COUNTRYSIDE OF CROATIA AND SLOVENIA

Upon your arrival to the Zagreb Airport, your guide will meet you at the Zagreb Airport (holding your name on a sign board) and transfer you to your hotel in Zagreb. After you accommodate in your hotel in the city centre, we suggest that you relax after your trip and to explore the city. We suggest an evening walk through the center of Zagreb, taking the Zagreb Funicular and enjoy your first evening in one of Zagreb’s many cafes and restaurants. Maybe a glass of wine in the Upper Town of Zagreb? Overnight in Zagreb.

In the morning, after breakfast, meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel for a short sightseeing tour of Zagreb, featuring old medieval settlements of the Upper Town, remarkable architecture of the Lower town, squares, fountains, monuments and green parks historical center of the city, Church of St. Mark with the famed multicolored roof, Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatre and University. After the city tour, we head to the green hills of Croatian Zagorje region, where we’ll feel a unique experience of warm welcome. We will visit the fairytale castle – Trakošćan, the most beautiful castle in whole Croatia. We will jump into the medieval times when respectable gentlemen and nobles built their manors and castles on carefully selected locations in search of beauty and comfort. At the end of the day, we are coming back to Zagreb. Overnight in Zagreb.

Breakfast. Today we are driving from Zagreb to neighboring Slovenia. Our first stop will be Postojna, little town famous for the Postojna Cave. This natural wonder, the underground world of caves is filled with spectacular limestone stalactites and stalagmites which form pillars and take on fantastic shapes and forms. We will take a train ride into the heart of the underground fairyland and admire the greatness of the geological history of the Earth. Plus, we’ll visit Predjama castle, the Guinness World Record Holder as the largest cave castle in the world. After visiting Predjama castle, one of the most picturesque wonders of human history, subject of a romantic and beautiful legends, you will be transferred to Ljubljana, the charming Slovenian capital. A local guide in Ljubljana will take you on a walking tour. We are going to climb up the Ljubljana Castle and admire the view which is reaching all the way to the Alps which are our next stop tomorrow. Overnight in Ljubljana.

After breakfast you will be transferred to Bled, a beautiful lake. Breathtaking views on the high peaks of the Alps, the famous vanilla custard slice and coffee, visiting the old castle, on a cliff above the Lake… you will definitely feel like the time has stopped and you are a part of wonderful fairytale. We’ll spend a little bit of this morning relaxing some more on a fresh alpine air and then we head to the highest Slovenian Alpine pass Vrsic, through Trenta valley, a natural monument known by the emerald green Alpine Soca River.
Our next stop is Kobarid, a small town on the way to Adriatic. We suggest you to visit the museum of the 1st World War or beautiful Kozjak waterfall in the middle of the cave. Overnight in Kobarid, in Hotel Hvala, one of the best in Slovenia.

This morning, we are going back to Croatia, in Rovinj, a pleasant old port and a beautiful coastal town on Istrian peninsula. On our way to Rovinj, our stop for a lunch will be in Lim Fiord, one of the most beautiful natural resources of the Istrian peninsula. Lim Bay, also known under the name of the Lim channel or the Lim fiord is part of the 35 km long Lim Valley (Draga), that stretches almost to the center of Istria. The water in the bay is partly brackish, because of its underwater sources of sweet water and it is thus suitable for the growth of plant and animal life and it is also a well-known fish and oyster farm (oysters, mussels, giltheads, sea basses.). All these delicacies can be tasted in two restaurants on the very coast of the bay. Forty years ago, a movie on Vikings was made here, in Lim Fiord, “The Vikings”, with Kirk Douglas in the leading role. After lunch we’ll head to Rovinj. We will enjoy the stroll along its narrow and cobblestone streets and see the unforgettable panorama of the old town with the bell tower rising above the church of St. Euphemia. Overnight in Rovinj.

After breakfast, we’ll take you to discover the continental part of Istria – the green oasis with many hills and quiet medieval hilltop towns like. Its landscape is often compared to the one of Tuscany or Provence. On our Istrian tour we will also try some of the world known specialties of Istrian cuisine. You will just love the truffles, prosciutto, cheese and famous Istrian wines, Malvasia and Teran. The legend says that the giants built some of the most beautiful towns in the continental part of Istria. Each worked on his top hill and one at the time cities emerged. In one of the cities, Motovun, a beautiful small town on the top of a hill, surrounded by vineyards, in the middle of the truffle-hunting area, we’ll have a lunch. And about the legend: Having done all the cities, the giants remained a little more rock and thus created the smallest city in the world – Hum. In Hum, we’ll learn about the oldest Croatian script – Glagolitic and try the famous local medicine – Biska. We are ending this day in Opatija – the Queen of Adriatic. After we check in, take the opportunity to walk along the famous promenade with many old villas, splendid parks and gardens. Overnight at the Opatija Riviera.

