| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 2-hour tour, Starigrad area | €89 – €119 | Quad, helmet, guide and fuel; tracks and viewpoints around Paklenica; the lower price is usually per person sharing |
| 2-hour tour, Zadar hinterland | €94 – €129 | Comparable routes closer to the city — riverside tracks, hilltop views, village stops |
| 4-hour extended tour | €149 – €195 | The big route: higher into Velebit foothills, longer rides, more remote viewpoints |
| Passenger (riding pillion) | often discounted | No licence needed to ride as a passenger behind a licensed driver |
Note: Some prices are per quad, others per person — it changes the maths for couples. I confirm exactly which before you book, on WhatsApp.
The licence question, settled
In Croatia, riding a quad on public roads — and these tours use public roads between the tracks — requires a category B driving licence, the ordinary car licence. Reputable operators check it at the start, and no, a photocopy on your phone usually isn't enough; bring the physical card. Passengers need nothing at all, so a couple with one licence can still ride together.
Anyone offering you a solo quad with no licence check is telling you something important about their insurance, and none of it is good. The operators I book are strict, insured and maintained — which is why they're on my list.
Where you actually ride
The Starigrad-Paklenica routes are the scenic pick: you climb from sea level into the Velebit foothills on a mix of asphalt and gravel, past abandoned stone villages and up to lookouts where the whole Zadar archipelago spreads out below. Two hours is a taster; four hours gets you properly into the hills, with stops at viewpoints most tourists never see.
The hinterland tours closer to Zadar trade some drama for convenience — shorter transfers, riverside tracks, easier logistics if you're staying in the city. You will get dusty either way; wear clothes that can take it.
Per quad or per person? Read the price properly
Quad pricing is the most confusing of any activity around Zadar: some operators quote per vehicle, others per person, and a €119 'per person sharing' deal costs a couple more than a €149 'per quad' one. When you message me, tell me how many of you want to drive and how many will ride as passengers — I'll come back with the true per-couple and per-group numbers so you can compare like with like.
One more pricing quirk worth knowing: the four-hour tours often work out cheaper per hour than the two-hour ones, and they're the routes that actually reach the high viewpoints. If your budget stretches, the longer ride is where the landscape earns the money. And if anyone in the group would rather ride pillion than drive, say so upfront — it changes which machine and which price bracket fits you best.
FAQ
Two-hour tours run €89 – €129 and four-hour tours €149 – €195, depending on operator and route. Some prices are per quad, some per person — I confirm the exact setup and total for your group on WhatsApp.
Yes — a category B car licence is legally required because tours use public roads. Bring the physical licence card. Passengers riding pillion need no licence, so one licensed driver per couple is enough.
The most scenic routes start at Starigrad-Paklenica and climb into the Velebit foothills with views over the archipelago; others run through the Zadar hinterland along rivers and hill tracks. Two and four-hour versions exist.
Yes — every tour starts with a practice loop and the guides set the pace to the slowest rider. The terrain is gravel tracks and quiet roads, not extreme off-road. Closed shoes are essential; helmets are provided.
Quad, fuel, helmet and guide are included in the prices I quote. Transfers from Zadar to Starigrad are sometimes extra on the Paklenica routes — another detail I check and confirm before you commit.