Baška - beach tour (03/2022)

Technical difficulty: 1.5/5
Physical difficulty: 2.5/5

Note #1: The entirety of this trail is on karst (rocky) terrain with no shade at all. It's best to go during non-summer months to avoid the scorching heat. Plan ahead and bring lots of water if you hike during the hotter months.

Note #2: The Baška region can be very windy regardless of the season. The wind on the trail ranged from strong to none, all in the span of a few kilometers. Check the weather forecast, but it'd be wise to bring layered clothing.

Note #3: The trail can be taken in reverse, the only difference is that the hardest part of the hike will come first. You have to make this decision at Bunculuka beach (see Intersection #1 for more details). The trail can also be shortened, but not without missing some of the beaches and locations.

Note #4: Beware of Intersection #6, where you need to make a U-turn to the left instead of continuing straight (even though there are markings taking you in that direction also).

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The trail starts at the parking lot near Sveti Ivan beach just outside Baška center. From there you will take the trail along the karst coastline passing through the many beaches in the region. In order, these are: Sveti Ivan - Bunculuka - Jablanova - Mali raj - Vrženica - Dubna - Konjska - Gnjilova - Vela luka and Mala luka.

Once you arrive at Vela luka, you can take a detour towards Mala luka, which is just a about 1km away. Also in this area are the ruins of a series of ancient settlements, dating all the way back to the 7th century BC and the Byzantine and Roman era.

From Vela luka you begin the round-trip back, ascending the great karst hill towering the beach on the west. The ascent is the most demanding part of the hike, but it's easier than it looks from the bottom! Ultimately, you will descend back on Bunculuka beach and from there it's a short walk towards the starting point (parking lot).

This is great trail for beginners, and a nice warm-up hike to start the season. The terrain is just demanding and varied enough to provide a challenge, but not so difficult to discourage novice outdoor enthusiasts. If you speed through the locations without stopping, you could finish it in 4 - 4.5 hrs, but since there are so many beautiful sights to take in and absorb, better plan for 6 -7 hrs on the trail.