Upper Northeast Adriatic Countries
From Maribor to Sarajevo
The Adriatic Sea is one of the most storied and historically significant bodies of water in the world. A northern arm of the Mediterranean, the northwest-southeast trending Adriatic is bounded on its west by the Italian Peninsula, on its north by mainland Europe, and on its east by the Balkan Peninsula.
With Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans having plied and settled on and to the interior of its shores, the Adriatic was an important part of the cradle of Western Civilization. Subsequent centuries witnessed regional conquest by the Byzantines and Ottomans, among others. One of the most notable historic periods of the region was the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which spanned from 1867 to the end of World War I in 1918. The empire comprised land on and inland of the northeast Adriatic, including the modern Balkan countries of Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. These three nations emerged as independent states in the 1990s along with Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia with the dissolution of Yugoslavia. While bonded by history and northeastern Adriatic coastline, each of these three countries offers stunning vistas of unique natural landscapes and human development evocative of history both recent and centuries-old.
This bush trip weaves together the best of these three countries. Beginning at Maribor, near the Pohorje Mountains of northeastern Slovenia, the route traverses northern Slovenia and then meets the northeastern Adriatic coastline. The journey then winds southward, along the Croatian coastline and the Croatian archipelago, the most numerous group of islands in the Adriatic and second most numerous in all of the Mediterranean. The flight then heads inland to explore Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is dominated by the Dinaric Alps.
This bush trip visits a tremendous span of terrain, from large cities with a variety of architecture, to sweeps of coastline, to alpine regions of forests, rivers, and valleys. It offers boundless vistas of natural beauty and historical intrigue to enjoy from the cockpit.
Flight tips:
Weather is freely selectable. Live weather is preset.
Make sure that there is always enough fuel. You will need to refuel at airports.
Put the aircraft away cold and dark after each landing to finish the leg.
Use ATC if you wish.
Total Legs: 5 Total Distance: 509 Total Time(125kts): 4 hours 4 minutes
Leg 1
Maribor to Ljubljana
Leg Distance: 63.2 Approximate time at 125kts: 30 minutes.
Maribor(LJMB) to Maribor(MARI)
Distance: 4.52NM Bearing: 329° 2 minutes
After lifting off from Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport, set a course to the north-northwest toward the city of Maribor. Fly along the corridor formed between the periphery of the Pohorje Mountains on the west and the Drava River to the east. A railroad line and a number of highways lead to the city center of Maribor.
Located in northeastern Slovenia less than ten miles south of the Austrian border, Maribor lies on the banks of the Drava River, a tributary to the Danube. Maribor is Slovenia’s second most populous city with roughly 100,000 inhabitants. Its location was first used as a settlement during the Copper Age, roughly 7,000 years ago.
Like much of Slovenia, Maribor has seen great change over the centuries due to human migration from throughout Europe. The area was used by the Romans, then the Slavs. The modern city traces its lineage to a castle that was first noted in 1164 to protect the area from Hungarian advance. A town grew around the fortress, and that eventually flourished into the city of today. Regionally, Maribor is particularly noteworthy as the largest city in the Slovenian historic region called Lower Styria.
Maribor, and most of Lower Styria, is renowned for its vineyards and winemaking. Maribor is home to the “Žametovka vine,” a specific vine of the Žametovka wine grape variety that viticulturalists have identified as the oldest producing individual grape vine on the planet. Planted over 400 years ago, it grows on the grounds of Maribor’s Old Vine House, on the bank of the Drava River.
Maribor(MARI) to Drava River(DRAR)
Distance: 14.15NM Bearing: 275° 7 minutes
Fly past the myriad sights of Maribor and track the Drava River westward. The Drava is the fifth longest tributary to the Danube at 440 miles in length. It originates in Italy’s South Tyrol, then flows through southern Austria, northeastern Slovenia, northern Croatia, and forms much of the border between Croatia and Hungary.
