Essential Green & Blue Croatia

Welcome to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia! Upon arrival, your friendly English-speaking driver will welcome you at the airport and will be your private chauffeur throughout the tour. Transfer from the airport to the city center. The orientation tour of the capital of Croatia featuring Upper Town and Downtown. Transfer to hotel in the very center of Zagreb. Overnight.

After breakfast at hotel meeting with the driver and the guide, departure for full day city tour and exploration of Zagreb surroundings. Zagreb is an old Central European city. For centuries it has been a focal point of culture and science, and now of commerce and industry as well. It lies on the intersection of important routes between the Adriatic coast and Central Europe. Zagreb has plenty of offer to its visitors: the Baroque atmosphere of the Upper Town, picturesque open-air markets, diverse shopping facili¬ties, an abundant selection of crafts and a choice vernacular cuisine. Zagreb is a city of green parks and walks, with many places to visit in the beautiful surroundings. The Upper Town is Zagreb’s historical center, which comprises Church of St. Mark with the famed multi-colored roof, the Parliament building (Sabor), the Stone Gate, Cathedral. Downtown is business and cultural center of Zagreb with its main square of ban Josip Jelacic, the Croatian National Theatre and University. After city tour departure towards Etno selo in Kumrovec, birthplace of former President of Yugoslavia, Tito. Enter ethno village and go back in time and experience how life was in the past. After touring taste local specialties in restaurant Grešna Gorica with overview of picturesque Zagorje hills. Walk and visit renovated medieval castle Veliki Tabor. Drive back to Zagreb.

Dinner at a local (Michelin star) restaurant Noel in Zagreb. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast departure towards Istria peninsula. On the arrival accommodation in hotel in city centre of beautiful Rovinj. In the afternoon meeting with guide and walking tour of Rovinj. Stroll along the streets of this charming city and learn more about its rich history. Visit Church of St Euphemia and Church of Holy Trinity.

Overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast meeting with guide and driver and depart for full day excursion along Istria. Istrian Peninsula is usually called The Small Tuscany. Numerous hills covered with vineyards and olive trees, topped with picturesque small towns dominate the entire panorama. The first stop will be in medieval hilltop town of Motovun rising over the Mirna River valley. Afterwards proceed for a truffle tasting and hear the story of famous Istrian truffles Zigante with presentation in their house. Following the scenic route to the seaside and passing small town of Groznjan, we will reach Porec and visit one of the most famous religious monuments, UNESCO heritage site St Euphrasius Basilica. In the late afternoon return to Rovinj.

Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast we head towards the Plitvice Lakes National Park. This beautiful natural lake complex was registered on UNESCO’s List of World Natural Heritage in 1979 and comprises a string of 16 turquoise-colored lakes linked by 92 waterfalls and cascades surrounded by dense wooded mountains and lush vegetation. The tour takes approximately 3 hours and a boat ride is included. After touring the Lakes, proceed to Dalmatian coast and city of Zadar.

Arrival in the evening, accommodation at hotel and overnight.

In the morning after breakfast meeting with guide at the reception of hotel and Tour of Zadar, including the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, considered to be the most impressive basilica in Dalmatia, church of Saint Donat and the ruins of Roman Forum. Stroll along and enjoy the Sea Organ and its uniqueness. After city tour proceed towards rural household in Pakovo selo, meet the owner and learn about the production of homemade cheese and olive oil. Exploring the household with owner and taste their local products. Short drive afterwards to another Dalmatian city of Šibenik.

Accommodation at hotel and free time. In the afternoon meeting with local guide for a walking city tour. Šibenik is the oldest Croatian and Slavic city on the Adriatic with a famous Cathedral of St. James. Visit fortress Barone and Mediterranean Garden. Dinner at local, 2 Michelin star restaurant overlooking Cathedral, Pelegrini.

Overnight at hotel in Šibenik.

After breakfast depart from Šibenik towards Split. Meeting with guide and 3 hour city tour of famous city of Split in the early afternoon. Split is the largest and most important town in Dalmatia. Walking tour of historical centre and remains of Diocletian's Palace (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979), built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries A.D. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, reusing materials from the ancient mausoleum. Romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, 15th -century Gothic palaces and other palaces in Renaissance and Baroque style make up the rest of the protected area.

