Escorted Through Croatia Private Tour
per person
11 Day Custom Itinerary, Private Land Tour
Visiting: ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES – ZADAR – TROGIR – SPLIT – HVAR – BRAC – STON – DUBROVNIK – CAVTAT – KONAVLE REGION
Travel through Croatia on a private journey, but enjoy the benefits of an escorted trip to take the worry out of your vacation.
Fully Escorted Throughout! Perfect for the more mature traveler!
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11 Days
1
Day 1 ARRIVAL ZAGREB
Zagreb is an old Central European city. For centuries it has been a focal point of culture and science, and now of commerce and industry as well. It lies at the intersection of important routes between the Adriatic coast and Central Europe. Zagreb is also the hub of the business, academic, cultural, artistic, and sporting worlds in Croatia. Zagreb can offer its visitors the Baroque atmosphere of the Upper Town, picturesque open-air markets, diverse shopping facilities, an abundant selection of crafts, and a choice of vernacular cuisine. Zagreb is a city of green parks and walks, with many places to visit in the beautiful surroundings. Despite the rapid development of the economy and transportation, it has retained its charm and a relaxed feeling that makes it a genuinely human city. Unveil the secrets behind the old facades, discover the hidden courtyards, and revive the stories from the past.
Itinerary
- Arrival to Zagreb
- Meet your driver at the gate for a transfer from the airport to the hotel in Zagreb.
- Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and relax.
- Overnight.
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Zagreb
2
Day 2 ZAGREB
Zagreb as you have never experienced it before. Enjoy a romantic scenic drive through the center of Zagreb in an electric replica of the legendary Ford Model T experience as you view the city's offerings in a relaxed style. With a professional driver-guide at the helm, you're free to enjoy many sights, including the Upper and Lower town main sights. We will take you back to a completely different era – to the beginning of the 20th century when ladies walked with parasols, gentlemen didn't leave their houses without a hat and life was not as stressful as it is today. Our mission is to present you with unique moments that make you forget about every day and to take you on a journey you will never forget. Cars are fully electric so you will also save the environment by choosing this type of sightseeing tour.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Meet your guide and head for an unforgettable Zagreb Upper and Lower town sightseeing tour with an electric replica of legendary Ford model T. Experience Zagreb in a totally different way and go back to the beginning of the 20th century.
- Your driver is also a guide and he will, while driving, tell you everything you need to know about the history and legends of Zagreb Upper Town.
- You will get an overview of the Upper and Lower Town’s landmarks, and other key sights. As you speed along, your guide will tell you stories and provide historical context for the city’s landmarks. (tickets to the sights not included)
- During this tour, you will be given a unique experience to taste the very best of Croatian flavors such as cherry brandy "Šljivovica", plum rakia (schnaps), herbal rakia with honey, and some traditional finger food.
- After the tour, time at leisure to continue discovering Zagreb on your own.
- You will be provided with a Zagreb Card, a perfect companion in the city. It saves you time and money by offering free transport by the Zagreb city transportation system, including the famous Funicular, one of the top attractions in Zagreb, as well as free entry to four prestigious Zagreb museums, the "Zagreb Eye" view deck, and the Zagreb Zoo.
- Rest of the day is free to explore the city on your own.
- Overnight.
- Zagreb card
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Zagreb
3
Day 3 ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES – ZADAR
Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s best-known national park and the only one of eight that is listed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage sites. The main attractions of this park, are the 16 small lakes joined by waterfalls created by the sedimentation of travertine, a special type of limestone. This national park encompasses the source of the river Korana, located in the area surrounded by dense forests of beech, fir, and spruce. There are also several caves in the park, as well as springs and flowering meadows. The brown bear stands out as one of many protected animal species. The popularity of this park is also boosted by the special means of transport used to ferry visitors around: the panoramic electric trains and the noiseless electro-powered boats. By a network of paths, visitors can get around and access the numerous waterfalls and the rocky lake shores easily.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
- Meet your driver at the hotel lobby and head for a truly amazing and spectacular stop – the Plitvice Lakes National Park (2.5 hours ride away from Zagreb).