Follow the Drava on its course along the northern periphery of the Pohorje Mountains. The range is part of the Southern Limestone Alps, and is characterized by relatively low, heavily forested, rolling peaks. The Drava River cuts a deep path through this section of the mountains, and the terrain on either side of the river is typical of the natural face of much of the country.
Slovenia’s geography, both its physical nature and its location in Europe, set the stage for it being one of the key crossroads of European cultures. Its human geography has been influenced through the centuries by Romans, Germans, Slavs, French, and Hungarians, among others. Today, Slovenia, which has a population of just over 2 million, borders four nations: Italy on its northwest, Austria on its north, Hungary on its northeast, and Croatia on its south. After the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991 and the brief Ten-Day War (Slovenian War of Independence), Slovenia aligned itself with nations of Western Europe and subsequently grew to be an economically prosperous and resilient nation, attracting people from throughout other Balkan countries.
Continue following the Drava River, which flows roughly parallel and a few miles south of the country’s border with Austria.
Drava River(DRAR) to Dravograd(DRAV)
Distance: 11.39NM Bearing: 265° 5 minutes
Dravograd is a small city of approximately 3,000 people that lies less than two miles south of Slovenia’s border with Austria. The town is located on the confluence of the Drava, the Mislinja, and the Meža rivers.
Dravograd(DRAV) to Poljana(POLJ)
Distance: 6.88NM Bearing: 243° 3 minutes
At Dravograd, turn onto a west-southwest course and follow the general course of the Meža River, staying to its north.
The Meža strikes through the eastern Karavankas mountains, a long, narrow chain of the Alps that straddles the Austria-Slovenia border. Higher and more rugged than the Pohorje Mountains, the Karavankas are a component of the Southern Limestone Alps and are approximately 75 miles in length. Begin ascending to 7,000 feet above sea level along this stretch.
Pass the small city of Ravne na Koroškem, which lies on the Meža River, and then gain a visual on the town of Poljana, which also lies on the Meža. Poljana is located at the intersection of route 112 and 425.
Poljana(POLJ) to Kordezeva Glava(KORD)
Distance: 4.58NM Bearing: 230° 2 minutes
Turn onto a southwest course at Poljana and gain a visual on the high, rocky Peca massif in the distance. The large mountain, which trends northwest-southeast, straddles the Austria-Slovenia border and is the highest mountain in the eastern Karavankas. Locate Peca’s highest summit, Kordeževa Glava, which lies directly on the border. The mountain peak stands 6,975 feet above sea level. Fly directly over Kordeževa Glava for outstanding views of this part of the Karavankas.
Kordezeva Glava(KORD) to Skuta(SKUT)
Distance: 12.36NM Bearing: 223° 6 minutes
Continue on a southwest heading once over Kordeževa Glava, and increase altitude. Gain a visual directly ahead of a 3-mile-long ridge of peaks, Olševa. Fly just to the south of its highest point, Govca (6,329 feet above sea level). Once past Govca, maintain course and gain a visual on a high ridge of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps in the distance. Sight the highest point, Skuta.
Skuta stands 8,307 feet above sea level and is the third highest mountain in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. Just below the summit, on the mountain’s northeast quadrant, lies Skuta Glacier. Skuta Glacier is the southeasternmost glacier in the Alps and is one of the lowest elevation glaciers in Europe at 6,600 feet above sea level. Many geographers consider Skuta Glacier to be Slovenia’s only glacier. Triglav Glacier, to the northwest of Skuta in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, has virtually disappeared in recent decades. The remnants of Triglav Glacier lie on the upper slopes of Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain at 9,395 feet above sea level.
Fly over the Skuta Glacier and then the summit of Skuta, which brings some of the most magnificent vistas in all of Slovenia.
Skuta(SKUT) to Ljubljana Joze Pucnik International Airport(LJLJ)
Distance: 9.32NM Bearing: 202° 4 minutes
Once past the summit of Skuta, adjust heading slightly to the south and parallel a long ridge of peaks that strikes to the southwest. Gain a visual on Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport in the distance and begin descending. Located on the southern foothills of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, LJLJ is the busiest airport in Slovenia. Land to bring this leg of the journey to a close.
