Trips to the mountains in search of fresh air, peace and untouched nature have been one of the most common ways to relax and rest in recent times. Going to nature is the perfect opportunity to get away from everyday life filled with numerous obligations, business meetings and events. Zagreb is one of the few capitals in the world that has a mountain – a beautiful and inspiring nature park – Medvednica, almost within the city itself. It is a frequent choice for rest and relaxation in nature for many Zagreb residents, as well as visitors to Zagreb, and is an inexhaustible source of various ideas for incentives or teambuilding. From a ride on the new Sljeme cable car, attractive educational trails, a visit to the Veternica cave , to chestnut hunting and skiing on Sljeme – Medvednica offers plenty of activities.
Another idea for an active and exciting incentive in the natural environment of mountains and forests is HIGHLANDER Medvednica, which will take place from 28 to 30 October 2022. It is intended for all adventurers who want to experience something new, be active and test their own limits, become aware of what nature gives us, while at the same time enjoying the mountain. That is why it is the ideal hiking incentive activity this fall.
HIGHLANDER is a series of world events, born out of love for mountains. In 2017, in the beautiful mountains of the Croatian coast, several enthusiasts gathered to celebrate nature and explore the Velebit mountain, and thus HIGHLANDER Velebit was born. Later HIGHLANDER expanded to other countries in the world such as the USA, Great Britain, Mexico, Georgia, Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Slovenia. Although it is a challenging hiking event, it is not intended only for professional mountaineers, but also for all those who love nature and are eager for outdoor activities. The trails have been carefully designed by local hikers, so that each trail offers a unique experience and story.
Zagreb as an ideal destination for a hiking festival
This October, HIGHLANDER is coming to Zagreb for the first time, namely to Mt. Medvednica, and the route will follow the transversal of Medvednica, which is full of natural beauties such as the Sopot waterfall and the Kraljičin Zdenac pond, which come to life in the beautiful colors of autumn. As a sort of tribute to the adventure with which it all began – HIGHLANDER Velebit – participants will pass 500 stone steps called Horvat's Steps and experience a terrain similar to that on Mt. Velebit. "The attractiveness of the location, well-maintained hiking infrastructure, good gastronomic offer and proximity to the city – which makes it easier for participants to come to the event and reduce their carbon footprint – greatly influenced the choice of Medvednica as the newest location of this hiking festival," said HIGHLANDER Director Jurica Barać.
Participants will be able to sign up for HIGHLANDER55, that is, a 59-kilometer route that will start in Susedgrad and end in Sesvete, and will take place over three days. The proposed section will pass through four checkpoints: the Kameni Svati mountain peak, the Falat mountain shelter, Sljeme – which offers an idyllic view of the capital, and the Lipa-Rog mountain lodge.
Promoting sustainability and nature conservation
The goal of HIGHLANDER, which has spread from Velebit to 17 countries around the world, is to promote a healthy lifestyle, encourage physical activity, break down mental barriers, as well as promote mountain tourism, which is gaining an increasing role in tourist offers of many destinations. In addition, HIGHLANDER promotes the Leave No Trace and Erase The Trace philosophy, i.e. taking care of nature, where participants are instructed not to leave anything behind in nature, but also to pick up the trash they find along the way and to think about the legacy they leave for generations to come.
HIGHLANDER Medvednica is the perfect opportunity to leave a busy working week behind and to enjoy the nature that is very often in our immediate vicinity, which we do not use it in the best possible way. This hiking event is also a real lure for all lovers of bike & hike (a combination of cycling and hiking) to try a new challenge in Zagreb. Three days on the Zagreb mountain in the company of lovers of mountains and adventures will create an experience to remember.
Find more information about the event and register on the official website of HIGHLANDER Medvednica.
Photo credit: Petar Dučić/Anna Soldo Dučić