Highlander Medvednica brings a hiking challenge near Zagreb at the end of May
Highlander Medvednica will take place from 29 to 31 May 2026 in Medvednica Nature Park, according to the official announcement by the organizer Highlander Adventure and the calendar of the Zagreb Tourist Board. The event is designed as a hiking challenge that combines several days of movement along marked trails, time spent in nature, socializing among participants and an accompanying programme. At the centre of the programme are two formats: a one-day route about 19 kilometres long and a three-day route about 56 kilometres long. Both routes are physically demanding, but they differ in duration, intensity and the level of preparation required from participants. For those coming to Medvednica from outside Zagreb, it is useful to plan arrival, equipment and accommodation near the event venue in advance, especially because of the multi-day format and earlier departures onto the trail.
According to the organizer’s announcement, Highlander Medvednica is not conceived as a classic race, but as a hiking experience in which the emphasis is on completing the route, personal pace, safety and shared time in nature. Such a concept gives the event a broader character than a sports competition, because participants do not come only for the kilometres, but also for the experience of the mountain, camping, the programme and the atmosphere built around the trail itself. Medvednica is particularly suitable for such a format because it is located immediately next to a large city, while at the same time offering forest ridges, mountain huts, viewpoints, cultural and historical sites and sufficiently demanding terrain. This very combination of accessibility and mountain character is one of the reasons why Highlander Medvednica has stood out in recent years among outdoor events in Zagreb. Official announcements also point out that, depending on the format, participants are provided with organizational support, water, food, a safety framework and accompanying content.
Two formats for different fitness levels
The one-day Highlander Medvednica format is approximately 19 kilometres long and is intended for participants who want a shorter, but still serious, hiking challenge. According to earlier programme descriptions by the Zagreb Tourist Board, the one-day route is called Lyra and is about 19.4 kilometres long, while newer announcements by the organizer for the 2026 edition refer to a 1DAY format of around 19 kilometres. Although this is the shorter version, organizers and tourist sources emphasize that even this format is not an easy walk. Participants need basic fitness, suitable footwear, enough water, clothing adapted to weather conditions and readiness for several hours of walking on hiking terrain. Such a format can be a good choice for participants who want to experience the Highlander atmosphere, but do not plan an overnight multi-day stay or carrying camping equipment.
The three-day format is about 56 kilometres long and represents the more demanding part of the event. According to descriptions published in event announcements, this route takes participants across diverse parts of Medvednica, from the western to the eastern slopes, through forest areas, ridges and well-known hiking points. Earlier programme descriptions mention sites such as Kameni svati, Glavica, Kraljičin zdenac, Sljeme, Hunjka and Lipa Rog, while the finish of the multi-day format is connected with the eastern part of the Zagreb area. Since participants cover a greater distance over three days and spend part of the time in a hiking rhythm with equipment, preparation is much more important than in the one-day version. The organizer therefore describes the event in communication as a challenge that requires physical and mental readiness, but also as an experience that is not reduced only to the result.
Medvednica as the natural stage of the event
Medvednica Nature Park is located on Mount Medvednica, north of Zagreb, and the Public Institution Medvednica Nature Park points out that it is a rare example of a protected area directly adjoining a capital city. Official Park data emphasize that natural, cultural and historical values intertwine in this area, giving Medvednica a special role in the everyday life of the city and its surroundings. The highest peak of the mountain is Sljeme, at 1033 metres above sea level, and in the wider public sphere it is known as one of the most visited excursion destinations in the Zagreb area. Medvednica has hiking trails, huts, forest areas, viewpoints and sites that attract visitors throughout the year. That is precisely why Highlander Medvednica does not rest only on the sports component, but also on the experience of getting to know a mountain that is close to many people, yet in a multi-day format they can experience it in a different way.