- Upon arrival, meet your guide and head for a private guided walking tour of Plitvice Lakes.
- The first Croatian national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Plitvice lakes offer its visitors a blend of vivid colors, sounds, and smells that are spectacular and memorable. Its 16 cascading lakes and numerous waterfalls make up one of the greatest wonders of the world. Embraced by high wooded mountains and fed by many small rivers, the lakes are a mesmerizing view of green and blue accompanied by the thundering sounds of the many waterfalls that connect the lakes to create a true paradise on Earth.
- Lunch is highly recommended at a unique place with an ambiance of a traditional house in Lika, in which authentic dishes are prepared. Try ham, “basa” cottage cheese, lamb under iron cover, grilled meats, baked potatoes, trout, sour milk, and the Lika strudels made of cheese, apple or plum, are just some of the specialties of this area.
- After Plitvice Lakes, continue towards Zadar, check-in at your hotel, and relax.
- Enjoy the most beautiful sunset, with music in the background from Zadar’s Sea Organ and the uninterrupted views over the Adriatic Sea. This is one of the “must-do” things while you are in Zadar.
- Overnight.
- National Park Plitvice Lakes entrance tickets
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Zadar
4
Day 4 ZADAR – TROGIR – SPLIT
Boasting a historic old town of Roman ruins, medieval churches, cosmopolitan cafes, and quality museums set on a small peninsula, Zadar is an intriguing city. It’s not too crowded, it’s not overrun with tourists, and its two unique attractions – the sound-and-light spectacle of the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation – need to be seen and heard to be believed. Trogir, a harmonious stone town on a small island that is connected to the mainland and the island of Čiovo by bridges. It was first settled by Greeks from the island of Vis in 300 BC. The old town, under UNESCO protection, is a treasure trove for lovers of art, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, Romanesque churches... It is called the town-museum which is visible in the famous portal of Trogir cathedral by the craftsman Radovan in 1240.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
- Meet your guide and head for a private guided walking tour of this amazing historic town.
- Visit sights from its long and turbulent history such as the church of St. Donat, originally built in the 9th century in Byzantine style. Another landmark is the cathedral of St. Anastasia constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries in Romanesque style. The main city street – The Wide Street – or Kalelarga, together with modern architectural solutions of Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun are unique in the world.
- Later, head towards Trogir, a 2h ride away.
- Upon arrival, meet your guide and head for a private guided tour.
- The tiny and unique town of Trogir – beautifully set within medieval walls, its streets knotted and maze-like. It’s fronted by a wide seaside promenade lined with bars and cafes, and yachts in the summer. Trogir is unique among Dalmatian towns for its profuse collection of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture along with its magnificent cathedral, which earned a UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997.
- Continue to Split, 45min ride away.
- Check-in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
- Split has many charming restaurants, wine, and olive oil bars. After your evening stroll at the seafront promenade, go for an aperitif and a plate of small bites at Zinfandel or Uje Oil Bar. Proceed with an enjoyable Dalmatian-style meal, finest seafood or juiciest steaks, in one of the Split restaurants.
- Overnight.
- Private English-speaking guide in Trogir
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Split
5
Day 5 SPLIT
Olives, indigenous aromatic plants, the brilliancy of white stone against the verdant vegetation, and the towering mountain massif of Biokovo whose spurs reach all the way to the sea – yes, this is indeed an exceptional part of the country, and its beauty is made all the more enchanting by numerous historic events and monuments, and cultural manifestations. When, in the year 305, the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruled the entire world at that time, decided to build his leisure time abode - in which he intended to spend the rest of his life - he had no doubt as to exactly where build to it. In the very heart of Dalmatia, in the bay of Aspalathos (Split), well protected from the sea by the islands of the Split archipelago, and defended on its landward side by high mountains, Diocletian created a special point on the map of the Adriatic: the future city of Split.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Meet your English-speaking guide in the lobby and head for a private walking tour of Split.
