Guided Hiking and ‘Life on Mars’ Via Ferrata from Ručica beach near Novalja

Take a hike and discover the via ferrata of the ‘Life on Mars’ trail near Novalja for an unforgettable sporting adventure on the island of Pag!

Would you like to follow one of the most beautiful hiking trail in Croatia? Of course, the ‘Life on Mars’ trail is a must! However, for an even more fun activity, you shouldn't miss the via ferrata accessible via this hike starting from Ručica beach.

The ‘Life on Mars’ trail is located in Novalja, in the locality of Metajna, and takes you on a tour of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Pag. In 2020, Croatia's first Via Ferrata above the sea was added to the trail. This Via Ferrata near Novalja is designed for active climbers and adds diversity to the famous trail. The Via Ferrata ‘Life on Mars’ crosses the sea, linking the Bay of Slana and Cape Sušac. In terms of difficulty, the Via Ferrata has a demanding route designed for sporty climbers.

Your hike and via ferrata activity near Novalja begins at Ručica beach. This is one of the most famous beaches on the island of Pag. Your guide will be waiting for you there with all the necessary equipment to give you a brief introduction to the itinerary of the excursion. From here, you'll follow your guide on a 2 km trail that will take you to the starting point of the Metajna Via Ferrata in around 1 hour's walk. On the way, you'll take a break at Beriknica beach, famous for its 3 surprising rocks. Once you've reached the bay of Slana, you'll discover Croatia's first maritime via ferrata!

Generally speaking, it takes around 30 minutes per person to cover the 100 m of the ‘Life on Mars’ via ferrata. However, this time depends on your level. The height of the via ferrata is between 1 and 2 metres above the Adriatic Sea.

After the Novalja via ferrata, you continue the ‘Life on Mars’ hike for around 2 hours. First, you'll make your way to a viewpoint from which you can enjoy the view over the lunar landscape of the island of Pag. Then, back on the trail, you'll pass by the impressive rock-climbing site of Stogaj. All in all, you'll have covered around 9km of hike during around 4 hours of varied outdoor activity on the island of Pag!

The combination of hiking and via ferrata crossing makes this excursion near Novalja an unforgettable experience for all adventure and nature lovers! Don't hesitate to book this activity for your next trip to Croatia!