Tour description
This journey introduces you to Croatia’s beauty and outdoor adventures. You’ll hike the Life on Mars Trail on Pag and Central Velebit with stunning sea views. You will go on a kayak trip through the stunning scenery of the Bay of Pag and canoe down the Zrmanja River, following Winnetou’s footsteps. A boat trip lets you discover a sunken German warship in Zavratnica Bay, while in Rab, you’ll take a walk to explore the island’s beauty. Cycling near the Kolan ornithological reserve includes a visit to a cheese factory to taste famous Pag cheese. The trip ends with a visit to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 1 - Arrival
Transfer from Split airport to hotel on Pag island. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 - Island Pag "Life on Mars" trail
Transfer to the village of Metajna from where our hike on the shores of Pag Bay begins. The route takes place on the trail called „Life on Mars“ because of the landscape it crosses. In the winter time, the „bura“, a violent wind which comes down from the mountains, spreads its salty spray and limits the vegetation. The water then erodes the limestone reliefs, giving rise to caves and boulders which are a delight for climbers. We walk in this magical setting which offers us spectacular views of the blue of the bay of Pag and the Velebit mountain. The numerous beaches stretch along the way and offer the opportunity for refreshing swim breaks. Picnic during the hike. Return to the hotel in the middle of afternoon and free time to relax on the beach or by the pool. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 - Boat trip to Rab island and Zavratnica bay
Short transfer to the port of Lun on the north coast of the island of Pag and departure by boat in direction of the neighbouring island of Rab. During the boat trip, we drop anchor in the bay of Zavratnica, an extraordinary maritime nature park. There you will discover the wreck of a German ship from the Second World War which is exposed only a few meters from the surface! Our excursion continues to the island of Rab with a free visit of the medieval town of Rab, which is rich in culture and history that dates back to pre-Roman times. The city is surrounded by ramparts and famous for its four church bell towers that form a familiar outline, depicting Rab as a ship with four masts. Return to Pag. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4 - Velebit Nature Park - Baške oštarije
Today, we gain in altitude and reach the heights of the so-called “kukovi”, immense rocky peaks that emerge out of the green forest landscape as huge sharp teeth and fascinate with their majestic stony beauty. Our hike begins in the hamlet of Baške Oštarije, where we meet the shepherds who lead their sheep to the meadows. We climb up a summit and we enjoy a splendid panorama of the Adriatic Sea and its islands. At the end of the hike, we reach the village inn and enjoy a well-deserved lunch. Then we go back to Novalja by transfer, free time to stroll around the city. Free dinner in Novalja.
Day 5 - Sea kayaking in Pag Bay
Day of kayaking along the coasts of Pag Bay. The activity begins on Ručica beach. During the kayak tour, we enjoy the view on the shores with their impressive rocks of Stogaj and Teplica, followed by several pebble and sand beaches where we stop to picnic, to swim and relax. Our next stop is the Gaće cave before we continue and return to the starting point. At the end of the afternoon, transfer to the city of Pag and free visit of the old town and its ancient streets, cultural monuments and maritime promenade. Free dinner in Pag.
Day 6 - Cycling along the fields of Kolan - Visit to the cheese factory - Optional paddleboarding
This morning, we go by bike into the fields of Kolan. There, we cross the ornithological reserve bordered by impressive dry stone walls, walk along the remains of the Roman aqueduct and make a stopover to visit a small church. After a swimming break, we will visit the Gligora cheese factory, renowned for its excellent sheep cheese it produces, the so-called Paški sir. Return to the hotel. Free afternoon. As an option, possibility of renting paddles to explore the little bays next to the hotel beach. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7 - Kayaking on Zrmanja river
In the morning, transfer to Kaštel Žegarski, where the kayak tour begins. The first part of the descent represents a nice water trip where you will enjoy the beautiful landscape and refreshing waters. Soon you reach the confluence of Zrmanja river with the Krupa river before it heads further to the Zrmanja Canyon which is part of Croatia’s largest protected area, the Velebit Nature Park. The tour continues until the village of Muškovci. This descent represents no difficulty. It is punctuated by swimming breaks in warm and transparent waters with a surrounding enchanting landscape that offers natural shade in hot summer days. Then transfer to Trogir. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8 - Departure
Departure transfers to the airport.
Accommodation
– 1 night in Trogir, in a 3* or 4* hotel, in a double room with private bathroom.
– 6 nights in Pag island, in a 3* or 4* hotel, in a double room with private bathroom.
Accommodation facilities can be adjusted to include apartments, campsites, hostels, resorts, lodges and eco hotels. Different types of accommodation can be combined on each tour.