Taiwanese Travel Thousands of Kilometers to Walk the Lika Region
The 8th Croatian Walking Festival, held September 5-6 in Gospić, brings together walkers from three continents, with an organized group from Taiwan numbering over 50 people.
The 8th Croatian Walking Festival, held September 5-6 in Gospić, brings together walkers from three continents, with an organized group from Taiwan numbering over 50 people.
The 8th Croatian Walking Festival, scheduled for September 5-6, 2026, in Gospić, will once again bring together walking enthusiasts from around the world. As is well known, this event has reserved the Lika trails for the first weekend of September for eight years now, and this year's international turnout is expected to be particularly large.
Organizers highlight that an organized group from Taiwan, with over 50 walkers, will attend the festival, further emphasizing the event's international character. In addition, registrations have come in from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, and other countries, as confirmed by GS Press Lika.
Many international participants will not stay for just two days but will extend their visit to explore Gospić, its surroundings, and the rest of Lika. This makes the festival a key motivator for visiting the destination, which is of great importance for local tourism.
Ivan Radošević, Director of the Lika-Senj County Tourist Board, is delighted with this year's turnout:
"We are especially pleased that the Croatian Walking Festival now brings participants from different parts of the world to Gospić. When people travel thousands of kilometers to walk in Lika, it confirms that over eight years we have built an event with international value. It's also important that some of these guests stay for several days, getting to know Gospić, its surroundings, and other parts of Lika, which contributes to the destination's tourism visibility and overall experience."
The festival is designed as a non-competitive gathering, so everyone can choose the route and pace that suits them. Trails of 10+, 20+, and 30+ kilometers are available.
The first day, Saturday, is reserved for the Tesla routes. The start of the longest route, Tesla 30+, is scheduled for 7:00 AM, Tesla 20+ departs at 8:00 AM, and Tesla 10+ at 10:30 AM. Registration will take place at Stjepan Radić Square from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Rest stops will be organized along the trails, and at one of them, participants will have access to a free raft, while the zip line will incur an additional charge. The Tesla routes include passing by the Nikola Tesla Memorial Center (without a visit), and part of the route goes over a suspension bridge, for which there is an alternative route via GPS. The return of participants from the Tesla 10+ route is expected between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, from Tesla 20+ between 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM, and from the longest route, Tesla 30+, between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
On Sunday, September 6, the Ante routes are scheduled, which are completely different from Saturday's. Ante 30+ starts at 7:00 AM, Ante 20+ at 8:00 AM, and Ante 10+ at 10:00 AM. The shorter route includes an organized return by bus or van, and a visit to the Dr. Ante Starčević Memorial House is planned. Organizers recommend that participants try the 20+ trails on both days for a complete experience. Certificates will be distributed on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Stjepan Radić Square.
The Croatian Walking Festival is a proud member of the IML Walking Association, an international non-profit organization that promotes recreational walking through multi-day, non-competitive events. The IML motto, "Nos iungat ambulare" - "May walking unite us," perfectly captures the spirit of this gathering.
In addition, this year's gathering will be joined by Mario Valentić, a well-known promoter of a healthy lifestyle, who will spend the entire weekend in Gospić with participants.
All interested parties can register online until August 31, 2026. The Croatian Walking Association and the Lika-Senj County Tourist Board invite all nature lovers and active vacationers to secure their spot in time and become part of this story.
