If you like rugged mountains and forests, this is the place for you.
Thirty beds of a tourist oasis in Lika known as the Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch are almost always full from spring to autumn. Guests mostly come from Western Europe, but also from the United States of America and Australia. People come here on holiday and go horseback riding and canoeing and enjoy eating healthy local food. They are looked after by some twenty employees, reports Večernji List on February 5, 2018.
The owner is Bruce Jerković, who has returned to Croatia after living in the United States. He says that it all started almost accidentally. “My wife and I are from large cities, and we came to Lika because we wanted to live a healthier life and have a more natural contact with ourselves. When we realised how to do it here, we wanted to share it with others. Although making profit was not our main goal, our way of life has spontaneously turned into a business venture,” says Jerković, whose ranch won the award as the best Croatian ranch at the Family Accommodation Forum.
During the event, the ranch was praised by Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli. “The fact that we have hotels, camps and numerous types of family accommodation is what makes us different from competitors. We have to keep this diversity, but also to invest in quality and tourist offer. Just 20 percent of guests come to Croatia just for the sun and the sea. We will help rental owners with favourable loans of the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR), and for many, the best solution will be to join forces in so-called diffuse hotels, with shared receptions, wellness and other facilities,” said the Minister, talking about the diverse private accommodation sector in Croatia.
According to the website, “the Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch is an intimate and private resort nestled on 50 acres within the Velebit mountain, UNESCO protected pristine wilderness in Croatia. Linden Tree is a premier horseback riding destination that will appeal to those seeking eco-friendly adventure holidays. The restaurant serves seasonal food, sourced either from nature or grown as part of community-based projects. Aside from horse activities suitable both for grown-ups and children alike, the ranch offers canoe trips, hiking, trekking, mountain biking and caving.”
The ranch is currently closed for renovation and will open in May 2018.
