Zeljava Airbase: History and Adventure Tour/Plitvice

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Tiếng Anh

Tiếng Croatia

2 giờ

Vé di động

Explore the abandoned military complex of Zeljava Airbase with a local guide. Discover its strategic role during the Cold War and its connection to the fall of Yugoslavia. Wander through massive underground hangars as your guide shares personal stories and employee anecdotes — revealing how rising tensions and the outbreak of war divided colleagues of different nationalities. This tour offers a unique blend of history and adventure.

The tour takes place in all weather conditions because, in the tunnels, we are not affected by rain or high temperatures.

Thông tin khác

Service animals allowed

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Not recommended for travelers with fear of dark and narrow spaces

Chính sách hủy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Bao gồm

flashlight

Private transportation

Cần Quan Tâm

Zeljava Air Base

The tour will start in front of an abandoned airplane Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota. This wonderful piece of aviation history welcomes curious visitors open-winged. We will use this rare opportunity to climb ON the airplane and explore inside. We'll then proceed to the runways. As we drive cautiously on the endless runways, we'll try to imitate and imagine what it felt like for pilots to take off. Driving across runways, we begin to catch views of a plane-shaped hole in the hill. Reaching the entrance of the tunnels, we are in front of the highlight of the tour. While checking the flashlights, we will get to know the basic information about the object and the safety rules that we need to follow. During our 3-kilometer walk through dark tunnels, we will talk about construction, operational days and destruction of the base. We will cover personal stories and experiences of employees, relationships, and conflicts. The tour will end back at the airplane.

2 hours • Không Có Vé

Tùy chọn

10am

8am

4pm

12:30pm

Đánh giá

4.99

75 đánh giá

Tổng số đánh giá và xếp hạng từ Viator & TripAdvisor

Unmissable experience in Croatia
bearwhisperer,
26 thg 11, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
Antonio was an incredible guide and this is probably the best tour I’ve been on. He shared and incredible wealth of knowledge on the base and took us on an extensive tour of the entire facility. I learned a lot and would say you can’t miss this experience if you’re in the Balkans.
Great attraction and potential not recognized by the government
Alen K,
1 thg 10, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Viator
5.00
The Željava airbase is an incredibly fascinating site, and it's a real pity the Croatian government isn't utilizing it as a tourist attraction. It's a massive complex, likely one of the most expensive military installations of its time. Although it was completely destroyed during the Yugoslav wars, all that remains are ruins and the stories of the people who worked there. Tours are primarily run by private enthusiasts who either know former employees or have gathered their stories. These personal stories were definitely the most interesting part of the tour, even though looking at the ruins themselves started to feel a bit repetitive towards the end.
Tour of airbase with company
Bruno M,
30 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Viator
5.00
If you are going definitely take a tour guide. Makes it much more interesting and easier to go through everything and hear interesting facts.
Don't sleep on the BEST tour in Croatia! Antonio is AMAZING and does Željava right!
Tmenace01,
19 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
This was the BEST tour we've done in Croatia, and it was definitely one of the more unique tours we've ever done. Yes you can explore the base/tunnels on your own, but Antonio is AMAZING and really humanizes the tour for you with information, stories, and personal accounts of time spent at the base. If you didnt have him, you really wouldn't know what you're looking at or the significance of it, and you'd probably get lost. Our tour was about two hours which was the perfect length, and we had time leftover to explore/play around after. If you do an 8am tour like we did, you basically have the place to yourself and the visibility in the tunnels in great. At 10am, there are people starting to visit and drive around at the entrances/runways. By 2pm, there are a lot of people and there's a lot of fog in the tunnels so the base takes on a creepy vibe. There aren't any toilets on the tour and sadly it's not suitable for the mobility impaired (you could go in the main tunnels, just not into some of the rooms) as you have to climb over broken rock, metal, and debris to get in. Antonio will provide you with good flashlights, but if you want to bring your own, bring the brightest one you can find! Wear warm clothes (it's usually 13°C/55°F) and comfy shoes that you don't mind getting dirty because you absolutely will get dirty!! There's a café at the entrance and two port-o-potties that probably haven't been emptied in 3 months. There's also a small shop that's cash only and sells a few simple Željava souvenirs like tshirts, magnets, hats, etc. Note: There's holes and sharp objects hanging low in the tunnels. Watch your step and mind your head! Yes you can drive on the runways to your heart's content, but DON'T go off the pavement/road as you're literally in a mine field. Also, the Bosnian police patrol the area, so be prepared to identify yourself if the station is staffed on the day you visit. One tiny corner of the runway and a small section of tunnel is actually in Bosnia & Herzegovina! If you're afraid of bats, keep in mind you're in dark tunnels and there are bats everywhere. They'll fly right by your head and whiff you with air as they flap really close to your face. Thank you SO much Antonio! The way you brought Željava to life was incredible and we appreciated every minute we spent with you!!
Great dive into history
jos bH2955GZ,
17 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
Very interesting site with a turbulent history. Our guide was very accomodating with providing information and details knowledge.
Highly recommended air base tour
AdrianGarcia95,
10 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
A totally recommended experience. Our initial idea was exploring the base on our own, but we saw the tour and it was a success to get it. Antonio is a really good local guide who knows by memory the base and its history. He didn’t just show us what everyone sees there but a lot of hidden rooms like intelligence laboratories, pilots health-check rooms or powering facilities. He also told us real stories from ex-militaries that were there, and he was very friendly with our questions. If you like history, military aviation or just enjoying a nice tour you can not miss it.
CANNOT MISS IF YOU PASS BY
135leonardon,
8 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
Can't really explain how interesting and cool experience thisa is Antonio is the best of the guides so immersive, interesting and fascinating... really can't miss if you pass by Also is really 20 min from Plitvice Lakes and conveniently located amongst the cities of Zadar, and Rijeka. Super super super suggested!!!!!!
Amazing tour
L4513VHmichaelh,
2 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an amazing guide tour by Antonio. We went deep into the bunker system and Antonio share a bunch of interesting facts and stories about the place and history behind it. Highly recommended!
Very interesting and very good guide!
lisamatasic,
23 thg 8, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
After my parents came here last year, my boyfriend and I wanted to see for ourselves. We were shown around by Antonio, he speaks fluent English and of course Croatian. Antonio knows a lot about the underground air base and shows you a lot of places where you might normally go but of which you have no idea what you have in front of you. Afterwards, you can open your car on the old “runway” and take a look at an old plane that was once given as a gift to Tito by the Americans.
Must do, close to Plitvice lakes
O2423OQirenes,
7 thg 8, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00
Unique experience with guide Antonio, as he unfolds both regional and personal history in an awesome tour. Bring your warm sweater, meet at the Dakota, take a flashlight, and be amazed by the unexpected underground secrets of the airbase-as- was in the nineties. Highly recommended! Thanks, Antonio!