What better way to discover rewilding than by living it directly?

Located in the heart of the Nature Park this hiking route traverses areas within the Velebit rewilding corridor, part of Rewilding Velebit’s conservation efforts. As you pass through, you'll witness landscapes shaped by naturally regenerated grasslands and forest mosaics, where restoration of native herbivores promotes ecological balance and wildlife corridors underpins biodiverse recovery in Velebit.

Itinerary

Day One ☕ Welcome coffee - getting to know each other. Please arrive no later than 10 AM. Come prepared for hiking so we can make the most of the day. The hike starts from the hostel and heads toward the summit of Veliki Sadikovac (1,286 m). We’ll be moving within a rewilding corridor, looking for signs and activity of wild animals. The route is circular and the hike takes approximately 5 to 6 hours with breaks. Expected return is around 5 or 6 PM. After that, we’ll settle into our rooms and go for dinner. Day Two 🏔️ Wake-up and breakfast. Check out and get ready for the hike. Today’s hike takes us to Ljubičko Brdo (1,320 m), which is part of the impressive rocky massif Dabarski kukovi. With breaks included, the hike takes approximately 5 hours. We return to the parking area in the afternoon, with an optional dinner at the hostel/restaurant (at your own expense). There is also the opportunity to visit a local dairy, where you can enjoy a presentation and purchase homemade dairy products.

What's Included?

Experienced Local Tour Guide Breakfast + Dinner + Lodging

What to Bring

🎒 BASIC HIKING GEAR: Daypack (20–30 L) Sturdy hiking boots with grippy soles Layered clothing: quick‑dry short‑sleeve base layer, long‑sleeve or fleece mid‑layer, windproof​/​waterproof jacket (soft‑ or hardshell), full‑length hiking trousers, hat or buff + sunglasses, lightweight gloves (if in cooler season), spare socks and shirt (for hygiene or in case you get wet) 🥤 FOOD & HYDRATION: Water, at least 2 L Energy snacks, like bars, nuts, dried fruit, light meal or sandwich for lunch 🧭 SAFETY & NAVIGATION: Fully charged phone Basic first‑aid kit Headlamp (just in case) ☀️ WEATHER & SUN PROTECTION: Sunscreen (high SPF) Lip balm with UV protection Insect & tick repellent (e.g. Autan or similar) 🎫 DOCUMENTS & MISCELLANEOUS: ID or passport Cash (just in case) Mountaineering book (if you collect summit stamps)

Food & Stay

🏡 The recreation center Baške Oštarije is located in the heart of Velebit, 926 m above the sea. In the center are located hostel, traditional restaurant of Lika region, animal farm, cheese factory and additional activities. The recreation center is open all year. 🛏️ The Hostel offers accommodation with 32 beds in multiple bedrooms. In the restaurant you can enjoy in the gastronomic specialties of Lika. They offer horse riding and carriage rides through the Velebit trails for the visitors. 🧀 A cheese factory has started with production of cheese ande other dairy products from own-produced cow milk. The factory iz located in the region with eco-clean environment, in the heart of Velebit mountain. They have high quality products and they bring you all the splendour of Velebit. The products are: milk, yoghurt, yoghurt with fruit flavour, fresh cheese, semi-hard cheese, ricotta, škripavac cheese, basa, cream. 🚜 The vision for further development of the recreational center is to increase the accommodation capacity. There is also an intention to increase the number of heads in the animal farm, which would increase the amount of processing milk. All these activities are planned to increase the capacity and assortment of dairy and to enrich the additional contents and activities.

How your experience helps rewilding efforts

By being part of the Rewilding Velebit network, we contribute to restoring Velebit's natural ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable future for both nature and local communities. Using "Leave No Trace" principles we educate the public on sustainable outdoor practices, emphasizing the importance of minimizing human impact on nature. Through creative activities and outdoor learning experiences, participants gain insights into the biological and cultural values of the area, which enhances their awareness and behavior concerning nature preservation. By integrating historical education with environmental awareness we support the development of a balanced relationship between biodiversity conservation and the socio-economic needs of local communities. We encourage local production and craftsmanship, guiding guests through authentic local tastings and collaborative experiences. Our accommodations are carefully selected partners who share our commitment to rewilding and sustainable practices, promoting simpler, eco-friendly and green use of resources. In addition, we personally participate in volunteer activities organized by the Rewilding Velebit Foundation, directly contributing to the conservation and rewilding of the region.

Rewilding landscape

Rewilding vision

Velebit Mountains | Croatia

Situated on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, with 145-kilometre long Velebit massif, two national parks and a biosphere reserve, the area boasts a diverse range of habitats: from barren Mediterranean landscapes at sea level, to vast beech forests, to almost boreal systems and alpine grasslands at higher altitudes.

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This experience involves

• Hiking
• Wildlife tracking
• Gastronomy (local)
• Educational experience
• Dark skies & stargazing

Wildlife in this landscapePlease note that the presence of wildlife doesn’t guarantee sightings — these animals live freely and may remain out of view.

Location