CROATIA

DUBROVNIK to ZAGREB

10 days/9 nights

Enjoy as a self-drive or with private car and English speaking driver-guide.

DAY 1 ARRIVAL DUBROVNIK 

As you arrive to Dubrovnik airport, meet your driver and head for a quick and comfortable transfer to your hotel in Dubrovnik, check in at the hotel and have some leisure time to discover the town on your own. During your exploration, head for a cable car ride to Mt Srđ and witness the most spectacular views of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, the lush green beauty of the forest covered island of Lokrum and the mesmerizing shimmer of the Sun on crystal clear Adriatic. Overnight in Dubrovnik. 

DAY 2 DUBROVNIK 

Share a private walking tour with your loved one and immerse yourself in the rich history that Dubrovnik holds. Regardless of whether you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time or the hundredth, the sense of awe never fails to descend when you set eyes on the beauty of the old town. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming jaded by the city’s marble streets, baroque buildings and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic. Named “the pearl of the Adriatic” by lord Byron, Dubrovnik hides a treasure trove of old houses, spectacular monuments, churches, museums, bars and restaurants all defended by its massive old walls fortification system, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Afternoon, enjoy some leisure time to further explore Dubrovnik, grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat or just relax and enjoy the sun and the sea at the beach. Overnight in Dubrovnik. 

DAY 3 DUBROVNIK – TRSTENO – STON – SPLIT

Today we head for Split, but with numerous stops along the way. First stop is the Trsteno arboretum, located just north of Dubrovnik. Enjoy a romantic walk through this oldest Renaissance garden in Dalmatia filled with exotic plants and trees. The beauty of the Arboretum captured even Hollywood as it was chosen to be the filming site of the world famous TV series The Game of Thrones. Continuing on to Split, we stop at Ston, a small place famed for it’s defensive walls, salt plains (the oldest in Europe) and a world class gourmet delicacy – the Ston oysters. Head for a boat tour of the oyster’s farm and taste the oysters fresh out of the sea or try to open one on the spot. Drizzle a little lemon juice on them and have a taste of the sea. The tour will be rounded with a visit to a private island where your host will make you a traditional mussels buzzara style lunch with only the best ingredients – mussels that you just picked from the sea, olive oil, white wine and local herbs. After this gourmet treat, head to a nearby winery of one of the best wine producers in Croatia, sip a selection of their spectacular wines and taste the passion that he and his family pour into their wines every single day. Afterwards, continue towards Split where you will spend the night in a lovely boutique hotel. 

DAY 4 SPLIT

Today explore another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian. Walk inside Diocletian’s Palace, once the summer residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian and you’ll see bars, restaurants and shops thriving amidst the atmospheric old walls where Split life has been going on since the 4th century. Various cultural monuments like Renaissance Prokurative Square, noble family’s palaces, churches, galleries and museums are all ready for your exploration as you stroll around this 1700-year-old town. Enjoy the rest of the day sipping coffee at “Riva”, the promenade right next to the Diocletian palace, go for a swim and sunbathe at one of Splits excellent beaches. For more of adventures types, go for sea kayaking or take a bike ride to Mt Marjan for a dose of fresh air at this beautiful preserved forest park. Overnight in Split. 

DAY 5 SPLIT – HVAR 

On this day, catch a catamaran for the sunniest island in Croatia, the lavender island of Hvar. Spend a day exploring the island making numerous stops along the way including small places and villages like Sv Nedjelja, a small village situated on the sunny southern slopes of the island offering breathtaking landscapes, scenery and panoramas, Jelsa with its maze like old quarter of ancient alleyways and of course Stari Grad and its UNESCO protected site, the agricultural Stari Grad Plain. Stari Grad Plain is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centering on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. After the tour, head for dinner at a family estate of one of the best olive oil producers in Croatia in Vrisnik. This romantic dinner takes place at the olive oil grove house. All of the herbs and vegetables used in the preparation of your meal are locally grown and each is planted and cultivated on sustainable and environmentally responsible principles. Head back to the hotel and overnight. 