According to the description by the Zagreb Tourist Board, Medvednica is attractive because of nature, activities and cultural-historical content, and Sljeme is visited in all seasons. Such a description explains well why a hiking event at this location can attract both more experienced hikers and those who are only beginning to try an organized outdoor challenge. Medvednica is not a high mountain in the Alpine sense, but its terrain can be deceptive, especially when longer sections are crossed continuously. Ascents, descents, changeable weather conditions, forest trails and carrying equipment can significantly increase the difficulty of the route. Therefore, both the one-day and the three-day format should be taken seriously, regardless of the proximity of the city and good transport connections.
A Croatian project that grew into an international outdoor story
Highlander is an outdoor concept that originated in Croatia, and the first event was held in 2017 on Velebit. According to data published by organizers and tourist sources, the project was launched by Croatian enthusiasts, and over time it expanded beyond Croatia to numerous mountain locations in Europe and on other continents. The Zagreb Tourist Board stated in an earlier announcement that Highlander is now held in more than twenty countries, which shows that a local idea has grown into an internationally recognizable format of hiking events. The organizer’s communication often uses the phrase “adventure of a lifetime”, but in a professional description of the event it is more important to emphasize that this is an organized hiking experience with clear rules, routes, checkpoints and support in the field. Such a framework allows participants to focus on walking, nature and personal challenge, but it does not remove the need for responsible behaviour in the mountains.
Unlike mass road races, Highlander relies on a slower rhythm and a longer stay in nature. Participants spend hours on the trail, and in the multi-day format even several days, so the attitude towards equipment, food, rest and one’s own abilities is important. This form of event fits into the broader growth of interest in hiking, trekking and active time in nature, but at the same time requires additional education about safety. The Croatian Mountaineering Association and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, in their general safety recommendations, regularly emphasize the importance of appropriate footwear, checking the weather forecast, planning the route, carrying enough water and informing other people about the movement plan. Although Highlander is an organized event, these rules still remain the foundation of safe time spent in the mountains.
What awaits participants on the trail
According to available announcements and earlier route descriptions, Highlander Medvednica brings participants a combination of forest trails, ascents, descents, ridge sections and well-known Medvednica points. The three-day format is especially demanding because it tests not only fitness, but also the ability to distribute strength over several days. Participants should count on the fact that fatigue is not felt the same way on the first and third day, and it is precisely the continuity of walking that makes the multi-day format different from a one-day excursion. An important part of the experience is also made up of checkpoints, camps and encounters with other participants, which gives the event a pronounced social dimension. In the official announcement for 2026, the organizer also emphasizes the accompanying programme, meaning that the event does not end only with completing an individual section, but includes additional content in line with outdoor festivals.
The one-day route offers a different rhythm, but also requires a realistic assessment of one’s own abilities. About 19 kilometres of hiking terrain can be demanding for people who are not used to longer walking, especially if the route takes place in warmer weather or after rain. In such circumstances, pace, breaks, appropriate clothing and readiness for changing conditions are important. Participants coming for the first time should familiarize themselves before the event with the organizer’s rules, mandatory equipment and preparation recommendations. Since the event takes place at the end of May, weather conditions on Medvednica can vary from pleasant spring temperatures to rain, wind or muddy parts of the trail.
Hiking infrastructure and responsibility towards the protected area
Medvednica is a popular excursion destination, but at the same time it is also a protected area. This means that a larger number of participants and visitors must be aligned with the rules of responsible movement in nature. In such an environment, it is especially important to stay on marked trails, avoid leaving waste, respect plant and animal habitats and behave carefully near mountain huts, springs and forest areas. In its description of the area, the Public Institution Medvednica Nature Park emphasizes the connection between natural and cultural-historical values, so events on the mountain also have an educational role. They can encourage participants to see Medvednica not only as a recreational terrain, but as a sensitive area that requires care and consideration.
