Find diverse nature in Croatia

Main image: Plitvice National Park (Julien Duval)

If you thought Croatia was all about its sparkling resorts, towns and cities, you are in for a seriously pleasant surprise. A deeply impressive all natural surprise, as Croatia offers some of the most diverse nature you’ll find anywhere, from sweeping sand-kissed islands through to wetlands alive with birdlife, on to magical forests straight from the Brothers Grimm and epic mountain ranges. Croatia tempts with eight national parks, the nigh on 10% of the country that is strictly protected and even a natural UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mljet National Park (Julien Duval)

Croatia’s famous 2,000km-long coastline is one of the wonders of the natural world. When George Bernard Shaw talked of the Kornati Islands as fallen from heaven like “tears, stars and breath” he could have been talking about any of the 1,200-plus Croatian islands. Each island is gloriously unique, whether it be the arid wildflower-kissed ruggedness of Pag, or the emerald lushness of Mljet, much of which is designated national park. Mljet is a microcosm for the islands: hike around, cycle, or just stop, stare and admire nature. The most illustrious isles like Brač and Hvar lie in Dalmatia, but there is real strength in depth with the Kvarner Gulf sporting myriad nature-rich isles and Istria also harbouring islands of its own, not least the Brijuni Islands National Park.

The mainland coast weaves a rich natural necklace all along its craggy outline, broken only by tumbling rivers and lagoons. Development is strictly controlled on the Croatian coastline so you can enjoy its protected natural charms knowing you are part of the drive to protect Mother Nature for future generations to enjoy. The coast and islands are easy to explore with a network of ferries that reveal further tantalising slices of nature, such as seabirds and the famous Kvarner Gulf dolphins. Other coastal highlights include Shaw’s inspiration, the Kornati Islands National Park.

The sprawling landscapes of Paklenica National Park (Shutterstock)

Croatia is swathed in over 2.5 million hectares of forest, with the protection and sustainable enjoyment of its myriad tree species always at the heart of tourism. Forget about it being a modern trend – Croatians have savoured life-affirming forest bathing since time immemorial. The sheer diversity of forest landscapes is remarkable, with oak, pine, cypress, and beech all thriving, from the flat Pannonian plains down to the sky-scraping Dinaric Alps, as is the wildlife, such as European brown bear and Eurasian lynx, alongside eagles. Croatia is home to part of the cross-border UNESCO-listed ‘Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’ in the verdant Paklenica National Park in Dalmatia, which is also renowned for its mountain pine.

Then there is the Gorski Kotar, ‘Croatia’s Switzerland’, a wildscape that stretches from central Croatia to the Istrian coast, almost two thirds of it forested. Risnjak National Park is Gorski Kotar’s star with its vaulting peaks and thick forests. Istria is a must for anyone who loves woodland and also offers hiking in the wild forests around the soaring Mount Učka ridge and the less-explored Motovun Forest, an ancient forest imbedded with truffles. UNESCO World Heritage hails the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a glorious 30,000-hectare landscape of dense forest awash with waterfalls, lakes and pools where walking trails and boats ease you deep into the natural world.

Lonjsko Polje (Goran Šafarek)

Croatia offers some of Europe’s most important wetlands, oases for myriad species of both migratory and resident birdlife, as well as a wealth of other rich flora and fauna. Kopački Rit in Slavonia is a nature park that spreads its aquatic tentacles over a vast area where the Drava and the Danube meet. A boat trip reveals this remarkable eco-tourism reserve and the likes of the great white egret and white-tailed eagle, alongside 40 fish species and mammals like red deer, wild boar, European wildcat, pine marten, and the Eurasian otter.

Lonjsko Polje, Croatia’s largest protected wetland, brings central Croatia alive along the Sava River. It’s a wildlife paradise with over 250 bird species, the largest protected wetland in the Danube basin. It’s easy to see why it is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage recognition. As fascinating as the herons, white and black storks, and the plovers is the traditional wooden architecture. South in the lush Neretva River Delta boat trips open up a world of natural drama where the sprawling river meets the Adriatic. Explore the lakes and channels, with wildlife wonders at every turn. Over 300 bird species have been spotted, along with 29 kinds of dragonfly. Staying in Dalmatia, Vrana Lake is Croatia’s largest natural lake and a designated nature park. Birdwatchers flock to see the waders and waterfowl who call this karstic wonder home. Explore on two feet, two wheels, or on the water in a kayak.

Northern Velebit National Park (Julien Duval)

Croatia quite simply boasts some of Europe’s most spectacular mountain scenery, all of it alive with eclectic flora and fauna. The vaulting Dinaric Alps forge right down the country’s coast and are backed up by hills and mountains in all of Croatia’s regions. The granddaddy of them all is the Velebit, which sweeps along the littoral, its peaks soaring over a kilometre above the sparkling Adriatic. You can access the range via the Northern Velebit National Park or the Paklenica National Park. The latter has superb hiking trails, testing rock climbing and mountain huts. Look out for 100 species of butterfly and an epic array of wildflowers. Biokovo Nature Park is founded around a 36km-long precipitous mountain range, with myriad hiking and nature-watching opportunities.

Croatia’s highest mountain range is the Dinara on the Bosnian border, with the eponymous mountain 1,831m high. This is a great spot for getting off the beaten track. Further north Istria is no slouch either, 1,396m-high Mount Učka opening up scarcely believable views of Istria and the Kvarner Gulf. Hike or enjoy a bird’s eye view paragliding. Inland Medvednica is hidden in plain sight above the Croatia capital of Zagreb. Join the locals hiking in summer; skiing takes over in winter – four-time Olympic gold medallist Janica Kostelić cut her teeth on this iconic mountain. In the Croatian isles the literal mountain highlight is Vidova Gora on the island of Brač, which soars almost 800m above the iconic Zlatni Rat beach.