Today we leave Opatija and drive the beautiful, scenic route along the rugged coastline of Northern Adriatic. We will visit ancient Senj, the fortress Nehaj, Sundial at the 45th parallel in Senj.Carried by the wind, we slowly leave the coastal part of Croatia for a while and we heading to discover one of the best kept secrets of Croatia – the Plitvice Lakes National Park. We would say, so famous but yet so unspoiled and undiscovered. On our way to the Lakes we will stop at Gacka Valley where emerald Gacka River is stretching along the valley and offering great number of natural beauties. This clean beauty is among best known trout sites in the world. We will also enjoy some of the known local specialties. Overnight in the Plitvice Lakes area.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will get the opportunity to explore the beauties of the Plitvice lakes National Park on a tour which includes a boat ride on one of the lakes and a walking tour on the boardwalk built just above the turquoise lake surface. After the tour, you can have lunch in one of the local restaurants followed by a transfer to Zadar. In the early evening hours, check in at your hotel in Zadar. The rest of the evening is at your leisure. We suggest visiting the one-of-a-kind artistic installations “Sun Salutation” and “Sea Organ”. They are best experienced during the evening hours. Overnight in Zadar.

We are leaving Zadar in the morning and continuing our way further south along the picturesque Dalmatian coastline. We’ll visit the Vrana Lake along the way which is the biggest freshwater natural lake in Croatia and definitely a great natural phenomenon. We will also stop in Šibenik, a town founded by Croats, where we’ll visit the unique monument of European sacral architecture – St. Jacobs Cathedral, which has been listed as UNESCO’s World Cultural Monument. The Šibenik Cathedral, adorned with 72 stone heads, is the most significant architectural creation in Croatia from 15th and 16th century. We’ll have a lunch break in Šibenik. You will reach Split in the evening and have the rest of the evening at your leisure after the hotel check in. Relax after your trip or explore the city. We suggest having a cup of coffee at the Riva, or a drink in one of the bars inside the 1700-years-old Diocletian palace walls. Overnight in Split.

In the morning, meet your guide /driver in the lobby of your hotel for a half-day tour of Trogir and Split. Trogir is a small island Croatian town, first inhabited by Greeks and Romans. This old town is famous for its Romanic and gothic old core with famous Cathedral. After the Trogir tour, enjoy a coffee break followed by a walking tour of Split. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. We suggest taking a walk through the heart of Split – the famous Split waterfront or Riva where you will feel the friendly and cozy atmosphere of this vibrant city. Overnight in Split.

In the morning, meet your driver / guide at the hotel lobby for a sightseeing tour of Hvar. The public ferry will take you to island Hvar. On the way there, you will get to enjoy your cruise along beautiful Croatian islands. After a car transfer to the city of Hvar, your guide will take you on a tour of the town of Hvar, which is now the hit destination in Croatia. Small, but rich in history and surrounding beauties, Hvar really offers a lot. After the sightseeing tour, we’ll continue for a very special vine tour of Hvar island ending a dinner in a restaurant with spectacular view on Hvar’s Harbour, followed by a drink in Carpe Diem bar. Overnight in Hvar.

After breakfast, meet your guide / driver at the hotel lobby for a beautiful scenic drive to Dubrovnik. On the way there, along the stunning coast and a short ferry ride to the mainland, you will have a lunch break in the small town Ston, well-known for its seafood restaurants, oysters, long walls, salt production, and rich history. Upon your arrival to Dubrovnik, check in at the hotel, with the remainder of the day at your leisure. We suggest having a drink in the Buza bar, located on the cliffs just in front of the Dubrovnik city walls. Overnight in Dubrovnik, one of the jewels of the Mediterranean.

After breakfast, departure for the small village of Konavle, and the family farm Kausalic where you can taste some delicious specialities prepared according to old recipes and have a traditional home made lunch. Free afternoon. Dinner in a stunning surrounding, Dubrovnik Banje. Overnight.

Our Tour is finishing today. Your guide will drive you to Dubrovnik Airport where you are expecting your flight back home. We wish you a safe journey and we hope that you’ll always gladly remember Croatia.