Put together Croatia’s lengthy coastline, mountains, rivers and canyons, and you’ll have endless possibilities for adventure. It’s one giant playground, a place where hiking, cycling, sailing, rafting, diving, kayaking, rock climbing and golf are just a few of the ways you can have an unforgettable active holiday.
Hikers and walkers are spoiled for choice in the sheer variety of Croatia’s trails and landscapes. Follow the wooden walkways past the waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park, or take in the panoramic views of the Adriatic from the limestone peaks of the Northern Velebit National Park. Hike to the top of Vidova Gora on the island of Brač and you’ll reach the highest point in the Adriatic.
For a serious challenge, try the 685-mile Via Adriatica, Croatia’s first long-distance trail that takes you from Pula in Istria all the way past Dubrovnik to the Montenegrin border. It forms roughly half of the Croatian Long-Distance Trail, a 1,400-mile odyssey that starts in the eastern Croatian town of Ilok before weaving its way through the Slavonian countryside and towards Zagreb before veering south to join the Via Adriatica in Istria.
If you prefer two wheels to two feet, you’ll discover the enormous range of cycling options, from road cycling to mountain biking. Cycle through the incredibly green island of Mljet and its national park, whose two saltwater lakes are tempting places to stop for a swim. The undulating routes along the 40-mile Pelješac peninsula meander past hillsides smothered with vines, and whose wineries make appealing pit stops. Istria’s mountainous interior is a joy to explore by bike as you make your way from one mediaeval hilltop village to the next. Look out for Istria’s Parenzana Trail, a nearly 80-mile cycling and hiking route that follows a former Austro-Hungarian railway line.
Cycle the 685-mile Via Adriatica that takes you from Pula all the way past Dubrovnik to the Montenegrin border
(Source: CTB / Ivan Sardi)
Croatia’s canyons, rivers, coastal waters and inland waterways beckon with the promise of exhilarating adventures on the water. Get your adrenaline fix with a white-knuckle ride along the rapids of the Cetina river canyon as it flows to the Adriatic through the town of Omiš. There’s more adventure in store further inland from Zadar in the Zrmanja river canyon, where rafts and kayaks paddle through a dramatic limestone landscape. Croatia’s quieter stretches of river are ideal for…
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