Croatia·September 14 - 21 2024
TRAIL PURSUIT: CROATIA
Explore the Croatian wilderness!
LAUNCHES 16 MAY
Croatia·September 14 - 21 2024
Explore the Croatian wilderness!
LAUNCHES 16 MAY
Duration: 7 nights (Sat-Sat) Group Size: Up to 15 Accommodation: Wild camping, mountain hut & hotel Dates: 4-11 May & 14-21 September 2024 Meet Point: Split or Zadar Airport Difficulty: Moderate. Good level of fitness & an adventurous nature! Experience the wild side of Croatia on this multi-sport action packed journey. We’ll trail run & packraft along Zrmanja river, hike past cascading waterfalls & sea kayak to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Zlarin Island. On this 8 day adventure we’ll venture off the beaten path to stunning National Parks such as Paklencia & Krka, cooling off in turquoise waters along the way. This is for people who love being active & are up for a challenge! You’ll learn about the rich cultural heritage of the architectural wonders in Zadar, whilst celebrating the great outdoors with new friends by your side.
Packraft the turquoise waters & travel through the picturesque canyons of Zrmanja River.
Beautiful guided trail runs exploring Zrmanja, Krupa river & their canyons. Play in waterfalls & swim afterwards!
Sea kayak to Zlarin Island, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Nicolas fortress, stopping for refreshing swims.
Try something different! SUP, swim & relax as we explore the bay of Skradin.
Vinyasa Yoga fused with mindfulness surrounded by nature.
Cycle through the heart of Krka National Park, visiting a monastery on a small islet & swim in Lake Visovac.
Hike through Paklencia National Park with rugged mountains & dramatic canyons, exploring the wonders of Manita Cave.
On days 1-3 we'll camp in the heart of the Velebit nature park. In this small village we're based in a secluded spot right on the bank of the stunning Zrmanja river.
Home to spectacular islands & coastal scenery stretching down the Adriatic sea, Croatia has it all. Pure untouched nature, prepare for an unforgettable 8 day adventure.
International Mountain Leader Guide who will be our head point of contact during the trip. Vanna is fully qualified & loves exploring exotic locales, traveling far, meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Passionate adventurer, runner & outdoors entrepreneur. Ed is the founder of Trail Pursuit who will support the delivery of the experience.
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DAY 1
Welcome to Croatia! You'll be collected from either Split or Zadar airport & transferred to our base for the evening in the heart of Velebit Nature Park. After settling in and meeting your team, get ready for a welcome dinner & drinks with your guides and an intro to the week's itinerary!
Transfer: Zadar - Kašte Žegarski 50 min or Split - Kaštel Žegarski 1h 40min
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Campsite
DAY 2
Morning: We wake early to avoid the heat and head to the start of the trail. What makes this trail run special are the amazing views of the Zrmanja and Krupa river and their canyons from various vantage points. However, don’t be fooled by the surrounding beauty and stay focused – the terrain here demands concentration and endurance. The trail leads us to the beautiful gardens of the Krupa monastery where you can cool your tired feet in the Krupa river.
Afternoon: Use your afternoon to do some urban exploring in the city of Zadar. Visit Zadar’s many historic and contemporary architectural wonders and learn about its rich cultural heritage and UNESCO world heritage sites. Make sure not to miss the sunset on the promenade, as it is said to be one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Natural highlights: Zrmanja / Krupa rivers and canyons Cultural highlights: Kuda’s bridge, Krupa monastery, The Church of St. Donat, Zadar’s city walls, Zadar’s Sea organ.
Activity: 12km
Accommodation: Campsite
DAY 3
Morning: Find your flow with optional sunrise yoga led by Vanna.
Today we packraft down Zrmanja river and enjoy the clear waters with a bounty of local flora and fauna. About mid-way we take a detour into Krupa river and stop in an amazingly beautiful secret location! Here, we eat our picnic-lunches and swim under the waterfall. Afterwards we continue through multiple rapids and pass beautiful waterfalls.
Afternoon: Walk through the spectacular canyon of the Zrmanja river and hike up to the surrounding hills to get a birds-eye view of where you packrafted earlier that day.
Natural highlights: Veliki Buk waterfall, Ogar waterfall, Krupa river’s hidden waterfall collapsed waterfall, Šina rapid
Activity: 11km
Accommodation: Camp
DAY 4
Morning: Trekking is the best way to get to know this mountainous national park as vehicles can only drive up to its entrance. We start the trek in the canyon of Velika Paklenica and trek our way up along the Paklenica river. About half way we take a detour to the most famous speleological object and the only cave made accessible to the public - the Manita cave. After a short tour we continue our way up, swimming in Paklenica river’s natural pools. Upon arrival to the mountain hut, you will be greeted with a shot of local snaps!