Leg 2
Ljubljana to Rijeka
Leg Distance: 163.65 Approximate time at 125kts: 79 minutes.
Ljubljana Joze Pucnik International Airport(LJLJ) to Ljubljana Joze Pucnik International Airport(LJUB)
Distance: 10.34NM Bearing: 163° 5 minutes
Lift into the air at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik International Airport and set a course to the south-southeast. Follow the A2 Motorway (European route E61) as it traverses the upper Sava river basin and enters the greater Ljubljana Basin. Gain a visual on the Sava River on its northwest-southeast trend in this part of Slovenia. The Sava, which originates in the Julian Alps in northern Slovenia, is the longest tributary of the Danube at 615 miles. The river traverses Slovenia, Croatia, and then forms the border of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina before entering Serbia, where it joins the Danube at Serbia’s capital, Belgrade.
Pass over the Sava and gain a spectacular view of Ljubljana, the capital of and most populous city in Slovenia with roughly 300,000 inhabitants. Ljubljana is one of Europe’s great crossroads cities and has played significant roles in regional history through the centuries. It was an important stopover on an ancient trade route connecting the northeast Adriatic with the Danube and Black Sea. It has experienced influence from a number of surrounding cities, including Vienna, Prague, Belgrade, and Venice. The city’s primary landmark is Ljubljana Castle, which was built atop a hill as a medieval fortress and today stands over the downtown area.
Ljubljana Joze Pucnik International Airport(LJUB) to Vrhnika(VRHN)
Distance: 10.46NM Bearing: 234° 5 minutes
After visually exploring Ljubljana from above, turn onto a southwest heading and gain a visual on the Ljubljana River and the A1 motorway, which parallels the river. Fly above the southwest extremity of the Ljubljana Basin and sight the town of Vrhnika.
The town lies on the periphery of the Ljubljana Marsh, the source of the Ljubljana River and the largest marsh in Slovenia. Human population around the marsh dates to prehistoric times. It is the location of the discovery of the Ljubljana Marsh Wheel, the oldest wooden wheel ever discovered. Archaeologists determined its age to be more than 5,000 years old.
Vrhnika(VRHN) to Postojna(POST)
Distance: 12.04NM Bearing: 193° 6 minutes
At Vrhnika, turn onto a south-southwest heading and fly over the foothills of the northwest extremity of the Dinaric Alps. The Dinaric Alps lie at the western margin of the Balkan Peninsula where it meets the Adriatic Sea. The range stretches 400 miles from the Julian Alps of eastern Italy and northwestern Slovenia to northern Albania.
Gain a visual on the Planina Polje (Planina Plain), a large meadow that is traversed by the Unica River, an underground river that surfaces near the plain. The Planina Polje formed due to the geology of this part of the Dinaric Alps, which is composed of limestone. Water from the Unica River and rainfall dissolves subterranean limestone, forming caverns. The Planina Polje formed with the collapse of a large group of these caverns and is called a karst field. Planina Cave, one of Slovenia’s largest caves, is located under the southwestern margin of Planina Polje. The cave is more than four miles long and may be connected to other caves in the region, with a total cave network length of nearly 20 miles.
Sight the town of Postojna in the distance, which lies adjacent to the Pivka River. Fly over the pass just to the northeast of the town, the Postojna Gate. This pass was once part of the Amber Road connecting the northwest Adriatic with interior Baltic communities. The Postojna Gate was so strategically significant that the Romans constructed a number of roads, walls, and fortifications throughout the area to keep possible invaders from passing through it.
Pass over the town of Postojna, noting the Pivka River on its northern margin. The Pivka River becomes subterranean just outside of the town of Postojna and terminates in Planina Cave where it merges with the Unica River.
