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Croatia National Parks Walking Holiday

7 days / 6 nights

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Head on a self-guided road trip through Croatia's stunning national & nature parks, from the cascades of Plitvice to the dramatic rocks of Paklenica.

Starting point

Zagreb

Finish point

Split

Season

From May to October

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

3/5

Tour type

Travel & Hike

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Highlights

  • Experience the freedom of a self-guided road trip, allowing you to explore Croatia at your own pace
  • Discover the diverse beauty of Croatia's nature, from the lush scenery of Krka National Park to the rugged peaks of Biokovo
  • Immerse yourself in the thrill of hiking, with trails leading you through lush forests, along scenic rivers, and up to a breathtaking viewpoint
  • Explore historic cities and charming coastal towns like Split and Šibenik, soaking up the local culture and cuisine
  • Enjoy the flexibility to stop at beautiful Croatian beaches for a refreshing swim, truly making the most of your vacation

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

6 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Car rental
Hotel upgrades
Single supplement

What to bring to the tour

  • Hiking shoes/boots
  • 25 to 35-liter backpack
  • Base layer
  • Sports T-shirts
  • Hiking shorts
  • Hiking water-repellent pants
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Midlayer
  • Sports socks and underwear
  • Leisurewear for evenings
  • Shade hat/cap
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Hiking poles
  • ID card or passport
  • Snacks
  • Cash
  • Water bottles or hydration pack
  • Toiletries

Imagine the freedom of the open road, the thrill of discovering new landscapes, and the joy of immersing yourself in nature's wonders. This self-drive holiday through Croatia's stunning national & nature parks offers all this and more.

Starting in Zagreb, you'll journey through the lush greenery of Plitvice and Krka, the rocky karst landscapes of Paklenica and Biokovo, and the historic cities of Split and Šibenik. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to stop at beautiful Croatian beaches for a refreshing swim.

This holiday is not just about the destinations, but also the journey. With a rental car at your disposal, you have the freedom to explore Croatia at your own pace, not just the predetermined itinerary, but also the hidden gems you'll find along the way. The diversity of Croatia's national parks, from emerald lakes to rugged peaks, ensures a rich and varied experience.

At Walking Holidays Croatia, we strive to make your holiday as hassle-free as possible. We take care of all accommodation bookings and provide a detailed itinerary handout with GPS routes and tips for locations and other useful information. Should you need any assistance during your trip, our support is just a phone call away.

So why wait? Embrace the freedom of the open road, immerse yourself in the beauty of Croatia's national parks, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Self-guided cycling tours offer a customizable and adaptable way to enjoy a cycling vacation, giving you the freedom to explore at your own speed and adjust your path or timetable as desired.


Our dedicated team handles all the logistical arrangements, such as lodging, detailed schedules, GPS directions, and round-the-clock assistance, ensuring a hassle-free, engaging adventure that emphasizes autonomy, personalization, and genuine interactions with the local community.

Our tours are categorized into three difficulty levels: leisurely, moderate, and challenging. Although each may include both easier and more demanding days, our rating system reflects the average difficulty level for a typical day.


Leisurely tours take place primarily on flat, paved cycling paths, asphalt roads, or easy gravel tracks, and they are suitable for all fitness levels.


Moderate tours may include some uphill climbs or technically more demanding terrain, but they are manageable for individuals of average fitness.


Challenging tours entail either long distances and numerous climbs or technical terrain, possibly featuring downhill sections requiring proficiency with a mountain bike.

If you are not bringing your own bike and equipment, we can certainly arrange that for you. We have a wide selection of bikes at our disposal and we will choose the ones that best fit your tour. All we need from you is your usual bike size and any other relevant information or preferences so we can make sure you will be comfortable throughout your trip.

Our tours can be adapted to any bike type, whether road, gravel, or mountain bike. We are in constant communication with you to find the optimal conditions for your cycling holidays in Croatia.


The most versatile option is a gravel bike, even if you are coming on a road cycling holiday. It does not really affect your road performance while allowing you to take some scenic backroads that can be in a slightly worse state than the main ones. A gravel bike is usually more comfortable as well.

