CROATIA HIGHLIGHTS
- A welcome dinner hosted by a local family in Dubrovnik hinterland
- Enjoy a guided tour of The Old City of Dubrovnik including entry to the Franciscan Monastery & Rector’s Palace
- A day trip to Montenegro
- A visit to Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Two night stay in Split
- Ferry trip to Hvar Island with private island touring
- Visit a winery on the island Hvar, including tastings
- Overnight stay in Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Visit the hilltop top of Kastav
- Visit the incredibly captivating Postojna caves
- Three night stay in stunning Dubrovnik and Opatija
- A relaxed two night stay in Bled, Julian Alps of Slovenia
- A farewell dinner in a local brewery restaurant, Zagreb
- The best of small group touring, maximum 18 travellers
DAY 1
Dubrovnik Arrival
Welcome to Croatia. You visit starts with a relaxed three night stay in beautiful Dubrovnik. Meet with your tour director in the early evening for a welcome drink and a tour briefing. The evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Welcome drink
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Group meeting and welcome drink with your tour director
DAY 2
Dubrovnik
This morning, we set out for a sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik. The Old City of Dubrovnik is UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed. On our morning tour we visit the Franciscan Monastery, with Europe’s third oldest pharmacy, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to make your own discoveries.
This evening, we are hosted by a local family, in the hills of Dubrovnik for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Half day guided city tour of the Old City of Dubrovnik
- Entrance fees to the Franciscan monastery & Rectors Palace
- Welcome dinner
DAY 3
From Dubrovnik, Croatia to Kotor, Montenegro
Today we cross the border to visit neighbouring Montenegro. It’s a full day’s excursion to Montenegro - a small country with magnificent mountains rising above the Adriatic Sea. Enjoy exploring Montenegro's contrasting natural attractions, and learning of its interesting history, culture and tradition. After entering Montenegro, we first drive to Perast, from where we take a boat trip to the “Our Lady of the Rock” islet. According to legend, local seamen kept an ancient oath after they found the icon of Madonna and child on a rock in the sea in the 1400’s, and on the return from each journey, laid a rock in the bay, and over time forming the islet.
Afterwards, a visit to the fortified city of Kotor, UNESCO’s World heritage listed and one of Montenegro’s most popular attractions. The Venetian fortress town dates back to 168 BC and is a fascinating labyrinth of alleyways, churches, palaces, souvenir shops and eateries. The old nucleus of Kotor today is considered to be the best preserved medieval urban entity in the Mediterranean.
Visit Budva, located on a small peninsula surrounded by beaches and the Adriatic Sea, with a group lunch and some free time. We will be back to Dubrovnik in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A full day’s excursion to Montenegro
- Visit Perast, to go to the “Our Lady of the Rock” islet
- Visit the fortified city of Kotor, UNESCO’s World heritage listed
- Visit Budva, with lunch and free time included
DAY 4
Dubrovnik – Mostar – Split
Today, on our way to Split, we cross the Croatian border to Bosnia & Herzegovina, another country of the former Yugoslavia. We make a visit to Mostar - where “the east meets west” - divided by the Neretva River, and also by religion and culture from one bank to the other and we visit a local mosque and a traditional Turkish house. There’s time at leisure to enjoy lunch before we continue onto Split. After the day out, we have a relaxed group dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Cross the Croatian border to Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Visit Mostar with entry to the Mosque & Turkish house
- Arrive to Split
- Dinner at the group hotel, Split.
DAY 5
Split – Hvar Island
No visit to Split is complete without a visit to one of the nearby islands. With our private tour bus will take the public ferry across to the town of Sari Gard on the island of Hvar. We will be on the ferry early today to make the most of our visit to beautiful nearby Hvar Island.
From Stari Grad, we drive through the fields of Hvar towards the main town – Hvar. Expect stunning views driving along the panoramic road above the city of Hvar. Enjoy a walking tour through the historical old town, where you will see the piazza, the Arsenal, the first public theatre in Europe. Plus, take some time at leisure for lunch. For hiking fans there’s the chance to walk up to the town fort overlooking the harbour, and take in the lovely scenic views of the Pakleni islands. Before heading back to Split, enjoy wine tasting at one of the island’s wineries, including the most renowned wine, the red plavac mali.
Dinner tonight is at your leisure to make your own arrangements in stunning Split.
Meals: Breakfast, Wine Tasting
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Return public ferry transfer Split to Hvar Island
- Private touring on the island of Hvar.
- A guided walking tour through the historical old town of Hvar Island
- Some leisure time for lunch, Hvar Island
- Local wine tasting at one of the island’s wineries
DAY 6
Split – Plitvice Lakes National Park
This morning, we take in the sights of Split, with a guided tour including the Diocletian’s Palace on the UNESCO’s List of World Cultural Heritage, with the Peristyle, the Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral.
After, we depart for Trogir, a picturesque medieval town where we visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence and some free time. From Trogir we continue to Plitvice Lakes. It’s been a full day of touring and the evening concludes with a relaxed, traditional dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A morning guided tour of Split
- Entry to the Diocletian palace & cathedral, Split
- Visit Trogir, with entry to Trogir cathedral
- Travel to Plitvice Lakes
- Traditional dinner at the group hotel
DAY 7
Plitvice Lakes National Park – Opatija
We aim to make the most our day, setting out first thing after an early breakfast to tour Plitvice Lakes National Park, and to avoid some of the crowds that travel to the National Park for day trips from other destinations. Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites and is a natural phenomenon. There are sixteen lakes – true jewels, each at a different levels and joined by a series of cascading waterfalls.