Postojna(POST) to Kozina(KOZI)
Distance: 15.24NM Bearing: 225° 7 minutes
The course will correct slightly to the north to follow a southwesterly course and continue to follow the A1/E61. Continue over the Dinaric Alps and the Gulf of Trieste, the northeastern extremity of the Adriatic Sea, comes more sharply into view with each mile. Pass over the Reka River and sight the town of Kozina at the intersection of the A1 motorway and Route 7.
Kozina is a town that formed with the construction of the railway in the area.
Kozina(KOZI) to Koper(KOPE)
Distance: 9.25NM Bearing: 242° 4 minutes
Adjust course slightly to the north at Kozina and fly along the corridor through which the A1 motorway runs, remaining to the north of the highway itself. Pass just south of Slovenia’s border with Italy and the city of Trieste, the most important commercial port in Italy. Pass over the Rižana River near where it empties into the Gulf of Trieste and gain a visual on the city of Koper.
Koper lies at the northern end of Slovakia’s Adriatic coastline, which is entirely on the Istrian Peninsula, the largest peninsula on the Adriatic. Just 29 miles in length, the Slovenian coast is sometimes called the Slovene Riviera. Koper, with a population of 25,000, is the largest city on the coastline and Slovenia’s only commercial port. Koper, and the entire Slovene Riviera, is known for its beauty and attracts tourists from throughout the world.
Koper(KOPE) to Piran(PIRN)
Distance: 7.1NM Bearing: 256° 3 minutes
Continue on a westward heading, following the coastline. Pass the small town of Izola, once an ancient Roman Port, and then reach the coastal city of Piran, which lies on a small peninsula, the Piran Peninsula. Piran, once part of the Roman Empire, retains much of its medieval architectural flair and is one of Slovenia’s main tourist destinations.
Piran(PIRN) to Novigrad(NOVI)
Distance: 12.99NM Bearing: 175° 6 minutes
Turn onto a southward heading and fly over the Gulf of Piran, shared by Slovenia and Croatia. Pass into Croatia and then continue on course over the western side of the Istrian Peninsula, remaining just landward of the shoreline. The Istrian Peninsula, often called Istria, is shared by three countries, Slovenia, Italy, and Croatia. Croatia claims nearly ninety percent of the region.
Gain a visual on Mirna Bay and the town of Novigrad, which lies on the north side of the bay. Pass over Novigrad, which, like Piran, boasts architecture and streets little changed in form from medieval times.
Novigrad(NOVI) to Rovinj(ROVI)
Distance: 14.36NM Bearing: 163° 7 minutes
Continue tracking the coastline of western Istria, flying over numerous small bays, islands, and islets. Sight long, narrow Lima Bay in the distance. Gain a visual on the city of Rovinj once over Lima Bay. Settled by the Venetians, Rovinj was captured by the Romans and incorporated into their empire.
Rovinj(ROVI) to Cape Kamenjak(KAME)
Distance: 22.22NM Bearing: 143° 11 minutes
Follow the coastline southward from Rovinj, and pass by the Brijuni, fourteen islands located just off the coast of the Istrian Peninsula. Gain a visual on Pula Bay and the city of Pula.
Pula, once a stronghold and port of the Roman Empire, is renowned for its well-preserved Roman buildings. This includes the Pula Arena, the only Roman amphitheater that has all four of its side towers remaining intact. Continue past Pula to Cape Kamenjak, the southernmost point of Istria. Cape Kamenjak is known for its secluded coves, beaches, and turquoise waters.
Cape Kamenjak(KAME) to Zaljev Rasa(ZALJ)
Distance: 14.13NM Bearing: 24° 7 minutes
At Cape Kamenjak, turn to the northeast and follow the coast to Zaljev Raša, a large natural inlet on the southeastern coastline of the Istrian Peninsula.
Zaljev Rasa(ZALJ) to Cres(CRES)
Distance: 13.28NM Bearing: 44° 6 minutes
Adjust heading slightly to the south and fly out over the Kvarner Bay, part of the Adriatic Sea that lies between the Croatian coastal mainland and the Istrian Peninsula. Gain a visual on the northern extremity of the island of Cres in the distance.
