CroatiaN explorer

Sample Croatian Explorer Tour For more information please Dates and Itinerary can be customized visit our website: to your needs www.trulycroatia.com

USA 888 745 7302 Australia 1800 216 961 Croatia +385 99 5744 284 [email protected] Croatia is a country full of historic towns Đakovo is home to the world famous Lipizzaner stables who was one of the greatest rulers of ancient Croatia. The and natural beauty. From exploring which were founded in 1506. The stables are amongst the town boasts St. Jacobs’s cathedral, which is a UNESCO ancient palaces, swimming in the crystal oldest stud farms in Europe. We will also make a stop at World Heritige site. Later, we will visit another UNESCO clear waters, wandering the cobblestone the cathedral that was described by Pope John XXIII as World Heritage site, the medieval town of Trogir. Trogir is streets or getting in touch with nature at the most beautiful between Venice and Istanbul. We then affectionately known as the city that has not changed in travel on to Plitvice. (B, D) 2,300 years. The whole city is made of stone and there is one the many National Parks. The Croatian DAY 5: Plitvice Lakes National Park - This UNESCO no modern architecture. Whether you sit in the city square Explorer showcases everything that is World Heritage site is an amazing 29.6 hectares of and people watch, visit the old fort, shop at the markets or essentially Croatia. national park. We will embark on a short journey along climb to the top of the bell tower you will never want to the wooden paths down to the breathtaking waterfalls and leave this charming city. (B, D) turquoise lakes. In all, there are 16 lakes which are joined DAY 15: Trogir - Brač - Today we set sail on a ferry to InclusIons: by waterfalls that cascade from one level to another. We the Island of Brač, where you can explore vineyards, • Fully escorted by English speaking Tour Director as will then board a boat on the largest lake in the park lavender fields and olive groves. There are numerous cafes well as local expert English speaking tour guides for where you will take in the serenity and feel like you have and bars where you can relax with a cocktail or two whilst day trips escaped from the stress of everyday life. Lunch today will enjoying the local music. Alternatively, you can swim or • Local tours include Zagreb, Osijek, Đakovo, Plitvice, be at a local restaurant specializing in traditional Croatian sunbathe at Croatia’s most famous beach, Zlatni Rat, Opatija, Motovun, Hum, Pula, Poreč, Zadar, Krka, cuisine. (B, L, D) otherwise known as the “Golden Horn”. (B, D) Šibenik, Trogir, Split & Dubrovnik DAY 6: Plitvice Lakes National Park - Opatija DAY 16: Brač - Hvar - Brač - Today we Island hop • Air conditioned luxury coaches and professional drivers - Opatija is a tourist mecca with over 160 years of tourist to Hvar, which is known as the sunniest island in the • 20 nights luxury accommodation trade. Explore the city’s historical buildings, walk Adriatic. The boat trip is a traditional “fish picnic” with • 46 Meals according to Itinerary including: through one of the numerous parks or the “Lungo Mare” lunch included. On Hvar, you will discover the unique - Welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant in Zagreb a picturesque path along the coastline or swim at one of town Starigrad (literally translated Old City) which is a - Croatian traditional lunch at Plitvice Lakes the crystal clear beaches. (B, D) UNESCO World Heritage site. Starigrad’s olive groves National Park DAY 7: Opatija - Hum - Motovun - Pula and vineyards have been uninterrupted for 24 centuries - Motovun hilltop local lunch. Try local delicacies Today we head inland to the quaint town of Hum. making them the oldest in Croatia. (B, D) including truffles, Istrian prosciutto and local wines According to the Guinness Book of World Records, DAY 17: Brač - Split - Today we depart on a ferry again - On the Metković Boat Safari we will stop part way Hum is ˝the smallest city in the world˝ with only 17 towards Croatia’s second largest city, Split. In Split we down the river at a local restaurant for a inhabitants. Here you will be acquainted with the will hear the local myths and legends about the Roman traditional fish lunch beginnings of the Croatian written language (Glagoljica). Emperor Diocletian who decided to spend his last days in - Aboard the Elaphiti Islands cruise you will be We then continue on to Motovun, an impressive hilltop the sunny harbour of Asphalatos. Here he built the treated to a lunch of fresh seafood and Swiss chard village which is famous for its Venetian architecture and amazing Diocletian palace, which is now a UNESCO - Farewell dinner at a traditional Konoba (tavern) the Motovun film festival. Here you will savour famous World Heritage site. Over time the palace has changed to • Entrance fees to all national parks Istrian delicacies like truffles, prosciutto and exquisite become the city center. Within the palace walls there are • Entrance fees to all sights and museums on the local wines. (B, L, D) 220 buildings blending contemporary and ancient Roman guided tours including the Lipizzaner stables AY 8: Pula - Poreč - Today we embark on a scenic architecture which have been converted into bars, shops (Đakovo), Roman Amphitheatre (Pula), Euphrasian journey to Pula and Poreč, through the Istrian region and restaurants. The rest of the afternoon is free to take a Basilica (Poreč), Gligora Cheese Factory (including which is famous for its Mediterranean local landscape that walk or have a coffee with the locals on the “Splitska tasting – Pag), St Donatus Church & St Anastasia includes hilltop vineyards, olive groves and medieval Riva” (city promenade). (B, D) Cathedral (Zadar), St Lawrence’s Cathedral (Trogir), towns. In Pula we visit the well preserved ancient Roman DAY 18: Split - Metković – Dubrovnik - Today we Diocletian’s Palace Basements (Split), Dominican Amphitheatre that dates back to the 1st century. venture down the Neretva River Delta on our boat safari in Monastery Museum, Franciscan Monastery Museum In Poreč, discover the