Packrafting Adventure in Croatia
The ultimate pack light journey down two beautiful rivers in a wild corner of Croatia
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guidesHotel & Camping
2 nights in a hotel, 2 nights campingMeals
Breakfast and dinner each dayTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenEquipment
All your packrafting and camping equipmentSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 8 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Paddle down narrow canyons, run rapids and jump waterfalls on the Mrežnica and Zrmanja Rivers
Hike through the wild Krupa River Canyon and past the Devertac Waterfalls - a series of nine cascades
Wild swim the emerald waters of the Velebit National Park and camp on the riverbank
Deemed one of the '25 best holidays to Croatia' by The Times
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Croatia
Touch down in Zagreb and meet your host at the airport before driving over to the small village of Zvecaj, right on the bank of the Mrežnica River. Check into your hotel and enjoy the surroundings before grabbing dinner and a run through the adventure with your guide.
Day 2
Packraft bootcamp and first taste of paddling
Packrafting
Your guide will run you through a packrafting bootcamp - teaching you about the history of packrafting, how to pump and pack your raft, paddling and self-rescue techniques and hydrology. Ease into life as a solo packrafter on a flat and easy section of the Mrežnica River, stopping for swims and admiring the spectacular scenery of the Mrežnica River Canyon. Late afternoon you'll head back to the hotel for some time to relax by the river, swim, or grab a game of beach volleyball before dinner.
Day 3
Time for rapids and waterfalls
Packrafting
The fun is ramped up today as you put your new-found packrafting skills to the test on the livelier upper section of the Mrežnica. Weaving through the channels of the river canyon, you'll tackle a bunch of exciting rapids and even jump down a waterfall. After a day of high fives and permanent smiles, you'll pack up the rafts, dry off and hop back in the van to head on to the next leg of your adventure. Arriving at the small village of Kaštel Žegarski in the heart of the wild Velebit National Park you'll set up camp right on the banks of the Zrmanja River and tuck into dinner homemade by your host.
Day 4
Hike the Krupa River Canyon and raft the Zrmanja
Packrafting
Hiking
Wake up to the sound of the river in your secluded camp and enjoy a homemade breakfast to fuel you up for a big day. Carrying your packraft on your back, you'll hike through the Krupa River Canyon - a protected area where kayaking and rafting are prohibited. Stomp past the Devertac waterfalls - a series of nine cascades -before reaching a secret spot for a riverside lunch. Blow up the packraft again and put in on the Zrmanja River to tackle a stretch of multiple rapids and the occasional waterfall as you navigate your way down. Finishing at Muskovci, head back to the same camp (Kaštel Žegarski) to relax beside the river before dinner.
Day 5
Final dip and transfer to the airport
Soak up the last of your time by the river with some breakfast and a bit of free time for a final dip in the river or a mini-hike into the wilderness around the camp before your host transfers you to Zadar in time for your onward flight.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3 – Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Dinners at the hotel on Days 1 and 2 will have a menu with three different options each day. Dinners on Day 3 and 4 at the campgrounds will be cooked by your host and will use local produce and traditional Croatian cooking based around a meat element such as local sausages, bread, pastries, pasta and dumplings. In the event of heavy rain, your hosts may book local restaurants instead.
Breakfasts at the hotel and campgrounds are continental buffet style with some local products thrown in for good measure.
You'll need to buy a packed lunch each morning to take with you, please budget €7-10 per lunch.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form. We also recommend that you bring some of your favourite protein snacks along with you.
What is the accommodation like?
Zeleni Kut Hotel
You'll stay at Zeleni Kut during the first two nights of your trip - a family-owned hotel located in Zvecaj, on the bank of the Mrežnica River with its own private beach area. You'll stay in a twin-share room with a private bathroom. Double rooms can be requested. Departures on June 8th and July 13th 2024 will stay at an alternative nearby accommodation. Restaurant and Rooms DP is 200m from the river, all rooms have AC, a balcony, WiFi and, as the name suggests, there is a restaurant on site and a beach bar on the riverbank across the road.