Croatia is renowned for its multitude of islands off its mainland coast. The archipelago comprises over one thousand islands and islets, although geographers disagree on the exact number. Cres is the largest (tied in size with its neighbor to the east, Krk). It is 40 miles long by 9 miles wide, at its widest. Evidence of human presence dates to the Paleolithic. The Greeks later inhabited the island, followed by the Romans, the Venetians, and the French. A number of towns dot the island, with tourism being an important economic staple.
Cres(CRES) to Rijeka(RIJE)
Distance: 13.66NM Bearing: 19° 7 minutes
Adjust course slightly to the north and fly over the Bay of Rijeca, the northernmost portion of Kvarner Bay. Gain a visual on Rijeka, Croatia’s primary seaport and its third most populous city.
Rijeka, including its excellent natural deep-water port, has been a focus of regional strategic interest over the centuries. It has also proven critically important in the development of Croatia. The city was contested during the Roman Empire due to attacks originating from the port, and this focus continued through generations into the world wars of the 20th century due to its role in maritime logistical support.
Due to it being an excellent port and location at the head of a number of inland routes through the Dinaric Alps, Rijeka was critical to the development of Croatia through the years, both internally as well as in terms of relationships with Croatia’s neighbors: Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, and Bosnia-Herzegovina to the south. Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and many of the inland regions of Croatia are connected to the world through Rijeka.
Croatia, like Slovenia, became independent in the 1990s with the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Rijeka played a role in the 1991-1995 Croatian War of Independence and the nation’s subsequent alignment with nations of western Europe due to its importance in maintaining connectivity between the outside world and locations throughout interior Croatia.
The city was named the European Capital of Culture in 2020, alongside the Irish city Galway.
Rijeka(RIJE) to Rijeka(LDRI)
Distance: 8.58NM Bearing: 137° 4 minutes
Turn onto a southeast heading and skirt the coastline. Gain a visual on the northern tip of the island of Krk and Rijeka Airport. Although set on an island, the airport is easily accessible from the mainland due to the Krk Bridge, located adjacent to the airport. Land at Rijeka Airport to bring this portion of the trip to an end.
Leg 3
Rijeka to Zemunik
Leg Distance: 77.89 Approximate time at 125kts: 37 minutes.
Rijeka(LDRI) to Baska(BASK)
Distance: 16.67NM Bearing: 148° 8 minutes
Lift off from Rijeka Airport and set a course to the southeast, flying just inland of the east coast of the island of Krk. The island, the largest in the Adriatic (tied for this position with its neighbor, Cres), is the most populous island in the Adriatic and comprises a number of towns, each with rich history dating back to the Roman era. Gain a visual on Baška Bay at the island’s southern extremity and the town of Baška at the bay’s northern end. Baška is renowned archaeologically as the location of the Baška tablet, which was written in Glagolitic script (the original Slavic alphabet) in 1100.
Much of the landscape to the east of Baška is bare due to a type of regional wind called the bora. Typically blowing in the winter months, the bora is a katabatic wind, meaning it forms due to dense air moving downslope due to gravity. In the case of the bora, air moves down the western slopes of the Dinaric Alps and flows out over the Adriatic Sea.
Baska(BASK) to Prvic Island(PRIV)
Distance: 4.1NM Bearing: 147° 2 minutes
Continue on course, flying over Baška Bay to the nearby Prvić Island. The small island is home to just two villages, and tourism is the primary economic mainstay.
Prvic Island(PRIV) to Lopar(LOPA)
Distance: 5.79NM Bearing: 206° 3 minutes
Turn onto a southwest course over Prvić Island and pass over the small, uninhabited island of Sveti Grgur and then reach the northeastern end of the island of Rab. Rab is the northernmost island in a historic Croatian region called Dalmatia. The region consists of shoreline, islands, and adjacent inland mountains of the Dinaric Alps along eastern Croatia from Rab to the country’s southern extremity. The islands in this region, including Rab, are part of a group sometimes called the Dalmatian Archipelago. Pass over Lopar, a small community on Rab known for its stunning beaches.