- Your private walking tour will cover the Diocletian's Palace and the surrounding medieval highlights. Walk inside Diocletian’s Palace, once the summer residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian and you’ll see bars, restaurants, and shops thriving amidst the atmospheric old walls where Split life has been going on since the 4th century. Split has risen on the foundation of the palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian built in 305 AD. Various cultural monuments are located inside and outside the Diocletian’s Palace walls, as Renaissance Prokurative Square, noble family’s palaces, churches, galleries, and museums.
- After the tour, have some leisure time to further explore Split on your own.
- Riva Harbor, known as the Riva, sits right along the coast of the Adriatic Sea and is a place to relax, stop at a cafe, people watch, or grab a bite to eat. Palm trees line the walkway where you can enjoy beautiful views and watch the boats coming in and out of the harbor. Day or night, there is always something going on along the Riva!
- Overnight in Split.
- Private English-speaking guide in Split
- Entrance to Diocletian’s palace
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Split
6
Day 6 SPLIT – HVAR – SPLIT
The lavender island that Conde Nast's signature travel magazine called "one of the best 10 islands in the world”. Hvar is the number-one holder of Croatia’s superlatives: it’s the most luxurious island, the sunniest place in the country (2724 sunny hours each year), and, along with Dubrovnik, the most popular tourist destination. A vacation on the lavender island of Hvar means extraordinary experiences every day - from visiting an ancient olive grove and learning about what Homer called “liquid gold”, taking drives to discover hidden inland Hvar to exploring a castle, visiting the oldest theatre in Europe, or tasting spectacular local delicacies.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Head towards the pier where you will embark on a 2h ride ferry to Stari Grad on the island of Hvar.
- Upon arrival experience the island of Hvar and enjoy wonderful views and nature with a local guide and stories about the island's life, tasting the most outstanding lavender delicacies and local food on the island. You will discover the island in all its senses.
- Explore the historical town of Stari Grad, a 2 400 years old town protected by UNESCO. In Jelsa, savor the local ambiance and wine tastings Drive by very interesting 'lavender roads' and visit the little town of Vrboska.
- Later, head for lunch at a family estate of one of the best olive oil producers in Croatia in Vrisnik. This special lunch takes place at the olive oil grove house. All of the herbs and vegetables used in the preparation of your meal are locally grown and each is planted and cultivated on sustainable and environmentally responsible principles.
- Visit Napoleon Fortress where your eyes will be fully open for beautiful scenery pictures. Discover the historical legacy of the town of Hvar. As we stroll through Hvar's picturesque streets you'll come to know centuries of Dalmatian architecture.
- Return to Stari Grad port and embark on a ferry to Split.
- Overnight.
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Split
7
Day 7 SPLIT – BRAČ – SPLIT
Brač is famous for two things: radiant white stone, from which Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the White House in Washington, DC (oh, yes!) are made, and Zlatni Rat, the long pebbly beach at Bol that sticks out lasciviously into the Adriatic and adorns 90% of Croatia’s tourism posters. It’s the largest island in central Dalmatia, with two towns, several sleepy villages, and a dramatic Mediterranean landscape of steep cliffs, inky waters, and pine forests. The interior of the island is full of piles of rocks – the result of the back-breaking labor of women who, over hundreds of years, gathered the rocks in order to prepare the land for the cultivation of vineyards and olive, fig, almond, and sour-cherry orchards.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Head towards the Split pier where you will embark on a ferry that will take you to the Supetar pier on island Brač.
- Our trip starts with a short drive to Škrip; the oldest place on the island, about 3000 years old, but also a museum in the open that is not to be missed.
- You will visit a family Museum of Olive Oil, where you will be able to taste the best olive oils and to experience all their charms. You will discover all the secrets to making olive oil and the sorts of olives. (includes transfer, olive oil tasting, guide, entrance to oil museum)
- After Škrip, we continue to Donji Humac, situated on top of a little hill in the central part of the island. We take a walk through Donji Humac, a place well known for stone processing and small family carving workshops existing and turning stone into art pieces for decades now.
