Active vacation
Allow us to welcome all of you adventurers, curious persons, nature lovers, to challenges and relaxation in Karlovac County, bursting with beauty and opportunities.
This is a list of possibilities of various active vacations at beautiful destinations of our county, and offers many reasons for a visit, and reasons to return again as well.
You may choose between hunting and a photo-safari in the woods from Ozalj and Draganic to Klek, Modruš, and Petrova gora; fishing at any of the four green, clear rivers or at a lake; quad bike rides or bike tours through attractive landscape. Or you may opt for horseback riding. Maybe you will be attracted to hiking or speleotourism or enjoy skiing and sliding down the slopes of Bjelolasica. Maybe you are a fan of rafting, canoeing, rowing or just love to take a swim - between water lilies.
It does not matter what you choose to do during your vacation; we are convinced you will realize that we are the destination you will be coming back to.
River Korana in Karlovac, during summer can have 24°C or even more and there is a saying: Korana makes the will of men stronger and invigorates woman beauty“. Fogin's bath place is the most beautiful river beach in Croatia.
On Dobra, swimming is beautiful beside the waterfalls in Lipa, Jarce polje, Grdunac...
Kupa is fresh during summer and favorite bathing places are in Vukova Gorica, Prilisce, Ozalj...
Mreznica is blue green beauty; from Primisalj to Karlovac are many beautiful bathing places, commonly beside waterfalls and millstones.
It is a pleasure also to swim in the "Ogulin sea", as they call lake Sabljaci, where "Lake games“ are being held during summer. Another special site of Karlovac county is the Lesce Spa, one of the healthiest thermal springs of Croatia, with an outdoor pool (28-30°C), located just beside river Dobra coast.
Karlovac County is among favorite and attractive destinations for fishing tourism in Croatia. The richness of clear water is awarded with a large number of fishes. You are invited to respect hunting quota and to protect endangered fish species.
Sumbar lake, near Karlovac is a favorite place for fishermen, with carps, gras carp, pikes, catfish, perch and many more.
Fishing on Mreznica is a memorable adventure because of its many waterfalls, rapids and islands.
In Karlovac, Draganic and Ozalj area there are a lot of ponds with different fish. In Ogulin area, besides Dobra and Zagorska Mreznica, you can fish in lake Sabljaci but also in hill creeks which are especially rich with trout.
Memorable experiences are the ones with rafting, kayaking and canoeing on the beautiful rivers of Karlovac county, whose 200km of streams make perfect for an exciting, and at the same time relaxing adventure.
The beauty and power of the river and thrill of wild water you will feel on Korana, from Rastoke to Veljun; in early spring and fall, waterfalls rich with water are the best invitation for rafting lovers. Korana, down the stream from Veljun appeals to calmer water lovers.
Mreznica, on the way through rocky gorges and flower meadows draws canoeists with waterfalls, islands and sleeves. Kupa is great for a few days' activities.
Also, you can enjoy a relaxing canoe or kayak ride on the lake Sabljaci in Ogulin.
Karlovac County offers various possibilities for your active holiday on a bicycle. If you wish to get acquainted with its beauties and sights, you have almost 700 kilometres of bike routes at your disposal. You can explore all corners of the county by turning pedals, from low-lying Pokuplje, valleys of the four Karlovac rivers, rolling karst plateau of Kordun and mountain area of Žumberak massif, Petrova gora (Peter's mountain) and Gorski kotar (Mountain district).
Each cyclotourist, no matter if using a bike from time to time or being a professional cyclist, shall find a route appropriate for his/her physical conditions and bike properties: cycling tours are from 30 to 100 km long, having height differences between the lowest and the highest points of only 25 up to 580 meters. Routes are mainly set on local roads with less traffic and they pass through beautiful landscapes and embrace valuable cultural and historical heritage.
Each route offers a special experience: some of them follow picturesque valleys of the rivers Kupa, Korana, Mrežnica or Dobra, others follow shores of lake Sabljaci or Draganićki ribnjaci (Draganić's fishponds), others move up the wooded hillsides and meadowy glades of Kapela and Klek, Sveta Gera and Lović Prekriški, Vince and Piramida at Draganić. Some of the routes pass through protected areas of National Park Plitvička Jezera (Plitvice Lakes) and Nature Park Žumberak - Samoborsko gorje (Samobor Mountains).
While enjoying a pleasant drive, you can take a tour around the Renaissance historic core of Karlovac, medieval ruins of castle Dubovac, Novigrad na Dobri, Ozalj, Bosiljevo, Tounj, Modruš, Ogulin, Slunj, Drežnik and Cetingrad, numerous curiae, churches and chapels. You will also cross ancient stone bridges over the Dobra, Mrežnica, and pass by the renovated mills of Rastoke on Slunjčica Falls.
Gastronomic offer along the routes is quite rich, in numerous restaurants. There are many shops and bike services, and hospitality and accommodating attitude of hosts is an additional invitation to come and experience Karlovac County as a cyclotourist. Welcome, and have a pleasant ride through our region on your two-wheeled pet!
On marked paths you can ascend on highest point of Karlovac County and Gorski Kotar – Tower on Bjelolasica (1534m alt). Close by are nature reserves, the White (1335m) and Samara rocks (1302m).
As mountain destinations, Zumberak hills and Peter's mountain are pointed out. Memorable views are on Lovic Prekriski in Vivodina, Vinice above Duga Resa and Piramide above Draganici.
For resting on many hills and mountains there are mountain homes on disposition and a hotel in Jasenacko Vrelo. Many walking paths are beside rivers of Karlovac, along the lake Sabljaci, and through Kozjaca forest.
Forests are the priceless treasure of Karlovac County. Woods and hunting areas are being controlled by Croatian woods and local hunting associations. In Karlovac County you can still see some rare animals in Europe.
Brown bear, wolf and lynx live in forests of Kapela and are a very important part of biodiversity. Their hunting is strictly controlled; wolf and lynx are protected species. The County is rich with foxes, deer, rabbits, wild boars, quails, pheasants...
Hunting, where guns are being replaced with photo cameras is becoming popular. Karlovac County is the first county in Croatia who has this in their tourist offer: in hunting places Crni and Debeli Vrh on Kapela or on a deer farm beside Krnjak, you can take pictures of any kind of wild animal.
Horseback riding in horse club „Karlovac“ is located in a green oasis beside the river Korana. The club performs horseback riding therapy for persons with diminished body and/or mental abilities.
HC „Fany“ in Vukmanic Cerovec promotes horseback riding as a sport and also promotes healthy life. You can also try riding in a carriage and try some delicious home made food.
Learn how to ride is possible in Jelov Klanac ranch, not far away from Rakovica, managed by Iris Croatica and HC „Equs croaticus“. For experienced ones, a challenge is field horseback riding with guide just beside the National park Plitvicka jezera. Horse club „Barilo“ by Barilovic offers boarding house for horses, a school for horseback riding, field and therapy horseback riding and one day trips around Skradska gora, Korana and Mreznica.
The SW part of Karlovac County is dominated by shallow limestone crags with hundreds of caves. Here are 4 of 6 longest cave systems in Croatia, but Julia abysm – Medvedica by Ogulin with over 16km of canals is the largest.
Barac caves near Rakovica are known for the calcite decoration, and were the first in Croatia to be opened for visitors in 1892. Upper Barac cave, 520m long, was opened again in 2004, and nearby is the first Croatian speleologists' home.