Croatia 11 days, 10 nights

Arrive Dubrovnik, clear customs, meet your tour manager and depart for your hotel.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant

Overnight: Dubrovnik

Meals: Dinner

Itinerary – This morning, meet your local guide for a half-day sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik, founded in the 7th century.  Your tour will include a walk through the Stradun Promenade with Onofrio’s Fountain at one end and the Orlando Column at the other.   Take a tour of the Dominican Monastery.

After lunch, ride the Dubrovnik Cable Car as it glides effortlessly up the side of Mount Srd, 2,500 feet in 4 minutes.  The original cable car was destroyed during the war in the early 1990s.   The destruction of the cable car was a strategic move to make the movement of provisions over Mount Srd more difficult.  Used today by over 2.5 million visitors who come to see the amazing panoramic views of the Adriatic.  On a clear day, you can see nearly 40 miles.

Enjoy free time in your small groups this afternoon before meeting back with the group for dinner.

Overnight: Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Today, cross the border with Montenegro for a day trip to Kotor and Budva.

Enjoy a scenic drive along the Bay of Kotor and stop in the small village of Perast to admire the view on the tiny islands of St George and Our Lady of the Rocks.

Spend some free time in Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk along the narrow streets or climb the uneven steps to San Giovanni castle for a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings.

This afternoon, continue to Budva via Sveti Stefan: this small island linked to the coast by a narrow strip of land is now an exclusive resort. Continue to the walled city of Budva for some additional free time.

Take a short ferry trip across the Bay of Kotor before returning to Dubrovnik by coach.

Overnight: Dubrovnik

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Depart for Split.  On the way, stop in the village of Ponikve (or similar) for oyster and olive oil tasting.  Make a stop on the Peljesac Peninsula in the town of Ston.

Ston is relatively unknown among the many Croatian towns.  It has a wall encircling it that has stood for hundreds of years.  The Walls of Ston connect the villages of Ston and Mali Ston and are more than three miles long. The walls circle the Village of Ston and then climb up the hill to reach the Podzvizd Fortress. They then follow a narrow strip of land to meet with the walls of the village of Mali Stan.

You will also visit Solana Ston and the Ston Salt Fields, before continuing to Split.  (weather permitting)

Overnight: Split

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – A local guide will meet your group for a tour of Split, beginning with a visit to the Palace of the Emperor Diocletian.  Built in 295 BC, this magnificent palace has four gates, the most famous of which is the Golden Gate.  You will also visit the Cathedral of St. Domnius with its famous bell tower and have the opportunity to admire the statue of Grgur Ninski, a great religious leader from the 10th century. After your tour, your guide will escort you to the Riva, a coastal walk with palm trees where you can relax in the sun and enjoy a beautiful view of the port and nearby islands.

After lunch, enjoy some free time in your small groups.

Overnight: Split

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Coach transfer to the port and board your ferry for Stari Grad.  Continue your journey to the town of Hvar.  Once there, meet your local guide and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Hvar. Known as Pharos in the age of ancient Greece, Hvar has been an important place since the 13th century. It was an important port for the Venetian naval empire and today is one of the favorite destinations of the Dalmatian Riviera. Visit the old town center and enjoy the view of the Pakleni islands.

This afternoon, return by ferry to Split

Overnight: Split

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Check out of your hotel, board your coach, and depart for Zadar, the ancient capital of Dalmatia.  Stop in Sibenik for some free time to explore the old town before continuing to Zadar.

Meet your local guide and enjoy a sightseeing tour of this ancient Mediterranean port. Bombed 72 times by the Allies in WWII, the old town has a pleasant blend of archaeological styles and monuments of the ancient, medieval, and Renaissance periods.  Included in your tour is a visit to the Church of St Donatus.

Overnight: Zadar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Check out and depart for Plitvice Lakes.

The National Park is home to sixteen lakes, interconnected by a series of waterfalls.  The waterfalls are set deep in a wood, home to deer, bears, wolves, boars, and rare bird species. The National Park covers a total area of 115 square miles, and the lakes join together over a distance of nearly five miles.

Enjoy a half-day of sightseeing in the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s most popular tourist attraction and granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979.

Mid-afternoon, continue to Zagreb, the Croatian capital, and check in to your hotel.

Overnight: Zagreb

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Itinerary – Today, discover Zagreb, a typical Central European town. It lies on the Sava River and is famous for its markets, cathedrals, and medieval towers.  Enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic city of Zagreb. You will see the old historic center of Zagreb, the famous Trg Bana Jelačiča, museums, gardens, and many other sites. Your guide will also teach a few words in Croatian.

In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to Trakošćan Castle. This fairytale castle from the 13th century sits on a hill overlooking a quiet lake. During your guided tour, you will learn about the life of the Croatian nobility and see examples of baroque furniture, different weapons used from the 15th to 19th century, and other small items belonging to past owners of the castle.

Enjoy a Farewell Dinner tonight before returning to your hotel.

Overnight: Zagreb

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Zagreb airport for your flight home.