Rising suddenly and spectacularly beyond the narrow ribbon of coastal cities and rocky beaches, the mountains of Croatia have much to commend them as a walking destination. Ranging from gently sloping, forested hills to rugged tops and limestone crags, and reaching its most spectacular in the massifs, collectively known as the Dinaric Alps, it is a wilderness of magnificent grandeur, rich in wildlife and plants.
The routes in this guide cover all the main hiking areas in Croatia, from the Dinaric Alps along the coast to a number of other areas further inland. Catering for a range of abilities, they run from easy day trips on islands in the Adriatic to extended itineraries across jagged mountain chains. The book also contains generous background information, including sections on history and language, and appendices giving details of mountain huts and shelters.
Geography and Geology
Climate
History
Architecture, Art and Culture
Wildlife and Plants
Getting to Croatia
Getting Around
Accommodation
Food and Drink
Language
Visas
Currency
Changing Money
Postal Services and Telecommunications
Walking in Croatia
What to do in an Emergency
About this Guide
Landmines
Croatia at a Glance
Walk 1: Sljeme
Walk 2: Veternica Cave
Walk 3: Samoborsko gorje
Walk 4: Ružica grad
Walk 5: Lonjsko polje
Walk 6: Kopacki rit
Walk 7: Vrh Ucka
Walk 8: Risnjak, Snježnik and Hahlic
Walk 9: Bjelolasica, Bijele stijene and Samarske stijene (Velika Kapela)
Walk 10: Klek
Walk 11: Sjeverni Velebit (northern Velebit) and Srednji Velebit (central Velebit)
Walk 12: Južni Velebit (southern Velebit) and Paklenica
Walk 13: Plitvicka jezera
Walk 14: Krka
Walk 15: Mosor traverse
Walk 16: Kozjak traverse
Walk 17: Biokovo traverse
Walk 18: Sveti Ilija (Pelješac)
Walk 19: Kula (Korcula)
Walk 20: Malo jezero, Veliko jezero and Veliki Gradac (Mljet)
Walk 21: Sveti Nikola (Hvar)
Walk 22: Vidova gora (Brac)
Walk 23: Zmajeva špilja (Brac)
Walk 24: Osoršcica (Lošinj)
Walk 25: Lubenice and Helm (Cres)
Walk 26: Sveti Salvadur and sveti Blaž (Cres)
Appendix A: Exploring Further
Appendix B: Hut Details
Appendix C: Contacts and Useful Addresses
Appendix D: Croatian Language Notes and Glossary
Appendix E: Further Reading
Rudolf Abraham was born in London and began travelling at an early age in the UK, France, and Spain. He lived in New Zealand for 10 years, where he attended art school and majored in photography, before going on to complete a BA in History of Art, and pursuing a brief career as a classical guitar teacher. Since graduating in 1995 he has travelled extensively and repeatedly in eastern Turkey, the south Caucasus, Iran and the Central Asian republics, the history, culture and languages of which remain his primary interest. During these travels he has walked in the Karakoram, the Tien Shan, and the mountains of Iran and Eastern Turkey. He lived in Croatia from 1999 to 2001, working as an English teacher in Zagreb, and has made numerous trips into the mountains of Croatia and Slovenia. He has contributed introductions to books on Central Asia, Armenia and Afghanistan, and is currently completing an MA at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.