Lopar(LOPA) to Rab Island(RABI)
Distance: 9.11NM Bearing: 139° 4 minutes
Turn onto a southeast heading at Lopar and fly along the length of Rab Island to its southern extremity. Rab, like many of the islands of Dalmatia, is renowned for its beautiful beaches and surrounding turquoise waters of the Adriatic.
Rab Island(RABI) to Karlobag(KARL)
Distance: 14.08NM Bearing: 135° 7 minutes
Continue on a southeast heading from Rab and enter the Velebit Channel, which lies between the Croatian Mainland and the island of Pag.
The channel is named for the Velebit mountain range, a structural component of the Dinaric Alps that plunges into the sea along the Croatian coastline. Pag, the long, narrow island that forms the western margin of the Velebit Channel, is the fifth largest island in Croatia and has the longest shoreline at 167 miles. The island is 58 miles long and ranges in width from one mile to six miles. The islands of this part of Croatia trend northwest-southeast, parallel with the mountainous coastline, and many like Cres, Pag, and Krk are long and narrow. This resulted from the geologic processes related to the collision of the Adriatic Plate (sometimes called the Apulian plate) with the Eurasian Plate to the north. The resultant collision caused mountains to rise in the region and the formation of a fold and thrust belt with numerous fault lines oriented northwest-southeast.
Obliquely cross the Velebit Channel to reach the town of Karlobag, which lies nestled between the Velebit mountains and the Velebit Channel. The United Nations designated the mountains behind Karlobag the Velebit Mountain Biosphere Reserve in 1977.
Karlobag(KARL) to Pag Bridge(PAGB)
Distance: 14.59NM Bearing: 142° 7 minutes
Adjust course slightly to the west over Karlobag to obliquely cross the Velebit Channel to reach Pag Island. Fly along the southeastern extremity of Pag and reach the Pag Bridge.
Opened in 1968, the bridge connects the island of Pag with mainland Croatia. The landscape in the area is mostly barren, a consequence of the powerful bora winds that descend on the region, sometimes for months at a time. A wind speed of 123 miles per hour was recorded during a bora event on the Pag Bridge in 2019.
Pag Bridge(PAGB) to Zadar Airport(LDZD)
Distance: 13.55NM Bearing: 159° 7 minutes
Once over the Pag Bridge, adjust heading slightly to the south and gain a visual on Zadar Airport. The international airport is located at the town of Zemunik Donji, just outside of the city of Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. Land at Zadar Airport to bring this section of the journey to a close.
Leg 4
Zemunik to Kastela
Leg Distance: 92.57 Approximate time at 125kts: 44 minutes.
Zadar Airport(LDZD) to Zrmanja River(ZRMA)
Distance: 11.95NM Bearing: 56° 6 minutes
Lift off at Zadar Airport and set a course to the northeast. Gain a visual on Novigrad Lake (sometimes called the Novigrad Sea), the larger (and northern) of two lakes in the distance. Fly past the town of Novigrad on the lake’s southern shore, then sight the Zrmanja River where it empties into the eastern periphery of Novigrad Lake.
Zrmanja River(ZRMA) to Krupa(KRUP)
Distance: 9.77NM Bearing: 92° 5 minutes
Turn east and follow the course of the Zrmanja River. Pass over the town of Obrovac then sight the confluence of the Zrmanja River and the Krupa River.
This region is exemplary of karst topography, where water from rivers erodes limestone bedrock. The plateaus and deep canyons in this part of the Dinaric Alps are some of the finest examples of karst topography in the world.
