Compare Croatia's Dalmatian Coast Highlights by Audley Travel vs Country Roads of Croatia - Small Group by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 6,730 | $ 5,295 |
| Price Per Day | $ 673 | $ 353 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
From medieval walled cities and forested national parks to sleepy islands and secluded coves, Croatia offers a wide range of places to visit, each influenced by its past Roman, Venetian, Napoleonic and Viennese rulers. |
Discover Croatia’s rich heritage and stunning Dalmatian coastline—with fascinating itineraries curated by Local Experts. Charting a course through the cities of Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, the journey pauses for sea-to-table oysters in Ston, a quaint coastal village. Croatia’s culinary delicacies are also the order of the day at Celebration Dinner in Dubrovnik paired with wine and grappa. Explore Plitvice National Park, one of Europe’s great natural wonders. On this Insight Choice, learn about local Tara Community folklore, or journey through the forest paths, alongside 16 interconnecting lakes. |
Day 1 Split
Split
After leaving baggage claim, you’ll be welcomed at Split airport by your private guide who will escort you to your hotel in the city. You’ll have some time to settle in before meeting a local guide at your hotel who will take you around the historic, marble streets of Diocletian’s Palace revealing its hidden history during an afternoon walking tour.
Day 2 Split
Split
Explore north of Split with your private guide visiting Kamerlengo Fortress and the side streets of Trogir. From here, you’ll continue to the 14th-century city of Šibenik to see the Cathedral of Saint James before taking a short drive to Krka National Park. Here, you’ll have a chance to walk the scenic trails and view the park’s waterfalls from a series of viewpoints.
Day 3 Hvar
Split , Hvar
After checking out of your hotel, you’ll join a private driver and guide on a ferry to the island Hvar. Arriving in Stari Grad you'll stroll the narrow lanes lined by fortified houses. You'll then drive through the island's hills, passing olive groves and vineyards, before stopping at one of Hvar's best wineries to enjoy a guided tasting of local wines. You'll finish the day in Hvar town, where your hotel is located within the well-preserved historic core.
Day 4 Hvar
Hvar
Today you'll have the day at leisure. Choose from exploring nearby bays and beaches, renting a local boat for the day to the islands of Biševo or Vis or spend a relaxing day by the pool at your hotel.
Day 5 Hvar
Hvar
In the morning, you’ll join your private guide for a kayaking trip to the nearby Pakleni Islands. Your guide will provide all the equipment needed, as well as refreshments, so you can spend your morning paddling around secluded bays, stopping for a hike through pine forests, swimming in secluded coves or relaxing with a picnic on a pebble beach. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to relax at your hotel or explore some of Hvar’s 16th-century palaces or its Spanish fortress.
Day 6 Korčula
Hvar , Korčula
Leaving Hvar, you’ll take an hour-long ferry journey to the island of Korčula, the 13th and 14th-century walls and towers of Korčula town particularly impressive when first seen from the water. After checking into your hotel, you’ll meet your private guide for a walking tour of the walled city often referred to as ‘Little Dubrovnik’ thanks to its medieval walls, imposing churches and Venetian palaces, before boarding an authentic 1920’s sailing vessel for a private sunset cruise around the coast.
Day 7 Dubrovnik
Korčula , Dubrovnik
You’ll continue south today after a 15-minute ferry ride to the mainland followed by a scenic drive through the Pelješac Peninsula, one of the country’s top wine regions. You’ll sample a few glasses at two local wineries before a visit to an oyster farm in Ston for a tasting of their celebrated shellfish. From here, it’s a 90-minute scenic drive along the Dalmatian Coast to your hotel in Dubrovnik.
Day 8 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Explore the old town of Dubrovnik with your private guide, taking in highlights such as the city walls and the Church of Saint Blaise as well as lesser-known attractions that offer a deeper insight into the history of the city. Then, board the cable car to the top of Mount Srđ for expansive views of the city, coast and islands.
