Day 1 – Sat: Arrival in Zvecaj Village
Arrival in Croatia. A Huck Finn guide will be waiting for you at Zagreb or Rijeka airport, bus or train station. If previously arranged, the pickup may be at Karlovac or Zvecaj bus or train station. You will be transferred to your accommodation situated 70 km from Zagreb in Zvecaj Village, by the Mreznica River. After settling into your room, you can have a drink on the terrace overlooking the Mreznica and its waterfalls, walk by the river, go for a swim or just relax. Meet the other members of the group over dinner and discuss the upcoming itinerary with your guide.
Meals: D
Day 2 – Sun: Canoeing / Kayaking on the Mreznica River
The day of canoeing / kayaking on the Mreznica starts in front of the hotel. We use two-person sit-on-top kayaks or open canoes which are easy and safe to navigate. After a short introduction to paddling, we push off upstream for an afternoon of refreshing fun on the clear, warm and emerald waters of this river with numerous waterfalls. Due to its biological diversity and variety of habitats, the Mreznica area should soon be categorized as a Croatian Nature Park. It is home to many endangered and protected plant and animal species that you may get a chance to observe. These include 4 species of birds from the “red list“ of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – the Golden Eagle, the Lesser Spotted Eagle, the Western Capercaillie and the Great White Egret. The day will be filled with swimming, jumping off the waterfalls and enjoying beautiful nature. After a light picnic, we’ll paddle back to the hotel.
Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Canoeing / kayaking: class I-II, easy/moderate, 3-4 hours
Day 3 – Mon: Walking / Hiking in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Early in the morning we start our ride through lovely countryside roads towards Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s first National Park. Once at Plitvice, we have the day to explore it on foot. Plitvice Lakes National Park is a spectacular geological and hydrogeological karst phenomenon, a sequence of sixteen turquoise lakes linked together with cascading falls and travertine pools. The lakes are surrounded by beech and pine forests and are home to extensive wildlife. The richness of flora and fauna attracts visitors and scientists from all over the world. UNESCO has declared it with all rights as a World Natural Heritage site. We’ll walk through the National Park following narrow paths, crossing over wooden bridges and even taking a boat ride on Lake Kozjak.
Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Walking / hiking: 4 hours; Terrain: easy, well marked paths; Drive: 1h45 each way
Day 4 – Tue: Cycling / Biking in the Mreznica area
A well-paced bike tour through villages and along country roads is a great way to experience Croatia much more closely than from a vehicle. There are many trails in the Mreznica area well-adapted for cycling / biking tours. We’ll start from the hotel and meander past numerous small family farms and homesteads. There are great places to take breaks along the road and look out over the valleys and fields. You will be able to go for a swim in the river and enjoy a picnic lunch on the bank. Those who still want to explore the area after the tour are free bike to other places of interests on their own, with directions given by the guide.
Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Cycling / biking: 3 hours; Terrain: easy/moderate, rolling hills
Day 5 – Wed: Optional trip day
For those who chose a 5-day trip, this is the end of your holiday. You are welcome to schedule your homeward transport for any time.
The rest of the group continues the trip. Today you can be as active or as lazy as you wish. You can relax by the river, swim, play beach volleyball or even take another optional bike tour on your own. Several optional walking / hiking, canoeing or sightseeing trips will be proposed, in case you are keen on discovering more beauties that Croatia has to offer.
Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own)
Day 6 – Thu: Sea kayaking in the Adriatic Sea
Today we head south for a day filled with sea kayaking, relaxing and swimming. The Adriatic Sea is warm and clear, with clean water and insignificant tides. There are no strong currents nor big waves and winds are rare and predictable. We will kayak along the Adriatic coast, have time to relax at one of the local beaches, swim and visit one of the small towns in the area. There are many sea kayaking locations to choose from and our guides will select the one that is best suited to group abilities and weather conditions. In the afternoon we’ll return back to our hotel for dinner.
Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Sea kayaking: easy, 2-3 hours; Drive: 2h each way
Day 7 – Fri: Canoeing / Kayaking on the upper gorge section of the Mreznica
Back on the river this morning in the upper Mreznica canyon. Our route takes us from the hotel to Primislje village, where we’ll start our expedition upstream. We travel through a gorge so narrow and deep that the sun reaches it for only a few hours each day, around noon, creating spectacular light effects. Paddling along cliffs of carved white rocks, lush vegetation and cascading waterfalls, we will arrive at a strong freshwater spring. We continue our journey to the second highest waterfall on the Mreznica (8m), a magical place ideal for swimming and a picnic. After a break, we head downstream and finish the adventure back where we left our vehicles. Ride back to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Canoeing / kayaking: class II-III, moderate, 4 – 5 hours; Drive: 40 min each way
Day 8 – Sat: Departure day
Depart from Zvecaj Village for the airport and flight home. You are welcome to schedule your homeward transport for any time. If you decide to spend more time in Croatia, our guides will be happy to recommend other beautiful places to visit – especially those you won’t find in tourist guide books.
Meals: B
Note on the itinerary:
This itinerary and the duration of the activities are subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, weather conditions and forecasts, water levels, special events of interest, etc. Huck Finn guides and trip leaders will do their utmost to ensure the best possible experience for their clients without compromising safety at any time. This may mean changing the original itinerary to avoid discomfort or risk which could be caused by exceptional situations. Huck Finn reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.
For more information and registration, please send us an email at the following? address:
viaglobe@viaglobe.net