Afternoon: Unless you’ve had too much snaps, venture further up the mountain to explore an abandoned village built into the cliffs. Spend the rest of your afternoon enjoying the simple pleasures this place has to offer by having a uniquely prepared traditional meal and learning how to play bocce-ball with your hosts.
Natural highlights: Velika Paklenica canyon, Manita cave, Paklenica river’s natural pools
Cultural highlights: Abandoned stone village, traditional mountain hut and meal
Activity: approx.10km
Accommodation: Mountain lodge
DAY 5
Morning: After breakfast, pack up and get ready for a mountain run descent. To keep things interesting we take a different route from the one we trekked up the previous day. We run along the mountain ridge with spectacular views of the national park! Once we reach the vans our guides will drive us to the beach of Starigrad town. We cool down with a swim and a drink on the beach before getting transferred to Skradin.
Afternoon: Feel free to relax or grab a paddle board and explore the bay of Skradin. Paddle boards will be at your disposal throughout your stay here. Alternatively, take a walk through Skradin’s tiny narrow streets and walk up to its hilltop fort offering an amazing view of the bay. There will also be an optional yoga class late afternoon to help us unwind.
Natural highlights: Paklenica mountain, Starigrad beach, Skradin bay
Cultural highlights: Starigrad town, Skradin town, Skradin fort
Activity: approx. 15km
Accommodation: Hotel***
DAY 6
Morning: Today we kayak across the channel to Zlarin island! We'll visit the UNESCO world heritage site - St. Nicolas fortress, and explore the beautiful nature and history of the Sibenik region. We will paddle along the coast of Zlarin island and stop to swim in one of its many beautiful bays. We kayak to the picturesque village of Zlarin & stop for a delicious lunch before heading back to the mainland.
Afternoon: Walk through the old city’s labyrinth of streets and discover sites of great cultural and historic importance. Make sure to stop and admire the most important Renaissance monument in the entire country – the cathedral of Saint James – the second UNESCO world heritage site of the day.
Natural highlights: Zlarin island and its bays
Cultural highlights: St. Nicolas fortress, Zlarin town, Cathedral of Saint James
Activity: 5-25 km (flexible)
Accommodation: Hotel***
DAY 7
Morning: Get ready for an EPIC final mountain bike day! Our first stop will be lake Visovac where a small boat will take us to the Franciscan monastery situated on an islet in the middle of the lake. Here you will have a short tour of the monastery and a walk through the beautiful park kept by monks. Once back on the mainland, we go for a swim in the lake and cycle back to Skradin for lunch to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Afternoon: Hop back on your bike and cycle to the heart of the Krka national park where you will take a light walking tour in an unusual and beautiful landscape. Discover how people used to live here in the past by visiting a renovated traditional village and the remnants of the first hydroelectric power plant in Croatia. Since this is your final evening, join your guides & team for a farewell drink in one of Skradin’s wine bars after dinner!
Natural highlights: Visovac lake, Krka River, Skradinski buk waterfall
Cultural highlights: Visovac monastery, traditional village with ethnographic collections, the first hydroelectric power plant in Croatia
Activity: Route approx. 34km
Accommodation: Hotel***
DAY 8
What an adventure with new friends!
Get transferred to the airport in the morning or, if you aren’t pressed for time, go for a paddle and a swim on Skradin’s beautiful beach.
Transfer: Skradin-Zadar 1 hour or Skradin-Split 1hr
Qualified International Mountain Leader Guide
Private transport in Croatia
x2 days trail running, 10-15km each
Packrafting Zrmanja River
Yoga class & wild swimming
Hike through Paklencia National Park
Sea kayaking Zlarin Island
Cycling Krka circuit
Use of SUPs in Skradin
Meals - 7 breakfasts & 7 dinners (all dietary types catered for)
Both indoor & outdoor accommodation
1 night in a mountain house homestay
3 night hotel stay
All equipment including tents, cooking gear & pitches. Plus mountain bikes, packrafts & sea kayaks
Sea kayaking equipment
Pick up & drop off from Zadar or Split Airport
National Park entry fees
Flights to & from Croatia
Travel Insurance
Alcoholic drinks & lunches
Sleeping bag (please bring your own)
Participants are required to be healthy & in good physical shape, managing a mix of activities across 7 days. Your adventure is completely customisable & you can participate in as many or as few activities as you wish!
A comprehensive kit checklist will be sent to all guests ahead of travel, this includes: - Lightweight performance tees & shorts - Clothing for warm & cold conditions - Waterproof jacket - Trail running shoes - Swimsuit - Light trainers & flip flops - Refillable water bottle - 20 litre day pack - Money pouch - Cash - Personal toiletries & sun cream - Quick dry towel - Dry bag (keeping personal items dry on the packraft i.e phone/camera) - Camping pillow (optional) - Sleeping bag
You are required to take out cover, which most activity insurance companies will provide, this needs to include emergency evacuation and medial care. Sports Cover Direct offer a comprehensive range of sports travel insurance between £25-30 for a single trip.
