Walking in Croatia

Walks and multi-day treks through the best of Croatia’s mountains including the Dinaric Alps (Gorski Kotar and Velebit), Istria, Croatia’s islands and around Zagreb. Ranging from easy to hard, the routes introduce this outstandingly rugged walking destination. Full background, history, cultural, accommodation and planning information.

'The first ever English-language guide to walking in Croatia is now available from Cicerone Press. The walks in the guide provide an intimate view of Croatia and its people, opening up the country to the more adventurous visitor who wants to explore beyond its well-known coastline. The routes cover all the main hiking areas, from the Dinaric Alps along the coast to a number of other areas further inland, as well as some of the country’s beautiful Adriatic islands.
    Catering for varied abilities, the routes range from easy day-trips to multi-day treks across jagged mountain chains. All the walks are graded in difficulty - though some involve scrambling, none requires any climbing skills or specialist equipment. The guide is designed to put the walker in control, it offers numerous trips and alternative routes which allow the walker to shorten or extend the routes to suit their itinerary and ability.
    Croatia, with its stunning scenery and sunny summer climate, is becoming an increasingly popular destination for travellers from the UK, though few stray beyond the country’s celebrated coastline. Much of Croatia’s interior remains largely untouched by tourism, and its mountains, rising suddenly and spectacularly beyond the narrow ribbon of coastal cities and rocky beaches, are an ideal and, as yet largely undiscovered, walking destination.
    Paths and trails are clearly waymarked, and the country’s network of excellent mountain huts enables walkers to explore the more remote mountain areas, where the scenery has a dramatic and rugged beauty. Ranging from gently sloping forested hills to rugged tops and limestone crags, the mountains are at their most spectacular in the massifs collectively known as the Dinaric Alps, a wilderness of magnificent grandeur.
    The author, Rudolf Abraham, has travelled extensively in eastern Turkey, the south Caucasus, Iran and the Central Asian republics. He lived in Croatia from 1999 to 2001, working as an English teacher in Zagreb, and has undertaken numerous walking trips into the mountains of Croatia and Slovenia. He shares his wide knowledge of the country in a generous introduction, which includes sections on history and geography, culture, food and drink, as well as practical information on accommodation, maps and local transport. Appendices give details of mountain huts and shelters, as well as information on the language. The guide gives all the information you need to explore this fascinating country.'

(Reviewed by David Lynch, www.bluedome.co.uk 2004)

'How the map of south-east Europe has changed in recent years – as the overview of that wonderfully evocative part of the world shows on pages p10-13 of Rudolf Abraham’s new book. With their forested hills, limestone crags and spectacular massifs, the mountains of Croatia are tailor made for outdoor adventure.
    This pocket guide is certainly well researched, thorough and very detailed. Before you eventually reach the section detailing the walks, there are almost 60 pages of history and general information to get through, including tips on eating out, festivals to visit and wildlife to study. Perhaps not surprisingly, the chapter on Croatia’s bloodstained history covers 15 pages, but is nevertheless a fascinating insight into how this troubled corner of the world has changed and evolved over the years. The day and multi-day hikes range from the Dinaric Alps to several islands in the Adriatic, catering for all tastes and abilities.'

(Nick Channer)