Europe > Croatia

Riding holidays in Croatia

Riding holidays in Croatia allow you to discover another side to the country - the rural and historic centre of Croatia is it's authentic heart. Throughout history Croatia has been at the crossroads of major cultural events and has a wealth of architectural and artistic heritage to uncover. Leave the coastline behind and head inland on horseback to uncover the rural life and stunning scenery of Croatia.
See all our trips

From the horse’s mouth

  • The Krka Trail
    April 2025 ELEANOR aged 43
    Mia was such a wonderful horse!! She was so sweet natured, easy to control at speed but chilled at a slower pace as well. I felt very lucky to have matched with her. Bosko was great at matching horses to riders and changing if needed to make sure everyone had the best time. Nothing was too much trouble.
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  • The Krka Trail
    April 2025 Katherine aged 35
    I had an absolutely amazing time on the Krka trail! The whole booking process was really smooth and I felt really informed and confident having Elizabeth and Iris giving me advice. The horses were incredible. Our hosts were amazing and the group I joined were all wonderful people. I’m lactose intolerant and our hosts... Read all
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  • The Krka Trail
    March 2025 Nora aged 41
    Even though we had quite bad weather and a lot of rain during the trail we were all so happy with our horses, our hosts and the organisation. The landscapes are beautiful and diverse, the rivers deep blue and crystal clear and the national park is stunning. Bosko and his team are so hospitable, all accomodations were... Read all
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  • The Krka Trail
    October 2024 Jessica
    The horses were fit, well behaved, and really fun to ride. I really enjoyed my mare and felt like they chose well in pairing us together.
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  • The Krka Trail
    October 2024 Birte aged 63
    I really enjoyed this equitour! The horses where amazing and the trails where so beautiful. The owner, Bosko, was extremely fun and entertaining. His sister, Angela was in charge of keeping us fed and happy. The food was plenty and delicious! The other away places where also very nice, with lots of food and drinks and... Read all
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  • Croatia on horseback
    Riding in small groups for a fantastic riding experience
  • Croatia and waterfalls
    Riding near beautiful waterfalls
  • Horseriding trail in Croatia
    Beautiful Haflinger ponies in Croatia
  • Central Croatia on horseback
    On horseback in central Croatia
  • Vineyards in Croatia
    On horseback across the vineyards of central Croatia
  • Gastronomy in Croatia
    Enjoy the Croatian gastronomy, fresh and locally produced

Visa & Health

Formalities

Please refer to your home country's Foreign Office website for up-to-date information. Although we endeavour to keep this section updated, requirements can change quickly, and your home country's Foreign Office website takes precedence.

This section is mostly directed towards UK citizen. Other nationalities, please contact us.

Visa

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training.
Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

At border control, you may need to:

  • Show a return or onward ticket
  • Show you have enough money for your stay
  • Show proof of your travel insurance and/or accommodation
  • Have your passport stamped on entry/exit

Passport Validity

You must have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.
You should also have an ‘expiry date’ at least 90 days after the date you plan to leave.
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.


EU Entry/Exit System for non-EU travellers

From October 2025, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals travelling in or out of the Schengen area.
The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports.
You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering and exiting the Schengen area.

You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts. You can read more information here.


Please click here to check the updated entry requirements.

Health

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. It does not cover all health-related costs, for example, medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment and non-urgent treatment.

UK Citizens: A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their GP around five weeks before travelling. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities.
For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended.

Please click here to check health recommendations.

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides may request your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

You can check our "Insurance Guide" here.

Voltage

In Croatia the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You will might need an adapter.

Budget and money

The currency used in Croatia is the Euro. Major credit and debit cards are accepted in most banks and hotels.

Telephone and jetlag

Country code: +385
Time zone: UTC+1

Country information

History

The Croats arrived in the area in the 6th century and organised the territory into two duchies by the 9th century. Tomislav became the first king by 925, elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom, which retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries, reaching its peak during the rule of kings Petar Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvonimir. Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, faced with Ottoman conquest, the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of Habsburg to the Croatian throne. In October 1918, in the final days of World War I, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, independent from Austria-Hungary, was proclaimed in Zagreb, and in December 1918 it was merged into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, most of the Croatian territory was incorporated into the Nazi-backed client-state which led to the development of a resistance movement and the creation of the Federal State of Croatia which after the war become a founding member and a federal constituent of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On 25 June 1991, Croatia declared independence, which came wholly into effect on 8 October of the same year. The Croatian War of Independence was fought successfully for four years following the declaration.

Croatia is a republic governed under a parliamentary system and a developed country with a very high standard of living. It is a member of the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), the Council of Europe, NATO, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. As an active participant in the UN peacekeeping forces, Croatia has contributed troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and took a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008–2009 term. Since 2000, the Croatian government has constantly invested in infrastructure, especially transport routes and facilities along the Pan-European corridors.

Source here.

Geography

The present-day republic is composed of the historically Croatian regions of Croatia-Slavonia (located in the upper arm of the country), Istria (centred on the Istrian Peninsula on the northern Adriatic coast), and Dalmatia (corresponding to the coastal strip).

Source here

People, culture and traditions

Capital: Zagreb
Official language: Croatian
Religion: mostly Christians
Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic
Total area: 56,594 km2
Population (2017 estimate): 4,154,200

Useful words

Hello: Bog/Dobro jutro
Goodbye: Dovidenja
Yes : Da
No: Ne
Please: Molim
Thank you: Hvala
How much is this? : Koliko stoji ?
What's your name?: Kako se zovete ?
My name is: Zovem se...
What time is it?: Koliko je sati ?
Tomorrow: Sutra

Choosing the right riding holiday

Choosing the right riding holiday

At the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe and bordered by the Adriatic sea, Croatia is a country of many natural attractions and hidden gems: beautiful beaches, majestic mountains ranges, mesmerising national parks… It offers many great opportunities for a riding holiday.

Looking to take your family on an exciting riding adventure? Why not book a stay at Linden Tree Ranch, a western-style ranch in the Velebit Nature Park. There are riding and non-riding activities for the whole family and you can expect fantastic standards of hospitality.

Trail riders should like at our trail riding holiday in Istria for a lovely, relaxing point-to-point ride.