Day 9 Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Your last full day in Croatia will be yours to enjoy as you please. Perhaps explore the nearby island of Lokrum to see the Royal Fort, visit the Benedictine monastery and its botanical gardens or swim in crystalline waters. Alternatively, you could relax on the popular Sveti Jakov Beach or simply laze by the pool at your hotel
Day 10 Return home
Dubrovnik
Your private driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Dubrovnik airport in plenty of time for your departing flight.
Day 1: Welcome to Zagreb
Transfers to your hotel depart from Zagreb airport at 11:30 and 14:00. Relax and settle in or perhaps head for the romantic chestnut-lined Stross Promenade for your first views over the city. At 17:30, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner, with the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers over a pleasant evening with wine.
Sheraton Zagreb Hotel.
Dinner with Wine
Day 2: Zagreb’s Twin Towns Relaxed Start
Join your Local Expert to explore the two-tiered capital of Croatia. Drive through the squares of the Lower Town, Donji Grad, designed to give a sense of grandeur. See the Mimara Art Museum in Roosevelt Square and continue to Ban Josip Jelacic Square en route to the cathedral. Board the city's funicular to the medieval Upper Town, Gornji Grad. It's a network of little streets, stretching between the Kaptol and Gradec hills. View the former Presidential Palace, Stone Gate, St. Mark's Church and the Lotrščak Tower. The afternoon is at leisure. Relax and enjoy your hotel's amenities or perhaps take an Optional Experience to the Zagorje region to learn about the local traditions and visit the house of Marshall Tito?
Sheraton Zagreb Hotel.
Breakfast
Day 3: Postojna Caves and on to Belle-Epoque Opatija
Venture into Slovenia to visit the world-famous Postojna Caves. Step aboard the cave train and descend into a subterranean world of stunning stalactites, stalagmites, columns and curtains. Marvel at the five-metre tall Brilliant, the cave's most beautiful stalagmite. Return to Croatia, where your hotel is in the Belle Époque seaside resort town of Opatija, nestled at the foot of Mount Učka. Take time to stroll by the luxurious villas along the tree-lined seafront promenade.
Amadria Park Hotel Agava, Opatija.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 4: Discover the Jewels of Istria
Cross the heart-shaped peninsula to explore the Jewels of Istria with your Local Expert. Visit the well-preserved first-century arena at Pula, scene of brutal gladiatorial battles in Roman times. Continue to the charming old town of Rovinj, rising directly from the sea. Wander through the cobbled streets lined with tempting shops, pastel-coloured bars and sidewalk cafes.
Amadria Park Hotel Agava, Opatija.
Breakfast
Day 5: Pristine Plitvice National Park
Enjoy the scenery of the Adriatic coast in the morning - journey past sparkling deep blue seas, studded with rocky islands, before heading inland to visit one of Europe’s great natural wonders. Explore Plitvice with Insight Choice. Choose between two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences: Join a Local Expert to explore Plitvice National Park and learn how the site actively carries out research to monitor the natural habitat of species. Alternatively meet the industrious women of the Tara Community Centre, who produce handicrafts, enabling employment and engagement in the community.
Hotel Lyra, Ličko Petrovo Selo.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 6: The Dalmatian Coast to Split
The green forests of Plitvice Lakes National Park give way to pebble-dashed shores lapped by turquoise waters. Walk through the Roman Ruins and market to see the sea organ of Zadar. Witness the dramatic change in landscape, as you travel through Mediterranean olive groves on your way to Trogir, a city founded by the Greeks in 3rd century B.C. Admire the cathedral and Renaissance Čipiko Palace before continuing to the historic port of Split. In the evening, don't miss the opportunity of dinner in a traditional konoba.
Hotel President Solin, Split.
