Paklenica trekking

Our circular trek in Paklenica National Park in Croatia will definitely be one of the most beautiful in your selection. Now we have combined both and made a trek for gourmets. The emphasis is still on authenticity and great views. But we also put the highest peak of Velebit in your pocket.

Velebit is a long mountain range at the Adriatic Sea, stretching for 145 km. The highest peak is Vaganski vrh (1757 m). Paklenica National Park on Velebit covers an area of ​​95 km2 and was established as a park in 1949. Today it is a protected area and ander UNESCO natural heritage site and a UNESCO biosphere park, as well as a Natura 2000 protected area.

The name probably comes from the word “paklina”, which was used to name the resin of the “black pine”.

Today, Paklenica is known all over the world mainly for the wild rocky walls above the Velika Paklenica canyon, where we meet climbers of short and long multipitch routes and lovers of beautiful nature and hiking.

Our trek will start in Mala Paklenica, go through the canyon, where there are usually very few visitors, continue to Ivine vodice. The next day to Vaganski vrh, further to Struge, continue to Ramič dvori. The last day a walk across Velika Paklenica. We can also end with a jump into the sea. Next comes a ride along the Adriatic coast combined with a short tour of part of Velebit and the drive home.

CONTENT

DAY 1: Slovenia - Starigrad (Croatia)

The van starts from Mojstrana and can stop at three points along the highway to Novo mesto by prior arrangement. The drive then continues to the highway and then continues in the direction of Zadar to Starigrad. Accommodation in apartments where you cook your own dinner.

DAY 2: Mala Paklenica - Ivine vodice

Canjon Mala Paklenica (50 m) - Sv. Jakov (680 m), - small shelter cottage Ivine Vodice (1200 m).

We start at the second entrance to the NP in Mala Paklenica. This is a less populated part of the park, where we have to make quite an effort to get to our bivouac. The path through the canyon is sometimes impassable in early spring when the river is high, or after prolonged rains in autumn. In the canyon, we often “climb” larger rock jumps, with a few meters of rope in between. The walk through the canyon is often steep, as we overcome several meters of altitude difference. We spend the night at the Ivine vodice bivouac, where we will settle in and have a warm dinner. The guides will take care of the torches, but the rest is up to each person. Next comes sleeping in a bivouac. The latter is basic, so you will need to bring sleeping bags and some thin padding under the sleeping bag.

• Start point height: 50 m
• Highest point: 1200 m
• Finish point height: 1200 m
• Height difference: 1220 m
• Length: 16km
• Time: 6 - 7h

DAy 3: Ivine Vodice - Ramići

Shelter Ivine Vodice (1200 m) - saddle Čičina dolina (1535 m) - Vaganski vrh (1757 m) - Babino jezero - Pl. sklonište Struge (1410 m) - Perina greda - Ramića dvori (550 m)

The second day is a more scenic tour. First, we climb through the forest and continue along the rocky path to Čičina Valley. Here we have already gained some height, so that we only have a good 200 m of height to climb to Vaganski vrh, but the path is not that short. It goes a little up and down through the karst Velebit, but it offers us wonderful views of the sea on one side and Velebit and the hinterland on the other. Next comes the obligatory photo op on the highest peak of Velebit - Vaganski vrh. Then we descend to Marasovaci and to the Struge mountain range. This part of the path is still rocky, but from here on we follow the path over Perine grede, where a well-deserved rest awaits us at the end. Here we are provided with dinner by a local chef who never disappoints with local delicacies.

• Start point height: 1200 m
• Highest point: 1757 m
• Finish point height: 550 m
• Altitude difference: 650 m
• Length: 16 km
• Time: 8 - 9 h

DAY 4: Ramića dvori - parking in Velika Paklenica canyon

Ramića dvori (550 m) - Canyon Velika Paklenica (30 m) - Parking - transfer Starigrad.

On the last day, after breakfast, we descend past Pl. dom in Paklenica, past Lugarnica, Katić mill and we are already under the walls of Velika Paklenica. In case the Manita peč cave is open, we will also take a look at the cave that has gained its reputation over the past years. Then we are in Aniča luka, where in the seventies climbers could still set up tents and plan first routes from the tent. Today, the walls of Anića kuk are only climbed or you can reach the top from other hiking routes. At the end of the canyon (seen from the direction of our descent), they have renovated the tunnels that were used as warehouses for weapons and other material during the last war in the Balkans. Today, it offers us an excellent insight into the climbing activity in the canyon, the Croatian rescue service and the knot school. At the parking lot, a transfer awaits us, which takes us along a narrow and winding road past the spots where the famous film Winetou was filmed, all the way to Starigrad.

Before our transfer back to Slovenia we will sure jump in the sea.

• Start point height: 550 m
• Highest point: 600 m
• Finish point height: 30 m
• Altitude difference: 300 m
• Length: 12 km
• Time: 5-6  h

The tour is intended for adults and children aged 15 and over (younger people who are used to longer hikes are also welcome). The trek is not technically demanding, but you can expect to walk at least 7 hours or more per day.