A Journey into the Heart of Croatia

Welcome to Zagreb! We will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at our leisure until our Welcome Group Dinner tonight.

Accommodation: Westin Hotel or similar

Breakfast at hotel. On a morning sightseeing tour, see the historic Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church, St. Catherine’s Church, the Cathedral, Parliament, and Government Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the winding city streets, browse through the shops, or take an optional excursion to see the countryside. 

Breakfast. Head to magnificent Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a walking tour around several of the lower lakes, enjoying the breathtaking scenery of terraced lakes, thickly wooded mountains, and lush vegetation. After your visit, continue to the port city of Split. Your evening is free to begin exploring on your own.

Accommodation: Hotel President or similar

Breakfast. Drive to Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, this historic town boasts Roman ruins, medieval churches, cosmopolitan cafes and quality museums. Set on a small peninsula, Zadar is an intriguing city. It’s not too crowded, it’s not overrun with tourists. You will then continue your scenic drive along the Dalmatian Coast the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Trogi, the center of artistic activities. Scholars from around the world gather to study and paint here. It is an excellent example of a medieval town built on and conforming with the layout of a Hellenistic and Roman city that has conserved its urban fabric to an exceptional degree and to the minimum of modern interventions, in which the trajectory of social and cultural development is clearly visible in every aspect of the townscape. On a leisurely paced walking tour, gaze in admiration at the town’s pretty Romanesque churches, complemented by Venetian Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Hear tales of Trogir’s many different rulers and see the imprint that they left around the town as we walk.  After our tour we return to Split.

Breakfast. Today begins with a walking tour of the historic inner city, built around Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Then on to see the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle and Cathedral of St. Duje. There’s some time free before we board the ferry and set sail to Hvar Island.

Accommodation: Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort or similar

Breakfast. The town of Hvar has a unique cultural and historical heritage, plus a centuries-old tradition in tourism. A morning walking tour features views of the Fortress, Franciscan Monastery and more. The afternoon is free. Kick back, relax, and enjoy this charming island, listed as one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world by Conde Nast Travel Magazine.

Breakfast. Leave the island life behind as you return to mainland and continue to the “Pearl of Adriatic,” Dubrovnik. A drive along the picturesque Croatian coast reveals the world-famous natural beauty of the area. After dinner, our time is free to discover the city by night.

Accommodation: Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik or similar

This morning, a walking tour shows you Old Dubrovnik. See the Rector's Palace, Bell Tower Clock, Orlando's Column, Sponza Palace, Dominican Monastery, and Franciscan Monastery with its Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the world. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the city your way, browse through the shops, stroll along the coast, or simply relax.

Travel to the Republic of Montenegro. Head to the mouth of the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the longest and deepest fjord in Southern Europe. Visit the city of Kotor and proceed with a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks, one of two islets off the coast of Perast. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest building on the islet, with a museum attached to it. Upon return to the coast, we will stop in Perast, an old charming coastal town. Visit the city of Kotor before returning to Dubrovnik. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner with our group at a popular local restaurant. 

We will be transferred to Dubrovnik’s airport for our departure flight.