In addition to enjoying the beautiful beaches, you can make your holiday in Croatia more varied with the possibilities provided by the nearby Velebit National Park – such as hiking, climbing and mountain biking.
The Velebit Mountains are the largest mountain range in Croatia, 145 km long and the highest peak is 1757 m. The Hajdučki and Rožanski Kukovi karst reserves are located in the heart of the national park. In addition to the reserves, there is a botanical garden at 1,500 meters, the Velebit Botanical Garden. At an altitude of 1594 m we find the Zavižan shelter, near which the peak of Vučjak rises at an altitude of 1641 m, with an marvelous panorama of the Adriatic Sea and the islands of the Kvarner Bay. One hour from the shelter you can conquer several peaks Veliki Zavižan (1676 m) and Balinovac peak (1602 m) which offers an unforgettable view. As part of a one- or more-day tour, you can discover the breathtaking karst world of Velebit on the 57 km long Premužić Trail, which also starts near the Zavižan Shelter.
Plitvice Lakes is a world-famous natural formation, the largest national park in Croatia and the oldest in Southeast Europe, and a World Heritage Site since 1979. It was founded in 1949, covers an area of 300 km2, and its highest point is 1279 meters high. With its 16 interconnected lakes and 92 magnificent waterfalls, it is one of the most beautiful places in Europe. A limit on number of visitors has been introduced since 2019, so it is worth buying a ticket online at least 2 days in advance. Due to its proximity, it is worth a day trip to the lakes, the park is only 63 km from Senj.
The road leads from Sveti Juraj to Krasno, on the way it is worth stopping to take photos of the beautiful panorama. Krasno is a tourist center located in a lush karst pool, 22 km from the beach. Here they make Krasno cheese, which can also be bought from the cheese maker or at the market in Senj. The Church of Our Lady of Krasnoyar, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Mary in the country, is visited by almost a hundred thousand people a year. The most spectacular element of the church is the painted coffered ceiling made of wood from around 1740. Feast of the Assumption on August 15
From Krasno towards Otočac we reach Kuterevo the bear shelter. The shelter is maintained by donations and volunteers come from all over the world to give all the care to the rescued brown bears. The village is famous for the products of the local wood carvers.
On Krasnoi Road, after the Oltari farm, there is a fork to the right that leads to the Zavižan Botanical Garden. Zavižan offers unforgettable views of the Kvarner islands.
It is located 13 km south of Senj, where you can meet several species of birds of prey. In the forest house we can see a permanent exhibition of native species of Croatia. Over the years, many endangered griffon vultures have been rescued and released after successful nursing.