After touring, free time to enjoy Split and overnight at hotel in the centre.

After breakfast, meeting with the driver and the guide and depart towards Trogir, a town-museum. Cultural and historical monuments, art, architecture and nice alleys providing the opportunity to learn about manifold and complex heritage - from Romanesque yard to the modern interiors. The unique historical core, Radovan’s portal, has been arousing excitement among visitors and travellers for centuries.

Lunch in Trogir local restaurant. After lunch proceed to visit ancient ruins of Salona, close by Split. Return in afternoon to Split and free time for the rest of the day. Dinner in local top restaurant Zrno soli (Pieace of salt) in Split.

Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast meeting with guide and departure to ferry for Hvar. Departure from the Split port for a ferry boat transfer to the town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. Meeting with guide and a short walking tour of Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009), a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Pharos in the 4th century BC.

The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly focusing on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims & small stone shelters. transfer to the town of Hvar for a brief walking visit before returning to Split for overnight. Aloe lace, also under UNESCO protection is made in Croatia only by Benedictine nuns in the town of Hvar. Thin, white threads are obtained from the core of fresh aloe leaves and woven into a net or other pattern on a cardboard background. The resulting pieces are a symbol of Hvar.

Proceed to Hvar city and accommodation at hotel. In the early evening departure for food & wine pairing in local restaurant.

Overnight at hotel in Hvar.

Breakfast at hotel. Departure with driver towards Pelješac peninsula and Ston with its Walls. Stop on Pelješac for a visit and wine tasting one of the famous wineries Edivo (wines are being held for 1-2 years in seawater. Proceed drive to Ston. Meeting with guide in Ston and touring of City and its walls.

The little town of Ston (population around 500) was an important military fort of the maritime Republic of Dubrovnik. Fascinating 14th century wall, three miles long, making it the second longest ancient wall in Europe, after Hadrian’s Wall in Scotland. Its 41 towers and seven bastions were meant to protect Ston's valuable salt works; salt has been produced here for over 4,000 years!

Continuing with the tour, take the boat tour and enjoy oyster tasting. The tour is conducted by the oyster farm expert. After a welcome with grappa and figs, observe how the oysters are cultivated and picked and taste them as they emerge from the sea. Enjoy a snack and local wines on board.

After boat tour, continue towards Dubrovnik and accommodation at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Full day in world famous Dubrovnik with city tour in the morning. After breakfast, meeting with the guide at reception of the hotel. The walls of Dubrovnik girdle a perfectly preserved complex of public and private, sacral and secular buildings representing all periods of the city’s history, beginning with its founding in the 7th century. Experience the very best of Dubrovnik: the city’s main street, Stradun, the Rector’s Palace, the church of St. Vlaho, the Cathedral, three large monasteries, and the City Hall. The Republic of Dubrovnik was the center of a separate political and territorial entity, and was proud of its culture, its achievements in commerce and especially of its freedom, preserved down so many tempestuous centuries. In the afternoon cable car ride to mountain Srđ. In the late afternoon take an hour to kayak around fortified walls of Dubrovnik (optional). Dinner in local restaurant 360.

Overnight at hotel in Dubrovnik.

After breakfast, meeting with driver and guide for a full day excursion to Korčula. Hometown of one and only Marco Polo! It is said that explorers before him had changed the geography of the world – but Marco Polo changed its history! The island of Korčula indisputable holds a privileged position among the Croatian islands. Here we find more legends, tales and monuments than almost anywhere else in the world. Being famous stonemasons, shipbuilders and seafarers the people of Korčula left their marks all over the world, but they saved the very best for their own city. There are many descendants from Korčula and other Croatian islands currently living in New Zealand as their ancestors emigrated from Croatia during turbulent 20 century. Among other skills, they brought the knowledge of wine producing, and helped New Zealand developing wine making industry. Experience the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces in one of the best-preserved Medieval towns in the Mediterranean. After sightseeing, have some free time for swimming.

Return in the late afternoon to hotel in Dubrovnik. Overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Depending on departure flight transfer to airport Dubrovnik for flight.