CROATIA WINE & GASTRO TOUR Zagreb
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CROATIA WINE & GASTRO TOUR Zagreb – Croatian Zagorje region – NP Plitvice Lakes - Zadar – Split – Pelješac – Dubrovnik – Kruje – Tirana – Saranda - Berat 17 days/16 nights Holidays are all about relaxation and time spent away from home while discovering the beauty of foreign places. At the end, it all comes to having great unforgettable experience that you can tell stories about. This tour is all about local experience – get on board and see what is Croatia all about. Day 1 Arrival to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia and more than a 1000 year old City, with its historic charm. Private transfer to your hotel and check in. After a long trip hotel amenities will help you to relax and rejuvenate for further days to come. In the afternoon get ready for “Welcome dinner” in traditional local restaurant where food is prepared according to original recipes from 16 century. The owner is very passionate about food & wine pairing so you are in good hands to have the best food & wine experience there is. Overnight in Zagreb. Meals: (D) Activities: / Day 2 Your day will start with magnificent cup of coffee in the oldest coffee shop in Zagreb situated on the main square overlooking the statue of Ban Jelacic. Croatians are very sensitive about the coffee and coffee drinking in local coffee shops and it is part of the culture. Morning sightseeing with a local guide to explore the city. Visit Museum of broken relationships, a physical and virtual public space created with the sole purpose of treasuring and sharing peoples heartbreak stories and symbolic possessions. It is a museum about you, about us, about the ways we love and lose. In early afternoon, departure to the region Croatian Zagorje, an area of chocolate-box enchantment: miniature wooded hills are crowned with the castles they seem designed for, and streams tumble through lush vineyards. Visit local winery. During the visit you will get a chance to participate in a traditional harvest and learn the wine making process. Dinner and wine tasting with traditional folklore and music in a winery. After dinner departure back to Zagreb. Overnight in Zagreb. Meals: (B) + (D) Activities: Walking tour of Zagreb (2H) – Light activity level Grape Harvest – Medium activity level Day 3 After breakfast departure to National Park Plitvice Lakes. The beauty of the National Park lies in its sixteen lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. Take a walk with a local guide through this heaven on earth. Enjoy scenery of beautiful waterfalls and untouched nature. And don’t forget to make a wish under the largest waterfall as it is supposedly making your wishes come true . After visiting NP Plitvice, we will have a traditional dinner in a local restaurant – Licka kuca. Continue to Zadar, city voted to be the best European destination for 2015, - a city monument, surrounded by historical ramparts, a treasury of the archaeological and monumental riches of ancient and medieval times, Renaissance and many contemporary architectural achievements such as the first sea organs in the world. Overnight in Zadar. Meals: (B) + (D) Activities: Walking tour of NP Plitvice Lakes (3,5H) – Light/Medium activity level Day 4 After breakfast meeting with the local guide and Zadar sightseeing. While walking with your guide through the city of Zadar, the ancient Forum, symbol of the city-church of St. Donat, St. Anastasia, monuments and palaces, you will learn all about the rich history of this beautiful old town. Tour of the Land Gate and city walls, Square of Five Wells, People's Square and of course the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun. Walk along the waterfront with sounds of the sea organ, that are unique in the world, will make your experience complete. According to Albert Hitchcock Zadar is the city with the most beautiful sunset in the world and you will have a chance to be a part of it. Enjoy your dinner in one of the restaurants in old city of Zadar. Overnight in Zadar. Meals: (B) + (D) Activities: Zadar walking tour (1,5H) – light activity Dinner in Zadar city center Day 5 After breakfast free time at leisure. In the afternoon (12pm) embark on a boat and sail around NP KORNATI. This archipelago consists of 140 islands covering an area of 114 square miles (300 square km), with most of it declared a National Park – and with its natural beauty, numerous coves and crystal clear blue waters, it’s easy to see why. Enjoy in the beautiful sunset on your way back to Zadar. Overnight in Zadar. Meals: (B) 1 MEAL! (Will stop in one of the restaurant in NP Kornati so you can have lunch/dinner) Activities: Sailing around NP Kornati (7h) Day 6 After breakfast departure to Split, the second