• Activity Level:  5
  • Comfort:  4
  • Departs From: Zagreb
  • Location: Zvecaj, Plitvice Lakes, Mreznica River, Una River
  • Duration: 8 days
  • Availability: SATURDAYS, May - September
  • CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

  • This multi activity adventure holiday will take you along the Mreznica River, through Plitvice Lakes National Park and to the Una River in Bosnia
  • Explore this unique area on foot, by bike, on a Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP), from a kayak and raft.
  • Clear green water, unspoiled woods and magical landscapes make it one of Croatia’s most desirable continental retreats.
  • Our guides will seize every opportunity to steer you away from the busy everyday life ensuring a truly memorable experience which you will cherish for many years to come.
Book now (obligation free) pay later

8 days from Zagreb to Zvecaj Village, Plitvice Lakes, Mreznica River, Una River returning to Zagreb or Rijeka airport

An active trip in the greenest areas of Croatia, with clear rivers and deep forests to be discovered by kayak, bicycle or raft, swimming or walking. Stay in a small, family-owned hotel by the river Mreznica in Zvecaj. Continental Croatia, one hour drive from Zagreb.
Departures 2019: Weekly May to October

Itinerary

8 days from Zagreb to Zvecaj Village, Plitvice Lakes, Mreznica River, Una River returning to Zagreb or Rijeka airport

Open age tour from 8yrs and up (maximum 16 people), but recommended only for those who are extremely fit as this is a very challenging week! Double/twin rooms available. Solo rooms available with a solo supplement.

2019 departure dates: May to Sep


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https://discovercroatia.com.au/before-you-go/


ITINERARY:

Day 1 Arrival in Croatia.
Your 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 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.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: D; Drive: 1h30min from the airport.

Day 2 Walking 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.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Walking, 4-5 hours, easy; Drive: 1 hour 45 minutes each way.

Day 3 Kayaking and SUP on the Mreznica River
The day of water activities on the Mreznica starts with kayaking in front of the hotel. We use two-person sit-on-top kayaks which are easy and safe to navigate. After a short introduction to paddling, we push off upstream for a 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. After a light picnic, we’ll paddle back to the hotel. In the afternoon we will change our kayaks with stand up paddle boards and discover the river bed from a different perspective. Starting with short introduction you will have an active yet easy afternoon to start of the week. The day will be filled with swimming, jumping off the waterfalls and enjoying beautiful nature. Later in the afternoon we will have some free time to rest and will end the day with a group dinner on the restaurant terrace.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 2-3 hours, class I-II; Stand up paddle boarding (SUP), 2 hours, easy/moderate.

Day 4 Cycling 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 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.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Cycling, 3 hours, easy/moderate (rolling hills).

Day 5 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 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 trips will be proposed in case you are keen on discovering more beauties that Croatia has to offer: day on the Adriatic Sea, hiking in national parks, river canoeing and sightseeing.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Drive: maximum 2h each way.

Day 6 Una River Rafting
The Una River forms a natural border between Croatia and Bosnia. It will steal your heart with its beauty, green clear water and a landscape of dense forests. The Una is rich in water even in summer so rafting is possible all year round. There are several sections to choose from, and our guides will select the one that is best adapted to group abilities and current water levels. In months when water levels are lower (July, August, September) additional Mreznica kayaking trip will be proposed as a substitute to avoid long driving time.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: B, L, D; Activity: Rafting, 2-3 hours, class I-IV, easy/moderate; Drive: 2.5 hours each way.

Day 7 Kayaking in the Mreznica River Canyon
We return to the river this morning in the upper Mreznica canyon. Our route takes us from the hotel to a point approximately 45 minutes away where we’ll start our expedition into the canyon. We travel through a gorge so narrow and deep that the sun enters for only a few hours each day, around noon, creating spectacular light effects. Paddling past 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 continue and finish the adventure and finally return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: 3star hotel; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 4 – 5 hours, class II-III, moderate; Drive: 45 min each way. Please note that in case of very low water levels the trip can only be done downstream – in that case the duration of kayaking is 2-3 hours. In case of high water levels we use rafting boats (2 hours of rafting).

Day 8 Departure
Depart from Zvecaj Village to Zagreb or Rijeka 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; Drive: 1h30min to the airport.

INCLUDED:
• 7 nights accommodation (3 star hotel, en suite bathroom)
• half-board (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners)
• use of equipment for activities
• 5 days of organized activities
• use of neoprene shorts and booties or sandals in case of cold weather
• local taxes and permits
• Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance fee
• ground transportation (private transport throughout)
• transfers from Zagreb or Rijeka airport, train or bus station
• English speaking tour leader and assistance
• Insurance

NOT INCLUDED:
• international airfare to/from Croatia
• drinks and meals not indicated in the itinerary
• tips or other personal expenses
• optional trips


This itinerary includes a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Please contact the appropriate government office or Bosnian embassy or consulate to confirm whether you need a visa. If you need a EU visa, you will require a double entry visa.

Arrival and departure airports: Zagreb or Rijeka
Arrival and departure transfers: several group transfers between the airport and destination depending on arrival/departure time. Arrivals after 6 pm may be subject to surcharge of 30 euros per person.

Maximum number of participants: 16 guests per group. Larger groups upon request.
Minimum age: 8 years if accompanied by parent(s).
Child discount: valid for children of 12 years of age if accompanied by an adult. One child enjoying discount shares parents’ room; two or more children can have their own room.

Accommodation notes: Single use rooms are available upon request with a 20% surcharge. Sharing a twin room with another person is possible in case there are other guests interested in sharing.

Optional trips are not included in price and can be booked and paid on spot. Optional trips cost approximately 40 – 70 € per person and are dependent on suitable weather conditions. The price is based on a minimum of 4 participants

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. Operator 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. Operator reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.

Inclusions

  • INCLUDED:
  • • 7 nights accommodation (3 star hotel, en suite bathroom)
  • • half-board (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners)
  • • use of equipment for activities
  • • 5 days of organized activities
  • • use of neoprene shorts and booties or sandals in case of cold weather
  • • local taxes and permits
  • • Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance fee
  • • ground transportation (private transport throughout)
  • • transfers from Zagreb or Rijeka airport, train or bus station
  • • English speaking tour leader and assistance
  • • Insurance

Exclusions

  • NOT INCLUDED:
  • • international airfare to/from Croatia
  • • drinks and meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • • tips or other personal expenses
  • • optional trips

Extras & Upgrades

Single use rooms are available upon request with a 20% surcharge. Sharing a twin room with another person is possible in case there are other guests interested in sharing Optional trips are not included in price and can be booked and paid on spot. Optional trips cost approximately 40 – 70 € per person and are dependent on suitable weather conditions. The price is based on a minimum of 4 participants

Restrictions

Minimum age: 8 years if accompanied by parent(s). Recommended only for those who are extremely fit as this is a very challenging week!

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

 

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

 

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

 

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]

 

 

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Itinerary

  • Day 1 Arrival in Croatia.
  • Day 2 Walking in Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Day 3 Kayaking and SUP on the Mreznica River
  • Day 4 Cycling in the Mreznica Area
  • Day 5 Optional Trip Day
  • Day 6 Una River Rafting
  • Day 7 Kayaking in the Mreznica River Canyon
  • Day 8 Departure