The accommodation is a friendly, family-run, 3* hotel on the bank of Mreznica River, approximately one hour drive from Zagreb and Rijeka airports. The restaurant overlooks an old mill close to a small waterfall and serves freshly caught fish, as well as home-grown vegetables. Barbecues are also a speciality of the house. All rooms are equipped with en suite bathrooms, TV, mini bar, telephone and have Internet access. Your Itinerary: Day 1 - Saturday: Arrival in Zvecaj village A guide will be waiting for you at Zagreb or Rijeka airport, bus or train station. If previously arranged, the pickup may be at Karlovac or Zvecaj bus or train station. You will be transferred to your accommodation situated 70 km from Zagreb in Zvecaj village, by the Mreznica River. After settling into your room, you can have a drink on the terrace overlooking the Mreznica and its waterfalls, walk by the river, go for a swim or just relax. Meet the other members of the group over dinner and discuss the upcoming itinerary with your guide. Meals: dinner Day 2 - Rafting on the Dobra River After breakfast we will head out to Lesce village where our trip on the Dobra River begins. The Dobra is the second largest river in the Gorski Kotar region. It offers good rafting conditions all year round because of its dams and reservoirs. The river has a long tradition of conducting commercial rafting trips, which date back almost two decades. Paddling all together as a crew, we will pass through a breathtaking landscape filled with green forests, meadows and hills. The rapids are not difficult and we’ll easily conquer them in our 6-10 person rafts. The trip ends in Jarcepolje village. Time permitting, we will cross an ancient bridge over the Dobra and visit a 15th century fortress town, Novigrad na Dobri. Both the bridge and the fortress are state-protected cultural heritage monuments of great historical value. Return to Zvecaj in the afternoon and relax until dinner. (Please note that if the water level is not appropriate, we will transfer the excursion to another nearby river.). Meals: breakfast and dinner (picnic lunch on your own); Rafting: class II-III, easy/moderate, 2.5 hours; Drive: 20 min one way Day 3 - Canoeing / Kayaking on the Mreznica River The day of canoeing / kayaking on the Mreznica starts in front of the hotel. We use two-person sit-on-top kayaks which are easy and safe to navigate. After a short introduction to paddling, we push off upstream for an afternoon of refreshing fun on the clear, warm and emerald waters of this river with numerous waterfalls. Due to its biological diversity and variety of habitats, the Mreznica area should soon be categorized as a Croatian Nature Park. It is home to many endangered and protected plant and animal species that you may get a chance to observe. These include 4 species of birds from the "red list“ of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature - the Golden Eagle, the Lesser Spotted Eagle, the Western Capercaillie and the Great White Egret. The day will be filled with swimming, jumping off the waterfalls and enjoying beautiful nature. After a light picnic, we'll paddle back to the hotel. Meals: breakfast and dinner (picnic lunch on your own); Canoeing / kayaking: class I-II, easy/moderate, 3-4 hours Day 4 - Walking / Hiking in Plitvice Lakes National Park Early in the morning we start our ride through lovely countryside roads towards Plitvice Lakes, the first Croatian National Park. Once at Plitvice, we have the day to explore it on foot. Plitvice Lakes National Park is a spectacular geological and hydro-geological karst phenomenon, a sequence of sixteen turquoise lakes linked together with cascading falls and travertine pools. The lakes are surrounded by beech and pine forests and are home to extensive wildlife. The richness of flora and fauna attracts visitors and scientists from all over the world. UNESCO has declared it with all rights as a World Natural Heritage site. We’ll pass through the National Park following narrow paths, crossing over wooden bridges and even taking a boat ride on Lake Kozjak. Meals: breakfast and dinner (picnic lunch on your own); Walking / hiking: 4 hours; Terrain: easy, well marked paths; Drive: 1h45 one way Day 5 - Optional trip day For those who chose a 5-day trip, this is the end of your holiday. You are welcome to schedule your homeward transport for any time. The rest of the group continues the trip. Today you can be as active or as lazy as you wish. You can relax by the river, swim, play beach volleyball or even take another optional bike tour on your own. Sea kayaking to Rovinj in Istria will be proposed, as well as several optional walking / hiking or sightseeing trips, in case you are keen on discovering more beauties that Croatia has to offer. Meals: breakfast and dinner (picnic lunch on your own). (Please note that the optional trip will incur an additional charge of approx 50€ per head, payable on site, and is dependent on suitable weather conditions. The price is based on a min. of 4 participants.) Day 6 - Cycling / Biking in the Mreznica area A well-paced bike tour through villages and along country roads is a great way to experience Croatia much more closely than from a vehicle. There are many trails in the Mreznica area well-adapted for cycling / biking tours. We'll start from the hotel and meander past numerous small family farms and homesteads. There are great places to take breaks along the road and look out over the valleys and fields. You will be able to go for a swim in the river and enjoy a picnic lunch on the bank. For those who still want to explore the area after the tour, they can bike to other places of interests on their own, with previous directions given by the guide. Meals: breakfast and dinner (picnic lunch on your own); Cycling / biking: 3 hours; Terrain: easy/moderate, rolling hills Day 7 - Canoeing / Kayaking on upper gorge section of the MreznicaBack on the water this morning in upper Mreznica canyon. Our route takes us from the hotel to Primislje village, where we'll start our expedition upstream. We travel through a gorge so narrow and deep that the sun enters for only a few hours each day, around noon, creating spectacular light effects. Passing by cliffs of carved white rocks, lush vegetation and cascading waterfalls, we will arrive at a strong freshwater spring. We continue our journey to the second highest waterfall on the Mreznica (8m), a magical place ideal for swimming and a picnic. After a break, we head downstream and finish the adventure back where we left our vehicles. Ride back to the hotel in the late afternoon. Meals: breakfast and dinner (picnic lunch on your own); Canoeing / kayaking: class II-III, moderate, 4 - 5 hours; Drive: 40 min one way Day 8 -Departure day, departure for the airport and flight home. You are welcome to schedule your homeward transport for any time. If you decide to spend more time in Croatia, our guides will be happy to recommend other beautiful places to visit - especially those you won’t find in tourist guide books. Meals: breakfast This itinerary and the duration of the activities are subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, weather, water levels, special events of interest, etc. Guides and Trip Leaders will do their utmost to ensure the best possible experience for their clients without compromising safety at any time. This may mean changing the original itinerary to avoid discomfort or risk which could be caused by exceptional situations. The trip provider reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice. Notes: Prices include: 
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