We are dedicated to finding the ideal lodging for you. We collaborate with various lodging establishments that meet our criteria, but their availability can fluctuate, particularly during peak seasons. We can also personalize your vacation based on your preferences and financial constraints, ensuring we locate the best possible option that suits your taste.

We advise that you make your reservation as soon as possible. Numerous routes pass through well-known tourist areas where lodging choices may be restricted. Often, the most desirable accommodations get reserved for the summer season before spring even arrives.


Especially our bike and boat tours get sold out really quickly, as the boats can only accommodate a certain amount of people.

The ability to accommodate dietary restrictions varies depending on their severity. In Croatia, vegetarian meals are generally available, but finding vegan options in rural areas or smaller towns may be difficult.


Additionally, please be aware that lunch breaks frequently take place at conventional establishments that may have difficulty accommodating special requests outside their standard menu. We recommend that you take this into account during your journey. The boats usually offer vegan and vegetarian options.

The best season for cycling in Croatia is generally from April to June and September to October. During these months, the weather is mild, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, and the crowds are smaller than during the peak summer season. July and August can be hot and crowded, making cycling more challenging.


However, if you are comfortable with higher temperatures and busy areas, you may still enjoy cycling during this time. Winter months can be quite cold and wet, making cycling less desirable. Therefore, the best time for cycling in Croatia is during the spring and fall seasons.

Ratings & Reviews

Google Reviews

5.0 average rating

+89
World discovery Top Rated Brand

Mystie Pineda

Verified customer · 2 months ago

I found this place with a simple Google search, and I never could’ve expected the custom experience I received. They provided options to help my husband and I hone in on exactly what we wanted to do for our honeymoon. We had perfectly curated GPS-lead rides all across the country, they booked all of our hotels, and planned all of our transportation. Every place that we went was so beautiful. I’m so grateful that we found this company to help us plan our honeymoon, couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

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Bill Wright

Verified customer · 3 months ago

I was able to tailor a bike tour itinerary along the Adriatic coast that suited our group during the shoulder season. We added individual pre and post-trip activities which went smoothly. Our trip included stops in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. The trip planner, guide and support team were great.

barney barnhart

Verified customer · 3 months ago

Brilliant planning, great communication, terrific hotels and accommodations, interesting cities and beautiful scenery plus amazing routes.

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John Woeste

Verified customer · 4 months ago

Highly recommend the bike trip from Bled to Pula. It was well planned. We did a small group self-supported. Big fun. Bikes, hotels, route selection and communication with the company was great.

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Alison Booth

Verified customer · 4 months ago

I would highly recommend anyone doing this tour take the e-bike option. There were only 3 of us on our tour who completed this on regular bikes. Four others who started out on regular bikes swapped over to e-bikes after the first day. The climbs are long and steep. There is pretty much only up or down, not much flat or undulating road. It is doable, but very challenging. If you are on an e-bike then this also helps with the group staying together and no-one having to wait too long for others to catch up. The bikes were really good and had great gearing that was capable of handling the steeper climbs. When we booked we were unaware that we would be riding in a group of 20plus at all time. Thankfully our group had prior group riding experience but we did observe other large groups with less than desirable riding behaviours.Others in our group were extremely understanding and supportive. Our guide, David, was very adamant about staying safe on the road. He was flexible with the itinerary and made changes to suit the weather conditions and to ensure we got in as much riding as possible. He was vey knowledgeable about Croatian history and agriculture and taught us lots about the country he is so passionate about. Our captain, Tolma, was also amazing and along with his awesome crew, made our cruise an enjoyable experience.

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les chappell

Verified customer · 4 months ago

Spent September cycling through Slovenia and Croatia on a self guided holiday, absolutely brilliant from accommodation to luggage transfers .

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Those who like good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday. It offers complete freedom, multiple detour opportunities, and exploration at your own pace without having to adapt to a group.

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from 790 € /person