- Lunch in a restaurant where you can taste delicious lamb meals.
- We will drive you slowly to the island's highest peak – Vidova Gora, 778 m high. This is the highest peak of all Adriatic islands, providing an astonishing view over the islands of Hvar and Vis, and, in fine weather, even Italy.
- After the tour, head back to the Supetar pier to embark on the ferry that will take you back to Split.
- Upon arrival to Split, head towards your hotel.
- Overnight.
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Split
8
Day 8 SPLIT – STON – DUBROVNIK
Ston sits on the cape of land connecting the Pelješac Peninsula to the mainland. Known as a salt-producing town, Ston was an important military fort of the Ragusan Republic, and the defensive walls are world-famous. The 900 meter encircles the area for three miles - the second largest in the world after the Great Wall of China. Despite its military history, nowadays Ston is a small, laid-back fishing town, which boasts some dramatic views - think crumbling churches, olive groves, and a stunning coastline. Its former value as a “salt city” gets confirmed even today in the plants of the oldest active salt-works in the world. These saltworks have remained faithful to the tradition and to the natural way of salt production which has not changed since remote ages. Oysters and mussels from the Mali Ston bay are appreciated around the world.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
- Meet your driver and head for a 3-hour drive towards Ston.
- Admire the little village of Ston, famous for its magnificent city walls fortification complex dating back to the 14th century.
- Next is a spectacular gourmet tour where you will have a chance to learn about the production of these world-famous delicacies. Your host will take you on a boat ride to his oyster farm on the sea where you will get a chance to learn about oyster production. Taste the oysters fresh out of the sea or try to open one on the spot. Drizzle a little lemon juice on them and have a taste of the sea.
- The tour will be rounded up with a great seafood lunch.
- Afterward, enjoy a tour of the winery and casual tasting. This winery is one of the oldest and best in Croatia where you can taste a selection of wines.
- After the tour at the winery, continue towards Dubrovnik which is an hour's drive away.
- Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and enjoy some time at leisure.
- Overnight.
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Dubrovnik
9
Day 9 DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is a medieval city on the Croatian side of the Adriatic coastline and a treasure trove of cultural, historical monuments that were created throughout its thousand-year existence. In the past, it was a City-Republic, and alongside Venice one of the most famous cultural-economic centers on the Mediterranean. In more recent times, it has become the center of modern cultural and tourist events: a city of summer festivals, a city of museums and galleries. These values have turned Dubrovnik into a place that offers a rich selection of various experiences and excitement, but also a complete holiday in a quiet and calming, mild Mediterranean ambiance and wonderful seaside landscapes.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to Pile Gate where you will meet your guide and head for a private walking tour of Dubrovnik Old Town.
- Regardless of whether you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time or the hundredth, the sense of awe never fails to descend when you set eyes on the beauty of the old town. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming jaded by the city’s marble streets, baroque buildings, and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic.
- After the tour, time at leisure to further discover Dubrovnik on your own.
- Take the revamped cable car ride up to Mt Srđ; marvel at the Mediterranean lifestyle and the interplay of light and stone; trace the rise and fall of Dubrovnik in museums replete with art and artifacts; exhaust yourself retracing history. Be amazed by the breathtaking views of the Old City of Dubrovnik, the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea, and the numerous islands.
- Overnight.
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Dubrovnik
10
Day 10 DUBROVNIK – CAVTAT – KONAVLE REGION – DUBROVNIK
Cavtat is built on the site of the Roman colony Epidaurum which was destroyed in the 7th-century Slav and Avar invasions. The beauty of its nature, green lush vegetation, beaches, and interesting monuments attract numerous visitors. Without Cavtat, there’d be no Dubrovnik, as it was refugees from the original Cavtat who established the city of Dubrovnik in 614. But Cavtat is interesting in itself. A lot more ‘local’ than Dubrovnik, it has its own charm. Wrapped around a very pretty harbor that’s bordered by beaches and backed by a curtain of imposing hills, the setting is lovely.
