DAY 1: ZAGREB

Arrival at the Zagreb airport. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 2: ZAGREB – OPATIJA

Breakfast. Morning city tour of Zagreb, including the fortified Medieval Upper Town, St. Mark’s Church with it’s colourful roof, the Cathedral of St. Stephen, the Stone Gate, the University and the Croatian National Theatre. Afternoon drive to Opatija,„The Queen of Tourism“ of Croatia. Upon arrival walking tour along the promenade of Opatija, once the resort of the Habsburgs and European Royalty, as well as personalities from the world of culture, such as Gustav Mahler or A. P. Chekhov. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 3: OPATIJA – PULA – BRIJUNI – OPATIJA

Breakfast and departure to Pula. Sightseeing tour of Pula includes a visit to the Roman Amphitheatre Arena (1st century), one of the best preserved in the world, Triumphal Arch of Sergius, Temple of Augustus, Gate of Hercules and Byzantine chapel of St. Maria Formosa. Pula was the home of the Histrians, the Romans and the Venetians. Once the central Austrian port, today it is the largest cultural and economic centre of Istria. Various layers of history took part in the making of this unique town in which Roman temples defy Baroque palaces, early Christian churches stand face to face to Austrian villas, and the remnants of Medieval walls are cut through by antique town gates. In the afternoon, the excursion to National Park Brijuni islands, an archipelago of 14 islands only a few miles North from Pula. The whole archipelago is under protection – the islands preserve the traces of 5000 years of human history. Only the biggest island Veli Brijun is open for tourism and there we will visit Safaripark, Ethno park, Olive tree from the 4th century, the ruins of Byzantine Castrum and Roman Villa. Ethno park presents a typical Istrian homestead with autochthonous animal species: Istrian ox, Istrian sheep, donkeys and goats. Coming back to the harbour, there will be a possibility to visit the exhibition„Tito on Brijuni“, Natural history collection, archeological museum and exhibition of copies of frescoes and Glagolitic inscriptions of Istria and Kvarner. Return to Opatija for overnight.

DAY 4: OPATIJA – PLITVICE – ZADAR

Breakfast. Departure for Plitvice Lakes, the largest national park in Croatia. The area of Plitvice Lakes was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. It is breathtakingly beautiful with its 16 lakes linked by waterfalls and surrounded by dense forests. It will take us almost 4 hours to explore the area by electric boat and minibus and you will need a great deal of film to record a fraction of the beauty around you. In the afternoon we continue to Zadar for overnight.

DAY 5: ZADAR – KORNATI ISLANDS – ZADAR

Breakfast. Excursion to the National Park Kornati. Departure by the boat to visit the archipelago in the Northern Dalmatia that includes 147 uninhabited islands and islets. During the ride, you will enjoy astonishing scenery marked by steep cliffs or „crowns“ that make the coastline unique and dramatic. Along there will be two stops for swimming before the visit of the nature park Telašćica, one of the largest and best protected natural harbours on the Eastern coast of the Adriatic. The bottom of the bay is mostly covered with communities of sea-flowering plants and habitats extremely rich on animal life and very important for the reproduction of many fish species. There will also be the opportunity to swim in the salt lake„Mir“. Return to Zadar for overnight.

DAY 6: ZADAR – ŠIBENIK – KRKA FALLS – SPLIT

Breakfast. Morning visit of the old town with its pre-Romanesque church that dates from around the 9th century which is a symbol of Zadar. Right in front of the Church of St. Donat are the remains of the Roman forum dating from in the 1st century BC. At the end of the Western Quay is Zadar’s newest feature, the Sea Organ. This unusual organ is powered by the wind and the sea. When the sea pushes air through the whistles, a series of melancholy chords are played. With the sound emerging through the perforated stone stairs. Departure to Šibenik. Visit of St. Jakov Cathedral the symbol of the town, a part of UNESCO’s world heritage, was being built for more than a hundred years and is a true evidence of the talent of its architectures, Juraj Dalmatinac and Nikola Firentinac. The whole cathedral was made of stone, without the use of other materials and it contains of more than 70 portraits on its apses. Continuation to the National Park Krka. The visit will start with a walk exploring the pathways and bridges before the boat ride that will take us up-close to the waterfalls. A highlight of the visit is certainly little island of Visovac which was inhabited by hermits in the 15th-Century. We will continue upstream to Roški slap, made of 12 smaller slopes and falls and the massive pools and cascades of Skradinski buk considered one of the most attractive calcium carbonate waterfalls in Europe. Drive to Split for overnight.

Day 7: SPLIT – TROGIR – SPLIT

Breakfast. Morning visit of town Split whose beauty dated since IV century B. C. when Roman emperor Diocletian decided to build his residential palace. This Roman palace is very well preserved and today attracts with its constructions and original walls but also popular place for small shops which will be visited. After that we visit the Cathedral of St. Duje which is a complex of a church, formed from an Imperial Roman mausoleum with a bell tower; strictly the church is dedicated to the Virigin Mary, and the bell tower to St. Domnius. Together they form the Cathedral of St. Domnius. Lunch at local restaurant and drive towards Trogir, the small Old Town so rich in history and culture that it is often referred to as a “city museum” so it is easy to see why the entire city was placed in the UNESCO world heritage list. Return to Split for overnight.

Day 8: SPLIT – DUBROVNIK

Breakfast. In the morning free time in Split for shopping and a pleasant walk. In the afternoon, departure towards Dubrovnik. Arrival in the evening and accommodation in hotel. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 9: DUBROVNIK

Breakfast. Morning sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik includes visits to the Franciscan Monastery with one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, the Rector’s Palace and the Cathedral. We shall also see Orlando’s Column, Bell Tower Clock and the Sponza Palace. In the afternoon, we shall have free time for individual visits and leisure. There will be plenty of time for an optional touring on the city walls with their magnificent fortresses and towers. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

Day 10: DUBROVNIK – THE ISLAND OF MLJET – DUBROVNIK

Breakfast. Excursion by boat ride to the National Park Mljet. The most visited part of the Island is the green and unspoiled West, where untouched Mediterranean vegetation and two saltwater lakes (Malo jezero – Small lake and Veliko jezero – Big lake) provide the focus of the National Park. Both lakes are encircled by foot-and cycle paths and you can enjoy a pleasant swim in the lakes. A boat from Veliko jezero will take us to a picturesque St. Mary’s Island, where you will be rewarded by a stunning view of the monastery established by the Benedictines in the 12th century. After the visit, return to Dubrovnik for overnight.

Day 11: DUBROVNIK

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport of Dubrovnik.