South Velebit Challenger Hiking

Arrival in accommodation in Zadar. Dinner at a local restaurant.

The Path of Mali Princ (“the Little Prince”) is a well-known hiking trail in Velebit Nature Park, leading to the Bili Kuk peak. The trail is renowned for its remarkable rock formations, including Dvori, Konoba, Niska Vrata, Dvorska Vrata, Zdenkova Jama, Šušnjevac, Slipi Klanac, Tisni Klanac, Podkuk, Krivi Klanac, Tonkina Vrata, Stankina Vrata, Kičma, and the stunning Nebeska Vrata (Heaven’s Gate).

Starting at the ninth kilometer of the road from Gračac to Obrovac, the trail ascends from a point at 757 meters, passing a 160-meter tunnel. After the tunnel, the path leads through wooded areas, reaching Crnopac peak and the Crnopac Shelter.

The circular route first passes through Dvori, Konoba, and Niska Vrata, then heads towards Dvorska Vrata and Zdenkova Jama. After visiting Zdenkova Jama, the trail continues through Šušnjevac, Slipi Klanac, Tisni Klanac, and Podkuk, before ascending through Krivi Klanac to Tonkina Vrata and Stankina Vrata. The final ascent to Kičma leads to the awe-inspiring Nebeska Vrata.

The trail then descends through a forest, passes below Bili Kuk, and loops back to the starting point. The route completes the circular trail by returning to the Crnopac Shelter, and then follows the road back to the starting point near Gračac and Obrovac.

Trail length 11.4km / Altitude 860m / Walking time 7-8h (without breaks)

Bojin kuk is a stunning rocky landscape in Paklenica National Park, featuring a blend of rugged rocks and forested areas, offering views of the sea and Velebit’s highest peaks. This area exemplifies Croatian karst geomorphology, where limestone rocks erode, forming fascinating rock formations.

The area is home to several distinctive peaks, including Bojin Kuk, along with Jagin Kuk, Jeličin Kuk, and Žlibati Kuk. Some formations carry female names, tied to the legend of girls who, fleeing Ottoman invaders, chose death over losing their honor.

The hiking trail starts in Milovci, ascending a rocky path toward Veliki Vaganac plateau, with a junction to Bojin kuk and Veliko Rujno. After a break at Veliki Vaganac, the trail continues towards Bojin Kuk, passing Žlibati Kuk for an added sea view. The climb to Bojin Kuk is challenging but offers incredible views of Vaganski Vrh, Sveto Brdo, Pag Island, and Veliko Rujno.

After descending Bojin Kuk, the trail continues to Veliko Rujno, a scenic plateau with the Gospa od Rujna Chapel and Marasović homestead. The return journey follows trail 503, descending through Aptovac, Mali Ledenik, and Čavići, completing a circular route back to Milovci.

Trail length 22.4km / Altitude 1400m / Walking time 9h30min (without breaks)

Kamena galerija (“the Stone Gallery”) is a stunning karst formation featuring unique rock shapes, gorges, and caves. Like Stapina, it is a remarkable example of Croatian karst, resembling a rocky labyrinth that showcases the beauty and wilderness of the Velebit Massif. The area contains diverse rock formations, and exploring it requires mountaineering skills, as climbers must use fixed pegs, cables, and ladders.

The trail continues to Stapina Peak, a striking monolithic rock and a landmark of South Velebit. After descending through the forest, hikers reach Tatek’s Hut, named after Slavko Tomerlin Tatek, a mountaineer who helped make areas like Bojin kuk, Crnopac, and Stap more accessible. A rare water spring is located nearby.

Next, the trail passes through Stap Valley, a picturesque grassy plateau surrounded by rock formations. From there, it follows the Bristovac trail back to Ljubotić, offering breathtaking views of the sea and islands.
Hikers will also encounter Mirila, historic funerary memorials dating from the 17th–20th centuries. Due to the remote location of cemeteries, villagers carried their deceased long distances and marked resting points with stone slabs. These sites were visited more often than the actual graves, as it was believed the soul remained at the Mirilo, while the body rested in the grave. Today, Mirila are protected as Croatia’s intangible cultural heritage, with sites near Tribanj, Starigrad-Paklenica, Seline, and Modrič.

