With its wealth of national parks and nature parks, Croatia offers plenty of opportunities for hiking at all levels from lazy beginners to alpinists. Croatians are outdoorsy people and the hiking trails are popular and well-maintained. The primary mountain range in Croatia is the Dinaric mountains which runs parallel to the coast, making it easy to combine hiking with a beach holiday. The highest peak on the Dinaric range is 1831m. Following are the best hiking spots in Croatia:

Ucka Mountain

Between Istria and Kvarner, the 1400m Ucka (pronounced ooch-ka) mountain has a densely forested eastern slope and the canyon valley of Vela Draga on the western side. The mountain can be reached directly from Lovran or Opatija. You won't soon forget the views over Kvarner bay. Tourist offices in either town will have more information or contact Ucka Nature Park.

Risnjak National Park

Its blanketed by snow in the winter but from late spring to early autumn you can climb from the park entrance at Bijela Vodica to the 1528m-high Veliki Risnjak.

Northern Velebit

The Velebit range dominates central Croatia. The best hike is the Premuzic trail. This 50km-long path runs along a ridge at an average altitude of 1000m and leads from Zavizan through the central Velebit range to the Baske Ostarije pass, offering breathtaking views of the coast. You can find more information at the Northern Velebit National Park office or the Velebit office.

Paklenica

A number of easy day hikes are available from the national park base in Starigrad as well as more demanding hikes along the Velebit ridge. You would launch the latter hike from the Planinarski Dom mountain hut.

Biokovo Mountain

Rising behind Makarska, Mt Biokovo is a popular hiking spot. Try the Vosac peak at 142m or, if you have more energy follow the marked trail to the 1762m Sveti Jure peak. The Botanical Garden near Kotisina makes another lovely outing. More.

General Hiking Information

Hiking paths are marked with a white dot within a red circle but in more remote areas the markings have worn away or been removed by shepherds.

There are a number of mountain huts, especially in the Velebit range, that provide simple but adequate lodging. It's wise to reserve in advance on summer weekends.

After years of providing the service at no charge, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service has decided to charge for retrieving tourists from remote places. Although not yet implemented, the plan is to have mountain rescue services included in a standard travel insurance package. Bear in mind that a travel insurance company will not reimburse in case of "gross negligence". So don't go hiking in your flip-flops and protect yourself with good travel insurance.

Travel Insurance

No matter which outdoor activity you engage in, I highly recommend that you purchase a travel insurance policy. You'll get the best possible deal by going through Travelex. The policies are flexible and can be purchased or upgraded at any point in your trip. Prices are highly competitive and coverage includes 24-hour emergency assistance, trip cancellation, theft, full medical reimbursement and an option for coverage of a wide range of adventure sports.

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