Hiking Croatia: How Daria & Mario Combine Hiking, Cycling and Storytelling Across Croatia
Daria and Mario, the duo behind Hiking Croatia, have turned their love for nature into a full-time lifestyle, exploring Croatia through hiking trails, cycling routes, and authentic outdoor storytelling. In this Bikademy interview, they share how their journey started, why cycling became part of their story, and which destinations every active traveler should experience.
Who is behind Hiking Croatia and how did the name and concept come about?
Behind Hiking Croatia are Daria and Mario, two nature lovers originally from Hrvatsko Zagorje. Mario is a photographer, while Daria holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing but does not work in that field.
Since we grew up surrounded by nature and hills, what we do today truly feels like our dream job. We started hiking about eight years ago, after Mario worked on a photography project focused on mountains and peaks. Soon after, he took me to the mountains as well and our very first hike was on Velebit, specifically Tulove Grede.
After seeing the views from Tulove Grede and truly enjoying that day, I quickly joined him in hiking, and everything started from there. Before every trip, Mario plans the route, while I take care of things like what we’ll eat and where. Most of the time, we plan our destinations together so we can both enjoy the experience.
You create outstanding outdoor content and are true promoters of an active lifestyle and destinations. How much effort, planning, and fieldwork goes into achieving that level of quality? And how important is storytelling in promoting destinations? Is a good story as important as a good location?
Thank you for the kind words. There is truly a lot of effort and planning behind the content we share with our audience. We are aware that what we do carries a certain responsibility, especially when it comes to assessing whether a trail is suitable for everyone or not. That’s why we always try to be realistic and honest in what we present.
Most people only see the final result, photos and videos, but there’s so much more behind it. From route planning, early mornings, and long drives to locations (sometimes lasting three to four hours), to hours of hiking, often physically demanding, and then the journey back home.
The pace can sometimes be quite intense, but we love what we do, so it makes everything easier. Since we work together full-time, we can adapt our schedule and working style to what suits us best.
As for storytelling, a great location and a great story go hand in hand. If the location itself isn’t interesting enough, it’s difficult to tell a compelling story. On the other hand, even the most beautiful location can lose its impact if the story is shallow or poorly told. Our followers want not only beautiful visuals but also useful information, atmosphere, and a real sense of what it’s like to be there.
Recently, we’ve been seeing you more often on bikes. Has cycling always been part of your outdoor story, or is this a new direction you’re developing?
Since we both grew up in the countryside, cycling was a natural part of our childhood. We spent a lot of time outdoors and enjoyed being active with friends. Over time, that faded a bit as we focused more on hiking.
Our interest in cycling was reignited when we met our friend and colleague Hrvoje Jurić, who cycled around the world. Listening to his stories and experiences sparked our curiosity again.
Shortly after, we got our first gravel bikes and started riding. Cycling came as a perfect refreshment after many years of hiking. Today, we love that we can combine both activities.
For Daria, it was especially exciting and refreshing, and the transition wasn’t difficult since we were already in good shape from hiking. Recently, we also went on a bikepacking adventure through Gorski kotar, which was an amazing experience.
Do you see potential in combining hiking and cycling as a unified outdoor experience within a destination?
Yes, absolutely. We see great potential in combining hiking and cycling into one integrated outdoor experience. Many destinations offer both beautiful hiking trails and high-quality cycling routes, allowing visitors to explore nature in multiple ways.
This kind of approach extends the stay in a destination, adds diversity to the experience, and attracts a broader group of active travelers. We’re always happy to explore such locations and share our experiences and recommendations with our audience.
Which hiking or cycling destinations in Croatia would you recommend to our Bikademy Students – especially those who want to combine exploration with an active holiday?
We would recommend several destinations in Croatia that are perfect for combining hiking, cycling, and active time in nature.
First that come to mind are Gorski kotar and Hrvatsko Zagorje – regions that offer an ideal mix for both activities. In Gorski kotar, you can enjoy dense forests, mountain peaks, and numerous forest roads suitable for cycling. Zagorje, on the other hand, offers gentle hills, scenic routes, and many interesting places to explore.
These are great destinations for anyone who wants to hike, cycle, or simply walk and enjoy nature. And of course, an important part of the experience is local gastronomy – the food is delicious, diverse, and authentic.
Istria also seems like a very interesting destination for this type of active holiday, as it offers excellent cycling routes, hiking trails, and a rich culinary scene. We are planning to explore it more by bike, as we believe it has great potential for combining these activities.
What does “being outdoors” mean to you personally? Is it an escape from everyday life or a return to yourself?
Spending time in nature and fresh air means a lot to us. We lived in Zagreb for four years and couldn’t wait to build a house and move back outside the city.
Since we both grew up in the countryside, we are used to spending time outdoors. Today’s fast-paced lifestyle affects us as well, like everyone else.
That’s why we find peace in nature, recharge, and simply enjoy it. Personally, I can no longer imagine working in a profession where I used to spend 12 hours a day inside a hospital. Fortunately, we now have the opportunity to make a living connected to the outdoors, and we are truly grateful for that.
Do you think people today seek nature more for physical activity or for the inner peace and quiet they are missing?
We would say both. Life today has become very fast-paced. A large part of our time is taken by screens and social media, while time for real-life connections is becoming more limited.
That’s why it always makes us happy to see children playing outside or people spending time together in parks.
We notice that more and more people are spending time in nature and engaging in outdoor activities, which is great. We believe everyone should find their own way to blow off steam and take time for physical activity or being in nature, because it is extremely beneficial both physically and mentally. Even a simple 30-minute walk in nature can make a big difference.
2026 has just begun and better weather is coming. What are your plans for new destinations and projects… are you planning any special cycling adventures?
The year has just started, and we don’t like planning too far ahead. We would definitely love to do a multi-day cycling trip or go on another bikepacking adventure.
We’re also considering traveling outside Croatia, with Scandinavia being one of the ideas. But we’ll see where the journey takes us. 😄
What would you say to someone who wants to enter the outdoor world, especially through cycling, but feels they are “not ready enough”?
The most important thing is the will – and of course, a bike!
You don’t need to ride 100 kilometers right away or chase any pace. Like everything else, it’s important to start gradually and adapt.
With the right mindset, anything is possible. We have to admit that cycling surprised and impressed us in the best way, and we can’t wait for warmer weather to get back on our bikes and explore new nice places.
What we especially love is the spontaneity, stopping somewhere for a coffee or ice cream and turning the whole ride into a small, joyful experience. The most important thing is to enjoy the moment and find beauty in it.
