|  Click on the image to enlarge the map |
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 Regent Esplanade Hotel in the very center of Zagreb. After some time to rest after your journey and settle in your room, you will meet the rest of the group in the afternoon, to enjoy an introductory walk through Zagreb's Old Town, followed by a welcome dinner of Dalmatian culinary specialties and wines, where you'll get to know other travelers and enjoy a light-hearted discussion about the city's history, past and present. Day 2: City Tour of Zagreb Today, we'll spend the morning with our private costumed guide, slowly discovering the hidden gems of the city of Zagreb, hearing some amazing true stories not mentioned in any guidebook. 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 the early 20th centuries. At the conclusion of the tour, we'll enjoy a traditional Croatian lunch, and the afternoon will be free to explore the city's historical atmosphere, great shopping and many historical surprises at leisure. Day 3: Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes and Split This morning, we'll leave the city, and set out to discover the Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the country'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 and enjoy free time for a lakeside rustic picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we'll continue to the city of Split and check into the historic 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: Trogir Today, we can spend the morning enjoying the resort amenities at the hotel: we can visit the spa, kayak on the Adriatic, stroll in the beautifully landscaped gardens or relax on the beach with fantastic views of the sea and the islands. In the afternoon, we'll join our guide for a private tour of the Roman island city of Trogir, formerly a leper colony and now famous for the many celebrities coming here in their yachts. We'll continue the tour in the city of Split itself, as we tour the Emperor Diocletian's Palace, the old fishing harbor, turned a picturesque seaside promenade and the 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 spend the day exploring one of the Mediterranean's most celebrated islands. We'll start by taking a private speedboat to the lavender-covered island of 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: we can 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 famous. In the evening, we'll sail back to Split and enjoy a traditional Croatian Mediterranean dinner. Day 6: Split to Mostar and Dubrovnik We'll continue our exploration of the dramatic Dalmatian Coast, as we travel south today, along the celebrated Dalmatian coastline of the Adriatic Sea. En route to Dubrovnik, we'll visit the town of Mostar in the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina and explore the many aspects of the town, where Christian and Muslim cultures have co-existed for centuries. We'll join our local guide and learn about the history of the town, stroll across the famous Mostar Bridge and visit the Mehmed Pasha Mosque, then we'll have time to shop in the exotic oriental bazaars and for a lunch of local specialties in one of the many riverside cafes. We'll continue the journey past the unique Ottoman Empire cross-road towns with exotic oriental architecture, before reaching Hilton Imperial Hotel in Dubrovnik in the evening, and after an exciting day, enjoy a low-key dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Day 7: Dubrovnik's Old Town and Srd Hill On our first full day in Dubrovnik, we'll enjoy a guided tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town to learn about the history of the city, once the celebrated capital of the Ragusa Republic. 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 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 dotted with dozens of islands. 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 arrange for sea kayaking. Day 8: Elaphite Archipelago Islands Today, we'll spend the day at sea, as we experience the Adriatic Sea sailing on a private boat. We'll explore the Elaphite Archipelago islands with gardens filled with orange and lemon groves, lovely seashore landscapes, picturesque villages with old seamen's houses, tiny votive churches, pre-Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance ruins scattered among the pine forests, then enjoy a freshly grilled fish and wine lunch onboard the ship Day 9: Ston - Oysters and Wine Experience This morning, we'll set out to explore the Peljesac Peninsula, known for its wine and for its oysters, as we experience this mesmerizing corner of the Dalmatian Coast. First, we'll travel to the village of Ston, famous for its Great Wall of Ston, its salt flats, and also for its oysters, considered an aphrodisiac since 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, as we learn about the process of cultivating oysters. The boat will take us to a private dock, where we'll sample several kinds of oysters paired with excellent local wines. We'll have a farewell lunch at a family owned restaurant in Mali Ston, and end the day with a visit to a local vineyard to learn about and sample several Peljesac Peninsula wines. Day 10: Dubrovnik - Departure After breakfast, depending on your returning flight time, you may have some free time to further enjoy the city of Dubrovnik and its beaches in the morning, before your private transfer to the Dubrovnik International Airport (DBV) according to your flight departure time.
Dubrovnik | Split | Trogir | Plitvice Lakes | Klapa Music | Silk Cocoons | Hvar Island | Mostar | Cuisine | Water and Wine | Books |