largest city in Croatia and the city that has all: Roman ruins and grand museums alongside fashionable cafes and trendy shops. Our journey through ancient history starts with the fact that the Roman emperor Diocletian was born in nearby important Illyrian center and the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia - Salona. He ordered to build one of today’s most preserved palaces of that time in the nearby town Split. With a professional city guide we are continuing our journey and sightseeing the 1700 year old Diocletian`s palace in Split, imagining how the life of Diocletian was like, within the walls of the palace. During the tour we stop by to see the Cathedral of St Duje, one of the most beautiful cultural wonders on the Adriatic coast but also the ancient cellars, Peristyle in center of the palace, Roman temples (today Christian ones), the famous Golden Gate and the big statue of Grgur Ninski. On this walking tour you will get to know Split and its history in an interesting way. After Split sightseeing lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch embark on a catamaran and sail to island Korcula. Rich in vineyards, olive groves and small villages, and harboring a glorious old town, the island of Korčula is the sixth-largest Adriatic island, stretching nearly 47km in length. Dense woods led the original Greek settlers to call the island Korkyra Melaina (Black Korčula). Quiet coves and small sandy beaches dot the steep southern coast while the northern shore is flatter and more pebbly. Tradition is alive and kicking on Korčula, with age-old religious ceremonies, folk music and dances still being performed to the delight of an ever-growing influx of tourists. Check in to the hotel. Overnight in Korcula. Meals: (B) + (L) Day 7 After breakfast meeting with the local guide and morning sightseeing of old town Korcula. The old medieval town of Korčula is like a miniature museum, surrounded by walls and towers. The magnificent architecture strongly attracts each visitor, as well as its residents. The Statute of the Town of Korčula dates back from 1214, and is one of the oldest codes in the Slavic world, which shows the structure of life and a highly developed awareness of the inhabitants of that time. The highlight of the sightseeing will be birth house of Marco Polo. In the evening we are taking you to the famous ranch for a dinner. Food at ranch is homemade, prepared from fresh good quality ingredients, the atmosphere is tranquil, people are friendly and kind, decor is eye soothing, and there is an overall relaxing feeling lingering around the place. This genuine Mediterranean ambient has even enchanted some famous guests, such as Bill Gates or Bernie Eccelstone. After dinner return back to the hotel. Overnight in Korcula. Meals: (B) + (D) Activities: Split sightseeing Day 8 After breakfast departure to Dubrovnik, one of the world’s most stunning destinations, both in terms of its cultural heritage and as a holiday destination. The city has often been referred to as the "Pearl of the Adriatic" and was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 as a city of rich culture and history. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is surrounded by 1,970 metres of city walls - over the centuries they served to protect the city from various threats and today are the city's greatest attraction. On your way to Dubrovnik stop at peninsula Pelješac, famous for the best Croatian wines. Wine tasting in one of the most famous Croatian wineries. After wine tasting continue to Ston, a medieval little town whose history reaches back as far as the 14th century. It is a small town with the longest stone wall in Europe (5,5 km), with narrow quiet streets, noble ancient houses and traces of ancient cultures. The bay of Mali Ston is famous all over the world for the quality of its oysters. Clean seas offer the bay of Ston the ideal conditions for growing high quality oysters. Oyster tasting in a local oyster farm. After oyster tasting continue to Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik. Meals: (B) + Oystertasting + snack + winetasting Day 9 After breakfast meeting with the local guide and Dubrovnik sightseeing. Local guide will take you to the most wonderful and hidden streets of the city. Explore Dubrovnik City Walls (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE) and enjoy a unique view of the Old Town of Dubrovnik including its narrow streets and small squares. In the afternoon embark on a boat and explore Elaphiti islands (optional – not included in the price). Since the ancient times, the islands were a place of comfort, vacation, and delight. All this due to well preserved nature, clean and clear sea, sandy beaches, beautiful pine forest, olive gardens, numerous promenades and footpaths.