L ooking for a place off the beaten path in Croatia? Join photographer René Pronk in the discovery of the Zumberak region, located less than an hour from the capital Zagreb, adorned with rolling hills, hilltop villages, scenic rivers, and historical castles. A large portion of it is protected as a nature park and very much tourist-free, simply because it hasn’t been properly discovered yet.
The beauty and attraction of the Zumberak area lies in panoramic views, often above the morning fog which isolates hilltop churches or peaks, as well as old wooden houses whose inhabitants still live the traditional way. Many of them are descendants of uskoks, irregular soldiers originally from the Adriatic, invited by Emperor Ferdinand in the 16th century to protect the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the Ottomans.
This tour covers nature highlights, such as the Sopot waterfall, as well as historical items in the shape of the Ozalj castle and the true local way of life, present in remote villages. René is the right person to show you all this, as his knowledge of the area can get you into positions to shoot some incredible scenes.
Required experience and equipment
All levels of photography experience are welcome, the tour leader will adapt to your knowledge and needs. Bring comfortable shoes for walking and moderate trails. Your camera bag, tripod and any other equipment should not be too heavy or large. Avoid rolling photo bags, use smaller backpacks. Polarizing and ND filters, as well as macro lenses are recommended, but not necessary.
René Pronk
Photographer guide
René is another example of a person falling in love with Croatia and all it has to offer. He developed his passion for photography at the school of arts in Belgium, and after moving to Croatia found it to be a photographer’s dream, especially the Žumberak region where he lives with his family. René is passionate about nature and living with nature, which gives his guests an additional dimension of experience. He has a special admiration for mist and morning fog, creating magical images which show off the energy of the places.
Tour departures
Any day of the year, on request.
Tour details
Starting from Zagreb or Karlovac, in under an hour your tour will begin on the hills of Žumberak or next to a river, depending on the time of the year and best morning options for photography. During the day, you will encounter numerous hilltop panoramas, as well as stops in quaint villages, where you can also meet the aging population, still living in traditional ways.
TOUR DURATION: between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., depending on the time of the year and guest preferences.
DEPARTING FROM: Any point in Zagreb or nearby cities.
GROUP SIZE: 1-3 guests (single guests can join for price of two).
Tour fee
95€ per person, 250€ total for 3 persons, payable at the start of the journey. Fee includes transportation in an air conditioned vehicle, photographer guide fee, and unlimited personal photos by the photographer guide. Does not include meals or drinks.