Krupa(KRUP) to Krka(KRKA)
Distance: 16.93NM Bearing: 114° 8 minutes
Adjust course slightly to the south over the confluence of Zrmanja and Krupa rivers. Follow the general course of the Zrmanja River to the southeast, staying to its north. Sight and fly past Kočo Peak (1,617 feet above sea level) and then pass over the Zrmanja just north of the village of Mokro Polje near where the river changes course. Parallel motorway D1, remaining to its south, and sight the intersection of D1 and D59. Continue on course over the intersection to the Krka River.
The Krka River, which flows through a wonderland of karst topography, is renowned for the numerous waterfalls found along its course.
Krka(KRKA) to Skradin(SKRA)
Distance: 17.15NM Bearing: 211° 8 minutes
Turn on to a southwest course over the Krka River and follow its course toward the Adriatic Sea.
This leg of the flight passes over Krka National Park, home to hundreds of plant and animal species, and over a dozen fish species, some endemic to the region. Pass over the northern part of Lake Visovacko, then sight Skradin, a town located where the Krka River meets Lake Prokljan, which is connected to the Adriatic Sea via Šibenik Harbor. Skradin is renowned for a series of nearby waterfalls on the Krka River.
Skradin(SKRA) to Sibenik(SIBE)
Distance: 5.12NM Bearing: 189° 2 minutes
Set a course to the south-southwest, passing just to the east of the eastern periphery of Lake Prokljan. Gain a visual on Šibenik Harbor and the town of Šibenik on its eastern shore.
Located in the heart of the Dalmatian Coast, Šibenik is one of the most picturesque cities in Croatia as it lies nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Dinaric Alps amid a series of bays and channels.
Sibenik(SIBE) to Cape Planka(PLAN)
Distance: 14.87NM Bearing: 163° 7 minutes
From Šibenik, turn on a southeast course and follow the coastline along the Adriatic Sea. Fly past a small group of mountainous islands, then pass over the coastal village of Primošten. Cross the opening of Rogoznica Bay and gain a visual on the Ražanj Peninsula. Fly over a series of small coves and points of land to reach Cape Planka, the Ražanj Peninsula’s southernmost point.
Cape Planka is one of the most geographically significant locations on the Adriatic Sea. The small, rocky point of land marks the juncture, both physically and climatologically, of the north and south Adriatic. Powerful currents and weather patterns often meet at the Cape, giving rise to some of the largest waves found throughout the Mediterranean region. Planka is also called Cape Diomedes, after the Greek mythological hero.
Cape Planka(PLAN) to Drvenik Veli(DRVE)
Distance: 7.51NM Bearing: 108° 4 minutes
Turn onto a southeast heading at Cape Planka and traverse the Adriatic waters just off the rugged, mountainous coastline. Pass just to the north of the island of Drvenik Mali to reach the island of Drvenik Veli.
Drvenik Veli(DRVE) to Split Airport(LDSP)
Distance: 9.27NM Bearing: 48° 4 minutes
Turn to the northeast at Drvenik Veli and pass over the western arm of Čiovo Island. Gain a visual of Split Airport and then land at the facility, bringing this leg of the journey along the Adriatic to an end.
Leg 5
Kastela to Sarajewo
Leg Distance: 111.37 Approximate time at 125kts: 53 minutes.
Split Airport(LDSP) to Split(SPLIT)
Distance: 6.58NM Bearing: 100° 3 minutes
Back in the air, set a heading to the east-southeast and pass over Kaštela Bay.
Split, Croatia’s second largest city with a population of more than 160,000, lies just ahead on the east side of the bay. Split traces its lineage to a Greek settlement which later fell under Roman rule. Remnants of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian remain standing in Split to this day, occupying roughly half of the area of the city’s old town.
Split(SPLIT) to Dugopolje(DUGO)
Distance: 7.9NM Bearing: 42° 4 minutes
Over Split, turn onto a northeast heading and pass by the eastern extremity of Kaštela Bay. Follow the general corridor of the D1 motorway to the city of Dugopolje. The city lies on the northern end of the small mountain range Mosor, part of the Dinaric Alps.
