A curated selection of Via Apsyrtides - the long-distance trail winding along the dramatic coastlines and lush interiors of the Kvarner islands of Lošinj and Cres, two of Croatia's most scenic and unspoiled destinations.
Discover Lubenice village, perched impossibly on a 378-meter cliff with vertical drops to a pristine beach
Travel light with daily luggage transfers while you carry only essentials
Summit Osoršćica peak (588m) on Lošinj for panoramic views across the entire Kvarner archipelago
Hike through the fragrant pine forests and hidden coves of southern Lošinj, where Habsburg aristocrats once built seaside villas
Walk along dramatic limestone cliffs and through ancient olive groves where shepherds still tend their flocks
Fly into Krk Airport where your pre-arranged transfer meets you for the scenic drive south to Lošinj island (approximately 2,5h including ferry crossing). The journey takes you through the increasingly lush Mediterranean landscape as you approach the southern archipelago. Check into your accommodation in Veli Lošinj, a former fishing village cascading down a sheltered cove where Venetian campaniles rise above terracotta rooftops. Despite its name meaning “Big Lošinj,” this is actually the smaller, quieter twin of neighboring Mali Lošinj. The town became a favorite winter retreat for Austro-Hungarian aristocrats in the 19th century, drawn by its mild microclimate and fragrant pine forests. If arriving early, wander the narrow streets past pastel-colored houses with wooden shutters, visit the Church of St. Anthony whose treasury holds precious votive paintings left by sailors, or simply find a waterfront cafe and watch the ferries glide past toward distant islands.
This opening hiking day carries you along the full length of southern Lošinj, through one of the largest and oldest pine forests on any Adriatic island. The route climbs from Veli Lošinj’s sheltered harbor toward the 231-meter peak of Sv. Ivan, where an 18th-century church stands at the site of an ancient lookout point, before descending through the legendary Čikat Forest Park toward Mali Lošinj.
The trail begins gently, rising through coastal maquis where rosemary and sage scent the morning air, then enters the towering Aleppo pine forest. These 221 hectares of pine were planted through the visionary afforestation efforts of Professor Ambroz Haračić, a botanist and meteorologist who recognized that combining sea air with pine-scented forest created what Austro-Hungarian physicians called a “natural sanatorium.” His bronze monument stands along the trail.
The path is soft with fallen needles, shielded from wind and sun, winding past hidden coves where turquoise water laps against white pebble beaches. Perfect for a mid-hike swim.
Near Čikat Bay, pass the Church of the Annunciation, built in 1858, its walls decorated with votive paintings left by seafarers grateful for safe passage. The route onward to a historic lookout point, once used to guard Mali Lošinj’s harbor entrance, where remains of ancient fortifications still stand.
From here, the trail descends into Mali Lošinj itself. Despite its name meaning “Little Lošinj,” this is Croatia’s largest island settlement. Developed by 19th-century seafarers and shipbuilders, its prosperity is evident in the grand captains’ mansions lining the deep harbor, the longest protected inlet in the Adriatic.
This is the easiest hiking day of the tour, so there’s no rush to set off early. Take a slower morning to enjoy Mali Lošinj, linger over coffee on the harbor promenade, browse the old town, or treat yourself to a gelato before hitting the trail.
This stage takes you northward from Mali Lošinj along the narrowing spine of Lošinj island through a landscape that transitions from tall pine forests to Mediterranean maquis and ancient olive groves. Shortly after departing, you cross Privlaka, where the island narrows to just 80 meters wide. An 8-meter channel was dug here in 1936 connecting the open sea to Mali Lošinj’s harbor, and a small movable bridge swings open twice daily for passing boats.
The trail passes several sheltered bays and pebble beaches along the way. Bring your swimsuit, as these coves with their crystal-clear water are hard to resist on a warm day.
Further along, you reach a rocky section that requires slow, careful navigation. Loose stone and exposed terrain demand attention underfoot. The landscape opens as you approach the olive-growing country around Ćunski, where traditional varieties still thrive.
