Vitlenica – Veliki Kuk
Tour description:
What sets Čvrsnica apart in many ways from all the surrounding mountains and beyond is confirmed by Veliki Kuk.
From this place, you can watch birds flying below you! And that’s an experience that can’t be had anywhere else.
Veliki Kuk is the most rugged place on the entire Čvrsnica. Its cliffs, which drop vertically an incredible 1300 meters, make up the largest vertical drop on the entire Balkan Peninsula. This is yet another aspect that makes Blidinje Nature Park a destination for the most beautiful vacations and unforgettable adventures. Nowhere else will you be able to stand at the edges of cliffs that seem endless, nowhere else will you be able to spread your arms and feel like you’re flying.
The starting point for the ascent to Veliki Kuk is at the same place where you start for Hajdučka Vrata, and for the most part, the same trail is followed, namely about three hours to the point where the intersection Hajdučka Vrata <-> Veliki Vilinac / Vilinac Hut is located (for a detailed description of the trail to the intersection, see the text for the tour Vitlenica – Hajdučka Vrata). For Veliki Kuk, you need to turn right towards the Vilinac Hut, and right next to it, you can first spot the cliffs of Veliki Kuk, which will immediately leave you speechless. From the intersection to the actual cliffs, it takes about another hour and a half, which makes the entire hiking tour a little more difficult than the one to Hajdučka Vrata. Passing by the Vilinac Hut, it should be kept in mind that you are passing by a hut located at the highest altitude in the entire Dinaric Alps. It is possible to spend the night in the hut (with prior notice) and have a drink or something to eat (when the hut is open). Below the hut, there is a spring and a cistern with drinking water that never dries up, so for this tour, we can say that there is water on the trail. With a gentle descent to Veliki Kuk, the slopes of Velika Čvrsnica are as if in the palm of your hand, so in the distance, you can recognize Pločno, Ivina Kosa, Kapci, Veliki Jelinak, and the most distant peak of all – Peštibrdo. Each of them is a peak over 2000 meters high. After about 10 minutes, you reach a sign that indicates the trail to Veliki Kuk. The trail is well marked and averaged, leading you to the cliffs in an additional half an hour of walking.
Observing the Diva Grabovica canyon from this spot is the best option because the canyon originates right below Veliki Kuk. Being in the middle of a canyon 1800 meters deep and standing by the cliffs that drop vertically 1300 meters offers much more than words and pictures can convey. Wherever your gaze stops, you will get a view to remember.
Far less known and popular than other destinations on this famous mountain, Veliki Kuk definitely deserves a visit and admiration and has tremendous potential to be as popular as Hajdučka Vrata. When you come to this place, you will understand why we say this, and because of the rugged terrain, chamois can be spotted and observed here.
Additional Information:
– A dirt road 3.5 km long leads to the starting point, which can be rough in places, especially after heavy rains.
– The length of the trail is about 17 km (round trip), with an altitude difference of about 800 meters. The trail is considered a difficult hiking tour. It is well marked and averaged. Markings for night hiking are also set up through the forest.
- Starting point: Vitlenica, 1470 meters above sea level
- Coordinates for the starting point: 43.673061, 17.622733
- Walking time: 9 hours
- Length of the trail: 17 km
- Altitude difference: 800 m
- Drinking water: available
- Difficulty of ascent: difficult
Magical landscapes of Blidinje Nature Park
Association “Visit Blidinje”
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