Trip to Croatia, discovery of the Adriatic Jewels

Day 1 : Zagreb

Arrival at Zagreb Airport and first contact with Croatia. Collection of your vehicle inside the airport. Rental of a compact C-Class vehicle, type Opel Astra or similar , including:

– Unlimited mileage
– VAT tax
– Manual gearbox
– One driver insurance
– Basic third party insurance: CDW and TP.

Terra Balka can offer other options. On the spot the renter will be able to propose you additional insurances if necessary. – Option included: Delivery of your vehicle at your hotel (according to disponibilities). – Option included: Ferry insurance on the islands. First kilometres in your vehicle. In the distance you can see Zagreb and the Medvednica Mountain overlooking the Croatian capital. Drive to your hotel. Settling in. Meeting with your guide for a private 3-hour discovery tour of Zagreb. The capital of Croatia can be visited, tasted and experienced at any time of the year and at any time of the day. You will walk through it on foot, or by tram, and believe us, it is full of interests and surprises. Its parks, its medieval side, its lively little shops and cafés and all its monuments and museums will charm you.

Highlights of the visit:

Zagreb’s main square (Governor Jelačić’s Square), Old Town, Cathedral, Dolac Open Market, St. Mark’s Church, funicular.

-> Is there something else you want to see? This city tour is tailor-made, we can adapt it:

* to your desires of discovery by opting for such and such a museum;

* to your wish of activity: on foot, by bike, by segway, gastronomic, wine tasting, treasure hunt, etc… Zagreb has many facets and our city tours are very varied.

[To discover Zagreb in video, click here. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qIMHBRRiHE) Overnight in a Boutique Hotel near the historical centre of Zagreb. Standard room.

Day 2 : Zagreb

Road to Istria. Departure from Zagreb to the Istria region. Visit on the road to Hum, then Buzet and Motovun, beautiful hilltop villages that you visit on foot. Arrival at the end of the day in Oprtalj. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in 4-star guesthouse, in the village of Oprtalj, a small paradise in the middle of Istria where you will feel at home . Standard room.

Day 3 : Oprtalj

From one Istria to the other . Green Istria offers many more beautiful discoveries before diving into blue Istria and its main asset: the Adriatic Sea. Discover the villages of Momjan, Buje and especially Groznjan before reaching Novigrad and then Porec with its narrow streets and monuments. Continuing southwards to the small town of Vrsar. Then you overhang the Lim Canal (or fjord) to then go down to a small port. Drive to Rovinj and check in at the hotel. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in a 3-star boutique hotel located in the old town. Standard room.

Day 4 : Rovinj

Meeting with your guide for a 2-hour private walking tour of Rovinj. Rovinj is the most beautiful Venetian wonder of Istria. Founded by the Romans, it preserves the remains of its fortifications. As you walk around the city on foot, along the waterfront, you will discover the charm of the facades, the views of the Adriatic Sea that emerge from the bend in the alley, the surprising little terraces nestled between two rocks.

Highlights of the visit: Arc de Balbi, Clock Tower, St. Euphemia Cathedral, Zlatni Rt Park, Batana Museum.

-> Is there something else you want to see? This city tour is tailor-made, we can adapt it:

* with a few more hours to visit some museums or broaden your historic ;

* to your wish of activity: by bike, gastronomic, wine tasting or treasure hunt. Rovinj has many facets and our city tours are very varied. Self-guided tour of Rovinj. Rovinj is the most beautiful Venetian wonder of Istria. Founded by the Romans, it preserves the remains of its fortifications. As you walk around the town on foot, along the waterfront, you will discover the charm of the facades, the views of the Adriatic that emerge from the bend in the alley, and the surprising little terraces nestled between two rocks. It’s a little piece of paradise that can be discovered at different times of the day: in the morning when you wake up, in the afternoon when it’s hot, and at aperitif time when the night activity begins to take shape.

Suggested highlights: Arc de Balbi, Clock Tower, Saint Eufemia Cathedral, Zlatni Rt Park and Batana Museum. Overnight in a 3-star boutique hotel located in the old town. Standard room.

Day 5 : Rovinj

From the Adriatic to the most beautiful national park in Croatia. Departure from Rovinj to Opatija.

Road along the Adriatic or inland to Opatija, a prestigious seaside resort. Continue to the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in a 3-star hotel, near the lakes and the entrance to the National Park. Superior room.