ancient Roman town famous for the traditional “Lada” boats. The river is lined with and Rectors Palace & the Cultural Historical Museum Euphrasian Basilica from the 6th century. plantations, local farms and roadside vendors. Part way (Dubrovnik) This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Europe’s down the river we will stop at a local restaurant for a • Day trip to Kornati National Park via boat including a finest examples of Byzantine art. (B, D) traditional lunch of fish and other delicacies. If you are traditional meal onboard DAY 9: Poreč - Rovinj - Opatija - After breakfast we lucky we may even see a pirate or two before heading onto • Boat rides in the Krka National Park depart Porec for Rovinj. Rovinj is a historical fishing town Dubrovnik. (B, L, D) DAY 19: Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik is • Round trip ride by ferry from Split to the Island of Brač full of romance and mystery. The city is dominated by the known as the pearl of the Adriatic and is another • Lada (traditional boat) safari excursion in Metković baroque church of St.Euphemia with its 60 metre tower UNESCO World Heritage site. Today we will wander that reveals a breathtaking view of the region. We also along the famous main street (Stradun) and visit the visit the Batana House Eco Museum that showcases the Franciscan monastery, the beautiful Renaissance Sponza tour HIgHlIgHts: local boat building tradition. Go for a stroll down the Palace and many more sites in the old city. The most Zagreb, Osijek, Đakovo, Plitvice Lakes “Street of Artists” or discover the narrow streets, stone impressive and intriguing site are the fortified city walls, National Park, Opatija, Pula, Poreč, Rovinj, houses and small squares full of locals watching the world which are 2 km long and 22 meters high. The old city is surrounded with several fortresses and towers which Motovun, Hum, Pag Island, Zadar, Krka go by. Overnight in Opatija. (B, D) DAY 10: Opatija - Pag Island - Zadar - Today we will protected the city from numerous invaders. This romantic Waterfalls, Trogir, Split, Brač Island, Metković, cross over to the Island of Pag, which is famous for its lace city leaves none indifferent and always wanting to return. Dubrovnik, Elaphiti Islands, and much more… and cheese. On Pag, we will visit a local farm where you (B, D) will learn the art of making sheep’s milk cheese. DAY 20 : Dubrovnik - Elaphiti Islands - Dubrovnik We overnight in the coastal town of Zadar. (B, D) - We will take a boat ride through the spectacular Elaphiti DAY 11: Zadar - Today we will explore Zadar, a city rich archipelago surrounding Dubrovnik. During this cruise we ItInerary in cultural and architectural history. Visit the spectacular will visit the beautiful islands of Koločep, Šipan and DAY 1: Arrive Zagreb - Meet your Tour Guide at 2pm St. Donatus church, the ancient Roman forum and the Sea Lokrum where we enjoy hidden sandy beaches and a at the hotel in Zagreb, where you will check in and join Organs, a contemporary city attraction. After dinner we turquoise crystalline sea. This evening we have a farewell your fellow travelers at an information session. will head down to the city center, where we will attend the dinner at a local Konoba (traditional tavern). (B, L, D) Afterwards we offer an optional walking tour of the city Zadar festivities which often include traditional singing, DAY 21: Dubrovnik - The tour ends this morning after prior to attending the welcome dinner. The dinner will be dancing and storytelling. Afterwards we move on to the breakfast. There will be an opportunity for last minute held at a family-owned restaurant that offers a fine promenade to witness the famous sunset that has been shopping or sightseeing. (B) collection of wine and traditional meals using seasonal described by Alfred Hitchcock as being one of the most ingredients from the Dolac market. (D) beautiful sunsets in the world. (B, D) DAY 2: Zagreb - Zagreb is the capital and economic DAY 12: Zadar - Kornati Islands - Zadar Zagreb center of Croatia. This morning you will be treated to a Today we take a boat ride through the spectacular Islands Osijek scenic view of the city’s historical center. Our local guide in the Kornati National Park. With over 130 Islands and Motovun Opatija Poreč Đakovo will show you the wonders of the old fortified Upper Reefs, we will moor at the most spectacular islands to Hum swim in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. (B, L, Rovinj Plitvice Town, Cathedral of St. Stephen, the famous St. Mark’s Pula church with its multi-colored roof and the bustling town D) DAY 13: Zadar - Krka National Park - Trogir Today we set off on a scenic journey to the beautiful Krka market ‘Dolac’. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to Pag stroll around the gas lamp lit streets, do a spot of National Park. Here we will visit old restored mills, tradi- Zadar tional houses and the “Skradinski Buk” which is one of the Krka shopping or follow the Croatian tradition by make a wish Kornati islands at the city’s Stone Gate. (B, D) most beautiful waterfalls in Europe. If weather permits we Trogir DAY 3: Zagreb - Osijek - Osijek is known as the rural will swim underneath these magical waterfalls. After the Šibenik Split center of the Slavonia region. In addition to wide open swim we reboard the boat and travel down the River Krka Brač Metković plains and forests, it is also filled with 18th Century canyon and Skradin. From Skradin we drive to an eco Hvar architecture influenced by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. farm where we will enjoy a traditional Croatian lunch at a Elaphiti Islands Here you will enjoy an authentic Croatian dinner in a city local family estate. (B, L, D) full of folkloric events, hearty food and great wines. (B, DAY 14: Trogir - Šibenik - Trogir - Šibenik is the Dubrovnik D) DAY 4: Osijek - Đakovo - Plitvice oldest Croatian town on the Adriatic coast. Šibenik was the residence of the Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV,

USA 888 745 7302 Australia 1800 216 961 Croatia +385 99 5744 284 [email protected]