River Adventure in Croatia - Huck Finn Adventure Travel

8 days

Duration

Zvecaj

Location

Age

5/10

Activity level

May-Sep

Dates

4-16

Group size

This multi activity adventure holiday will take you along the Mreznica River, through Plitvice Lakes National Park and to the Krk Island on the Adriatic coast. You will explore this unique area on foot, by bike, on a Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) and from a kayak. 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. The Mreznica is considered one of Croatia’s cleanest rivers, with plenty of great places for swimming, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and rafting. The river is 64 km long, and is special for its 93 waterfalls and pools of warm water between them, perfect for refreshment away from beach crowds. Clear green water, unspoiled woods and magical landscapes make it one of Croatia’s most desirable continental retreats.

The accommodation is a friendly, family-run, 3* hotel on the bank of the Mreznica River, approximately one hour drive from Zagreb airport. The restaurant overlooks an old mill close to a small waterfall and serves freshly caught fish, as well as home-grown vegetables. Barbecues are also a speciality of the house. All rooms are equipped with en suite bathrooms, TV, mini bar, telephone, air conditioning and have Internet access.

Day		Activities	Place	Lodging	Meals
Sat	1	Arrival, relaxing, swimming	Zvecaj	Zvecaj Hotel	D
Sun	2	Kayaking, SUP	Mreznica River	Zvecaj Hotel	B
Mon	3	Walking	Plitvice Lakes NP	Zvecaj Hotel	BD
Tue	4	Cycling	Mreznica Area	Zvecaj Hotel	B
Wed	5	Optional trip day	Zvecaj	Zvecaj Hotel	BD
Thu	6	Sea Kayaking	Krk Island	Zvecaj Hotel	B
Fri	7	Kayaking	Mreznica River canyon	Zvecaj Hotel	BD
Sat	8	Departure	Zvecaj		B

Arrival

Arrival in Croatia. A Huck Finn guide will be waiting for you at Zagreb 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: 3*** hotel; Meals: D; Drive: 1h30min from the airport.

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: 3*** hotel; Meals: B (picnic lunch and dinner on your own); Activity: Kayaking, 2-3 hours, class I-II; Stand up paddle boarding (SUP), 2 hours, easy/moderate.

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

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: 3*** hotel; Meals: B (picnic lunch and dinner on your own); Activity: Cycling, 3 hours, easy/moderate (rolling hills).

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: 3*** hotel; Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Drive: maximum 2h each way.

Sea Kayaking Krk Island

On this day we continue towards the Adriatic coast where we will visit Krk – the biggest island in the Adriatic also known as the Golden Island. We will paddle and take a swim along the coast and around the isle of St. Mark and continue under the impressive Krk’s arch bridge, connecting Krk and Croatia’s mainland.
Afterwards, we will visit city of Krk – one of the oldest cities in the Adriatic which was already mentioned by the blind Greek Homer in his famous poem under the name of Koureto. The city is dominated by the Frankopan family castle and the cathedral complex famous for its variety of styles. The city of Krk today is the administrative, political, economic and religious center of the island of Krk. After an amazing day on the coast, we will return to our base in Zvecaj village for the dinner.
Accommodation: 3*** hotel; Meals: B (picnic lunch and dinner on your own); Activity: Sea Kayaking, 2-3 hours, easy/moderate; Drive: 1.5 hours each way.

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: 3*** 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).

Departure

Depart from Zvecaj Village to Zagreb 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.

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. Huck Finn 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. Huck Finn reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.

	8-day		5-day
	low	high	low	high
adult	750 €	880 €	620 €	690 €
child	675 €	792 €	558 €	621 €
single	900 €	1056 €	744 €	828 €

All prices are per person.

Child discount valid for children aged 12 and under at time of travel.

Seasons 2023
Low: May 6 – June 2; September 2 – 30
High: June 3– September 1

Departure dates 2023 - Saturdays
May	6	13	20	27
June	3	10	17	24
July	1	8	15	22	29
August	5	12	19	26
September	2	9	16	23	30

Other dates on request.

Price includes:

7 nights accommodation (3*** hotel, en suite bathroom)
7 breakfasts, 4 dinners
use of bicycles, kayaks, canoes, rafts, SUP, paddles, life jackets, helmets
5 days of organized activities
use of neoprene shorts and booties or sandals in case of cold weather
Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance fee
local taxes
Saturday transfers from/to airport or meeting point in Zagreb
ground transportation (private transport throughout)
skilled English speaking guide and assistance
insurance

Not included:

airfare
drinks and meals not indicated in the itinerary
tips or other personal expenses
optional trips

Arrival and departure airport: Zagreb (Rijeka airport on request)

Arrival and departure transfers: Several group transfers will be organized throughout the day depending on group arrival times from Zagreb meeting point and Zagreb airport. Waiting time may up take up to 3 hours. Arrivals after 6 pm may be subject to surcharge of 30 euros per person.

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

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. 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.