When you look past the understandably famous resort towns and beaches of Croatia, past the more internationally renowned destinations and tourist hot spots, past the more built-up urban areas, you will realise that there is a whole other Croatia to be discovered. This Croatia is made up of a diverse and exceptionally lovely landscape that goes from those famous picture-perfect beaches to towering snow-capped peaks to immense forests to rocky gorges to pastures of wildflowers to jewel-toned lakes and everything in between. While there are certain images that first come to mind when one thinks of the country, there is much beauty to be discovered beyond what Croatia is stereotypically known and celebrated for and there are a whole lot of incredible landscapes to be explored. In fact, while it might not be the first destination to come to mind for hikers and explorers, there is plenty of adventure and some truly excellent trails that await in Croatia. So, if you're looking for a place to go on a hiking holiday or you are looking for a place that caters to all of your other holiday needs (good food, great beaches, interesting historical and cultural attractions, and much more besides), then Croatia is actually a wonderful option!
Specifically, a vacation rental in Lika-Senj is a great option for those in search of a holiday that entails some excellent hiking and exploration. This stunning region is comprised of much of the historic Lika Region, and is made up of a large chunk of the northern Adriatic coastline, several national parks, lakes, and mountains. Exceptionally beautiful, this lush region has a more mild climate than other parts of the country and is, therefore, the perfect unspoiled natural paradise for adventure and enjoying the great outdoors; whether you decide to go hiking, swimming, zip-lining, or any of the other activities that can be pursued in the region. One of the absolute musts when spending time in Lika-Senj is a visit to the Northern Velebit National Park.
Specifically, a vacation rental in Lika-Senj is a great option for those in search of a holiday that entails some excellent hiking and exploration. This stunning region is comprised of much of the historic Lika Region, and is made up of a large chunk of the northern Adriatic coastline, several national parks, lakes, and mountains. Exceptionally beautiful, this lush region has a more mild climate than other parts of the country and is, therefore, the perfect unspoiled natural paradise for adventure and enjoying the great outdoors; whether you decide to go hiking, swimming, zip-lining, or any of the other activities that can be pursued in the region. One of the absolute musts when spending time in Lika-Senj is a visit to the Northern Velebit National Park.
The Northern Velebit National Park was established in 1999 when it was upgraded from a nature reserve and is the youngest of the eight national parks of Croatia. Covering 109km2 of the northern section of the Velebit mountains (the largest mountain range in Croatia), and a part of the region that is a true patchwork of the most incredibly diverse habitats, the Northern Velebit National Park is home to a vast number of different plant, fungi and animal species and remains remarkably wild and perfect for exploration. In fact, large sections have yet to be explored in their entirety. The protection and conservation of this incredible land has worked wonders to preserve its immense, wild natural wealth and beauty and, as a result, it has been included in five European pilot-areas as part of the Rewilding Europe project, along with Paklenica National Park and Velebit Nature Park.
The park has come to encompass and incorporate several areas that were protected lands in their own right beforehand, including the Hajdučki i Rožanski Kukovi, the Visibaba Botanical Reserve (home to the endemic species Croatian Sibirea), and the Zavižan-Balinovac-Velika Kosa Botanical Reserve (home to the well-known Velebit Botanical Garden) and is made up of impressive karst formations and sharply pointed towering peaks, sweeping views over the coast of Croatia, pastures filled with soft light, rustling grasses, and wildflowers, dense forests, and some truly excellent hiking trails. Northern Velebit National Park has also become a particularly popular spot for Croatians looking to get out into nature and away from it all thanks, in part, to the publication of novelist Edo Popović's wildly successful meditative travelogue, “Priručnik za hodače,” (The Walkers’ Handbook) in 2010. This book made many in the country pick up hiking as a new hobby and made specific destinations like the Northern Velebit National Park into local tourism hot spots.
The park has come to encompass and incorporate several areas that were protected lands in their own right beforehand, including the Hajdučki i Rožanski Kukovi, the Visibaba Botanical Reserve (home to the endemic species Croatian Sibirea), and the Zavižan-Balinovac-Velika Kosa Botanical Reserve (home to the well-known Velebit Botanical Garden) and is made up of impressive karst formations and sharply pointed towering peaks, sweeping views over the coast of Croatia, pastures filled with soft light, rustling grasses, and wildflowers, dense forests, and some truly excellent hiking trails. Northern Velebit National Park has also become a particularly popular spot for Croatians looking to get out into nature and away from it all thanks, in part, to the publication of novelist Edo Popović's wildly successful meditative travelogue, “Priručnik za hodače,” (The Walkers’ Handbook) in 2010. This book made many in the country pick up hiking as a new hobby and made specific destinations like the Northern Velebit National Park into local tourism hot spots.
Those wishing to visit and explore the Northern Velebit National Park should be aware that it is a very highly protected space and that all visitors are restricted to designated trails but, thankfully, there are plenty to choose from, with mountaineering trails crisscrossing the park. The most famous of these is Premužić's Trail, which is named for forestry engineer Ante Premužić who was in charge of constructing this stone path through the park in late 1933. Running through the most beautiful and scenic parts of Northern Velebit National Park – from one side of the Northern Velebit’s central ridge to the other, right through the heart of the park, offering views of the alien-like rocky boulderscapes, lush deciduous forests, prickly Mediterranean scrub, and glimpses across the Adriatic – there is good reason as to why it is the most popular trail among visitors who come to hike in the area. Different sections and trails can be undertaken depending on one's time, experience, fitness level, and interests. Most choose the stretch that starts just south of the Zavižan meteorological station and runs to Rossijeva Koliba (Rossi’s Hut), which takes around 2-3 hours and can be readily done as a day-trip during your stay in the area.
So, if you have a passion for landscapes that are wild and beautiful and for getting out and exploring them, then consider the incredible majesty that can be discovered in Croatia and, in particular, in the Lika-Senj area of Croatia. The wonderful Northern Velebit National Park offers plenty of opportunity for adventure and is but one part of the stunning landscape of this region.
So, if you have a passion for landscapes that are wild and beautiful and for getting out and exploring them, then consider the incredible majesty that can be discovered in Croatia and, in particular, in the Lika-Senj area of Croatia. The wonderful Northern Velebit National Park offers plenty of opportunity for adventure and is but one part of the stunning landscape of this region.
Photo credits
Picture 1: LeonardoDj / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 2: Planinarski Klub / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 3: Gorga / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 1: LeonardoDj / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 2: Planinarski Klub / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 3: Gorga / CC BY-SA 3.0
