Best of Croatia 13 DAYS/12 NIGHTS – GROUP TRAVEL SUGGESTED ITINERARY - CAN BE CUSTOMIZED Spend just under two weeks extensively exploring the treasure that is the country of Croatia. INCLUSIONS While not large in size, this country is absolutely mammoth in terms of historical and cultural value. Its vivid past includes Greek colonies, the Roman Province of Dalmatia, the medieval 3 nights in Split maritime Republic of Ragusa, the Hapsburg monarchy, the Ottoman Conquest - and more 6 nights in recently, the former Yugoslavia. Geographically-speaking, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Dubrovnik vacation destination with as many fantastic national parks, turquoise beaches, breathtaking coastline, thousands of islands (and good seafood), hills, fjords, amazing lakes, mountains 2 nights in Zadar and vineyards. This itinerary will show you the best of Croatia, and while there you’ll realize that the friendliness of the Croatians ranks right up there with the nature, seafood, wine and 1 night in Mostar history. Breakfast daily Lunch and dinner DAY 1 ~ ARRIVE SPLIT DAY 2 ~ SPLIT per itinerary Arrive in the historic city of After breakfast in the hotel, Ground transport Split, the second largest city meet your local guide in the via air conditioned in Croatia and a major port lobby for a morning luxury coach city on the Adriatic Sea. Split’s city center, sightseeing tour of Split’s historic core. English speaking which contains the ruins of a magnificent, Located in the center of the Dalmatian assistant and guides 3rd-century Roman palace belonging to the coast and nestled between the mountains Admission tickets Emperor Diocletian, is a fascinating and sea, Split has fantastic ruins to be as outlined in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival visited that date to the end of the 3rd itinerary to the Split Airport, a local assistant will century during the reign of the Roman meet your group in the arrivals hall and Emperor Diocletian. On your guided tour, accompany it to the hotel by private coach. your group will tour the impressive ruins of Your hotel rooms most likely will not be the emperor's palace complex including the ready for check-in until 2:00 pm. Temple of Jupiter and the Cathedral of St. Depending on your flight arrival time, Domnius. During your tour, the guide will energy level and time of the year – this also show the lovely medieval square of afternoon your group could visit the Brace Radic Trg and the Riva promenade. Mestrovic Gallery (sculpture), go for a swim The tour will finish in the historic center, at the public beach at Bacvice, or simply although the guide can accompany any have free time to begin exploring Split. group member back to the hotel should There will be a welcome dinner tonight they prefer. The remainder of the day is either in the hotel or in a local restaurant free to visit Split on your own. Continue within walking distance of the hotel. sightseeing, shop – or relax on the beach. Consider trying some of the delicious, Lunch and dinner are on your own. traditional seafood dishes paired with DAY 3 ~ SPLIT Croatian wine. After breakfast in the hotel, meet your local guide in the lobby for a full-day of exciting sightseeing 15th century Gothic-Renaissance church by private bus. You’ll begin by traveling to that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. the outskirts of Split to the ancient city of From Sibenik, the group will continue Salona. Salona was the capital of the traveling north along the coast to the city Roman province of Dalmatia, and long of Zadar, your overnight base for the next before that it was the site of a major Greek two nights and another incredibly historic market. This morning you will see some of city along the beautiful Adriatic Coast. its impressive Roman ruins; please wear HIGHLIGHTS After checking into the hotel, enjoy free comfortable shoes as this is an time to freshen up, relax or venture out archeological site and it’s only possible to Hotel overnights in before reuniting with the others for a group beautiful, historic visit the site on foot. Afterwards, your dinner in the hotel or a nearby local cities along group will travel a short distance to the Croatia’s famed restaurant. Consider a leisurely stroll down town of Trogir, whose beauty will knock coastline the Zadar’s seaside “Riva” promenade. Historic city of your socks off! Upon arrival, everyone in Trogir, a UNESCO the group will have free time for lunch, DAY 5 ~ ZADAR World Heritage followed by a guided sightseeing tour of After breakfast in the hotel, Site historic Trogir. Trogir is a UNESCO World The famed Plitvice your group will depart by Lakes National Heritage Site due to its historical tapestry private bus