Dugopolje(DUGO) to Sestanovac(SEST)
Distance: 17.06NM Bearing: 118° 8 minutes
Turn onto a southeast heading over Dugopolje and track the pathway of the A1 motorway. Visually locate the Cetina River, which parallels the A1. Fly past the high summits of Mosor and over the deep gorge cut into the massif by the Cetina. The town of Šestanovac is located to the northeast of a large cutback in the Cetina River, just north of the A1 at a major intersection.
Sestanovac(SEST) to Lake Busko(BUSK)
Distance: 12.48NM Bearing: 16° 6 minutes
Turn onto a north-northeast heading over Šestanovac and follow the general course of the D39 motorway away from the Adriatic, toward the Dinaric Alps. Gain a visual on Lake Buško, a large reservoir. Cross over the international border from Croatia into Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The mountainous terrain surrounding Lake Buško is typical of the topography throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bordered on its west and north by Croatia, its east by Serbia, and Montenegro on its southeast, the country is entirely mountainous, except for its far north.
Lake Buško is located on the southern reaches of Livanjsko Polje, the world’s largest karst field. The lake was created in the early 1970s by diverting numerous waterways in the region to this location.
Lake Busko(BUSK) to Tomislavgrad(TOMI)
Distance: 10.41NM Bearing: 60° 5 minutes
Set a heading to the northeast once over Lake Buško, passing over the southern portion of the lake. Follow the general course of the M-6.1 motorway to the town of Tomislavgrad.
The city traces its roots to the Roman Empire, when it was called Delminium.
Tomislavgrad(TOMI) to Mokronoge(MOKR)
Distance: 3.22NM Bearing: 1° 2 minutes
At Tomislavgrad, turn to the north and follow the M-106 motorway to the town of Mokronoge.
Mokronoge(MOKR) to Lake Ramsko(RAMS)
Distance: 11.09NM Bearing: 70° 5 minutes
Sight Lake Ramsko to the east-northeast of Mokronoge and set a heading for its northern extremity.
Lake Ramsko is a reservoir that was created by the damming of the Rama River in 1968. It is renowned for its multiple islands, complex shoreline that comprises numerous coves, and its lush surroundings of rolling, forested mountains.
Lake Ramsko(RAMS) to Rama Dam(RAMA)
Distance: 4.14NM Bearing: 107° 2 minutes
Turn to the southeast and fly along the midline of Lake Ramsko to the Rama Dam.
Rama Dam(RAMA) to Lake Jablanicko(JABL)
Distance: 6.06NM Bearing: 123° 3 minutes
Follow the course of the Rama River to the southeast to Lake Jablaničko, a reservoir formed by a dam on the Neretva River.
Lake Jablanicko(JABL) to Jablanica Dam(JABD)
Distance: 3.08NM Bearing: 132° 1 minutes
Continue along the length of Lake Jablaničko to reach Jablanica Dam, which formed Lake Jablaničko upon its completion in 1953.
Jablanica Dam(JABD) to Konjic(KONJ)
Distance: 10.25NM Bearing: 98° 5 minutes
Continue on an east-southeast course, following the shoreline of Lake Jablaničko to the town of Konjic.
Konjic(KONJ) to Sarajevo(LQSA)
Distance: 19.1NM Bearing: 52° 9 minutes
Set a course to the northeast at Konjic. Sight Sarajevo in the distance, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its largest city by population with just over a half million inhabitants. The city is located on hilly terrain along the Miljacka River in a narrow, heavily forested valley in the heart of the Dinaric Alps. Initially established in the 15th century as an Ottoman enclave, Sarajevo today boasts a rich mix of cultures and religions including Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
The economic and cultural center of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo features both modern architectural feats as well as centuries-old structures including churches and mosques. The thriving metropolis has experienced incredible global successes and stunning hardships in the past decades. It hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and then was the center of a prolonged, violent siege from 1992 to 1996 during the Bosnian War.
Land at Sarajevo International Airport to bring this journey through Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina to a close.
