Nature
Enchanting, untouched nature and over 90 kilometers of marked tracks with views of the Baška valley.
The Educational Trail
The history and life of a town is best learnt by living the environment in which they had their inception to the full. The six-kilometer-long “Baška-Zarok-Batomalj-Pod Lipicau Educational Trail” provides the opportunity to do just that by means of a 2.5-hour walk through the Baška valley's unique landscape, history and tradition. Visitors are introduced to Baška's history and to the nature that have given it its present shape; other highlights include the unique Zarok sandstone, the Vela Rika watercourse, and Batomalj’s historical shrine of Our Lady of Gorica.
Protected Areas
KUNTREP
Between the Glavine cave and the bay of Mala Luka there is Kuntrep, an area of 1000 hectares at 475 metres (1,558 ft) above sea level which was declared a special bird sanctuary in 1969.
It is the griffon vultures’ natural habitat, as well as the favoured nesting place of other endangered European birds: these include short-toed eagles, peregrine falcons, blue rock thrushes, kestrels, European shags, eagle owls, stone curlews, and many others.
Despite Kuntrep's seemingly desolate aspect, its cliffs host endemic plants and vegetation. The most commonly found plant species include Dalmatian knapweed, Istrian bellflowers, drypis, and thistles, while the vegetation consists mainly of rocky pastures and endemic rock plants.
PRVIĆ ISLAND
Prvić Island is Croatia's largest uninhabited island, and in 1972 it was placed under protection as a special botanical reserve and bird sanctuary. It is the nestling-place of griffon vultures, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, rabbits, green toads, brown lizards, and lizards. Its predominant vegetation is garrigue, but 17 rare endemic plants can also be found there.
The island's climate is characterized by the frequent presence of the bora wind; according to the statistics from the old lighthouse, it blows on Prvić an average of 203 days per year, and reaches numbers 11 and 12 on the Beaufort scale ('violent storm' and 'hurricane-force' respectively) approximately 73 days a year (excluding summertime), thus making Prvić the windiest island in Croatia.
The Multicellular Sheepfolds
A notable example of the region's folk architecture is visible in the well-preserved multicellular sheepfolds: these are dry-walled structures erected for sheep herding that were built in the shape of a flower.
Multicellular sheepfolds are employed to collect and sort out sheep; they are usually about twenty metres in diameter, and can in some case cases accommodate up to 1,500 sheep. There are presently ten left in Baška, and five more are found on Prvić island.
It is interesting to note that this specific approach to sheep sorting can be found only in two more locations in Europe, Wales (UK) and Iceland.
The Uplands
The Baška valley is surrounded by two massifs on both its eastern side and its western one; the highest elevations of the eastern massif are Kozlja (464 m / 1,522 ft), Diviška (471 m / 1,545 ft) and Hlam (461 m / 1,512 ft), while those of the western one are Veli Vrh (541 m / 1,775 ft), Orljak (537 m / 1,761 ft) and Obzova, which with its 568 m (1,863 ft) above sea level is the highest elevation on the whole island of Krk.
Particularly interesting is Bag Peak on the southernmost point of the island of Krk; despite its limited altitude of 185 metres (607 ft) above sea level, it offers a unique view of Baška, the beach of Vela Plaža, and Prvić island.
The Diviška Peak is an excellent destination for those who enjoy hiking adventures, as it houses one of the most photographed pools of the whole island. The area around Diviška is also a protected ornithological reserve.
Conquering the uplands around Baška is greatly helped by the locally-issued Outdoor Map, which includes all the local trails and the necessary relevant information.
The „Path to the Moon“ Trail
The walk to the Moon Plateau never fails to make every visit to Baška truly unforgettable, as it offers access to one of Baška's most popular locations, as well as a unique experience of the local nature against the backdrop of a site of historical interest.
The first part of the trail takes visitors to the Church of St. John the Baptist, in front of which there is a panoramic viewpoint; some of the most recognizable pictures of Baška, such as the stunning view of the Baška valley, the island of Prvić, the local blue sea, and Baška's iconographic Vela Plaža, were taken there.
The trail then goes through a forest area, at the end of which there is a rocky, barren place called the "Moon Plateau"; its resemblance to a rocky desert makes it one of the must-see locations in the Baška region. Starting from the Heritage Hotel Forza, the trail is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) long and takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to complete, reaching in the process an altitude of about 370 metres (1,214 ft) above sea level.
Those who wish to engage in an even greater challenge may choose to continue along the trail towards Hlam, a hilltop 461 metres (1,512 ft) above sea level which offers the opportunity to enjoy an even more extensive view of the surrounding area. The overall length of the trail from Baška to Hlam encompasses 7.5 km (4.6 mi) of medium-difficulty, and the time required to cover them is approximately 3 hours. The entire length of the trail is also endowed with a cycle path, and regardless of whether visitors choose to explore it on foot or by bike, they are warmly encouraged not to forget their cameras behind: round every corner there is a unique view of the region's pristine nature awaiting them that would be a pity to miss.
Baška Aquarium
To get to know the diverse underwater world of our sea, we recommend visiting the Baška Aquarium.
In the center of Baška, on an area of 200m2, you will find twenty-one aquariums and 35m3 of sea, with a wide variety of Adriatic fish (catfish, moray eels, lobster, dusky grouper, octopus ...) and one of the largest collections of the Adriatic shells and sea snails in Croatia!
A visit to the Baška Aquarium is a fun-filled activity for both adults and youngsters. Over 100 species of fish and 400 species of shellfish and sea snails guarantee a great time spent learning, enjoying and discovering the fascinating life of the Croatian underwater world.
More information:
Tourist agency "Šiloturist"
Mob: +385 98211630, +385 989403311
T: + 385 51856052
Email: siloturist@ri.t-com.hr
Web: www.akvarij-baska.com.hr
