Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch

Amidst the foothills of the Velebit mountain lies a hidden valley full of natural beauty, history, culture and endless adventures. The name of the valley “Velika Plana” means the “Great Plain”, referring to the open plain of the valley, which despite being cradled by Velebit Mountain on all four sides, offers expansive views.
The original settlers, Illyrian tribe Japods, homesteaded Velika Plana around 8,000 B.C., and some ruins still remain in the valley. Up until 1960s population was on a steady rise and the valley was home to about 700 inhabitants, all small ranchers and farmers who carved this paradise out of the wilderness by modest tools and hard labor. Currently only 20 inhabitants remain in the valley, mainly elderly people.

Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch is, we dare to say, the best destination in Croatian for horse riding holiday. Velika Plana valley is known as the natural haven characterized by its beautiful green landscapes and unique vegetation whose combination proved to be ideal for the creation of our ranch with the main activity being horse riding.

Natural resources and wildlife of Velebit mountain provide the opportunity for an unforgettable adventure holiday in Croatia. Although Croatia is best known as a summer holiday destination, more and more people are seeking escape from the crowds and traffic and searching for different active form of relaxation in nature.

Horseback riding skill has marked every civilization in the world in the past, making it a natural choice to become a main activity at our ranch. Our entire Linden team is made of true lovers of horses and all types of horse riding, which has directed us to the decision to offer our guests the possibility to experience an unforgettable connection with nature through mastering different riding skills. On our ranch there are no limits, only the freedom of choice.

A horseback riding vacation at Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch will, without a doubt, be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Our wranglers at the Ranch are well versed in natural horsemanship and love sharing their passion for horseback riding with guests of all different experience levels.

Thanks to our various offers of different horseback riding programs from our typical 2-hour trail ride to our all-day rides, you are bound to never tire from the stunning beauty of the Velebit Nature Park landscapes.

If trail riding is not the ideal type of Croatia holiday for you, don’t worry, we have something different planned for you. On our ranch we maintain various lectures and workshops for the gradual introduction to horseback riding from colt starting to horsemanship workshops, and for those eager for overcoming additional and different skills, we ha