DAY 1 ZAGREB AIRPORT – ZAGREB

Meet your guide at Zagreb Airport for a transfer to a centrally located Zagreb Hotel Palace or similar for two nights. Check-in, relax take some time for yourself after a long flight.

In the afternoon join your guide for an orientation walk in the historical center of Croatian capital city Zagreb followed by a welcome dinner.(D)

DAY 2 ZAGREB – KUMROVEC – ZAGREB

In the morning see more of this interesting town. The walking tour takes you to Zagreb Gradac, the upper town, and castle area, nowadays the political center of the city and the whole of the country. Continue to Dolac, a lesser town with a lively market area. Browse the stalls for some typical products, your guide/driver will have suggestions for your lunch.

In the afternoon take off for Kumrovec, the birthplace of a former Yugoslav president Tito. See the ethnographical open-air museum of this typical village on the Croatian – Slovenian border, and learn about the countries’ communist past. Enjoy some time for shopping and a stroll around, before returning to Zagreb. You´re free for dinner this evening.(B)

DAY 3    ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES – OPATIJA

Put your hiking shoes on this morning. You´ll travel south to see and explore the Croatian UNESCO site, Plitvice lakes. It is an outstanding natural phenomenon, a series of lakes on the river Korana. You´ll visit Upper and Lower lakes, walking through forests and parks. Your camera is going to be very busy. After free time for lunch in a typical local restaurant, you´ll continue to Opatija, a fashionable resort town from Austro-Hungarian times on the Adriatic coastline. Your hotel is Hotel Milenij or similar. (B)

DAY 4 OPATIJA – PULA – ROVINJ – GROŽNJAN – OPATIJA

You´ll spend a day exploring the peninsula of Istria, today. The journey takes you to its capital, Pula first. This town was a very important one in ancient Roman times already, hence all its ancient Roman remains including a very well preserved Amphitheatre. Then follow the West coast, to Rovinj, the pearl of the Adriatic. This ex island, now attached to the mainland is a town that witnesses the several centuries of attachment of Istria to glorious days of Venetian Republic. On the way back to Opatija you´ll take a road inland, across the rolling hills visiting the artist hilltop village, Grožnjan. You´ll be back to Opatija on time to enjoy its evening atmosphere and maybe dine in a seaside restaurant.(B)

DAY 5   OPATIJA – ZADAR – SPLIT

The scenery of the Croatian coastline is famous worldwide. Today, you are going to discover why. The winding road follows the coastline, offering views over the small inlets and islands, the hills beside add to dramatically beautiful and wild scenery. Our first stop today is Zadar, a historic fortified port town. Your driver/guide will take you for a short stroll through the town to see its highlights including the curious sculpture, the Sea Organ. After time for lunch, you´ll go further south along the coast for more scenic views and outstanding beauty. Our afternoon stop is in the town of Primošten, a center of Dalmatian winemaking. Then back to the road for the last leg to Split. Hotel Luxe or similar is going to be your home for the next two nights. The dinner in a nice local restaurant is on us, today.(B,D)

DAY 6    SPLIT

Nowadays Split is the largest city on the Dalmatian coast and its administrative, cultural, economic capital. Diocletian, the ancient Roman Emperor had his palace built here in 305a.D.; no wonder, he was born in the neighborhood, in the town of Salona, nowadays Solin. Its remains are now representing half of the city historic center. You´ll be dedicating this morning to discover all of the beauties of Split in the company of the local guide, and spend the afternoon and evening to relax on the beach or sipping wine in the sidewalk cafe.(B)

DAY 7    SPLIT – MAKARSKA – STON – DUBROVNIK

Today, we´re going further south for a special experience. On the way to Dubrovnik, we are going to stop at Ston, a historic town that occupies a strategic position on the Pelješac peninsula. Famous for its oyster farms, as it is, we can´t but take you to one and enjoy the oyster lunch. In the afternoon you´ll take a short walk on Ston´s historic walls to enjoy the views, and then off to Dubrovnik for the next two nights in Hotel Villa Argentina or similar.(B,L)

Day 8 DUBROVNIK

You´ll join a local guide for a walking tour of this amazing town, this morning. It will include Stradun and the famous majestic defensive walls. The afternoon is yours, to explore Dubrovnik on your own. In the evening your driver/guide, by now your friend, will take you to a memorable farewell dinner. Time to share your impressions about this trip over a glass of wine, and start to plan a new one.(B,D)

DAY 9   DUBROVNIK – DUBROVNIK AIRPORT

Sad, but true. Your Croatian tour is over, you´ll be transferred to the airport.(B)