Precisely because of this, organized hiking events have additional responsibility. Well-marked routes, clear instructions and movement control can help guide a larger number of people in an acceptable way. At the same time, every participant must take their own share of responsibility, from equipment to respecting the rules of the Park and the organizer. In practice, this means that a hiking challenge is not measured only by kilometres covered, but also by the way time in nature is spent. If this part is taken seriously, Highlander Medvednica can be an example of how recreation, tourism and the preservation of space can be connected without disrupting the basic values of a protected mountain.
An event also important for Zagreb’s tourist image
Highlander Medvednica fits into the broader image of Zagreb as a destination that, in addition to cultural, gastronomic and urban content, can also offer direct access to nature. The Zagreb Tourist Board included the event in the calendar of sports events for the period from 29 to 31 May 2026, confirming its importance in the city’s tourist offer. For visitors coming because of hiking, Medvednica is special because it enables urban content and several hours or several days spent on the mountain to be combined in the same stay. Such a combination can also be attractive to those who are not looking for a classic holiday, but an active weekend with a clear goal. For this reason, some participants, accompanying persons and visitors will probably plan transport, meals and accommodation offers in Zagreb in accordance with the event schedule.
For the local community, events like this can have several effects. They increase the visibility of Medvednica, encourage interest in hiking trails and can contribute to the development of the outdoor offer. At the same time, they bring the need for good coordination with institutions managing the area, traffic and safety. Event announcements particularly highlight the proximity of the city, but precisely this proximity means that the mountain is used intensively even outside large events. Highlander Medvednica should therefore be viewed as part of the broader relationship between Zagreb and its mountain: as an opportunity to promote an active way of life, but also as a reminder that the popularity of an area requires responsible management.
Preparation is key, regardless of the selected route
Participants who decide to take part in Highlander Medvednica should begin preparations well before arriving at the start. For the one-day format, it is useful in the weeks before the event to complete several longer hiking walks and check footwear, backpack and clothing. For the three-day format, preparation must be more serious, because in addition to fitness it includes getting used to walking with equipment, food planning, hydration, recovery and mental endurance. An organized event can provide support, but it cannot compensate for a lack of basic readiness. It is especially important that participants do not underestimate Medvednica only because it is located near the city and is known as an excursion destination.
According to general hiking recommendations, a safe trip to the mountain begins before departure, by checking the weather forecast, the route and one’s own health condition. On the trail, one should have enough water, protection from sun and rain, a charged mobile phone, basic first aid and clothing that can be adapted to temperature changes. In group events, it is important to respect the organizer’s instructions and not separate from the planned route. If exhaustion, injury or bad weather occurs, the responsible decision may be to slow down, give up or seek help. Hiking is attractive precisely because it connects freedom of movement and time in nature, but that freedom always requires discipline and respect for limits.
More than kilometres and elevation gain
Highlander Medvednica is described in announcements as a combination of hiking challenge, nature, programme and socializing, and precisely this combination explains why the event attracts participants year after year. For some, the most important part will be completing 56 kilometres in three days, for others a one-day escape from everyday life, and for others a meeting with people who share a similar interest in hiking and spending time outdoors. In that context, Medvednica is not just a backdrop, but an active part of the experience: its trails, forests, views and changing rhythm of the terrain shape the entire event. The official calendar for 2026 confirms that the new edition will be held from 29 to 31 May, and the available information indicates the continuation of a format that has already become recognizable. For participants, this means a weekend in which hiking preparation, personal challenge and an encounter with nature merge into an event that presents Medvednica as one of the most important green points of the Zagreb area.
Sources:
- Highlander Adventure – official announcement of the Highlander Medvednica 2026 event, dates and format description (link)
- Zagreb Tourist Board / Infozagreb – calendar of sports events for Highlander Medvednica Croatia 2026. (link)
- Public Institution Medvednica Nature Park – official description of Sljeme and the natural-cultural significance of Medvednica (link)
- Zagreb Tourist Board / Infozagreb – earlier description of routes, format lengths and the context of the Highlander Medvednica event (link)
- 24sata – report with programme details of an earlier edition, route descriptions, checkpoints and a statement by the project manager (link)