TUNNEL ABSEILING PLUS tour the underground

Adventure starts below ground. This 150-minute San Giovanni fortress tour combines a 550-meter World War II-era underground complex with beginner-friendly abseiling, and I especially like the gradual training and small groups of no more than eight. I also like the final wine tasting and audio-visual presentation, which give the outing more substance than a simple rope descent. The main consideration is comfort: the fortress stays at 14 to 16°C, and the darker, enclosed spaces are not suitable for people with claustrophobia or epilepsy.

You do not need previous climbing experience, and licensed instructors guide every descent. The first abseils let you build confidence before the more uneven cascading-rock section, though you need proper shoes with non-slip soles and a willingness to accept a little chill, darkness, and adrenaline.

Key points at a glance

• A 550-meter underground fortress: San Giovanni combines unfinished concrete construction with natural rock formations.
• Three abseiling challenges on Abseil Plus: You begin with easier descents before trying the more demanding cascading rock.
• Beginner-friendly instruction: Guides demonstrate the technique, provide equipment, and remain with you throughout.
• A very small group: With a maximum of eight participants, you should receive close attention rather than wait in a crowd.
• Wine and a time-travel finale: A short audio-visual presentation and a glass of wine finish the visit on a relaxed note.
• Non-slip shoes are essential: Sturdy hiking shoes or sports shoes with good grip are required.

What the $88 price buys you

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two and a half hours in Zagreb County. But you are paying for several parts at once: entry to the San Giovanni underground fortress, a guided historical visit, certified abseiling equipment, professional instruction, insurance, special effects, transport back to the starting point, and wine tasting.

That package gives the experience a fair value for anyone who wants an active outing rather than a standard museum visit. A normal fortress tour would show you the site. This one asks you to move through it, descend into it, and experience its scale from the rope.

The small group matters, too. Eight people is a manageable number for a hands-on activity. You can hear instructions clearly, ask for help, and decide how far you want to go without feeling like part of a large queue.

I would still compare the cost with your holiday plans. If you only want to see an underground fort, a simpler tour may be enough. If you want a guided activity with equipment, instruction, and several physical challenges, $88 is easier to justify.

Booking is flexible, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Private departures and other times can be arranged through the provider, including by WhatsApp at +38598316322.

Meeting the unfinished San Giovanni fortress

The setting is the heart of the experience. San Giovanni is a 550-meter World War II fortress that was never completed. That unfinished state gives it an unusual character, since planned concrete rooms meet exposed natural rock rather than forming a polished military museum.

The site was forgotten and hidden for years before being prepared for visitors. You can sense that contrast in the way the tour moves from an outdoor rock descent into tall underground rooms built in concrete.

I like that the fortress is not treated as a backdrop for an adventure activity only. The guides explain the site as you go, so the abseiling has a historical setting and a clear sense of place.

The fort was built on two levels. That layout shapes the route and creates a natural progression. You first learn the basics, then move farther into the complex, with an additional descent available on the Abseil Plus version.

Because this is an underground facility rather than an open-air climbing wall, conditions are part of the attraction. Expect cool air, dim spaces, rock underfoot, and sections where your head torch becomes your main source of light.

Learning the rope technique before the first descent

The tour begins with an introduction to abseiling and a chance to become familiar with the equipment. You receive certified gear that is regularly checked, and the guides explain how to use it before asking you to leave the ground.

That order is important. You are not simply clipped into a rope and sent down a wall. The program includes a horizontal practice exercise and a demonstration of the descent, giving you time to understand the movement and the safety system.

The first easier option is a walking descent down a vertical rock face. This lets you feel how your feet, hands, and rope work together without immediately demanding a jump.

You can then repeat the descent in a slightly harder version that includes a vertical jump. Both options are intended for beginners, and an instructor provides backup and guidance.

This gradual structure is one of the strongest reasons to choose the tour if you are curious about abseiling but unsure of yourself. You can learn at a sensible pace and choose the descent that matches your comfort level on the day.

The activity is still physical. You need to step backward onto rock, control your body, and listen carefully to instructions. If heights make you tense, the option to select your level is useful, but it does not remove the basic challenge.

Choosing between Abseil and Abseil Plus

The standard Abseil tour includes the underground fortress visit and one or two descents, with variations in difficulty. The easier version involves walking down the vertical rock, while the harder version adds the jump.

Abseil Plus includes those first challenges and adds a third descent on a cascading rock inside the fortress. This rock is more uneven and slippery, so the descent requires greater care and better foot placement.

That extra section is the main reason to choose Abseil Plus. You get to use the first descents as practice, then try a different surface once you have a better feel for the rope and harness.

The cascading rock is not presented as a beginner free-for-all. Instructors remain involved, and the earlier descents help you build a basic sense of security. Still, you should expect a more demanding experience than the regular option.

Abseil Plus also offers the chance to descend simultaneously in pairs. That can add a fun shared element, but it is not a reason to ignore your own comfort. Ask the guide which version makes sense for you.

You can decide on the spot which descent you want to attempt. That flexibility is valuable, since your confidence may change once you see the rock and equipment in person.

Walking through two levels of underground space

After the equipment is on and the first descent is complete, you enter the high concrete rooms of the fortress. The route includes special effects that help bring the site’s past into focus without turning the visit into a conventional lecture.

The combination of architecture and natural rock is the memorable part. The fortress was designed by people, but the unfinished sections allow the rock to remain visible and active in the experience.

The route passes through a facility built on two levels. On Abseil Plus, the second level provides the setting for the additional cascading-rock descent.

The underground setting also changes the pace. You are not rushing from one outdoor attraction to another. You walk, listen, watch the effects, and wait for each person to complete the activity.

