Kopački Rit Nature Park

April 13, 2025.

Dates

1 day

Duration

all ages

Years

easy

Kopački Rit Nature Park is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and a true paradise for nature lovers. It is located at the confluence of the Drava and the Danube, and its landscape consists of floodplain forests, quiet backwaters, and spacious meadows. This nature park is home to over 290 species of birds, including the white-tailed eagle, black stork, and wild goose. Deer, wild boar, and even European beaver can also be seen here.

Kopački Rit was created by periodic floods caused by the Drava and the Danube. When the water level rises, the Danube flows into the lower parts of the terrain, creating a network of backwaters, ponds, and lakes. These floods regularly reshape the landscape, so the moor is constantly changing. This natural process lasts for thousands of years and has made Kopački Rit one of the most important wetlands in Europe.

On this one-day trip, we will go on a tour of Kopački Rit, a real wonder of nature and one of the best places in Europe for observing the living world! We will start on the hiking trail of Bijeli lopoč (white water lily), enjoying untouched nature, and then board a quiet electric boat and sail through hidden backwaters, where we will get closer to the wonderful living world of Kopački Rit.

We will also visit Tvrđa, the old baroque core of Osijek, and the monument to the Battle of Batina. We will end the day with lunch in a traditional Slavonian-Baranja guest house.

DEPARTURE LOCATION	Belgrade, the parking lot at the municipality of New Belgrade
DEPARTURE TIME	6.00 h Beograd
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE	Transportation from Belgrade Hiking tour and tour of the Kopački Rit Nature Park with an expert guide Tickets for the Kopački Rit Nature Park and electric boat ride Tour coordinator, sightseeing according to the itinerary and the tour organization
NOT INCLUDED	Lunch International travel insurance Other individual costs

Additional notes:

Equipment for the Kopački rit tour: Comfortable sports shoes, backpack, layered clothing, adapted to weather conditions, bring enough water (1.5-2 l), and some food (snacks, sandwiches, fruit).
Conditions for entering Croatia: It is obligatory to bring a passport, it is necessary that the validity of the passport lasts at least 3 months before the expiration date.
International travel insurance: For this type of insurance to be active, you need to send us your personal identification number (JMBG) and passport number when applying.
Own transportation: own transport is not possible for this tour
A minimum of 25 registrants is necessary for the implementation of the Kopački Rit tour.
In case of an insufficient number of registered passengers or unfavorable weather conditions, the deadline for notification of postponement or cancellation of the tour is 3 days before departure.
Photos used: cover Misalalic Kopački Rit near Osijek, Croatia; in the gallery Brigita Plander Kopački rit; Predrag Ivankovic Pjer Osijek Tvrdja; Roko Poljak Trg Sv. Trojstva Osijek, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Trip cancellations by passengers:
- In case of cancellation of the trip by the passenger, 5 or more days before the tour date, the Agency retains the amount of 20% of the reservation costs.
- In case the traveler cancels the trip less than 5 days before the trip, the agency reserves the right to the entire amount. In case of replacement by another passenger who is found either by the passenger himself or by the Agency, 90% of the paid amount is returned to the passenger.
- In case of illness of the passenger and cancellation up to 3 days before the tour, the paid money can be returned or the amount can be transferred for another tour organized by the Agency, and the traveler is obliged to send medical documentation about the illness in writing. In case of illness of the traveler and cancellation less than 3 days before the tour, in addition to sending medical documentation about the illness, the traveler is obliged to compensate the Agency for the incurred costs (transportation and travel organization costs), and part of the money can be refunded.

The organizer of the tour is the travel agency Explore Balkans doo. With this program are valid General conditions of travel organizer and Rulebook on conducting tours by Explore Balkans doo.

The organizer reserves the right to correct prices due to changes in the monetary market and to change the travel program (the order of certain contents in the program due to objective circumstances).

According to Article 79 of the Law on Tourism, protection is not provided for one-day tours in terms of travel guarantees.

Belgrade – Osijek – Tvrđa

Departure from Belgrade from the parking lot of the municipality of Novi Beograd at 6:00 a.m. Driving on the highway towards Croatia, towards Osijek, which is the economic and cultural center of Slavonia. With a break along the way and crossing the border crossing, we arrive in Osijek around 9:30 am.
Tour of the Tvrđa, which is the historical heart of Osijek and the best-preserved baroque fortress in Croatia. Built in the 18th century, it once served as a powerful military fortress against the Ottomans, while today the picturesque neighborhood is filled with museums, cafes, and galleries. Stone streets, old ramparts, and the monumental Trinity Square will take you back in time, while the Drava view completes this charming place's atmosphere.
A walk along the Drava and a coffee break with a view of the river.

Osijek - Kopački rit Nature Park - Belgrade

Drive for about 15 minutes to Kopački rit. Kopački rit Nature Park is one of the largest wetland reserves in Europe, it occupies about 23,000 hectares and is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Network. Over 290 species of birds inhabit the moor, including rare species such as white-tailed eagles and black storks. Due to its rich biodiversity, Kopački Rit is often called the "European Amazon". Apart from birds, deer, wild boars, otters, beavers and various types of reptiles live here. Within the park there is Tikveš Castle - a former royal hunting ground, where Tito and many European rulers stayed.
Arrival at the reception center of the nature park, where the expert guide will first introduce us to the history and ecosystem of this area. Then we set off on a leisurely walk along the well-maintained Bijeli lopoč (white water lily) path through the oak and willow forest. A special experience is provided by the wooden bridges above the marshy meadows, from which you can see floating colonies of white water lilies, as well as numerous marsh birds such as herons and wild geese. This easy walk lasts about an hour and a half and is great for all lovers of nature, photography, and silence, broken only by the sounds of the wild Kopački Rit.
Nearby is Lake Sakadaš, which is about 8 m deep and one of the few places in Kopački Rit where water remains present throughout the year, so it plays a key role in the ecosystem of this protected area. The lake is rich in fish (catfish, carp, pike), and is surrounded by reeds and swamp vegetation. Herons, cormorants, and other wading birds can often be seen.
After the hike, we go on an electric boat ride lasting about an hour through the backwaters of the Danube and Lake Sakadaš, which will allow us to fully experience Kopački Rit.

Nature Park Kopački rit - Batina - Belgrade

After the tour in Kopački Rit, a trip to one of the traditional households or local restaurants where we can try dishes of Slavonian-Baranja cuisine in a traditional ethno-ambiance. Slavonian cuisine is known for its rich, spicy dishes, usually based on meat and paprika. Traditional specialties are shepherd's pie, fish stew, roasted duck with grinders... Slavonia is known for its wines from the fertile vineyards around Kutjevo, Ilok, and Erdut. You will have the opportunity to buy local wines (Graševina, Frankovka, Traminac, white and pinot gris, Rhine Riesling).
After lunch, on the way back to the border, we will visit the Batina Monument. On the steep bank of the Danube, at the site of the key Battle of Batin from the Second World War, rises an impressive monument 26 meters high. The monumental obelisk is dedicated to the fighters of the Red Army and the partisan units that won victory over the German forces in 1944. In addition to its historical significance, the monument also offers a wonderful view of the Danube and three countries - Croatia, Serbia, and Hungary.
Continuation of the road to Belgrade, via Bezdan and Sombor.
Return to Belgrade by 9 PM.