Discover Croatia

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance

• 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight
• 2 Zagreb
• 3 Zagreb & Opatija
• 4 Opatija & Istria Peninsula
• 5 Plitvice Lakes
• 6 Zadar & Split
• 7 Split & Trogir
• 8 Ston & Dubrovnik
• 9 Dubrovnik
• 10 Dubrovnik/USA

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight

• Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Zagreb

Day 2 Zagreb

• Transfer to your hotel
• Meet your tour manager and traveling companions with a welcome drink and light dinner

Hotel Academia, Hotel Dubrovnik or similar Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Upon arrival in Zagreb, capital of Croatia, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Later, enjoy a welcome drink and light dinner at the hotel and meet your tour manager and traveling companions over a plate of "strukli", a local specialty.

Day 3 Zagreb & Opatija

• Set off on a walking tour of Zagreb
• Depart by coach to Opatija

Paris Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Zagreb through the fortified, medieval Upper Town, St. Mark's Church with its multicolor tiled roof, Parliament and Government Palace.

Depart Zagreb by coach to Opatija, situated on the Kvarner Bay. Opatija was the favorite spa resort of the Habsburgs' European aristocracy and celebrities such as Mahler, Chekhov and Isadora Duncan.

Check in at your hotel on the promenade. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Day 4 Opatija & Istria Peninsula

• Visit Pula and tour the 2000-year-old amphitheater
• Independently explore Rovinj
• Sample the Zigante truffle in Livade

Paris Hotel or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, depart for Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. Drive to the western coast and visit Pula, which was a strategic port in ancient Roman times. Tour the 2000-year-old amphitheater, the sixth largest of its kind still preserved, which is reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome.

Continue to Rovinj, perhaps one of the most beautiful towns in Istria, and an inspiration to artists. Enjoy some free time to explore the old town with its narrow lanes, stores and galleries.

Depart for Livade for a light lunch, and sample one of Istria's greatest treasures, the Zigante truffle.

Return to Opatija for overnight.

Day 5 Plitvice Lakes

• Hike through Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Take a boat ride across the emerald green Kozjak Lake
• Explore on foot before returning to the main entrance

Hotel Degenija or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, depart Opatija and head south to the Lika mountain region and the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park consists of 16 lakes connected by waterfall. Enjoy a hike through the park, viewing several of the lakes, including a boat ride across the emerald green Kozjak Lake.

Explore the park by foot before returning to the main entrance. Continue to your hotel for check-in.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Day 6 Zadar & Split

• Depart for the historic town of Zadar
• Visit the Bibich Winery for a wine tasting and light tapas lunch
• View the famous Zadar Sea Organs

Cornaro Hotel or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Depart the mountain region for the Adriatic coast and to the historic town of Zadar. The historic town of Zadar is rich in cultural and historical monuments. Here you can see the Roman forum dated to the 1st century AD, the church of St. Donatus dated to the 9th century AD, and the famous Zadar Sea Organs, the only one of its kind in the world.

Continue to the Bibich Winery for a wine tasting and light lunch. The winery burnt to the ground during the Yugoslav wars and has been rebuilt, producing award winning wines that are exported to the USA. Taste the Dalmatian Debit white wine as well as the cuvee of Shiraz and Merlot, accompanied by Croatian style tapas.

Proceed to Split and check in at your hotel.

Day 7 Split & Trogir

• Walk through the old town and visit Diocletian’s palace
• Enjoy a walking tour of Trogir’s old town
• Have lunch at the Tragos Restaurant

Cornaro Hotel or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Split is the second largest city in Croatia and the largest in the Dalmatia region. The town has been built and re-built for seventeen centuries, and today you may find an 18th century building intersecting with ancient Roman walls. Walk through the old town, and visit the 4th century palace built by Emperor Diocletian to spend his golden years.

Continue to the nearby town of Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Trogir has 2300 years of urban traditions and a culture influenced by ancient Greeks, Romans and Venetians. A walking tour of the old town will take you past its palaces, churches, tower and fortress, situated on a small island linked by small bridges. Enjoy lunch at the Tragos Restaurant where you can try "pasticada", a traditional Dalmatian dish. Return to Split and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 8 Ston & Dubrovnik

• Visit a local winery for a presentation of the wine-making process and a wine tasting

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Depart Split and continue along the Dalmatian coast. Stop near the town of Ston, where you will visit a local winery, and taste the famous "Plavac Mali" wine, a very close relative of Zinfandel. Here, the traditions of wine making have been passed down for generations. Enjoy a presentation on the wine-making process and a wine tasting.

Continue to Dubrovnik for check in.

Day 9 Dubrovnik

• Enjoy a walking tour of the old city of Dubrovnik
• Balance of the day at leisure

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Completed in the 13th century, the old city of Dubrovnik has remained basically unchanged. Enjoy a walking tour and view the Franciscan Monastery, Clock Tower, St. Laurence Fortress, Sponza's Palace, and Rector's Palace. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. Spend some time wandering the winding streets, stopping at stores and galleries. Its medieval ramparts encircle the entire city, which pedestrians can enter at one of two gates, under the watchful gaze of the city's patron, Saint Blaise, or walk along the broad stone-paved avenue known as the Stradum.

Day 10 Dubrovnik/USA

• Transfer to the airport to board your return flight to the USA

Breakfast

Hotels

Hotel Academia

First Class

Conveniently located near the historic center of Zagreb, Hotel Academia is the perfect base for exploring this fascinating city.

More information

Hotel Dubrovnik

First Class

Hotel Dubrovnik provides a friendly environment with the charm of the old city. Situated on the main Zagreb square called "Trg Ban J. Jelacic". This ideal location can serve as your gateway to the very heart of the city. At your doorstep you will find the most important cultural, government, and business institutions, the main shopping area, the open-air market, lively cafes and taverns, historical upper town and parks and promenades.

More information

Paris Hotel

First Class

The Paris Hotel is located in the center of Opatija, across from Angiolina Park and just steps away from Slatina, the most centrally-located beach in the city. There is also a casino on the property,  as well as several bars, cafes, and restaurants nearby.

More information

Hotel Degenija

First Class

Hotel Degenija is located in the Selište Drežnicko village, 4 kilometers from the entrance to Plitvice Lakes National Park. There are many activities in hotel's surrounding area. Rent a bike and explore the magnificence of the Plitvice Lake countryside by riding along the marked bike trail, take a walking tour of the area, or have a swim in the Korana River during the hot summer days.

More information

Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik

First Class

Located by the Lapad Bay beachfront with a beautiful view of the bay and the promenade, the Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik is in an ideal setting to relax, walk along scenic paths, and enjoy the beautiful sunset over the bay. The wellness center and spa includes an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, Finnish sauna, steam room, and three treatment rooms.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Croatia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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