The terrain eases as you approach Artatore, a small settlement on the quieter northwestern coast with a handful of houses and an atmosphere of deep island stillness. Artatore bay offers sheltered pebble beaches shaded by pine forest, ideal for a post-hike swim in crystal-clear water. One of the loveliest spots on the island to cool off and unwind before dinner.
Today is the big mountain day. The trail heads south from Artatore through olive groves and oak forest to rejoin the Via Apsyrtides route near Ćunski. Pass the ancient hillfort at 212 meters, a strategic settlement site occupied for millennia, overlooking fertile plains that were once covered in vineyards and grain fields. From here the trail turns uphill and the character of the day changes completely.
The climb to the Osoršćica ridge is sustained and steep, switchbacking through Mediterranean maquis that gradually thins as you gain elevation. Rocky terrain replaces forest, the air cools, and views begin to open in every direction.
You reach the small church of Sv. Nikola at 557 meters, a former hermitage founded by St. Gaudentius, where mass is still celebrated once a year in summer. The panorama from here is extraordinary. The Kvarner archipelago spreads beneath you, from the Istrian coast to the Velebit mountains, with Cres, Krk, and dozens of smaller islands scattered across the water below.
The descent to Nerezine follows the historic trail, one of the oldest marked hiking routes in Croatia, opened for tourists in 1886. The path drops steeply at first through rocky terrain, then eases into shaded forest where the trail is soft with pine needles and dappled light. You emerge in Nerezine, a quiet harbor village at the foot of the mountain, a perfect place to sit on the waterfront with a drink and reflect on the day’s achievement. Overnight in Nerezine.
The trail leaves Nerezine climbing steeply through olive terraces and dry-stone walls, winding upward in long switchbacks through pine and oak toward the ridge.
The ridge is the spine of the island. To the south, Lošinj spreads toward Mali Lošinj and the open sea. To the north, Cres begins its rougher topography. You walk toward the summit, passing Vela Jama, a paleolithic shelter, and the small cave of St. Gaudentius, where an eleventh-century Osor bishop spent his final years as a hermit after being exiled for preaching against the nobility.
The summit of Televrin, at 588 meters, is the highest point on Lošinj. Crown Prince Rudolf climbed here in 1887, helping establish Osoršćica as the first island hiking destination on the Adriatic. Bare limestone, wild aromatic herbs rooted in rock cracks, almost no shade. The panorama takes in the entire Kvarner: Istria to the west, Velebit along the eastern mainland, Rab and Pag to the south, and on clear days the Slovenian Alps far to the north. A summit logbook awaits your signature.
The descent toward Sveti Gaudent drops through low maquis that gradually opens into forest. The mountain lodge at 274 meters is a former Italian military watchtower converted into a refuge by the mountaineering club of Mali Lošinj. The view from the terrace toward Osor and the channel beyond is worth the stop.
From Sveti Gaudent, the route follows the eastern flank through old terraced land and macchia, dropping steadily toward the coast. Nerezine comes into view below, and the trail returns you to the village from a different angle. The same stone houses, the same harbor, but the mountain behind you now carries an entirely different weight.
The morning begins in the car, but this transfer is not dead time. The road north from Nerezine follows the narrow spine of Lošinj toward Osor, landscape shifting as you climb: scrubland, bare rock, the Kvarner opening on both sides. You descend into Osor slowly, the town materializing like something left behind by a longer history. Three thousand years compressed into a few quiet squares and stone churches. Liburnian hillfort, Roman port, Venetian outpost, episcopal seat, now a village of a few hundred people.
Then the bridge. The Kavuada channel between Cres and Lošinj was dug in antiquity, separating two islands that were once one. A movable bridge swings open twice daily for passing boats. You cross onto Cres, where the landscape is older and less accommodating. The road continues north to Martinšćica, your starting point.