for Plitvice Park, a UNESCO of Greeks, Romans and Venetians - and Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World World Heritage because the town today still houses a Heritage Site world renowned for its 16 Natural Site fairytale blend of Romanesque-Gothic, Skradinski Buk’s 17 cascading, turquoise lakes that contrast waterfalls inside Renaissance and Baroque architecture. beautifully with the surrounding verdancy. inside Krka Visit inside the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. If you’re a nature lover, this guided National Park See the Clock Tower, the Loggia, the Land excursion will most likely be the highlight of Day trip to Mostar, Gate, Kamerlengo Castle and St. Mark's your entire trip to Croatia. In addition to its Bosnia and Herzegovina to see Tower. After the tour group members will prized lakes, Plitvice is also home to many the iconic Stari have time to shop or explore on their own animal species, meadows, caves and Most bridge, a before returning to Split in the late natural springs. After touring this UNESCO World afternoon/early evening. Lunch and dinner spectacular feat of nature, return to Zadar. Heritage Site Day trip to are on your own. Tonight your group will attend a classical beautiful DAY 4 ~ ZADAR music concert (pending availability) in the Montenegro Church of St. Donatus, whose 9th century Classical music After breakfast in the hotel, acoustics still continue to impress concert in Zadar’s group members should historic Church of concertgoers. check out and be ready to St Donatus DAY 6 ~ MOSTAR Visit to the travel north along the Adriatic coast to the beautiful island of city of Zadar. En route you will visit Krka After breakfast in the hotel, Korčula, reckoned National Park, which is located on the check out and meet your by many to be the outskirts of the historic town of Sibenik. birthplace of the local guide in the lobby for explorer-merchant You’ll tour this remarkable park, which is a morning walking tour of Zadar’s Old Marco Polo considered one of Croatia’s crown jewels, Town, a bastion of Gothic-Romanesque Day trip to the and cruise to its breathtaking Skradinski architecture. The city however is even village of Cilipi, Buk waterfall. After the visit, proceed to much older than that. In fact, before the famous for its national costumes, the historic center of Sibenik where your Common Era, Zadar was an important folk customs & group will have free time to have lunch and trading center for Phoenicians, Etruscans embroidery to go inside the Cathedral of St. James, a and Ancient Greeks. On your guided tour you will see Zadar’s ancient city walls and waters - the entire historic core of gates a well as Zadar’s remarkable 12th- Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage century, Romanesque churches including Site. Upon arrival to the hotel in the Church of St. Mary, the Church of St. Dubrovnik, check in and enjoy free time. Chrysogonus and the St. Anastasia There will be a group dinner tonight in a Cathedral (inside visit of the Cathedral is local restaurant. included). Another must-see on this DAY 8 ~ DUBROVNIK morning includes seeing Zadar’s legendary Sea Organ, whose melodies are created by After breakfast, meet your the breaking waves. If time permits, the local guide in the lobby for group will also visit Zadar’s bustling market a leisurely full-day tour of of Dolac to see where locals come to buy Dubrovnik, which is certain to enchant any produce and to chit chat. visitor! Most of the city’s top attractions reside within its historic walls. Originally After the sightseeing tour, group members settled by the Romans - Dubrovnik’s Golden will have time for a quick lunch before Age came about during the Middle Ages boarding the bus to travel south to the because of its extremely strategic location picturesque city of Mostar in Bosnia and as a maritime port. The Venetians, Herzegovina. The drive will be a good time Hapsburgs and Ottomans all coveted to fit in a nap or brush up on your Dubrovnik, the seat of the Republic of knowledge of Balkan history. Mostar is Ragusa as it was then known. Its medieval known for its interesting blend of “East past has left a strong mark on the city that meets West.” Upon arrival to Mostar, your you will tour today. group will check into the hotel and have time to relax and freshen up before a group On your guided walking tour through the meal in the hotel’s restaurant. Old Town, you will see the city’s very scenic harbor, the Onofrio's Fountains, the 15th- DAY 7 ~ DUBROVNIK century Ploce Gate, Luza Square, the After breakfast in the hotel, Church of St. Blaise, Orlando's Column, the check out and meet your Sponza Palace and the Franciscan local guide for morning Monastery.