CROATIA by LAND and SEA Activity Level: 2 August 31, 2022 – 15 Days
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Dubrovnik MV Admiral CROATIA BY LAND AND SEA Activity Level: 2 August 31, 2022 – 15 Days Small ship cruising on board MV Admiral 30 Meals Included: 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 7 dinners Spellbinding beaches, dramatic cliffs, Fares Per Person: ancient walled towns, and a relaxed way of Lower Deck -- $9,310 twin; $12,130 single Main Deck -- $9,555 twin; $12,380 single life — Croatia is ranked among the world’s Please add 0.3% GST. most popular destinations for a reason! We Early Bookers: start with 2½ days in historic Dubrovnik, $250 discount on first 10 seats; $125 on next 6 the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Its picturesque Experience Points: Old Town is considered to be one of the Earn 170 points on this tour. most beautiful cities in Europe with Redeem 170 points if you book by May 26, 2022. centuries-old forts, buildings on marble Departure from: Lower Mainland streets, and dazzling views of the cliffs and the sea. We then board the MV Admiral for a week-long cruise, visiting the seaside coastal towns of Ston, Korčula, Hvar, and Split, and the Adriatic islands of Mljet, Vis, Bisevo, and Brac. The intimate ship has only 20 staterooms and was built in 2015. We finish the tour back on land where we visit Zadar, Pag Island, the waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park, and Croatia’s capital of Zagreb. ITINERARY Day 1: Wednesday, August 31 Day 5: Sunday, September 4 Meet the other Wells Gray travellers from the BC The morning is leisure time to relax on the ship Interior and Victoria at YVR. Our flight on or explore more sights in Dubrovnik. We cast off Lufthansa departs in late afternoon. at noon and cruise north along the rugged Adri- Day 2: Thursday, September 1 atic coast to Slano, a peaceful fishermen’s village. The mighty Fortress of Ston and its defensive We change planes in Munich and arrive in mid- th afternoon in Dubrovnik. Welcome to Croatia! We walls were completed in the 15 century. This stay two nights at the 4-star Hotel Neptun, lo- peninsula is famous for oysters and our tour in- cated on the waterfront of the Lapad Peninsula cludes oyster tasting. Join the Captain for a wel- just outside Old Town Dubrovnik. Built in 1961 come dinner with live entertainment. and totally renovated in 2016, it boasts spectac- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ular views of the Adriatic Sea and the Elaphiti Is- Accommodation: MV Admiral lands. Facilities include three restaurants, a Day 6: Monday, September 5 lounge, and indoor and outdoor pools. This morning, we cruise a little further north to Meals included: Dinner the Island of Mljet. The legend says Greek hero Accommodation: Hotel Neptun Odysseus spent years on this island when he was Day 3: Friday, September 2 captured by the nymph Calypso. Join the cruise Founded in the 7th century, Dubrovnik is noted manager for a stroll to the remarkable salt lakes for its walled Old Town and several monasteries. in Mljet National Park where we take a boat ride A local guide conducts a morning walking tour to St. Mary Isle and visit an ancient Benedictine th monastery, an old abbey, and a church dating to past its most famous attractions: the 14 -century th Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, and Rec- the 12 century. Alternatively, you can rent kay- tor's Palace. The Franciscan Monastery houses aks, bicycles, scooters or convertible cars to roam the oldest pharmacy in Europe, dating to 1317. around the National Park or island on your own, We also walk past the Sponza Palace, dating from but beware of the nymphs! The ship stays over- the 15th century and noted for its magnificent 30- night in Pomena on Mljet. metre tall tower. Admission to the city walls is in- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch cluded and you can take this exciting walk during Accommodation: MV Admiral leisure time this afternoon. Day 7: Tuesday, September 6 Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner The Island of Korčula is one of the greenest is- Accommodation: Hotel Neptun lands in the Adriatic Sea. Like most of the Croa- Day 4: Saturday, September 3 tian islands, the Greeks first settled Korčula and This morning, we ride the Srđ Mountain cable car gave it the name Korkyra Melaina or 'Black Corfu' up 400 metres and admire a panoramic view of for its dark and densely wooded appearance. We Dubrovnik and the offshore islands. This after- have a guided tour of the town, admiring its typ- noon, we take the ferry to Lokrum Island, a park ical medieval architecture such as towers and just offshore which has the ruins of a monastery clusters of red-roofed houses. Marco Polo, the fa- and a botanical garden. There are good views of mous world-traveller, writer, and Venetian