Early afternoon we depart the National Park for Opatija, with a stop along the way in Rastoke Village, a small village in a picturesque setting. Tonight, indulge in a relaxed gourmet dinner in our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Plitvice Lakes National Park visit
- Travel from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Opatija
- A stop at Rastoke Village
- A gourmet dinner at the group hotel, Opatija
DAY 8
Opatija and Kastav
Opatija is a coastal town on Croatia’s Adriatic Sea. Well known as a fashionable town, with a rich history and highly scenic. A relaxed day ahead starting with a morning walking tour of Opatija including a stroll along the old sea promenade, see the girl with the seagull statue and the oldest hotel on the Adriatic coast (built in 1884).
In the afternoon we drive up to Kastav and take a walking tour of this medieval hilltop town from where we will have a great panoramic view to Opatija and the whole Kvarner bay. Walk along the tiny streets, where some artists have their galleries, see the historical main square, city gate, town loggia and the ruins of the St. Mary church, which was never finished. During the visit we will taste authentic local delicacies in one of the Inns in Kastav. We return to Opatija and the rest of the day is at your leisure to soak up the atmosphere of this good-looking town.
Meals: Breakfast, Local Tastings
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A morning guided walking tour of Opatija
- A return drive from Opatija to Kastav
- A guided walking tour of the medieval hilltop town, Kastav
- Tastings of local delicacies at one of the Inns in Kastav
- Free time in Opatija later in the afternoon and evening
DAY 9
Visit Istria
From Opatija we are well located to take an excursion to the Istrian peninsula. It’s a full day out and we visit Rovinj, perhaps the most beautiful city in Istria with its unique location on a small peninsula with the St. Euphemia church dominating the location. Here you will hear the legend of St. Euphemia, a young Christian girl from Constantinople, who refused to give up Christianity, and was thrown to the lions. After Rovinj we continue to a local rural tavern where an Istrian lunch enjoyed with a glass of local wine and delicious olive oil will be served. Before returning to Opatija, we will make a stop in Pula, to visit their Colosseum. The amphitheatre was built in the 1st century and it is the best preserved ancient monument in Croatia and is among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world. By early evening we return to Opatija.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Return transfer from Opatija to the Istrian Peninsula with a full day’s excursion
- Visit Rovinj, perhaps the most beautiful city in Istria
- Lunch at a local rural tavern for an Istrian lunch with local wine
- A stop in Pula, to visit the Colosseum
DAY 10
Opatija - Postojna (Caves) – Bled
From Opatija we make our way to the incredibly captivating Postojna caves for a guided tour.
Marvel at this underworld! Postojna cave was created millions of years ago and is an incredible kingdom of stalactites and stalagmites. Take a ride on the underground train and enjoy a 3.7km long journey on the world's only double-track cave railway. Postojna is among the biggest and most visited caves in the world. Only 8°C inside the cave all year round – bring a sweater!
There will be time for some lunch then onwards to Bled to arrive mid afternoon and enjoy some hours at leisure before dinner tonight at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer from Opatija to Bled via Postojna
- Postojna caves entry and guided tour
- Free time for lunch, Postojna caves
- Later afternoon free time in Bled
- Dinner at a local restaurant
DAY 11
Bled
Bled is a beautiful town in the foothills of the Julian Alps of Slovenia. Enjoy a relaxing tour of glacier Lake Bled, one of the most popular destinations in Slovenia for its picturesque settings. Ride on board a traditional boat towards the only island in Slovenia with a visit of the church and some time at leisure. Afterwards we visit the Bled castle and admire this wonderfully historic city, the lake and surrounding mountains – on a clear day you can see Slovenia’s highest mountain, Mount Triglav. Our final stop will be Lake Bohinj, one of the best kept secrets in the area, which will give you abundance of photo opportunities, as will the entire day. The later afternoon and evening are at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A relaxing tour of glacier Lake Bled including a traditional boat ride
- Visit to Bled castle
- Visit Lake Bohlin
- Later afternoon and evening free time in Bled
DAY 12
Bled - Ljubljana – Zagreb
From Bled we drive to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city before travelling back into Croatia to arrive to Zagreb in the evening. In Ljubljana, there’s a walking tour of the baroque old town. We visit the main attractions like the Triple Bridge and river, the university building, Old Town Road, Prešerne Square and the dragons at the dragon bridge. After the visit, drive further to Zagreb to arrive in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer from Bled to Zabgreb, Croatia via Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city
- A guided walking tour of the baroque old town of Ljubljana
DAY 13
Zagreb
After breakfast, enjoy a morning walking tour of Zagreb. From the hotel we take a walk to the fortified, medieval Upper Town and visit St. Mark’s church, with its multicolor tiled roof, Parliament, the government palace, and many fine old buildings including a visit of the cathedral of Zagreb. Another highlight is the Lotrščak tower, with its cannon firing every day at noon, and a very mystical place - Zagreb’s Stone Gate, the most significant shrine in Zagreb. During the walking tour, the cathedral of Zagreb will also be visited. The afternoon is free to wander around the city until we meet again for our farewell dinner at a local brewery restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A morning walking tour of Zagreb.
- Afternoon free in Zagreb
- A farewell dinner at a local brewery restaurant.
DAY 14
Depart Zagreb
After breakfast, your Scenic Croatia & More tour comes to an end.
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance, we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
DISCLAIMER
Any content in this publication maybe subject to change or correction, and without notice.
We have taken great care to prepare and publish the trip information and in good faith we believe it to be accurate at the time we published the information. However, as is the nature of travel, plans may need to change from time to time and often unexpectedly.
If trip details need to change, in most cases your final documentation issued prior to your departure will be updated. However, it’s also possible that an itinerary change may be necessary while on the trip. It could be related to unexpected weather or road conditions or another example could be an announcement of a closure of a facility we planned to use. In these cases, we will make all best endeavours to provide an alternative, of equivalent or similar standard.
Information in this publication is in part, and for full trip details please refer to our website.
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