Riverside camping
You'll stay in a wild and beautiful location beside the river, in the lovely village of Kaštel Žegarski, on the Zrmanja river - perfect for swimming, diving and relaxing. You'll normally participate in setting up camp on arrival and sometimes packing down the camp at the end of your trip (although if you are tight on time then your guides may do this after your departure). There are some basic facilities at the camp such as a large wooden table, some benches, pillows and a cold shower and toilets are available a short walk away. Your host will provide a tent and sleeping mat as well as all communal equipment for eating, but please remember to bring your own sleeping bag or contact your host if you would prefer to rent one for a charge. Solo travellers get their own tent at no additional cost.
Upgrades
This trip has been rated as Moderate
You need to have a reasonable level of fitness and an adventurous nature for this trip, but no previous experience is required as you'll be given full instruction on how to packraft. You should be comfortable being in water - you are going to get wet! - and ideally be able to swim a short distance, though full safety gear is provided and you'll be wearing a life vest while on the packrafts. There are plenty of swim spots at the lunch stops, by the camp in the evening, and during the secret waterfall visits where you can swim without life vests. On the Mrežnica and Zrmanja Rivers you will be rafting through grade 2 and 3 rapids.
Spring and autumn temperatures range from 9 – 21 °C with roughly 10 days of rain per month. Summer temperatures range from 16 – 30 °C with just 6 days of rain each month. The water temperature will be between 16°C and 19°C - on trip dates where the water is colder your host will provide wetsuits.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Zagreb Airport
17:30 on Day 1
Ends
Zadar Airport
12:45 on Day 5
Transfers
This trip starts in Zagreb and finishes in Zadar.
Your host will meet you at Zagreb Airport at 17:30 on Day 1 and transfer you to your hotel at the start of the adventure. On Day 5 you will be dropped off at Zadar Airport at 12:45 in time to catch flights that depart after 15:00.
If you are already in Zagreb or are arriving by train or bus, your host can meet you at the parking area behind the main train station in Zagreb at 17:00. The pickup point is behind the main train station, in front of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UPsg2NScAs5en2GX8].
If you are staying longer in Croatia after your adventure, you can be dropped off at Zadar Coach Station at 13:00 on day 5. There are frequent bus connections between Zadar and Zagreb. Check out the Getbybus website for bus times and tickets.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Zagreb from airports across the UK and Europe. Flights to Zagreb from North America generally transit through Brussels, Paris or Amsterdam. There are direct flights between Zadar and London Gatwick for those looking to return to the UK after the adventure.
For those wishing to avoid flying, there is an excellent Croatian sleeper train overnight from Munich to Zagreb which you can take to arrive in Zagreb on the morning of day 1.
What about all the carbon?
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- Tents
- Sleeping mat and pillow
- Custom made Robfin pack rafts
- Life jacket
- Paddle
- Helmet
- Neoprene wetsuit
- Rain jacket
- Waterproof container for shared group use
What do I need to bring?
- Lightweight easily washable items for travel and daily wear
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Sun hat with brim and sunglasses
- Thin trousers and long sleeve for the evenings (just in case)
- Lightweight rain jacket (waterproof and breathable)
- Trainers or lightweight adventure shoes for the hike
- Water shoes or other sport shoes that you don’t mind getting wet
- Sleeping bag - season 2 (if you prefer to rent one, please refer to prices below in 'Optional Extras' and contact your host)
- Water bottle or hydration pack
- Sunblock and lip balm
- Personal first aid kit (including any medications you use)
- Camera, film/memory cards and spare batteries
- Head torch
- Bug spray
Sleeping bag hire: 2 nights
Payable Before Departure
Sleeping bag hire: 2 nights
…
Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade
…
Fantastic Packrafting Adventure!!
What an incredible few days on the river, we had a fabulous trip from beginning to end. Very fortunate to have an amazing guide Petr (Pero) who looked after us both on and off the water - couldn't recommend this trip highly enough. If you want thrills and spills, stunning scenery and lots of adrenaline...this trip is for you. Nothing was too much trouble, great food (particularly delicious food in camp by wonderful chef Marina) and accommodation was great - both hotel and camping. We even managed to accommodate an afternoon trip to Plitvice lakes as cherry on top of a delicious cake! Thanks again.
Our Purpose
To protect our world's wild places, one adventure at a time.
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