This multi-activity adventure holiday will take you along the Mreznica River, through Plitvice Lakes National Park and to the Adriatic coast. You will explore this unique area on foot, by bike and from a kayak. Our guides will seize every opportunity to steer you away from the busy everyday life ensuring a truly memorable experience which you will cherish for many years to come. The Mreznica is considered one of Croatia's cleanest rivers, with plenty of great places for swimming, canoeing / kayaking and rafting. The river is 64 km long, and is special for its 93 waterfalls and pools of warm water between them, perfect for refreshment away from beach crowds. Clear green water, unspoiled woods and magical landscapes make it one of Croatia’s most desirable continental retreats. The accommodation is a friendly, family-run, 3* hotel on the bank of the 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. Tour Itinerary: Day 1, Sat: Arrival in Zvecaj village Arrival in Croatia. 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: D Day 2, Sun: 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 or open canoes 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: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Canoeing / kayaking: class I-II, easy/moderate, 3-4 hours Day 3, Mon: Walking / Hiking in Plitvice Lakes National Park Early in the morning we start our ride through lovely countryside roads towards Plitvice Lakes, Croatia's first National Park. Once at Plitvice, we have the day to explore it on foot. Plitvice Lakes National Park is a spectacular geological and hydrogeological 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 walk through the National Park following narrow paths, crossing over wooden bridges and even taking a boat ride on Lake Kozjak. Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Walking / hiking: 4 hours; Terrain: easy, well marked paths; Drive: 1h45 each way Day 4, Tue: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. Those who still want to explore the area after the tour are free bike to other places of interests on their own, with directions given by the guide. Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Cycling / biking: 3 hours; Terrain: easy/moderate, rolling hills Day 5, Wed: 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. Several optional walking / hiking, canoeing or sightseeing trips will be proposed, in case you are keen on discovering more beauties that Croatia has to offer. Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own) Day 6, Thu: Sea kayaking in the Adriatic Sea Today we head south for a day filled with sea kayaking, relaxing and swimming. The Adriatic Sea is warm and clear, with clean water and insignificant tides. There are no strong currents nor big waves and winds are rare and predictable. We will kayak along the Adriatic coast, have time to relax at one of the local beaches, swim and visit one of the small towns in the area. There are many sea kayaking locations to choose from and our guides will select the one that is best suited to group abilities and weather conditions. In the afternoon we'll return back to our hotel for dinner. Meals: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Sea kayaking: easy, 2-3 hours; Drive: 2h each way Day 7, Fri: Canoeing / Kayaking on the upper gorge section of the Mreznica Back on the river this morning in the 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 reaches it for only a few hours each day, around noon, creating spectacular light effects. Paddling along 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: B and D (picnic lunch on your own); Canoeing / kayaking: class II-III, moderate, 4 - 5 hours; Drive: 40 min each way Day 8, Sat: Departure day Depart from Zvecaj Village 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: B Clear Rivers Country - Departure dates: - May 25 - June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - July 6, 13, 20, 27 - August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - September 7, 14, 21, 28 Prices 2013. 8-day Apartments - Double rooms High season 760 eur Intermediate season 690 eur Low season 590 eur Children 8-14 years, 10% reduction High season 684 eur Intermediate season 621 eur Low season 531 eur 5-day Apartments - Double rooms High season 590 eur Intermediate season 550 eur Low season 490 eur Children 8-14 years, 10% reduction High season 531 eur Intermediate season 495 eur Low season 441 eur NOTE: The prices are fixed in euros. This conversion is for comparison purposes only. The exact price in dollars or pounds is calculated on the day of booking according to the exchange rate of the Croatian National Bank. High season - July 6 - August 23, 2013 Intermediate season - June 8 - July 5, August 24 - September 13, 2013 Low season - April 20 - June 7, September 14 - October 19, 2013 Member discount: Notes: Prices Includes: 
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