Active Croatia Adventure Travel for Women

Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea. The azure waters and countless coves of the Dalmatian Coast remain a seafarer’s dream, while medieval Zagreb and UNESCO-protected Dubrovnik ooze romance as much as ever. Croatia has been the rave of travel aficionados and travellers are returning. Come play in this little slice of Adriatic Heaven. We’ll hike, e-bike through beautiful traditional villages, sea kayak along the coast, white water raft in one of Europe’s most scenic rivers, enjoy city tours, local cuisine and a wine and chocolate tasting. With a thrilling range of activities combined with rich culture, amazing local food & wine and set in the heart of some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery, discover or rediscover this adventure-lover’s destination and explore the exhilarating road less travelled.

Active Croatia: Activities at a Glance

Croatia Traveling Adventures Itinerary

Day 1

Our local staff will welcome you at the Zagreb airport and transferred to our hotel, situated in the city center. The city of Zagreb, capital of Croatia, illustrates both the continental and Mediterranean spirit of the nation. Zagreb is the cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative center of the Republic of Croatia, and is home to the Croatian Parliament, Government and President. Over the centuries, the city was inhabited by people coming from all over Europe; and, in recent years, by people coming from different parts of Croatia, ensuring a rich cultural life. This afternoon we meet with our local guide in the hotel and head out for a walking tour of historical Zagreb, before we enjoy our welcome dinner. Overnight Zagreb.

Day 2

After breakfast, we drive about an hour to the small town of Samobor where we will enjoy a 5 mile hike. Zumberak and Samobor Highlands National Park stretches over the hilly southern slopes of the Zumberak Mountains. It is a popular destination for hikers, climbers and nature enthusiasts. After the hike, there will be time to stop in the small town of Samobor – a real hidden gem of Baroque architecture. We’ll lunch and stop for a coffee or tea on the main square while we enjoy the famous local desert “kremsnite“. You can’t visit Samobor without tasting kremšnite – known for having a puff pastry top and predominantly custard cream filling.  Yum! Returning to Zagreb, we’ll have some leisure time to chill, and explore Zagreb at your own pace with time for shopping. We’ll have dinner at one of the local restaurants. Overnight Zagreb.

Day 3

After breakfast we head for Stari Grad Paklenica National Park. On our way, we’ll stop at Plitvice National Park to hike along the wooden paths and bridges, in and around Plitvice Lakes. It’s an exquisite series of 16 emerald green and blue travertine lakes, more than 90 waterfalls, and numerous caves make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lakes are surrounded by beautiful beaches and pine forests and are home to an extensive array of wildlife. A panoramic boat and a train ride will bring us back to our starting position. After the visit we proceed toward Stari Grad and stop for lunch along the way with the scents and flavors of the local Lika cuisine. Lika is an inland region of Croatia in which Plitvice NP is situated. After lunch we have about 1.5 hours drive to Stari Grad, where we will check into our guesthouse and enjoy dinner and the evening at leisure. Overnight Paklenica.

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll visit one of the most popular National Parks loved by hikers and climbers alike. The Velebit Mountain and Paklenica National Park abound in hiking trails offering unique landscapes and unusual beauty. We’ll hike along creeks, see an abandoned watermill and view a most impressive gorge. After a bit more of an ascent we come to Anić a luka plateau. Looking to the east you’ll catch a sight of Anića kuk. Our hike continues along mostly shadowed path and brings us to a rural household; a very pleasant spot to relax and enjoy the top view of Paklenica woods. After refreshments and lunch, we have a short decent following the same route back to our van and to our guesthouse.  We’ll have dinner at the guesthouse and a leisurely evening. Overnight Paklenica.