The itinerary and 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. Trail Pursuit guides will do their utmost to ensure the best possible experience for their guests 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, and Trail Pursuit reserves the right to alter the itinerary accordingly.
We have 3 options for you to choose: 1) Payment Plan - £200 deposit & then spread the balance over 4 monthly instalments 2) Pay a 20% deposit & the balance by 1st March 2024. 3) Pay in full Book with confidence: - 14 day cooling off period - If Trail Pursuit have to cancel or postpone the trip due to COVID-19 or any other reason, you can either be credited to a future trip or receive a full refund.
I took part in the Croatia multisport activity week with my husband and son (19) and daughter (21). The week was fantastic. Ed and Vana and the extra guides for kayaking were professional, friendly and very helpful. The variety of activities - kayaking, running, cycling, hiking - kept the week challenging and interesting. Croatia was beautiful and the other people on the trip made the whole week a really good bonding experience. Can't recommend enough.
Joanne Goode
This was an incredible trip! I loved every minute! Amazing views and landscapes, challenging, beautiful hikes and the kayaking was awesome! We stayed in an amazing variety of accommodation and the food was plentiful and delicious! Can’t recommend enough! Thank you guys! I’ll be booking again! X
Laura Brooks
Joined the Trail Pursuit events in the Lake District, Brecon Brecon, and most recently Norway. Great events, fantastic experiences, and met some awesome people there. Fully recommend to anyone who loves adventure!
Gavin Burns
Back in June 2022 I had the privilege of being part of the first 'team' to live the Norway experience. Having found the courage to travel by myself, I found it utterly fantastic from start to finish. Yes, it had its moments of challenge but this helped to make it such an amazing experience. Such a stunning location and well thought out loop above/within the majestic fjord. One of the best experiences I've ever had! As for the 'team' they were all such amazing people and it was a pleasure to share the experience with them, thank you!
Caroline Smith
Participants are required to be healthy & in good physical shape, managing a mix of activities across 8 days. Your adventure is completely customisable & you can participate in as many or as few activities as you wish!
We can accommodate for all dietary types, please tell us your preferences when you book. Breakfast & dinner will be provided & you are free to purchase your own lunch each day.
All food is fresh & portion sizes are generous. The menu is varied & will include things like rice, pasta, fresh vegetables, egg & meats. Tap water is drinkable in Croatia & we recommend bringing your own refillable bottle! Tea & coffee is provided with breakfast, however you will have to purchase alcoholic drinks/soft drinks with dinner.
Packrafts, sea kayaks (singles and doubles), mountain bikes, 1 or 2 man tents and campsite equipment.
Yes, the Trail Pursuit hosts and outdoor guides are very experienced with good English so you will have no problems in communication on the trip.
3 nights will be spent in our campsite in Velebit Nature Park, 1 night will be spent in an Eco Mountain Cabin & 3 nights will be spent in a 3* Hotel. You will be safe & comfortable throughout for a true Croatian experience!
There will be a mix of trail running, packrafting, hiking, sea kayaking & mountain biking. There will also be plenty of swimming & SUP for anyone who would like to. Get ready for an incredible 8 day adventure!
Yes, available payment options include:
1) Payment Plan - £200 deposit & then spread the balance over 6 monthly instalments (most popular)
2) Pay a 15% deposit & the balance by 1st February 2024.
3) Pay in full
Our meet point is Zadar or Split Airport & your hosts will meet you at whichever you fly into. Please try & arrive by 8pm & let us know your flight details. If you arrive after 8pm we can arrange an additional pickup. You will then be transferred to Velebit Nature Park - our base for the first few days.
You are welcome to arrive a day early & make your way back to the airport pickup if that is preferable.
Yes, a Whatsapp Group will be made where we can confirm kit lists, logistics & answer any questions you may have. Team effort!
This is COVID dependent. If it is safe to do so rooms will be mixed, otherwise we can opt for individual if necessary. We will accommodate male / female rooms once the trip has been booked.
Book with confidence. If you book and Trail Pursuit have to cancel or postpone the trip due to COVID-19 government restrictions you can either be credited to a future trip or receive a full refund. Our goal is to ensure you have an incredible & safe trip, whenever it may be.
Ryanair have frequent & affordable flights to Zadar Airport. (45mins from base camp).
British Airways, EasyJet & Jet.com fly direct to Split Airport, Croatia. (2hrs from base camp).
Once you book your flight please let us know your arrival & departure times+day.
Absolutely, you are welcome to arrive earlier & stay longer after the trip if you wish. All we ask is you meet us at Zadar or Split Airport on arrival day between 9am-4pm for transfers to our start point.
No, we welcome guests from all over the world!
Each group will have a maximum of 15 guests plus the guide. We welcome guests of all ages who are in good physical health & up for adventure.