Canyoning at Krka National Park itself isn't possible. But there are several great canyoning options nearby including the Cetina River near Split and the Zrmanja River near Zadar. In this guide we'll tell you all about our experiences going canyoning near Krka and what we recommend for adventurous travellers!
Our Canyoning Recommendation: Here's the canyoning trip on the Cetina River near Krka that we took. We'd do it again in a heartbeat!What is Canyoning?
Canyoning is so much fun! Canyoning is a way of travelling along a river, but without a boat. So you'll walk, climb, swim, abseil, and cliff jump through the river canyon until you reach your final destination. It's a great thing to do on a hot summer's day since you'll be in the water most of the time.
Canyoning is a pretty active sport that requires a moderate level of fitness and mobility. But don't worry if you're not a natural athlete or you haven't done canyoning before.
The guides on the canyoning trip we did on the Cetina River near Split took great care of us and were very patient and kind even when I chickened out on the first cliff jump. If you don't fancy the cliff jumps, you also have the option to just walk around and catch up with the group.
Our canyoning guides were very patient and supportive on trickier sections.
Can You Go Canyoning at Krka?
Since the Krka National Park is a protected area, it's not possible to actually go canyoning at Krka itself. You can go swimming at Krka in the three officially designated swimming spots, and it's a great way to cool off on a hot day! Our favourite place to swim is at Roški Slap in the northern part of the park.
Where to Go Canyoning Near Krka National Park
You can go canyoning near Krka Park on the Cetina River. It's about a 90 minute drive from Krka in the summer. So it's possible to combine both canyoning and a trip to Krka into a day trip. Just bear in mind that most canyoning tours start at 10am in the morning and last 3-4 hours. Personally we prefer a more relaxed pace so we split them into two separate half-day trips.
Canyoning on the Cetina River near Split.
Canyoning on the Cetina River (near Split/Omiš)
The Cetina River is the best place to go canyoning in Croatia. It's around a 90-minute drive from Krka National Park to Split where most tours depart from. If you have your own transport you can also join in the village of Zadvarje where the canyoning operators are based.
What to Expect:
Three cliff jumps of 7-9 metres. These are optional so if you don't fancy it you can walk around and meet the group further downstream.
Abseiling 55 metres down the beautiful Gubavica waterfall. Again, you can also walk down if you prefer.
Swimming and floating along in the refreshing waters of the Cetina.
Walking a few sections where it wasn't possible to swim.
The water in the Cetina is COLD! According to our guides to ranges from 15°C to 17°C (59F – 63F) in the preseason period to 20°C (68F) in late July and August.
Most operators allow kids over the age of 8 to go canyoning. The guides adapt the route to accommodate everyone's needs.
Extreme Canyoning on the Cetina River
You can usually choose between "basic" and "extreme" canyoning. The "extreme" version just involves a bit more adventure, such as the 55 metre abseil down the waterfall. The "basic" version is good for beginners, kids, or if you're a bit nervous about heights and big jumps!
I don't have a great head for heights, but extreme canyoning was still ok for me. The guides are very understanding and will provide easier alternatives wherever possible. You don't have to do anything you don't feel comfortable tackling.
What to Pack for Canyoning:
Most canyoning companies provide shoes you can hire for 7 euros or you can bring your own. We hired their shoes since we didn't want ours to get wet.
Bring a spare set of clothes and a towel for afterwards.
You can leave any belongings you don't want to take with you securely at the tour operator's base in Zadvarje or locked in the minibus.
It's a good idea to bring water and some snacks for after the canyoning. We were starving by the time we got back to Split.
Our Experience of Canyoning on the Cetina
We started our trip in Split city centre where we were picked up by minibus and taken up on some windy little mountain roads to Zadvarje. At this point the excitement in the van was pretty infectious since no one on our tour had ever done canyoning before!
When we arrived it was time for an introduction by our main guide Ivan before we got into our equipment for the day. Everyone gets a helmet, a life vest, and a neoprene suit. You'll thank me later because that river water is COLD! luckily it was a hot summer's day when we went, so we warmed up fast in the sun.
Floating around on one of the more chilled sections of the trip.
Once Ivan at set our minds at ease on what to expect (and promised to help us on the trickier sections!), we started our descent into the canyon. It's 180 metres down and in some parts you need to do some light climbing.
At this point Ivan gave us a safety briefing and checked everyone was feeling comfortable and confident. And then it's time to get in and swim, jump and slide your way along the river. About half-way we reached a beautiful waterfall where you have the option to walk down or be lowered down on a rope depending on how adventurous you feel.
After about 4 hours we finally reached the end tour happy, very wet, and pretty exhausted. It's then a short 15 minute walk to the minibus and back to your warm and dry clothes! The minibus then dropped us back off in Split city centre for some well-deserved rest and refuelling.
Our Recommend Krka Canyoning Tours:
When is the Best Time to go Canyoning?
The best time to go canyoning near Krka National Park is between May and September, when water levels are ideal and the weather is warm. If it rains the canyoning operators will usually cancel or postpone the trip and offer you a refund.
Springtime brings higher water levels in the Cetina River Canyon for a more intense experience. While summer offers milder conditions suitable for beginners. We went in July, and the feeling of jumping in the cold river on a hot day was amazing!
The powerful Skradinski Buk waterfalls and unspoilt natural beauty at Krka.
Hiking Krka National Park AND Canyoning in the Cetina River
As we mentioned above, it is technically possible to do both canyoning and Krka waterfalls in one day if you're on a tight schedule. You could drive directly from Zadvarje village where the canyoning ends and arrive at the park by around 4pm.
During. the summer months the park closes at 8pm so you'd have enough time to do the classic loop around the Skradinski Buk waterfall. It takes around 2-3 hours to complete the walk and stop at all the gorgeous viewpoints along the way.
Alternatively you can do them both as two day trips and enjoy a more relaxed pace! That's what we did because we knew we'd be exhausted after a day of jumping in and out of rivers.
Should You Book a Tour for Krka National Park?
People are always asking us if it's better to book a tour to Krka. To be honest if you have a car it's easy enough to visit Krka by yourself from Split, Zadar, or Šibenik. We've done it many times especially in the off-season.
But if you're travelling in the busy summer months booking a tour ensures you get speedy entry into the park and you don't have to stress about parking. Queues are notoriously long for both tickets and parking in July and August. And it can also work cheaper to take a tour in the shoulder season (May, September and October) than booking the coach from Split to Skradin.