TREKKING IN NATIONAL PARK SJEVERNI VELEBIT

- breakfast
- transfer to Kuterevo
- visit to the Sanctuary for Young Bears
- transfer to National Park "Sjeverni Velebit" (Krasno - Zavizan)
- meeting the guide and getting familiar with the route
- visit to Botanical Garden
- trekking at "Premuzic staza"
- picnic lunch on Velebit
- transfer Alan - accommodation
- free time

TREKKING TIME: 6 hours

DESCRIPTION
The beginning of this adventure day starts by visiting the young bears placed in the Sanctuary in village Kutarevo, worlds' one of its kind. You will immediately grow fond of the young bears playing and if you are lucky maybe they will pose for your picture. Further we continue towards National Park "Sjeverni Velebit", i.e. Climber's Lodge and Weather Bureau at Zavižan which is in the same time the oldest Weather Bureau in Croatia. After short briefing and introduction to the guide we are leaving Zavižan and going touring the Croatia's unique Botanical Garden which will also be a certain warm-up for the trekking walk to the most beautiful part of the Velebit - "Premuzic staza" from Zavizan to Alan.

Sanctuary for Young Bears in Kuterevo
This small world of peace, nature and village was founded in 2002. Up till now it is the first and the only of its kind in the world. The sanctuary has two parts, the first part is a "baby centre" which is provided for the baby bears not older than 2-6 months, while in other part are placed somewhat older little bears. You will be able to admire these incredible animals in "first hand", and what do you know, you might want to bring one them with you.

Zavizan Botanical Garden
Only some mountains in Europe, and none in Croatia, are enriched with such variety of plant species as Velebit. Velebit has approximately 27000 species and only in National Park around 1500 species, of which 79 endemic species. The most popular sort of endemic specie is far the most "Velebit Degenija" (Degenia Velebitica) that we will be able to find on Velebit Botanical Garden. Botanical Garden is placed on altitude of 1480 m which makes it the Botanical Garden withe the highest altitude in Croatia. There is surrounding track around the Garden that provides exploring of hundreds of plant species on one place in just 30 minutes of walking. Among the plants there are some species that are considered Velebit's rarity that we could spend at least 30 years in finding them.

Premuzic staza
The track came to existence between 1930 and 1933 and was called upon the forestry engineer Ante Premuzic. It is long 57 km and it represents the best way to find out about the beauties and features of the mountain Velebit. The difference in height between the highest and the lowest point in its entire length is only 200 m.

The track leads us through the heart of the World's Biosphere Reserve. In 6-hour walk we will be able to see magnificent landscapes, undiscovered nature that will fascinate you with its elegancy and simplicity. The time will stop and you will enjoy in each step of this fairytale. According to the folklore legend the peaks of Velebit hide the Croatian Fairy and who meets her will have one wish fulfilled. You can expect beautiful sea and island landscapes on one side and fresh mountain air on the other side of Velebit. You will see that you could not find better beginning of our mutual fairytale.