This stage ventures into the most remote corner of Cres. The island’s isolated northwest is cut off by tall hills and Vrana Lake. Villages here have been slowly emptying for decades and the landscape feels unchanged since the Middle Ages.
The trail climbs from Martinšćica to a settlement developed from old shepherd dwellings that once housed 150 people. Today it has just two permanent residents. The stone houses overlook Istria, Lošinj, and the surrounding islets. The route continues rising through rocky pastures, passing the flanks of Helm peak at 483 meters, the site of a large ancient hillfort overlooking Vrana Lake, one of Europe’s clearest freshwater lakes.
The undisputed highlight is Lubenice, a medieval fortified village perched on a 378-meter cliff that drops almost vertically to the sea. The Romans called it Hibernitia – the cold, wintery place. Stone houses rise directly from bedrock along a narrow ridge, defensive walls guard two ancient gates, and the views stretch across Kvarner Bay to the Istrian coast and Unije island. Far below lies Sv. Ivan beach, a strip of white pebbles and impossible blue water. Time feels suspended here. Wind, stone, and sea.
Beyond Lubenice the trail descends through old forest and terraced olive groves toward the coast. You arrive in Valun, a fishing hamlet tucked into the largest bay on Cres. This tiny village holds an extraordinary treasure: the Valun Tablet in Sv. Marko Church, Croatia’s oldest Glagolitic inscription. Settle into your accommodation, swim from the village beach as the sun drops behind the hills.
The morning begins quietly in Valun, the village still cool in the bay’s shadow as you leave the waterfront behind. This is the final full hiking day, carrying you along the island’s sheltered eastern flank toward the heart of its largest town. The terrain is rarely demanding, but its pleasures run deep: ancient olive groves, a haunting coastal estuary, a forgotten upland hamlet, and the long approach to a Renaissance town that has been theisland’s capital for six centuries.
You leave Valun along the shore of the largest bay on Cres, water gin-clear and ringed by terraced hillsides dense with olive trees. These groves are among the oldest on the Kvarner islands, tended by the same families for generations. The path rises gently into this cultivated landscape, the bay gradually opening behind you. On a clear morning, the light on the water is extraordinary.
The route turns inland, climbing toward the hamlet of Krčina. Though few people remain today, the stone houses and dry-stone walls speak of a time when this interior was fully inhabited. The forest that has reclaimed the surrounding slopes is dense with old holm oak and maquis scrub. The trail threads through it on the French Road, a broad stone track laid during the Napoleonic administration of the early nineteenth century.
The descent brings you to Piskel, a shallow brackish inlet where fresh springs meet the sea. The Romans likely built a walled pool here to collect spring water. Today it’s a small but ecologically rich microhabitat: salty soil, reed beds, and orchards creating a transitional zone between land and water that feels utterly apart from the open karst hillsides above.
From Piskel the trail follows the shoreline of Cres Bay, passing the marina and the Franciscan monastery founded in the thirteenth century. You arrive in Cres town through its old fortifications, entering a place that was once one of the finest Renaissance towns on the Adriatic. When the island’s capital shifted here from fading Osor in the fifteenth century, Cres underwent ambitious rebuilding: new walls and towers, loggia and palaces. The town still carries that character. Find your accommodation, walk the evening streets as the last light settles on the harbour.
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Krk Airport (approximately 90 minutes, including ferry crossing).
However, if the islands have gotten under your skin, and they tend to, we strongly recommend extending your stay. Spend additional nights exploring Cres town’s hidden beaches, narrow streets and restaurants. You may opt to continue the Via Apsyrtides trail northward into the wild Tramuntana wilderness toward Beli and its Griffon Vulture Conservation Centre, all the way to the trail’s original northern terminus. We are happy to arrange extra nights, luggage transfers, and any further logistics to extend your island adventure.
Best months to go: mid-April till end of September.
You choose your own Private group and your preferred dates.