That slower rhythm suits the site. It gives you time to notice the rooms and understand how the fort was arranged. It also means the experience may feel less like nonstop action than the word adventure suggests.

If you prefer constant movement, the walking and historical portions may seem quiet between descents. I see that as a benefit, since the fortress would lose much of its character if the rope work swallowed the entire visit.

Darkness, audio-visual effects, and the final challenge

Near the end, an audio-visual presentation provides a time-travel effect that links the physical rooms with the fortress’s past. It is a simple but effective way to finish the guided portion before the final optional challenge.

For the bravest participants, the guide can turn off the head torches and ask you to find the way out in complete darkness. This is not an additional abseil, but it may be the most memorable moment for anyone who enjoys controlled discomfort.

You should not feel pressured to take that option. The dark passage is a special challenge, not a requirement for completing the tour.

It is also the point where the suitability warnings matter most. People with claustrophobia may find the underground rooms and loss of light unpleasant rather than exciting. The tour is not recommended for anyone suffering from epileptic seizures.

After leaving the fort, a comfortable air-conditioned van returns you to the starting point. The outing ends with a glass of wine and time to chat, a pleasant change from the concentration required during the rope work.

Guides, safety, and the beginner experience

The guides are central to the quality of this activity. Sara and Marko have been praised for being friendly, patient, and clear in their explanations, including with first-time participants.

That matters more here than polished storytelling. You need instructions that are easy to follow when you are wearing equipment and looking down a rock face. You also need a guide who respects the difference between nervousness and genuine inability.

The instructors are licensed, and the provided abseiling equipment is certified to current standards and regularly checked. Insurance is included, but the activity and entry to the underground facility remain at your own risk.

You should listen closely during the equipment briefing and tell the guide honestly how comfortable you feel. The program allows you to choose a descent based on your comfort level, so there is no good reason to pretend you are ready for the hardest option.

The small group, limited to eight people, supports this teaching style. It should allow the guide to watch each descent and provide direct help. It also means the timing depends partly on the pace of the group, so do not expect every minute to be spent on your own rope.

The experience has earned a 4.8 rating from 12 recorded ratings, with repeated praise for friendly instruction, safety, and the balance between adventure and site interpretation. That pattern makes sense, since the tour is designed to teach rather than simply test you.

What to wear for a cool, slippery fortress

Bring warm layers. Underground temperatures stay around 14 to 16°C, which can feel cold once you stop moving or wait for another participant to descend.

Your footwear is more important than your clothing. Shoes with non-slip soles are mandatory, and the best choices are hiking shoes or sturdy sports shoes with reliable grip.

Do not arrive in smooth casual trainers, sandals, or loose footwear. The agency can adjust or refuse participation if your shoes are inadequate.

Wear practical sports clothing that lets you bend, step backward, and work with a harness. The supplied information specifically calls for hiking shoes or sports shoes, but it does not list a special clothing requirement beyond warm layers.

You should also remember that rock can be uneven and slippery, especially on the cascading section. Good footwear will not make the surface easy, but it will give you a better base.

The agency may change or adjust the tour during bad weather. It can also refuse participation if you arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That is sensible for a rope activity and an underground route.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend Abseil Plus to active adults, older children who meet the age requirement, couples, and small groups of friends who want a shared challenge with a strong sense of place.

Children under 10 are not permitted. The tour is also unsuitable for people with claustrophobia or epilepsy, and the enclosed environment may be uncomfortable for anyone who dislikes darkness or cool, confined rooms.

You do not need a climbing background. The instructors teach the basics, and the first descents let you decide how much challenge feels right.

The tour is a good fit if you want more than a sightseeing walk but do not want a full-day adventure program. Its 150-minute length leaves room for other plans in Zagreb County.

It may not suit you if you want a relaxed historical visit with no physical effort. The fort tour includes walking, equipment, rock descents, and a possible darkness challenge. Even the easier route asks you to participate.

The end-of-tour wine tasting makes this a nice choice for adults looking for an active afternoon followed by something social. Do not treat the wine as part of the activity before the abseiling, since arriving under the influence can lead to refusal.

My practical verdict on Abseil Plus

I like the way this experience joins a little-known underground fortress with an activity that is accessible to beginners. You get instruction, a choice of difficulty, a guided site visit, special effects, and a calm finish with wine.

The strongest feature is the progression. You start on a horizontal surface, watch a demonstration, try an easier descent, and only then consider the vertical jump or cascading rock. Sara, Marko, and the other licensed guides appear to make patience and clear teaching a priority.

The main drawbacks are straightforward. The cave-like setting will not suit everyone, the temperature is cool, the rock can be slippery, and the experience requires proper shoes. The standard Abseil version may be enough if you want to sample the activity, while Abseil Plus makes better sense if you want the full physical challenge.

At $88, book it if you value a small group, professional equipment, and an unusual combination of history and abseiling. Skip it if you mainly want a quiet fort visit, dislike enclosed spaces, or do not want to handle uneven rock.

FAQ

How long does the Tunnel Abseiling Plus tour last?

The tour lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours.

Do I need previous abseiling experience?

No. Previous experience is not required. The tour begins with instruction, an equipment introduction, a horizontal practice exercise, and a demonstration.

How cold is the underground fortress?

The underground facilities stay at about 14 to 16°C. Bring warmer clothing.

What footwear is required?

Shoes with non-slip soles are mandatory. Hiking shoes or sturdy sports shoes are recommended.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is a small-group experience limited to eight participants.

Is the tour suitable for children and people with claustrophobia?

Children under 10 are not permitted. The tour is not suitable for people with claustrophobia or epilepsy.