Over 1,000 people from 16 countries gather in Lika for Croatian Walking Festival

by croatiaweek
September 4, 2022
in News

(Photo: Croatian Walking Festival)

This weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, a mass sports and recreational event, the Croatian Walking Festival, was held in Lika, which this year gathered as many as 1,078 participants from all over Croatia and 16 countries.

The festival started on Saturday in Otočac, and ended today in Gospić, while both days the towns were filled with walkers of all age groups, who share a love for a healthy lifestyle and being in nature.

From the youngest who dared to walk shorter routes, to older citizens who maintain their vitality by walking and enjoy socialising.

(Photo: Croatian Walking Festival)

In the host cities of Gospić and Otočac, the participants once again walked along the paths named after Tesla and Gacka, and what adorned this year’s festival was certainly the largest attendance of foreign citizens so far, as they came from all over Europe.

(Photo: Croatian Walking Festival)

This is the result of the Festival’s acceptance into the International Organisation IML, which is why points were collected for IML medals and badges.

Various languages could be heard at every step, and for some it was not difficult even to come by car from Norway in order to be part of the Croatian Walking Festival and collect points here.

(Photo: Croatian Walking Festival)

The first to reach the finish line was the Manuela from Germany, who will remember this year’s Festival in a particularly fond way.

From all sides, comments of enthusiasm for the beauty of Lika and the good organisation were heard, and each of the walks ended with lunch, drinks and a live concert.

This year, local OPGs offered their products to the participants, and Lika’s accommodation facilities were also full, which is an indication of the importance of this type of event for the entire community.

(Photo: Croatian Walking Festival)

The festival, which is organised by the Croatian Walking Association and co-organised by the Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County and Lika travel, has shown that the interest in the Festival will continue to grow from year to year, especially with the increasing influx of foreign walkers, primarily members of the IML, who is expected in much larger numbers next year.