Breakfast
Day 7: Island Hopping to Hvar Relaxed Start
The Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace here, and today it forms the heart of the Old Town of Split. With your Local Expert, explore the 1,700 year-old palace cellars and learn the story of the infamous emperor. Continue through the labyrinthine streets and arcaded squares to see St. Duje's- originally Diocletian's Mausoleum, and the Temple of Jupiter, which today is a baptistery, as well as the Golden Gate. Your island-hopping adventure begins here. Cross the azure waters of the Adriatic to spend two nights on Hvar, famed for being the sunniest island in the country and boasting an interior dotted with lofty mountain peaks and aromatic fields of lavender.
Amfora, Hvar Grand Beach Resort.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 8: Exploring the Island of Hvar Relaxed Start
Enjoy a full day at leisure, as you explore the hidden coves, secluded beaches, old monasteries and villages of Hvar. Perhaps stroll around seaside Stari Grad, known for being one of Europe’s oldest towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Maybe visit the local museum with its impressive collection of archeological finds dating back to Greek antiquity or enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant? You could even see the glitz and glamour of Hvar Town with its yacht-lined marinas, famous for being the trendy playground of the rich and famous.
Amfora, Hvar Grand Beach Resort.
Breakfast
Day 9: On the Trail of Marco Polo to Korčula
Cruise back to the mainland and continue your journey to the island of Korčula, known for its grace, history and rich culture. The perfect place for relaxing, the island is filled with quiet coves and small beaches that dot the south coastline. This evening, delight in seasonal fare during a Croatian dinner.
Hotel Liburna, Korcula.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 10: Captivating Korčula Relaxed Start
In the morning, join a knowledgeable Local Expert for a walking tour of the Old Town. Marvel at spectacular views of the mainland as you stroll towards the main square of Korčula where the Cathedral of St. Mark dominates the ancient skyline. Hear about local legends and history from your Local Expert, stopping by the Town Museum, the Bishop’s Palace with its treasury collection and the Town Hall. Visit the ruins of the house where according to local legend Marco Polo was born. The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces of this charming medieval town.
Hotel Liburna, Korcula.
Breakfast
Day 11: Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic
Journey to the beautiful southern slopes of the Pelješac Peninsula. Weather permitting, cruise the tranquil waters of the bay of Mali Ston and admire the surrounding untouched natural beauty, as you enjoy a glass of traditional Croatian brandy. Stop at a shellfish farm and meet Tomislav, a local oyster farmer, to learn about the cultivation and harvest of oysters. Enjoy a delicious Sea-to-Table tasting of the fresh shellfish, accompanied with a glass of wine. Continue to the walled town of Dubrovnik, 'paradise on Earth' according to George Bernard Shaw. Join a walking exploration of the city, guided by a Local Expert. Get a glimpse into local life, as you explore the stone-paved streets inside the 16th century bastions of the Old Town. Walk past Onofrio's Fountain, see the Old Jewish Quarter and the synagogue, and marvel at the grandeur of the cathedral and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. With the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps enjoy the luxuries of the five-star Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, your home for the next three nights.
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace.
Breakfast, Morning Tea
Day 12: Optional Montenegro Experience Relaxed Start
Spend the day at your leisure or enjoy an optional visit to Montenegro, travelling along the coast to the pretty port town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A photographer's dream, capture one of the most beautiful parts of the bay and learn about some of the compelling history of this area. Return to Dubrovnik and enjoy an evening at your leisure. Perhaps start at a trendy wine bar, followed by dinner at a romantic sidewalk cafe?
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace.
Breakfast
Day 13: Dubrovnik at Leisure Relaxed Start
Make the most of a day at leisure in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Relax by the pool, shop in the markets or perhaps take the opportunity to visit Cavtat, one of the most enchanting seaside resorts in Croatia. This evening, should weather permit, you're invited to embark on a dazzling cruise around the fabled bay of Dubrovnik. Start your Celebration Dinner with the national favourite drink, a glass of grappa. Savour authentic flavours of local specialities washed down with locally produced wine.
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 14: Depart Dubrovnik
Your travels draw to a close after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Dubrovnik airport at 05:00, 09:00 and 11:30.
Breakfast
