Croatia Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast 1 - Itinerary
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Day 1: Zagreb's Old Town On your arrival at the Zagreb International Airport (ZAG), a Sights and Soul Travels representative will meet you at your flight arrival time for your private transportation to the historic Regent Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. After some time to rest after your fight, you will meet your group in the afternoon, and after a short welcome session, we'll enjoy an introductory walk through Zagreb's Old Town, followed by a welcome dinner of Dalmatian culinary specialties and wines, while getting to know other travelers and talking about the city's history, past and present. Day 2: City Tour of Zagreb We'll spend our first full day in Croatia with a private costumed guide, slowly discovering the hidden gems of the city of Zagreb, hearing amazing stories from the history of the city, not mentioned in any guidebooks. The "steampunk" themed tour will captivate us with a sense of what it might have been like to live in Zagreb during the 19th and early 20th centuries. At the conclusion of the tour, we'll enjoy a traditional Croatian lunch, and after returning to the hotel, the rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the city's authentic atmosphere, great shopping and many historical surprises at leisure. Day 3: Zagreb to Split via Plitvice Lakes This morning, we'll leave the city, and set out to discover the Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of Croatia's most unforgettable sights. We'll spend the day strolling by the sixteen terraced lakes, along, above and below the dozens of crystal waterfalls and across the moss covered fairyland, admiring the travertine underwater formations taking on the jewel-toned colors of the surrounding nature. Then, we'll take a short boat ride across the pristine Kozjak Lake, where we'll have some free time for a rustic picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we'll continue to the city of Split on the shores of the Adriatic Sea to check into Hotel Park Split with its stunning beachfront location and luxurious amenities. In the evening, we'll enjoy an elegant dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Day 4: Split and Trogir Today, we'll spend the morning enjoying our hotel's resort amenities: we can visit the spa, kayak on the Adriatic, stroll in the beautifully landscaped gardens or relax by the pool or on the beach with fantastic view of the sea and the Adriatic Sea islands. In the afternoon, we'll have a private tour of the island of Trogir, previously a leper colony and now filled with medieval treasures. After returning to Split, we'll tour the Emperor Diocletian's Palace and the remains of the Roman town surrounding it, along with the medieval Old Town section of this white marble city. In the evening, we'll enjoy dinner at an atmospheric restaurant just off the Riva Promenade, followed by an evening stroll for a gelato. Day 5: Hvar Island After breakfast today, we'll set out to explore one of the Mediterranean's most celebrated islands. We'll take a private speedboat to the lavender-covered Hvar, one of only three European islands included in the World's Ten Most Beautiful Islands List. Upon arrival, we'll take a guided tour of Hvar's Old Town, then we'll have time to explore the island, enjoy the many secret beaches and coves, walk up to the medieval castle overlooking the town, walk among the lavender fields and olive groves below the castle and right outside the town's medieval gate, spend time in a café people watching or shop for unusual jewelry, lavender and olive oil for which Hvar is best known. In the evening, we'll sail back to Split and enjoy a traditional Croatian Mediterranean dinner. Day 6: Split to Dubrovnik via Ston: Oysters and Wine Experience Today, we'll continue our exploration of Croatia's dramatic Dalmatian Coast, as we travel south, along the celebrated Dalmatian coastline, past the unique Ottoman Empire cross-road towns with exotic oriental architecture. En route, we'll stop at the Peljesac Peninsula, known for its wine and for its oysters. We'll visit the village of Ston, famous for its Great Wall of Ston, its salt flats, and also for its oysters, considered an aphrodisiac since the Roman times. We'll take a short boat excursion to enjoy the untouched natural beauty of the protected ecosystem of the Mali Ston Bay, dotted by many small islets to learn about the cultivating oysters process and to sample several kinds of locally harvested oysters, paired with excellent local wines. We'll have a lavish lunch at a family-owned restaurant in Mali Ston, followed by a visit to a local vineyard to learn about and sample several Peljesac Peninsula wines. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at Rixos Premium Dubrovnik Hotel in Dubrovnik, and after such an exciting day, we'll enjoy a low-key dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Day 7: Dubrovnik's Old Town and Srd Hill This morning, we'll enjoy a private guided tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town to learn about the history of the city. We'll stroll down the Stradun Promenade, visit the Franciscan Monastery, Orlando's Fountain, Sponza Palace, the Rector's Palace and the Renaissance Dubrovnik Cathedral with works by Titian and Rafael. After lunch at a terrace restaurant in the Old Town's prime seafront location, we'll take the cable car up the Srd Mountain for spectacular views of the city and the Adriatic Sea. We can spend the afternoon according to our personal preferences: walk the ancient walls surrounding the Old Town, further explore the Old Town, spend time at the beach or take advantage of the many amenities of our hotel. Day 8: Ferry to Lokrum Island Today, we'll take a ferry to the beautiful island of Lokrum and spend the morning exploring this nature reserve that has historical sites including the ruins of a 12th century Benedictine monastery, a 19th-century fortress, and the remnants of ancient Roman structures. After we return to Dubrovnik, there will be free time to spend in town enjoying lunch on your own, or perhaps some shopping, before we meet in the evening to celebrate our adventures during the farewell dinner. Day 9: Dubrovnik Departures Depending on your returning flight's departure time, you may have some free time in the morning, before your private transfer to the Dubrovnik International Airport (DBV) according to your flight departure time.
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