|
Hikers are attracted by the diverse natural beauty, the wonderful scenery and sea views and the abundance of karst formations. They love the contrast of the coastal and inland slopes, the harmony of land and sea, the sight of rare plants and animals. There is excellent road access to about a thousand kilometers of forest trails, about fifteen mountain huts, two national parks (Paklenica and Northern Velebit ) and a natural reserve. The longitudinal hikers' trails of Velebit are well-marked, and last but not least, there is the famous Premužić trail leading through Northern and Central Velebit, which is by far the most beautiful and the longest trail not only in Croatia but beyond.
Advice for Excursions. The access roads on the Lika side are much more pleasant than the coastal access roads because they are not as exposed to the sun, and they start already at an altitude of about 600 meters. However, the views are reduced.
Hikers can also arrive at the crest of Velebit by any bus that goes to Vratnik, Oltare, Oštarije, or Prezid, and start trekking at high altitude right away. Velebit should be toured in small groups due to the limited capacity of the lodges and huts. You should take food with you. Only the Hotel Velebno at Oštarije has a complete assortment of provisions, while supplies at the Boris Lodge in Paklenica and the lodge at Zavižan are somewhat limited. The relatively easiest route is the VNP route along the marked trails that lasts about a week. The most beautiful leg of the route is undoubtedly the Premužić trail through Rožanski Kuk and Hajdučki Kuk. The hike across Velebit is more interesting than the hike along it due to the diversity of landscapes, but is also vastly more difficult. Another way to explore Velebit is by using one of the lodges as a starting point for other excursions (to Zavižan, Veliki Alan, Ravni Dabar, Oštarije, Paklenica, etc.). Owing to the network of forest roads, motorized visitors may drive to near almost all the highest peaks, so that the climb up would only take an hour or two (with the exception of Sv. Brdo and Vaganski Vrh). You have to pay a ticket to enter the Northern Velebit and the Paklenica National Parks , while camping in the area without permission is prohibited. A special feature of Velebit's coastal slope is its longitudinal route at the altitude of 800 m, which is unique for its remarkable configuration. It consists of a series of scenic karst valleys separated from the sea by craggy white peaks. Nowadays, the longitudinal trails are marked, and we recommend that larger tourist groups arrive by bus to one of the Velebit passes, spend 6-7 hours hiking along the crest all the way to the next pass, where a bus should be waiting for them again. This will avoid backtracking.
The mountain-hiking season practically lasts all year round. However, winter is when gale winds are more frequent and they can last for days. In summer, cold snaps are also possible, while strong gale wind will also cause fog to form over the mountain crest. Therefore, even in summer you should bring along protection against rain and cold. In summer, you should avoid climbing up from Hrvatsko Primorje, especially in mid-day, because the bare and rocky slopes are exposed to the sun and are sometimes extremely hot. The summer months are the most suitable time to visit because of the stable weather. From November to May, the mountain trails and roads are always covered in snow.
Drinking water. Due to the karst landscape, Velebit is scarce with drinking water. The very few springs frequently dry out. Snow caves are hard to find, and the water in the wells and cisterns is of questionable quality. Therefore, it is best to bring along your own water, while water from the wells or cisterns should be boiled or chlorinated before use. Individual, rare, mountain springs that never dry out are described in mountain-hikers' guidebooks, which should be examined in detail with a suitable map of the area, before you start your tour.
|
