Short walks to the past vol. 1 – Vinodol

Duration / level / type: 1 day / moderate-easy hiking (P2) / with guide

Season: Bribir / Vinodol

Price: From 40€ (290,00 HRK)

Highlights

Old churches, villages, towers and the walled town of Bribir

Following the caravan trails of the farmers from old times

Kavranica Rock and Cliff trail – exceptional panoramics of the Adriatic and Vinodol

Delighted to welcome you to our first episode (vol.1) of ‘Short Hikes to the Past’! It is a new series of walking and hiking programs created by VMD, with generous help from the authors of a book of the same name on which the programs are based, Lara Černicki and Stašo Forenbaher. Their knowledge of history and tradition, the cultural and archaeological heritage of various (some lesser-known) corners of Croatia combined with the experience of the VMD Adventure team (since 1992) in the organization and implementation of explorations of the outdoor, these programs will let you discover Croatia in a wholly new way! In this episode we will meet old towns, fortifications and villages in the vicinities of Bribir, explore the trails of the caravans the farmers of Vinodol used to trade their stock with the inhabitants of Gorski Kotar, see the remains of the old summer season villages where we learn the stories about the traditional life and then the panoramic footpaths above Kavranica Rock, where the views on the northern Adriatic take your breath away!

Being active and learning new things, sounds like fun? Join us and enter ‘Short Hikes to the Past’ with us!

Itinerary

09:30h – Meetup of group and tour leader at parking space next to the walls of Bribir. Introduction, important notes and start to our first ‘walk to the past’.

Approximately 30 min of the easy walk leads us to the village of Podskoči where we get to see the small medieval church of St. Martin. After that, a nicely laid out cart path, built in the early 19th century leads uphill. ‘The path is partly supported by massive retaining walls, in some places, the cobblestone is preserved as well as drainage crosscuts and wheel guards lined along the edge of the road and made of massive masoned stone blocks. Along most of the length of the cartway the wheel tracks are visible, a testament to the trade and transport of goods that were essential to the inhabitants of old Bribir, with their summer residences scattered in the Bribir forest’ (from ‘Short Walks to the Past’. Černicki, L., Forenbaher, S.). About 1h of a pleasant walk uphill, feeling the scents of sage in the spring, and we arrive at the summit of Kavranica rock, which rises above Vinodol and is embedded in the rocky ridge running along the northeastern border of Vinodol valley. We continue walking along the Cliff trail which follows the ridge and enjoy the nice views onto the northern Adriatic sea, before descending along the caravan trail to the village of Podskoči and back to Bribir. After taking in an overview of the town center of Bribir we invite you to round off the nice tour by visiting a local winery (included in the program), tasting the excellent wines of the region, indeed with the possibility to buy various products of the Croatian “eatertainment” variety.

The visit to the winery marks the end of our tour, after which we recommend a well-deserved swim at one of the beaches in Selce, Novi Vinodolski, or Crikvenica, or further visits nearby (Novi Vinodolski, Fortification of Ledenice, Fort Badanj, etc.). Our local guide will tell you more about the options.

Should you so wish, it is possible to book an overnight stay at the Riviera of Crikvenica-Vinodol the possibilities of which caters to various tastes (for more information and bookings, please contact our office).

Come with us and enjoy, it’s recreational, fun, educational and tasty!

Price

40 € (290,00 HRK) per person*
*min 6 pax

What’s included?

hiking tour in Vinodol, based on the cultural-historical guidebook for hikers – ‘Short walks to the past’
experienced guide from VMD Adventure Team
‘Picknick on the trail’ – light lunch with food from the Croatian countryside
wine tasting in one of the local wineries
organization expenses, transfer for tour leader, VAT and the like

Options (additional cost) and discounts:

groups of 4 or more – 10% (for adults)

Optional add-ons (info upon request):

B&B on Crikvenica riviera or Gorski Kotar (price depends on location and category of desired accommodation) ; for more information please call VMD office)

Hiking profile

Duration: 3h30-4h00 walk + picknick
Difficulty: 2 boots (easy to moderate hiking)
Length / elevation: 8,5km i + 450m
Road configuration: varied and moderately easy terrain, a combination of old cart paths and caravan trails, a bit of karst on the cliff trail, no steep ascends or descends

TRANSFER
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU?
WHAT TO VISIT OR TRY?
USEFUL INFORMATION

– own vehicle or one of the following options:
– Group transfer – if a larger number of request, the VMD team will offer group transfer by mini-bus
– private transfer – should you wish for a carefree excursion it is possible to organize a private transfer with a car, van or mini-bus depending on group size
– car rental – VMD offers quality vehicles for an affordable price in cooperation with our partner M.A.C.K. rent-a-car.
– the program includes ‘Picknick on the trail’ – light snacks, including some Croatian traditional products (cheese, ham, vegetables and fruit)
– a dinner in the evening can be organized at additional cost in one of the closeby restaurants in Novi Vinodolski, Crikvenica, Fužine or Delnice (more info upon request)
– proper hikers shoes
– sports/hiking clothing (have a shirt for change at hand, etc.)
– rainjacket or windstopper (Gore-tex or similar)
– sunglasses and hat, in case of hot and warm weather (March-September)
– min 1,5l water per person

Hiking poles recommended. If necessary, the VMD adventure lab will rent sticks for 4 € (30,00 HRK) per day.
– Old center od Novi Vinodolski, Drivenik, Ledenice
– Fort Badanj
– lunch or dinner in mountain hut Vagabundina koliba near Lič, homemade catering and recipes

*for more info on optional activities and visits in the area contact our experts in the VMD Adventure Laboratory
Weather conditions

Vinodol valley is characterized by a mild Mediterranean climate with cold continental influences from Gorski Kotar. This tour is suited for the whole year with the exception of excessively hot days in the summer or extreme cold during the winter months, but really the best time for hiking is spring when the meadows in the valley are green and covered with flowers. Despite the mostly moderate climate we still recommend a warm change of clothes and a rainjacket since the downslope winds from Gorski Kotar can be pretty strong and cold (see ‘What to take with you?’).

Our adventure team is diligently following weather forecasts as well as other elements that may influence the implementation of the tour. In case of severe weather conditions (strong winds, rain, etc.) or any other inconvenience (road and transfer conditions) the team will inform you in time and advice about equipment and the like. Furthermore, our experienced tour leaders will be free to suggest alternative activities nearby in case of adverse conditions which would make the original tour significantly less enjoyable. Our adventure experts in the Zagreb office will give you advice and answer questions you might have in connection with appropriate outdoor gear, literature and similar. Give us a call, we are here for you!

Who is guiding the tour?

29 years of experience in the organization of hiking programs in Croatia and around the world, combined with a team of well-versed tour guides who are passionate about nature and cultural and historical heritage, this is the recipe that results in every tour concocted in the VMD adventure lab being a successful ‘experiment’. Let us introduce you to the secrets of adventurous Croatia in a safe and interesting way! More about our tour leaders and the office crew here: VMD GUIDES

Contact

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