Day 5

After breakfast, we drive south about an hour to the Zrmanja river and an amazing river rafting adventure. The Zrmanja River is easy and safe for beginners, and the scenery is breathtaking with clear warm water, and spectacular canyons and waterfalls. The Zrmanja is listed among the most beautiful rivers in Europe! Along the river we’ll see many species of fish and birds, and travertine waterfalls. After this exhilarating activity, we’ll enjoy a tasty lunch in a traditional agro-tourism cafe. After lunch we continue on two hours to Split. Split, the 1700-year-old city, and one of the most beautiful UNESCO pearls is simply stunning in its beauty. We can explore the Diocletian’s Palace, Peristil, and the Piazza to name but a few cultural stops. The Marjan park forest, which proudly guards the city, is also called the lungs of the city. The entire Marjan peninsula is dotted with tiny churches centuries old, large black pine trees, Mediterranean plants and herbs, and the most beautiful beaches. Overnight Split.

Day 6

After breakfast, explore Split at your own pace. This is a free day to enjoy the local scene, last minute shopping or walk to the Marjan Park.  We’ll meet back up for dinner and swap tales of our day in Split.  Overnight Split.

Day 7

After breakfast, we depart Split on a ferry to Hvar Island. The city of Hvar is often described as a true fairy-tale city with its architecture, beautiful nature and mild climate. It is a unique fusion of luxurious Mediterranean nature, and rich cultural and historical heritage. Hvar gained glory and power during the middle ages as an important port within the Venetian naval empire. Today, it is the center of the island’s tourism and one of the favorite destinations on the Dalmatian Riviera. We’ll board our sea kayaks and paddle to Pakleni Islands. We’ll explore the Pakleni Islands, have time to swim, snorkel, relax and get a tasty local lunch before paddling back to Hvar.  After sea kayaking we check in to our hotel in Old Town Hvar and enjoy some leisure time before we meet for dinner. Overnight Hvar.

Day 8

After breakfast, we’ll get to know a different side of Hvar on a bike tour in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site, a remarkably well-preserved testament to the Ancient Greek period. Explore small villages in the inner part of the island. We start our tour with an easy ride through a long promenade aside the deep protected bay. We’ll learn the history back some 2400 years when ancient Greeks sailed into the harbor and stayed. The land was fertile and produced food for the settlers, who brought vines and olive tree seeds with them from Paros. After the Greeks, came the Romans and they built impressive residences, adding to the beauty of the countryside. We will pass through several beautiful traditional villages in the interior of the island. Our guides will decide on the route depending on the group and fitness level.  During our ride, we will visit the charming town of Jelsa for a sensory journey through the world of chocolate. We’ll enjoy an exclusive tasting in a family-run chocolate boutique in Jelsa. We’ll learn about chocolate history and how to taste chocolate like an expert (who knew?!). We will also get introduced to authentic Mediterranean tastes through various fruits and herbs such as sage, lavender, carob, figs, and many more that provide unique flavors to the chocolates. We’ll have lunch and a wine tasting too! We’ll transfer back in a van to Hvar.  Overnight Hvar.

DAY 9

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and travel approximately 3.5 hours on a passenger ferry to Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is a city of exceptional beauty, called the Pearl of the Adriatic. Take a walk around the magnificent city walls of Dubrovnik, visit the vibrant historic core or just spend the afternoon at leisure swimming in the crystal Adriatic sea and sunbathing at one of the beaches. In the late afternoon, we meet up with our local guide for a city tour and stories about this magnificent town and its history. We’ll have our Farewell Dinner as we recount our Active Croatia adventure!  Overnight Dubrovnik.

DAY 10

Enjoy breakfast and check out from the hotel with a private shuttle to Dubrovnik Airport, or choose to extend your stay on your own.

What’s Included

• 10 days/ 9 nights fully guided tour with English speaking guides; and a Canyon Calling Representative
• All land transport as outlined in this itinerary
• Hotel accommodations, double occupancy
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 10 (1 lunch on own)
• All activities and excursions
• All entrance fees and permits

What’s Not Included

• Round-trip transportation to/from Croatia
• Alcoholic beverages, 1 lunch, and items of a personal nature
• Optional gratuity to the local Guide at end of the trip