Via Dinarica hiking: see forests, canyons, rivers and lakes of Gorski kotar

Day-by-day itinerary

DAY 1

Stroll around Fužine and warm up on the hiking trail

Arrival in the town of Fužine in Gorski Kotar and check-in at the hotel. You will have free time available for a stroll around the town. We suggest that you take the attractive and less demanding hiking trail - Ribička staza (Fisherman's Trail, trail length = 9 km). The trail starts at the Lake Bajer. It's a 2 km hike on the unpaved trail until you reach the Rakov potok (Crab's Creek) hiking hut and Lake Lepenica. The trail runs through Fužine in its entirety.

DAY 2

Full day excursion on Via Dinarica trail

After breakfast, you'll meet your local tourist guide at 10 a.m. and then get transferred to the vicinity of Skrad for a full-day excursion on the Via Dinarica trails. You'll visit Zeleni Vir, a forceful spring at the bottom of a shallow cave beneath an approximately 70 metres tall stratified rock from which a gorgeous stream cascades downward. Then you will stop at the fish farm Mala Lešnica and pick up rainbow trouts which you will enjoy for lunch in Zeleni vir.

Visit to the one of the most stunning canyons in Croatia, the 800 metres long and the 2 metres wide Vražji prolaz (Devil's Pass). Jasle, a babbling mountain brook works its way through a narrow gorge surrounded by 100-metre-high rocks. Return to Fužine at approximately 5 p.m.

DAY 3

Hike in river canyon near crystal clear water

After breakfast, departure from the hotel at 10 a.m. for a half-day excursion, accompanied by a local tourist guide and a transfer to the protected landscape Kamačnik near Vrbovsko. The Kamačnik River canyon is a 3200 metres long water course with a hiking trail that follows the crystal-clear rivulet surrounded by lush vegetation and a large number of protected animal species.

A walking trail, wooden bridges and galleries were made in 1961. Kamačnik cut its gorge into the Velika Kapela massive. It cascades down the river Dobra since it was at its entrance turned into a lake by a dam.

Lunch is scheduled after the visit of the Via Dinarica trails, followed by a return to Fužine. In the afternoon you can take a walk down Staza zaljubljenih (Lover's Path path length: 1,7 km), which starts in Fužine and passes through vivid and quaint locales.

DAY 4

Fužine, individual hike

Check-out after breakfast. If you find the time, we suggest an eco-friendly boat tour (45 minutes) of Lake Bajer with an especially attractive backwater entrance towards Lake Lepenica or you can go on an individual hike down the Djevojačka haljina (Girl's Dress) trail (trail length: 9 km).

The trail starts in Fužine and extends towards Lič. After passing the Drvenjača factory after approximately 500 metres turn left towards the macadam in the direction of the Lič farm. The trail isn't particularly steep, which makes it perfect for recreational exercisers.