DAY 6 HVAR 

Today enjoy the sun, the sea and the sand on this unforgettable group speed boat tour of the islands Vis and Biševo and their magnificent Blue and Green Caves. Enjoy a swim at the Green cave with it’s eternal green shimmer, explore the inside of the Blue Cave, it’s magnificent blue color created by the Sun’s rays hitting the crystal clear sea and making it one of the most beautiful natural phenomenon in the world and sun bathe at the most beautiful beach in the world, Stiniva beach. For those that love the Sun, adore the sea and enjoy swimming and sunbathing, this unique tour has all that and more and will surely be one of the highlights of your tour. After the tour, have an unforgettable dinner at a traditional „konoba“ in the abandoned medieval village, two miles inland from the town Milna. This beautiful restaurant, very quaint and peaceful, offers a stunning view of the limestone cliffs. Hear the story of the village, its history and why it got abandoned while eating some of the best local dishes on the island. After dinner, head back to Hvar and overnight. 

DAY 7 HVAR – SPLIT – TROGIR – ZADAR

Today, we board a catamaran again and transfer to Split. Upon arrival to Split, head for Zadar, but not before we stop at Trogir, the “town museum”. Tiny and unique town of Trogir – beautifully set within medieval walls, its streets knotted and maze-like. It’s fronted by a wide seaside promenade lined with bars and cafes, and yachts in the summer. Trogir is unique among Dalmatian towns for its profuse collection of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture along with its magnificent cathedral, earned a UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997. After you have discovered Trogir, enjoy a scenic transfer towards Zadar. Upon arrival, explore this 3000 – year old town. Don't miss visiting Zadar’s incredible Sea Organ. Set within the perforated stone stairs that descend into the sea is a system of pipes and whistles that exudes wistful sighs when the movement of the sea pushes air through it. The effect is hypnotic, the mellifluous tones increasing in volume when a boat or ferry passes by. Also visit the Greeting to the Sun installation. This 22m-wide circle set into the pavement is filled with 300 multilayered glass plates that collect the sun’s energy during the day. Together with the wave energy that makes the Sea Organ ’s sound, it produces a trippy light show from sunset to sunrise that’s meant to simulate the solar system. Here you can sit down and enjoy the most romantic and best sun set in the world as stated by the famous movie director Alfred Hitchcock. Overnight in Zadar. 

DAY 8 ZADAR – PLITVICE LAKES – ZAGREB

On this day, we head for the most beautiful destination Croatia has to offer – the Plitvice lakes national park. The first Croatian national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Plitvice lakes offer its visitors a blend of vivid colors, sounds and smells that are spectacular and memorable. Its 16 cascading lakes and numerous waterfalls make up one of the greatest wonders of the world. Surrounded by high wooden mountains and fed by many small rivers, the lakes are a mesmerizing view of green and blue accompanied by the thundering sounds of the many waterfalls that connect the lakes to create a true paradise on Earth. Take your loved one’s hand into yours and go for a relaxing hike through the park and take in the sights and the sounds that the lakes offer. Complete your visit with lunch at the park’s restaurant Lička kuća, a unique place with an ambience of a traditional house in Lika, in which authentic dishes are prepared. In the middle of the restaurant there is an open hearth fireplace, where lamb is roasted on a spit, and where other food specialties from Lika are prepared “under iron bell”. Ham, “basa” cottage cheese, lamb under iron bell, grilled meats, baked potatoes, trout, sour milk, the Lika fritters, and the Lika strudels made of cheese, apple or plum, are just some of the specialties of this renowned restaurant. Continue your trip towards Zagreb driving through the scenic roads of the Lika region. Upon arrival, enjoy the evening and overnight in Zagreb. 

DAY 9 ZAGREB 

Today explore the classical charm of the capitol of Croatia. The Upper and Lower towns of Zagreb represent the historic core of the city and are among the most romantic places to be in Croatia. Walking through Zagreb’s historic center, it’s narrow and cobbled streets, you will find historic buildings, shops and cafes at every turn. Take a romantic stroll through the streets and visit sites like the Stone Gate, St. Catherine`s Church (one of the most beautiful sacral baroque edifices in Zagreb), the Lotrscak Tower signalizing high noon to Zagreb citizens with the cannon shot every day and St. Mark's Square with Houses of Parliament and Government and St. Mark's Church with it's picturesque roof. Zagreb’s romantic charm brings people from around the world and it’s no wonder that the signature Zagreb’s souvenir is “Zagreb heart”, a traditional biscuit crafted by the hands of skilled artisans who’s trade dates back centuries ago. Enjoy the rest of the day shopping for souvenirs, sipping coffee or just relaxing and exploring this 900-year old town. Overnight in Zagreb. 

DAY 10 DEPARTURE 

Say good bye to Zagreb and Croatia as you drive towards the airport for your flight out reflecting on all the wonderful experiences you have enjoyed during your stay in Croatia. Until next time, “doviđenja”! 

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