Day 6 : Plitvice Lakes NP

Exceptional day’s walk in the heart of the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Road to reach the park’s surroundings. You have several choices of visit and we recommend a full exploration. Departure by panoramic train to reach the upper end of the park. The visit begins with a ride along the Upper Lakes, the wildest part of the park, where the lakes merge, the platforms on which you walk pass over bodies of water and waterfalls. The water flows from all sides, it’s magical. Electric boat crossing on Lake Kozjak. Let’s go for a walk on the lower part of the park, through the gorges of the Lower Lakes, which will take you to the Great Waterfall. Continue to the top of the gorge with a panoramic view. Return on foot or by train. This circular program allows you to enjoy the beauty of the lake area of the park as a whole.

-> 8.9 kilometres walk on wooden footbridge. Little elevation gain. About 5 to 6-hour walk. Descent to the Adriatic Sea and the fascinating city of Zadar. Check-in at the hotel. Free visit of the city and its amazing sights: the Marine Organ and the Salute to the Sun. Stroll through the heart of the peninsula which offers a historic centre with medieval churches and Roman remains, cafés and excellent museums. You can alternate between ancient heritage and elegant Habsburg architecture. You will discover a lively and dynamic city, pleasant to live in and visit. Overnight in a 3-star hotel with swimming pool. Standard room. Entry ticket to the park included.

Day 7 : Zadar

Half-day long sailing tour in the Kornati archipelago and swimming in the Lojena lagoon. Sailing around Long Island to discover beaches and secret places. Discovery of Levranka which is an island with deep coves. Lojena beach, located in the southwest of Levrnaka Island, is the only sandy beach in the Kornati archipelago.

* Cross the Kornati National Park and Telaščica to reach the Lojena lagoon.

* Relaxation, water sports and picigin game in the Lojena bay.

* Sailing along and the Long Island.

* View of the famous Stonewall commemorative crosses.

* Back to Zadar enjoying the view of the sea of Zadar and the sea organ. Meeting with your guide for a private 1.5-hour walking tour of the fascinating city of Zadar. Enjoy its amazing curiosities: the Sea Organ and the Salute to the Sun. Stroll through the heart of the peninsula, which offers a historic centre with medieval churches and Roman remains, cafés and excellent museums. You can alternate between ancient heritage and elegant Habsburg architecture. You will discover a lively and dynamic city, pleasant to live in and visit. Your guide takes you into the bowels of the city of Zadar and tells you all the secrets, from the foundations, through the Roman remains, Croatian royalty, the Serenissima Republic to today’s Zadar.

[To discover Zadar in video, click here. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edkv2J0Uv1c) Overnight in a 3-star hotel with swimming pool. Standard room.

Day 8 : Zadar

A day to discover some of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia. Departure from Zadar and descent to the south. Numerous panoramas of the Kornati archipelago. Swimming towards Biograd na Moru before reaching Sibenik and its magnificent medieval quarter whose immaculate stone buildings are reflected in the calm waters of its bay.

Continue along the coast, which offers panoramic views and charming little towns such as Primosten. Arrival then in Trogir which contains a labyrinth of splendid lanes surrounded by medieval ramparts. Visit on foot before reaching Split. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight in a 3-star hotel, traditional property located in a very quiet neighborhood. Standard room.

Day 9 : Split

Meeting with your guide for a private walking tour of Split for about 2 hours. Split, a true wonder of the Adriatic, is experienced intensely. As soon as you arrive, you can already feel the dynamism of the city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Split has both a rich historical heritage and a lively local life. A walking tour of the Diocletian’s Palace, which encompasses the entire old town. The magic of the place works and you take a trip back in time by landing in the middle of the Roman Empire. Discover on foot, and at your own pace, squares, markets, alleys and craft shops.

Highlights of the visit:

Palace Peristyle, St. Domnius Cathedral, St. Lucia Crypt, the Riva River Walk and Grgur Ninski’s Statue.

-> Is there something else you want to see? This city tour is tailor-made, we can adapt it:

* to your desires of discovery by opting for such and such a museum;

* to your wish of activity: on foot, by bike, by segway, gastronomic, wine tasting, treasure hunt, etc… Split has many facets and our city tours are very varied.

[To discover Split in video, click here. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb1cOVOZZBE) Overnight in a 3-star hotel, traditional property located in a very quiet neighborhood. Standard room.