Trail length 18.2km / Altitude 1100m / Walking time 9h (without breaks)

The hiking trail is located on Ugljan Island, one of Croatia’s larger islands, home to around 7,580 residents. Separated from the mainland by the Zadar Channel, it is connected to Pašman Island by a bridge. The island’s highest peak is Šćah (288 m).
Starting from the Preko ferry port, the trail first leads to Kali and then ascends to Orjak Peak. Following the ridge northwest, it offers stunning panoramic views of Preko and the small island of Galevac (Školjić), home to a 15th-century monastery.

The trail continues to Sveti Mihovil Hill, passing Vrnj Rest Stop, an old stone-lined water reservoir in the olive groves. A telecommunications tower stands on Mala Glava Hill, before the path reaches Željina Cliff, a popular rock climbing site with over 30 routes. Walking here requires careful footing, as some sections involve using hands for support.

After descending to Željina Cove, the trail climbs again to St. Michael’s Fortress, a Venetian-built stronghold offering breathtaking views of Zadar, the Zadar Archipelago, and Kornati National Park.
The final ascent leads to Šćah Peak, the island’s highest point, requiring scrambling over rocky terrain. The descent passes through Turkija, Sutomiščica, and Poljana, before returning to Preko and the ferry port.

Trail length 22.8km / Altitude 900m / Walking time 8h30min (without breaks)

This fantastic hiking route primarily follows the Krupa River, a 7 km long river that flows from the southern slopes of Velebit into the Zrmanja River. About halfway along its course, the Krnjeza tributary joins the Krupa River, and part of the trail passes through it.

The river is home to 19 waterfalls, many of which are considered the most beautiful in the region due to their height, shape, and intricate features. The most famous waterfall is Deveterac, named after the nine tufa cascades that end in a 13-meter-high waterfall. The area is also known for its mills, including the historic Urošević Mill from 1913.

The trail begins at the Krupe Monastery, a Serbian Orthodox monastery built in the 14th century during King Milutin’s reign, and renovated in 1855 with help from Austria. From the monastery, the trail follows the Krupa River, passing several waterfalls and the Krnjeza tributary, reaching Kudin Bridge, a 19th-century structure with a charming love story behind it. The bridge was built by Kude, a miller, to bridge the river and allow him to meet Manda, a girl he fell in love with on the other side.

The trail continues along the river, sometimes requiring hikers to wade through it to cross to the other side. It leads to the point where the Krupa River flows into the Zrmanja River. From here, the trail ascends steeply towards Golubić, the endpoint of the hike.

Trail length 11km / Altitude 600m / Walking time 4h (without breaks)

This unique hiking tour takes you through Paklenica National Park, Croatia’s second oldest national park, established in October 1949. The park is known for its exceptional natural beauty, geomorphological formations, and vast forests, particularly the largest and best-preserved forest complex in Dalmatia. The park covers 95 km² and is home to the highest peaks of the Velebit Massif, Vaganski Vrh (1,757 m) and Sveto Brdo (1,753 m). The trail offers continuous views of Sveto Brdo, with its stunning panorama of the Adriatic, while Vaganski Vrh faces Lika.

Paklenica is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, part of the “Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe” alongside North Velebit National Park and Hajdučki and Rožanski Kukovi Nature Reserve, recognized in 2017.

In addition to its beech forests, Paklenica is known for its native black pine forests. The name “Paklenica” likely comes from “paklina,” pine resin used historically by locals for medicinal purposes and to coat wooden boats. The park’s most striking geomorphological features are the Small and Velika Paklenica Canyons, which carve deeply into the Velebit Massif, with Mala Paklenica stretching 12.5 km and Velika Paklenica 14.5 km. The trail passes through the dried-up Mala Paklenica Canyon in summer, then ascends to the eastern plateau and the ridge of Velika Paklenica, descending through the canyon, where the river flows year-round.

Velika Paklenica is also a world-renowned climbing destination, drawing climbers from around the globe between spring and autumn. It boasts over 590 climbing routes, including on Croatia’s tallest rock formation, Anića Kuk (712 m). The park is home to several caves, with Manita Peć, located above the Large Paklenica Canyon, being the most famous and largest.

Trail length 20.8km / Altitude 1160m / Walking time 10h30min (without breaks)

Check-out from the accommodation and departure.