mer- Dubrovnik from the top of the island at Fort Royal chant was born in Korčula. Castle, built by the French during Napoleon's oc- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch cupation of Croatia. Afterwards, we board the Accommodation: MV Admiral MV Admiral and settle into our staterooms. Enjoy Day 8: Wednesday, September 7 a meet and greet reception on board. The ship is Our next stop is the island of Vis, once a strategic docked in Dubrovnik overnight. naval Yugoslav base and closed to the public for Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner years. Due to this isolation, Vis has a special Accommodation: MV Admiral charm – “the Mediterranean as it once was” making it really interesting to visit. Vis town, situ- the many facades of this beautiful city. Of special ated on the northern side of the island, has de- interest is the magnificent Diocletian Palace, veloped near the remains of ancient Issa, the first once inhabited by the Roman Emperor. Our last urban centre in Croatia. Try some exquisite local night on the ship is in Split. wines. If interested, visit the remains of the Ro- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch man thermal place, City museum, or enjoy a walk Accommodation: MV Admiral with views of the beautiful Villae Rusticae situ- Day 11: Saturday, September 10 ated along the waterfront. Overnight in the port We disembark the Admiral in Split and our coach of Vis. is waiting to continue touring Croatia. Our next Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch stop is Primošten, built in the 15th century on a Accommodation: MV Admiral small island protected by walls and towers. After Day 9: Thursday, September 8 the Turkish invasion of 1542, the drawbridge was The ship cruises toward the small island of Biševo replaced with a causeway. A local guide conducts to visit the Blue Cave, a magnificent natural phe- a walking tour of this unique town. We continue nomenon. We continue past the Pakleni Islands to Stankovci and tour a prosciutto production fa- with a stop for swimming and arrive at Hvar. It is cility with sampling. We stay two nights near Za- the longest and sunniest island in the Adriatic, dar at the Falkensteiner Hotel, located on the pri- consistently listed among the world’s top 10 is- vate Peninsula Punta Skala and rated 5 stars. Like lands by Conde Nast. With its colourful fields of many Adriatic ports, Zadar has historically been lavender and carefully cultivated vineyards, the dominated by strong neighbours including the island is truly appealing. Carpeting the hillsides Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians (who around its cozy harbour are terracotta-roofed vil- wanted to hold off the Ottoman Turks). In more las, Gothic palaces, and 13th-century ramparts ris- recent times, the city was invaded by the German ing to an impressive citadel. Our tour includes army during World War II. As a result, Zadar pre- the Renaissance cathedral with its original tower, sents a rich architectural history to the visitor. A and the oldest community theatre in Europe walking tour visits St. Donat, an extraordinary founded in 1612. Hike up the zig-zag path to the church in the pre-Romanesque style with a high, fort overlooking the harbour for great views of round nave and three semi-circular apses. our ship and nearby islands. In the evening, Hvar Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner offers plenty of entertainment - numerous bars, Accommodation: Falkensteiner Hotel restaurants, and clubs, many open long into the Day 12: Sunday, September 11 night. The ship stays overnight in the port. We spend the day on Pag Island, visiting the Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Gligora Cheese Factory with cheese tasting. The Accommodation: MV Admiral famous Pag cheese is made of sage, immortelle, Day 10: Friday, September 9 mugwort, cistus, Jerusalem thorn, and fennel, This morning, we stop at Brač island where swim- and salted by storms from two sea basins. Later, ming is planned at the most famous beach in Dal- we go to Lun, at the northern tip of Pag Island, matia, Zlatni Rat near Bol. Its shingle promontory and visit the Olive Gardens. Back at our luxurious shifts from side to side as the wind and waves hotel, you may wish to book a service at the Ac- constantly cause the shape to change. Bol is a quapura Spa, a huge wellness, beauty, and fit- typical fishermen’s village converted into a pop- ness facility. ular tourist destination yet retaining its charm. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch This afternoon, the Admiral cruises to Split. Accommodation: Falkensteiner Hotel nd Founded in the 2 century BC, this is now the Day 13: Monday, September 12 second largest city in Croatia and has some Today’s highlight is visiting Croatia’s magnificent amazing sights with both Roman and modern ar- Plitvice Lakes National Park.