Environment
Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch is located inside Velebit Mountain, specifically inside Velebit National Park. In 1978 park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The spirit of the Biosphere Reserve governs Retreat & Ranch operations and forms the backbone of all policies and sustainable development.
Linden Tree is committed to exist in Velebit Mountain in an entirely sensitive and environmentally sustainable manner. To that extent, we developed a concept that puts human in the center of attention in order to create a balanced and integrated living systems for all creatures. We call this concept CIDER, which is an acronym for Community, Integrity, Development, Evolution and Responsibility.

Community
Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch continually strives to ensure that the tourism brought to the area benefits local community. The Retreat employs local men and women and, through various education-based naturalist and recreational offerings, contributes to the enhancement and global understanding of the Velebit Mountain Biosphere Reserve.
You as a guest are not a mere spectator but rather an active participant. You absorb a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and you leave some of your own behind. So that Linden Tree can keep thriving as a cultural exchange crossroad, conservation wisdom bank and community building leader.
Integrity
Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch started with a vision for a sustainable wilderness resort. A dream gently hewn into reality from the untamed landscape and grounded in a sincere reverence for the land and its wildlife. Throughout this process we remained in integrity with our social mission “to create opportunities for collaboration across human wildscapes, extracting underlying common principles, independent of local cultural and geographical settings, that drive stakeholders toward self-sustainable models, regardless of their own (often different) direction”.


Integrity
Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch started with a vision for a sustainable wilderness resort. A dream gently hewn into reality from the untamed landscape and grounded in a sincere reverence for the land and its wildlife. Throughout this process we remained in integrity with our social mission “to create opportunities for collaboration across human wildscapes, extracting underlying common principles, independent of local cultural and geographical settings, that drive stakeholders toward self-sustainable models, regardless of their own (often different) direction”.

Development
Our business approach is centered on staying true to the underlying principles of sustainability, community engagement and high-quality products. Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch is by no means a cheap destination, it can’t be.
When it comes to rates and value for the money, there is one aspect we’d like you to bear in mind when considering a visit: an impressive part of what you pay at Linden Tree, goes into our commitment to remain a highly sustainable and responsible tourism destination.
Evolution
All our adventures and activities are interpretive and steep our guest deep into local culture and legends, educating them about sustainable ways local community lives by, sharing with them history and culture of the region, organizing visits to local farms, archeological sites in the valley, etc.
Preservation of traditional cultural values are made by creating sustainable venues for local artisans, craftspeople, and family-owned business, thereby contributing to the continuous evolution of skills and knowledge that are available both to a local and global community.
You as a guest also play a part in this evolutionary process by bringing your cultural identity with you and sharing it during your stay here. Each of our guests leaves a special impression on the ranch and changes it by its unique spirit, character and energy.


Evolution
All our adventures and activities are interpretive and steep our guest deep into local culture and legends, educating them about sustainable ways local community lives by, sharing with them history and culture of the region, organizing visits to local farms, archeological sites in the valley, etc.
Preservation of traditional cultural values are made by creating sustainable venues for local artisans, craftspeople, and family-owned business, thereby contributing to the continuous evolution of skills and knowledge that are available both to a local and global community.
You as a guest also play a part in this evolutionary process by bringing your cultural identity with you and sharing it during your stay here. Each of our guests leaves a special impression on the ranch and changes it by its unique spirit, character and energy.

Responsibility
Linden Tree Retreat & Ranch works hand-in-hand with several conservation organizations, as well as local, regional and federal government in developing sustainable, environmentally responsible programs that benefit all.
Composting and recycling govern food menu and beverage service, gray water gardens produce excellent fruits and high-efficiency wood furnaces create hot water and heat buildings. All land and lake adventures are non-intrusive and conservancy-driven. We aim to minimize the environmental impact of all our activities. Using designated trails we aim to lessen our footprint in the Park.
Our partners
We believe that everything in life is connected. So every change, even the smallest is adding to the change of the whole. As nodes in the web, these changes only have a strong impact when they are connected. Such are collaborations with our private and public partners and friends with whom our team works on various projects, including our nature conservation efforts, natural horsemanship clinics, education and social inclusion of disadvantaged and marginalized groups and many more.


Our partners
We believe that everything in life is connected. So every change, even the smallest is adding to the change of the whole. As nodes in the web, these changes only have a strong impact when they are connected. Such are collaborations with our private and public partners and friends with whom our team works on various projects, including our nature conservation efforts, natural horsemanship clinics, education and social inclusion of disadvantaged and marginalized groups and many more.

Drop by drop
Linden Tree was a singular vision born into a life by the work of many. If you feel inspired by that vision, we invite you to connect with us to support our community and nature conservation efforts. You can help our projects in many ways. Contact us and we will tell how can you help to make a difference. And remember, there is no contribution that is insignificant. Do you know how Pacific ocean was made? Drop by drop!
Luxury nature resort at the heart of the wilderness.
Experience authentic guest ranch and restorative retreat hidden inside UNESCO Velebit Mountain Biosphere Reserve, Velika Plana, Croatia. Home of a unique horsemanship, bespoke attention to comfort, service, sustenance, and transformative experience.
“Portal to what matters!” – D. Derifaj