 meters
Effective descending time: 40 minutes

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, bottle of water (1,5 liters), mobile phone, money, your ID
Toilet: unavailable at the mountain

START POINT:

Highlights

Enjoy the view on the over 200 m deep canyon of the river Zrmanja from the lookout
Drive in a Jeep along the old macadam road which is in its original condition as in the 19th century when it was built
Climb to the mountain top at 1,100 m and enjoy the breathtaking view

What you will do

08:00/15:00

The trip to Velebit and the canyon of the river Zrmanja is organized in two terms: in the morning and afternoon. Departure is from Zadar to the first location - the canyon of the river Zrmanja.

Lookout above Zrmanja canyon

The first stop is at a lookout point with a beautiful view of the over 200 m deep canyon of the river Zrmanja. It was this location that served the purpose of making a film about Winnetou representing the Wild West, while the Zrmanja River represented the Rio Pecos River.

Velebit mounatin

You will drive towards the Velebit Nature Park. The ride across the mountain is a unique experience because you will drive along the Master Road, old macadam road, which is in its original condition as in the 19th century when it was built.
During the ride, the guide will tell you stories and legends related to the construction of the road, and you will also visit the church of St. Francis with somewhat unusual architecture, built by an Austrian emperor.

'Tulove grede' mountain top

You will drive to the foothills of the most beautiful peak of the Velebit mountain, Tulove grede. From there starts 1,5 climb to the very top of the mountain. Climbing is combine with short breaks where you will be able to stop and refresh yourself or to take photos of the most unusual scenes of karst relief. At the top of the mountain you will stay for 30-40 minutes to enjoy the magnificent view from 1,100 meters altitude.

Return to Zadar

After a break at the top, you will descent for 40 min down the slopes of the mountain. At the foothills of the mountain, you will enter the vehicle and you will return to Zadar.