January 28, 2022 – The snowy riversides and magical mountains of Croatia in January 2022 show a spectacular and all-natural winter wonderland.

Snow finally stuck to the streets of central Zagreb for a couple of days this week. Early morning temperatures dropped to the lowest yet of this winter. Despite the chill, clear skies and sunshine days were enough to see the snow soon melt away.

But, far from the city, the snowy riversides and magical mountains of Croatia in January 2022 have kept their white blanket for longer. These all-natural landscapes look epic after the snowfall. For winter walkers and climbers – or even just lovers of photography – these images are way more spectacular than the bright lights and theatre of the Advent season.

Let's take a closer look at the winter wonderland of snowy riversides and magical mountains of Croatia in January 2022.

Gorski Kotar

Delnice, Lokve, Fužine, Stara Sušica, Ravna Gora

© Turistička zajednica Gorskog kotara

© Turistička zajednica Gorskog kotara

From above, Dvorac Stara Sušica © Vladimir Franolić

© Branko Lautar & Višnja Bolf

Jezero Bajer near Fužine © Marino Kirinčić

© Branko Lautar & Višnja Bolf

© Turistička zajednica Gorskog kotara

Another view of Dvorac Stara Sušica © Branko Lautar & Višnja Bolf

Risnjak National Park and Snježnik Hrvatski

© Risnjak National Park

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Snježnik hrvatski © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

For more about Risnjak National Park, look here

Velebit

Northern Velebit National Park

© Dejan Delač

© Dejan Delač

© Vedran Katalinić

For more about Northern Velebit National Park, look here

Velebit Nature Park

Ljubičko Brdo © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Ljubičko Brdo © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Ljubičko Brdo © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Ljubičko Brdo © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Ljubičko Brdo © Ivan Ćuća-Žentil

Paklenica National Park

© Mario Jurina

Bojinac © Ivan Coric Photography

Bojinac © Ivan Coric Photography

For more about Paklenica National Park, look here

Kloštar Podravski, Podravina and Koprivnica-Križevci County

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

© Ivan Nemet

For more about the Drava river in Koprivnica-Križevci County look here. For more about the area of Podravina containing Kloštar Podravski and Đurđevac, look here

Slavonski Brod

© Mirna Šikić

The wetlands and ponds in Oriovac near Slavonski Brod are not only home to fish - over 50 species of birds visit these waters © Antun Lukšić

For more about Slavonski Brod, look here

Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park

The high peak of Sveti Gera, on the western edge of Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park © Domagoj Novosel

The author would like to thank each of the photographers who kindly loaned their work to him for this article

November 29, 2021 - Another Land Rover fan event is coming, as the first winter Land Rover Velebit Raid will take place from December 17 to 19, and participants will be able to enjoy not only good company but also spectacular landscapes typical of the Velebit and Paklenica National Parks, as well as the rich history of Lika-Senj County.

The first winter Land Rover Velebit Raid abounds in rich contents. Participants will see two National Parks, Northern Velebit and Paklenica, springs and mills on the river Gacka, will visit two Museums, visit JNA bunkers, see the locations where the film Winnetou was shot, ride on a masterpiece of architectural heritage, the Master Road from 1832, enjoy the homemade food of authentic Lika in the 100-year-old inn Godača and authentic sub-Velebit stone houses with open fireplaces.

They will drive 300 km of wild and untouched nature, and there will be some night driving as well. The weather forecast will be followed and if there's snow to be expected, then driving will go around the mountain in the direction of Gospić - Gračac - Obrovac - Paklenica.

The point of it all is the promotion of lesser-known tourist locations, socializing, driving, meeting, and connecting owners and fans of Land Rover vehicles. There is no doubt that these are just the beginning and that the future will bring many more similar trips across the Balkans, but also those to other continents.

The Land Rover Balkan team and Total Croatia News invite you to support their love for good and adventurous driving as well as to promote lesser-known tourist locations. The itinerary is as shown below:

FRIDAY (December 17th)
- From 12:00 - Gathering of participants in the village of Sinac (8 km from Otočac) in the 101-year-old inn "Godača"
- Excursion to Tonković and Majer's spring and mills on the river Gacka (distance 3 and 7 km)

SATURDAY (December 18th) - 200 km

- 09:00 start from Sinac towards the Velebit village of Krasno 800 m above sea level. and a visit to the House of Velebit - 23 km
- 11:00 h Northern Velebit National Park - Krasno - Štirovača - drive through a pine forest on an asphalt road - 34 km
- 13:00 h - Middle Velebit - Off road, stone tunnels, serpentines, sea views, Štirovača - Baške Oštarije 926 m asl - 40 км
-15: 00 h Baške Oštarije - Gospić - Sv. Rock - 60 km
- 16:30 - South Velebit - Master Road (built in 1832, architectural heritage, off road, Tulove grede - location from the movie Winnetou, magnificent sea views - Paklenica - 40 km
18:30 - 19:00 - Hotel Rajna in Paklenica with a member of the group Marin Marasović

SUNDAY (December 19th) - 100 km

- 10:00 - NP Paklenica (entrance 3 euros), Underground town JNA bunkers built from 1950 -1953 or cafe by the sea
- 12:00 - Start Paklenica - Karlobag - Baške Oštarije - 66 km
- 14.00 - Lunch in the hostel Baška Oštarija
- 15.30 - Start of Baška Oštarija - Smiljan - Nikola Tesla Museum - 25 km

Those interested can find more information about the first winter Land Rover Velebit Raid through the organizers' email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and telephone number (+091 766 5479).