Itinerary
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Today you will have a private full-day tour of the Cavtat and Konavle regions and a cooking class
- Meet your private driver and transfer to Cavtat.
- Upon arrival enjoy exploring this charming town on your own.
- The beauty of its nature, green lush vegetation, beaches, and interesting monuments attract numerous visitors. Cavtat’s most famous personality is the painter Vlaho Bukovac (1855–1922), one of the foremost exponents of Croatian modernism. His paintings are liberally distributed around the town's main sights.
- Afterward, enjoy a scenic journey to the picturesque region of Konavle, home to around 30 picturesque villages that have settled among the verdant natural beauty.
- Continue towards village Lovorno, a farm owned by a local family that has preserved its traditional way of life as it once was.
- Upon arrival at the estate, you will spend some time with the family and assist them in daily activities s.a. plucking vegetables from their gardens and assisting in cooking.
- After your memorable experience, your driver will take you back to Dubrovnik.
- Overnight.
- Accommodation at 4* Hotel in Dubrovnik
11
Day 11 DUBROVNIK - Departure Day
- Breakfast at hotel; check out from your hotel in Dubrovnik.
- Depending on your flight, meet your driver at the hotel for a private transfer to Dubrovnik airport for catching your flight onward.
- Private transfer from your hotel in Dubrovnik to the airport in a modern, air-conditioned car
Escorted IndependentTraveler package includes:
- All private and English-speaking guides and drivers
- VAT tax included
- 24hr concierge and in Croatia assistance
- 2 nights’ accommodation, Hotel 4* in Zagreb, BB basis
- 1-night accommodation, Hotel 4* in Zadar, BB basis
- 4 nights’ accommodation, Hotel 4* in Split, BB basis
- 3 nights’ accommodation, Hotel 4* in Dubrovnik, BB basis
- Private transfer from the Zagreb airport to your hotel in a modern, air-conditioned van
- Private guided tour of Zagreb in old-timer cars (tickets to the sights not included)
- Zagreb card
- Private transfer Zagreb – Plitvice Lakes – Zadar in a modern, air-conditioned van
- National Park Plitvice Lakes entrance tickets
- Private guided tour of Plitvice lakes
- Private English-speaking guide in Zadar (tickets to the sights not included)
- Private transfer Zadar – Trogir – Split in a modern, air-conditioned car
- Private English-speaking guide in Trogir (tickets to the sights not included)
- Private English-speaking guide in Split (tickets to the sights not included)
- Diocletian’s Palace entrance tickets
- Ferry tickets Split – Stari Grad – Split
- Full-day private tour of the island of Hvar including a visit to the winery
- Lunch at a family estate in Vrisnik
- Ferry transfer Split – Supetar – Split
- Private tour of Brač island (includes transfer, olive oil tasting, guide, entrance to oil museum)
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Private transfer Split – Ston – Dubrovnik
- Ston oysters experience
- Seafood lunch
- Winery tour and casual tasting
- Private transfer Dubrovnik hotel – Old Town in a modern, air-conditioned van
- Private English-speaking guide in Dubrovnik
- Cable car ride to Mt Srđ
- Private transfer Dubrovnik – Konavle – Dubrovnik in a modern, air-conditioned van
- Culinary experience in a local household
- Private transfer from your hotel in Dubrovnik to the airport in a modern, air-conditioned car
- Meals and drinks not mentioned above
- Airfare, Travel Insurance
- Additional excursions and / or services not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses (internet, telephone, mini bar, etc.)
- Tips and porterage services
- Prices are based on the number of passengers traveling and dates of travel
- Hotels are not guaranteed until confirmed
- Available dates upon request
- Travel between late May - October
- Double occupancy, Solo traveler with supplement
- Customizable! Make this your own, custom experience
- Price and availability are subject to change based on travel dates, availability, hotels