Inclusions are noted in the “What’s Included” section.
| Group Size | Per Person: | APR/MAY | JUN/JUL/AUG | SEP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 participants | 750,00 € | 950,00 € | 825,00 € | |
| 6-7 participants | 775,00 € | 975,00 € | 875,00 € | |
| 4-5 participants | 850,00 € | 1.050,00 € | 950,00 € | |
| 2-3 participants | 1.100,00 € | 1.290,00 € | 1.175,00 € |
Payment details: Deposit 100 € per person will be required to secure the booking and is non-refundable. Balance payment has to be made before the start of the tour.
Groups 9+ participants are available on request.
By clicking “Book Now” you will inform us about your preferred travel dates & number of participants and we will get back to you within 24h to confirm your booking.
Like the resilient Balkan herb, Rue represents balance. Expect a mix of effort and reward, with steady climbs and immersive experiences that energize the body and soul.
The hardest day involves ~750m elevation gain over ~15 km.
With no single day exceeding 20 km or 800m elevation change, the tour is accessible to regular hikers with reasonable fitness.
Trails are waymarked and GPS-tracked, but you will encounter rocky terrain, and remote sections where attention and sure-footedness are essential.
You will be staying in carefully selected guesthouses, family-run pensions, and small hotels (3* or equivalent) across six island villages. All rooms have private bathrooms. Each property has been chosen for its location, character, and proximity to the trail.
Example accommodation:
Accommodation availability is checked upon request, and the exact property will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast each day of the tour, except on the arrival day. Expect local cheeses and cured meats, fresh bread or pastry, jams and spreads, seasonal fruit, yogurt or eggs, plus coffee and tea to get you going.
Meals besides breakfast are not included in the tour price. You have full flexibility and the option to pick and choose your meals each day. You may wish to bring your own picnic-style snacks for the hikes – pack supplies from village shops the evening before, as some stages pass no services. Every overnight village has at least one trattoria or restaurant.
Your adventure begins in Veli Lošinj, a former fishing village on the southern tip of Lošinj island in the Kvarner archipelago. The nearest airport is Krk/Rijeka Airport (RJK), approximately 2,5h by car and ferry. Your transfer from Krk Airport to Veli Lošinj is included in the tour price.
The tour concludes in Cres town, from where your included transfer takes you to Krk Airport (approximately 90 minutes including ferry crossing). If you are continuing onward to a different destination, we can arrange private transfers at an additional cost.
Airport transfers to/from Krk Airport are included.
If you prefer to fly into or out of a different airport, we can arrange private transfers at an additional cost:
Alternatively, you can reach Lošinj island by catamaran from Rijeka (seasonal), or by driving to Cres and continuing south by road. We’re happy to advise on the best travel routes and help arrange transfers if needed.
A: Booking a Self-Guided tour you are quite flexible in your day by day schedule and activities. Accommodation & private transfers are booked in advance so you should keep the accommodation & overall activity schedule as planned. Exact timings for transfers are flexible. Initially, our itinerary is planned out to make the most of each day and to keep your experience diverse, but you can make changes according to your preferences and pace.
A: Your local host keeps a close eye on weather conditions. If rain or wind makes any activity unsafe, they’ll offer alternative activities or reshuffle the itinerary.
We’re happy to adapt the plan to suit your preferences - route length, hotels, or activity mix. Tell us what you’d like to adjust and we’ll refine the details until it fits perfectly.
No problem. We can design a custom version or suggest alternative routes and destinations based on your interests. Let’s start exploring ideas together.
A: Absolutely, just get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help with any pre- or post-tour services or recommendations.
A: We follow Leave-No-Trace principles, respect local wildlife and habitats.
A: No, insurance is not included in the price of our tours. We highly recommend arranging travel insurance when you book your trip, as your coverage for cancellation due to illness, accident, or other insured events will begin immediately. This ensures you’re protected if you need to cancel before departure for a valid reason.
A: No problem at all, just request a call, and we’ll set up a video call at a convenient time to make sure you are fully prepared.