For more about the National Parks of Velebit and Paklenica, be sure to check Total Croatia's guide to Croatian National Parks here. Now in your language!

For more on lifestyle, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 26, 2021 - This weekend is surely a special one for the heart of Velebit. The Sveti Rok MTB Tour bicycle competition through the fields of Lika and the area of Velebit around Cnropac will celebrate five successful years of organization with several races, exhibitions, and a Matej Meštrović concert.

As reported by turistickeprice.hr, Sveti Rok MTB Tour is the name of the traditional, fifth in a row bicycle race through the fields of Lika and the area of Velebit around Crnopac, Tulovi Gredi and Zira. This is the first activity this year out of a total of seven that will be held under the common name ‘‘Srce Velebit’’, or ‘‘Heart of Velebit’’. Every day, as part of the Sveti Rok MTB Tour, three cycling or cycling-hiking tours with guides from the Heart of Velebit will be offered. One of them will be an easier, family route through the Lika fields, while two will be more demanding on Velebit.

Credit: Heart of Velebit

On the first day of the cycling race, on May 28, the new bike & hike Staza Malog Princa (Trail of the Little Prince) will be presented. It is intended for the most prepared, and this very difficult trail is covered by 40 kilometers by bicycle, and participants will then have another four hours of walking on very demanding terrain. Due to the complexity of the terrain and the safety of the participants, the number is limited to 30 participants.

For participants with less driving experience on difficult terrains, a light route, Suvajski bunari (Suvajski wells), with a length of about 35 kilometers with an altitude difference of 350 meters has been prepared. The third route offered on the first day of the cycling race is the Velebit šišmiši (Velebit bats), and it is a night bike ride through Velebit for participants with previous experience and equipment for night driving, who should expect 25 kilometers of forest roads.

Credit: Heart of Velebit

Tulove Grede - bike & hike is the first route in Saturday's offer of cycling. The lighter version via Mali Alan is 42 kilometers long with 2 and a half hours of ascent and descent from the top, and the more advanced one goes along the Road to Hell route through Male Jasle, 60 kilometers long with 2 and a half hours of ascent and descent from the top. The Heart of Velebit Epic is very heavy, fitness, and technically demanding. Perhaps the most beautiful route in Croatia. It is 62 kilometers long, from 553 to 1211 meters above sea level, and a descent to the starting point. Winnetou - from Lika to the sea, is medium and technically demanding, 37 kilometers long. The reward for the effort is a descent from 1050 meters to the sea, for swimming.

On Saturday, May 29, a special program was prepared to mark the first five successful years of the Heart of Velebit. A celebratory concert of the famous pianist Matej Meštrović (author of the album Sounds of Velebit) will be held for all participants at the Cvituša Excursion Site, with video recording and millennial photography with a camera and drone.

On the last day of the Sveti Rok MTB Tour, on Sunday, May 30, participants can expect Zir - bike & hike, an easy route that everyone can ride, 40 kilometers of Lika fields with springs and rivers, then the Mile vode / River Deep Mountain High, which is a difficult route of 65 kilometers and Mali Epic, a shortened difficult and technically demanding bike route. From the initial 553 meters above sea level, there is an ascent along the Master Road to 1001 meters, then to 1230 meters, followed by a descent along a forest road to 580 meters above sea level, rewarding the cyclists with a road descent to Sveti Rok through the forests and paths of Velebit.

Credit: Heart of Velebit

As part of the cycling race, Lika family farms will also present themselves. In front of Hostel Sveti Rok, there will be a sales exhibition of delicacies and souvenirs before leaving for home.

Those interested can participate for one, two, or all three days. You can find more about the cycling race and how to register HERE.

Velebit Nature Park is one of the 12 natural parks in Croatia, and you can learn more about them in Total Croatia's Guide to National and Natural Parks in Croatia, HERE. Now you can find Total Croatia articles in your language!

For more information about cycling in Croatia, go to Total Croatia's dedicated page.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

TCN's Filipa Marušić gives us a closer look at just why these incredible parts of the country deserve much more attention than they get.

Hidroenergetska Postrojenja company withdrawals from using the Krupa river for hydroelectric purposes.

North, South, East and West...Beauty of Croatia through the lens of Romulić & Stojčić

New visitor centre to be built to showcase one of Croatia's national parks.