Hajdučki i Rožanski kukovi is one of the wildest and most dramatic corners of the Velebit mountains - a cluster of jagged limestone peaks rising up to 200 meters above the surrounding terrain. Protected as a strict nature reserve since 1969, this is a place where nature has been left entirely undisturbed for decades.

The terrain here is extraordinarily rugged - deep sinkholes, chasms and shattered rock ridges make this one of the most impassable areas of the entire Velebit range. Giant white limestone towers rise from some of the deepest pits, forming what is considered one of the most spectacular karst landscapes on Earth. The climate is harsh, with low temperatures, strong winds (the bura), heavy precipitation and deep snow cover that lingers long into the season, leaving only a short window for visits.

How to get there

• Access is through Northern Velebit National Park - trails leading into the Hajdučki and Rožanski kukovi area are demanding, crossing rocky karst terrain, so mountain experience and good preparation are recommended
• The Lubenovačka vrata pass marks the boundary separating the two groups of peaks

Good to know

• The area has been a strict nature reserve since 1969
• In 2017 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the transnational 'Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe'
• Due to its strict reserve status, movement off marked trails may be restricted

It was here, in Lukina jama cave discovered in 1992, that scientists found a previously unknown species of leech - proof of just how unique and unexplored this rocky labyrinth truly is.