Grazing sheep at sunset
Grazing sheep at sunset

Hike on Rab Island, Rab Island

Overview

As the second-greenest Croatian island (after Mljet), Rab offers numerous and varied hiking and walking trails covering a wide range of landscapes. From dense holm oak forests (one of the last of its kind) in the southwest of the island to the barren ridge stone desert in the northeast and stretches of sandy coastline, Rab has something for every taste and fitness level. 

Choose a route that suits your abilities and preferences. For a varied trek, there's the 5-mile (8-km) option following the Premužićeva Path 1 that runs along the island ridge, through the Lopar Peninsula, and to the hamlet of Matići. Part of the route is exposed to the sun while the other part takes you through the woods. Alternatively, several trails through the Dundovo Woods take you over the Kalifront Peninsula to pebbled inlets suitable for swimming during the warmer months. These options are typically more moderate.

For the best all-encompassing views of the island and neighboring islands, consider the challenging trek up Kamenjak. You'll traverse asphalt road and sharp rocky karst terrain crisscrossed with historic stone walls and no shade for protection from the beating sun. It's a route for the fit and daring, but the rewarding views are worth it (and you might run into a sheep or two). 

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Itineraries with Hike on Rab Island

Hidden Gems of Croatia: Zagorje, Kvarner Gulf, & Pelješac Peninsula - 13 Days

On this 13-day tour of Croatia, you will explore some of the country's lesser-visited treasures, featuring the barren islands in the Kvarner Gulf and forgotten villages on the Pelješac peninsula. From Zagreb, you'll immerse yourself in the castle-laden hills of the Zagorje, then on to discover the Kvarner Islands of Rab, Goli Otok, and Pag. Once in historic Zadar, you'll sail amid the Kornati archipelago, trek karst landscapes in Paklenica National Park, visit the abandoned village of Nakovana and the fortressed town of Korčula, before ending your stay in medieval Dubrovnik.