LAJFSTAJL / LIFESTYLE
W elcome to the leading long-dis- tance moun- tain hiking se- ries, covering a 100-kilometre-long trail to be com- pleted in five days and encompass- ing iconic locations, national parks and world heritage sites. That’s because Highlander isn’t a race, rather an adventure, and this August it is being held in Serbia’s neighbourhood. From 20 th to 25 th August, on Croatia’s Velebit moun- tain range, along a trail 104 kilo- metres long, you’ll be able to enjoy a unique experience that lasts for five days and leads hikers through two famous national parks – Pak- lenica and Northern Velebit. Then, from 27 th to 31 st August, you have an opportunity to experience High- lander Lake Ohrid, a 100-km-long hiking adventure challenge on Jab- lanica mountain that lasts five days and leads you through the beauty of unspoiled nature in the southwest- ern part of North Macedonia. The trail passes four amazing mountain lakes and culminates on the shore of Lake Ohrid. If you’re scared that you might not be up to the challenge, it’s worth knowing that Highlander isn’t in- tended exclusively for profession- al hikers, but rather for all lovers of nature, fresh air and outdoor activities. Participants don’t com- pete against one another – this is a personal or team challenge. These kinds of adventures represent a meeting point for hikers from all over the world who desire extraor- dinary experiences. All participants are required to follow certain rules, such as wearing specialist hiking boots and clothing, bringing suit- able equipment for overnight stays and eating in nature, while it’s al- so essential to gather stamps at de- fined mandatory checkpoints with- in predetermined time limits, but also to preserve nature. All participants are provided with food and water, Mountain Res- cue Service support and organised camping spots. After mastering the adventure in your own country, be-
come part of the large Highland- er community in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Her- zegovina, North Macedonia, Egypt, France, Greece, Morocco, Portugal or the United Arab Emirates. Those who participated in early June’s Ser- bian experience are already prepar- ing for new challenges. The High-
lander adventure brought together 400 hikers on Stara Planina, who traversed trails covering 100, 46 or 24 kilometres. “Hikers who participate in one country also come to other coun- tries, just as participants are re- turning to us for a second year. A community is thereby created
82 | Planinarenje » Hiking
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