Day 10 : Split

Explore the Island of Korcula, its sandy beaches and coves, its excellent wines and the charm of its old town. From Split drive to the ferry port. Boarding the ferry. Arrival at the ferry port of Vela Luka at the western end of the 47 km long island. Drive to the centre, to discover its authentic side and its landscapes of vineyards and hidden coves, meeting the maquis and forests of Aleppo pines, cypresses and oaks. Possibility to have lunch (not included) in a family restaurant on the terrace. On the menu: local specialities, cold meats, cheese and olive oil. A delight! Then on to Korcula or Lumbarda (depending on your hotel), a small village on the eastern tip of the island. Check-in at the hotel. Ferry from Split to Vela Luka on the island of Korcula. Crossing of about 2h40. Overnight in a 3-star guesthouse. Standard room.

Day 11 : Korcula island

Explore the Island of Korcula, its sandy beaches and coves, its excellent wines and the charm of its old town. Morning departure to meet the maquis and forests of Aleppo pines, cypresses and oaks that cover this rocky island 47 km long. Direction Lumbarda, a small village on the eastern tip of the island. A short walk to reach the end of the island, before reaching a vineyard and tasting the sweet white wine: the famous Grk, produced from vines planted on the sand. Road to the centre of the island to discover its authentic side and its landscapes of vineyards and hidden creeks. Possibility to have lunch in a family restaurant on the terrace (not included). On the menu: local specialities, cold cuts, cheese and olive oil. A delight! Afternoon free to enjoy the hotel, swim or take a bike ride (not included, to be rented on site). Overnight in a 3-star guesthouse. Standard room.

Day 12 : Korcla Island

Authentic immersion on the Peljesac Peninsula. Departure in the morning to reach the ferry port and cross. Arrival in Orebic, a pleasant and authentic seaside resort which was the residence of many retired boat captains, hence the vast and elegant baroque residences with lush gardens. Discovery of the peninsula, known for its unspoiled nature and its crystalline sea offering a very rich underwater world. This peninsula, has as its backbone a mountain range culminating at 961 m of altitude at Mount Sveti Ilija. On the coasts and at their foot, grow vines that produce very famous wines. On the way from Orebic to Mali Ston, one crosses the land of the king of red vineyards, the plavac mali, while discovering idyllic creeks and some fishing villages. Arrival in Prapratno and ferry crossing to Sobra. First steps on the island of Mljet and road to your hotel to settle down in a small corner of paradise. Ferry from Domince to Orebic. Crossing of about 15 minutes. Ferry from Prapratno to Sobra, on the island of Mljet. Crossing of about 45 minutes. Overnight in a 4-star boutique hotel with a spectacular view of the sea. Studio.

Day 13 : Mljet Island

Explore Mljet Island at your own pace. The island can be discovered on foot, by bike, by scooter, by car or by boat. From your breakfast to the evening aperitif, the Island offers you every hour changing landscapes, breathtaking lights, a preserved nature and what about the color of the sky at sunset.

Suggested visits (not included):

– Mljet National Park, with its salt lakes and its summit offering a breathtaking view of the entire park and the surrounding archipelago.
– Walking, cycling or kayaking on the salt lakes
– Ulysses cave and bathing
– Sea walk
– Maritime fishing Overnight in a 4-star boutique hotel with a spectacular view of the sea. Studio.

Day 14 : Mljet Island

Authentic immersion on the Peljesac Peninsula or direct route to Dubrovnik. Departure in the morning to reach Sobra and cross by ferry to Prapratno. From there you have the choice between discovering the peninsula, known for its unspoiled nature and crystal clear sea offering a very rich underwater world, the villages of Ston and Mali Ston. Or take the direct route to Dubrovnik to enjoy the day in the old town or on one of its beaches. Check-in at the hotel. Ferry from Sobra to Prapratno, pn the island of Mljet. Crossing of about 45 minutes. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in the heart of the city of Dubrovnik. Premium room.

Day 15 : Dubrovnik

Very early meeting with your guide for a 2-hour private walking tour of Dubrovnik. You will avoid the crowds and enjoy the most beautiful colours on the Adriatic. Dubrovnik, nicknamed The Pearl of the Adriatic , has captured your imagination for weeks and invited itself into your dreams. Open your eyes! Dubrovnik, the perfect city will dazzle you from the moment you arrive. You discover the white marble streets, the red roofs, the lively terraces, the flight of seagulls, the pleasure boats returning from an excursion to the Elaphite Islands. Stroll at your own pace in this simply unique city with its sublime setting.

Highlights of the visit:

Pile Gate, Stradun (the pedestrian promenade), Onofrio fountain, St. Saviour Church.

[To discover Dubrovnik in video, click here. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation id=annotation 460899399&feature=iv&src vid=kb1cOVOZZBE&v=4tPG4z2HeXg) Drive to the airport 2.5-3 hours before your flight. Return of your vehicle at the airport. Check-in and boarding.