Croatian Natural Beauties

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Ready to-use itinerary

OVERVIEW

  • 16 days private tour
  • Regions: Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia, Zagreb, Lika, Central Croatia
  • Discover main Croatia’s national treasures of wilderness, like National Parks: Plitvice Lakes, Krka, Kornati, Brijuni, Mljet, Učka Nature Park, Zagorje  region and many others
  • Enjoy local food and wine
  • Explore diversity of natural beauties - from amazing Adriatic coast and islands to mountainous regions and green hills covered in vineyards
  • Boat tours to discover the islands and coast included
  • Arrival airport: Zagreb – Departure airport: Dubrovnik

 

Day 1    ZAGREB AIRPORT - ZAGREB CITY CENTER

Arrival at Zagreb airport. Transfer to your hotel in Zagreb. After the accommodation in the hotel, use a free time to discover Zagreb on your own - you can take a relax walk through a center of a city with a rich history dating from the Roman times. Optional: Take a private tour guide and find out all about this old town  from your professional guide. Enjoy in excellent dinner and glass of local wine. In the evening, have a drink in Tkalca Street or Cvjetni Square. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2    MEDVEDNICA NATURE PARK

In the morning, visit Medvednica Nature Park, a forest-covered mountain rising above Zagreb. Enjoy in the fresh air, kilometers of hiking trails, its highest peak Sljeme (1,035 m) which provides a panoramic view of metropolitan Zagreb, the Sava and the Kupa valleys, and the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje. Take a walk along one of the many educational trails and visit the old Medvedgrad, a recently restored medieval burg built in the 13th century, represents a special attraction of Medvednica hill. It overlooks the western part of the city and also has the Shrine of the Homeland, a memorial with an eternal flame. You can have a lunch in one of many good local taverns and taste rich and widely appreciated gastronomy, part of the Austro-Hungarian heritage. After the lunch, return to hotel in center of Zagreb. In the early evening, you can use a free time to explore city park Maksimir, city square and park Zrinjevac or some other attractions, like The Botanical Gardens which contains as many as ten thousand plants from all four corners of the globe. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3    SAMOBOR - ZAGORJE TOUR

After the breakfast, leaving Zagreb and traveling to Zagorje region where you will enjoy fresh mountain air and discover the beauty of the mountainous landscape mixed with a culture, tradition and superb cuisine. First stop is Samobor, a medieval town of Baroque architecture that lies on the eastern slopes of the Samoborsko gorje hills - great location for hikers and holiday-makers. Don’t leave Samobor without trying a famous kremšnita (a custard slice)! We continue our trip towards TrakošÄ‡an castle, situated on a hill and surrounded by a forest park and beautiful lake. It represents a natural and cultural heritage of the highest category. After the lunch stop at the traditional Zagorje cellar and on our way to Thermal Spa hotel, we will stop in Krapina, a famous location of the European prehistoric period to visit the Krapina Neanderthal Museum that will take you back to the age of the Neanderthal and to the beginning of the origins of our species. At the end of this exciting journey at the museum, you can follow the trail in the forest to authentic ancient habitat of Neanderthals. After an exciting day spent in nature, you can relax and spend an evening at the hotel with Thermal Spa with healing thermal water as a source of health and energy. Have a great healthy dinner and enjoy in local dishes of superb Zagorje cuisine. Overnight at the Thermal Spa hotel in Zagorje region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4    UÄŒKA NATURE PARK - OPATIJA

In the morning, traveling to Kvarner region – a unique aromatherapy in the open! Here you can feel an unique mixture of sea air and mountain climate that has a beneficial effect on people's health. After the accommodation in the hotel in Opatija, a beautiful small town with perfect location on the coast at the foot of Mount Učka, you will have a whole afternoon to enjoy Učka Nature Park that  can be easily reached from Opatija. The tower on highest peak Vojak is rising  1,401 meters above sea level. It was built in 1911 to benefit from the mountain’s wonderful panoramic  360° views of Istria, the Kvarner Bay with the islands and mountains. Numerous walking paths and educational trails will satisfy even demanding hikers! Opatija will charm you with its public gardens and beautiful villas due to rich history as Europe's most important health resorts of the 19th century so in the evening, you can take a relaxed walk through city center or along the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the "Lungomare”.Overnight at the hotel in Opatija.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5    GORSKI KOTAR REGION

Spend a day on a fresh air surrounded by beautiful untouched nature of Gorski kotar, cradled between the continental Croatia and its coastal regions! Gorski kotar boasts a wealth of forests, waters, flora and fauna and it is called the 'Green Heart of Croatia'. On this private trip to Gorski kotar, you will visit some of many nature beauties like the Kamačnik Canyon, a protected landscape and a water course of great beauty in the length of 3200 m where a walking trail will guide you along the crystal clear river through the rich vegetation of protected plant species with various animal life. Another natural beauty and natural reserve to visit is Zeleni vir (Green source), a powerful spring at the bottom of a shallow, spacious cave where a picturesque waterfall crashes down the vertical 70-metre-high cliffs, creating a glittering water curtain. There you can find Vražji prolaz (The Devil’s Passage), one of the most beautiful 800-metre-long canyon where you can walk between a hundred meter high cliffs. On our way back to the hotel in Opatija, we will stop at Fužine, a small town on the Lake Bajer with an attractive footpath around the lake, ideal for relaxed walk. Another very attractive nature beauty located nearby beautiful small town of Fužine is Vrelo Cave – a 4 milion years  old and 300 meters long cave, illuminated and with fully paved path inside. Back to Opatija and overnight at the hotel in Opatija.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6    MOTOVUN - TRUFFLES HUNTING & TASTING - ROVINJ

In the morning, departure to Istria region driving through the Učka Tunnel. Istrian inland gives way to the kind of green and fertile hues associated with the landscapes of Provence and Tuscany. Arriving to the handsome hill town of Motovun, the most picturesque hilltop town of inner Istria, situated on a hill above the Mirna River where we will enjoy breathtaking view on famous Motovun forest - habitat of the white and black. Here you can have an unique truffles experience – truffles hunting in Motovun forest, located below the medieval town of Motovun in the valley of the river Mirna, cooking with our host and tasting unique truffle flavors in a delicious meals with truffles. It will be an opportunity to taste local wines and olive oils. After this interesting adventure you will know a lot about truffles and the hunt for truffles as well as how to prepare an excellent home-made dish with truffles. Driving to romantic, medieval town Rovinj to overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7    BRIJUNI NATIONAL - PULA

In the morning, you can use a free time to sightseeing, where you will discover more about picturesque old town of Rovinj. After the tour, we are traveling to Fažana – an entrance to Brijuni National Park. You will visit the only National Park in Istria with its 14 islands and remarkable animal species, rare flora and carefully preserved traces of 5000 years of human history all at one place. Our next stop is 3000 years old town of Pula, a place where you can have great late lunch and find many ruins from Roman time, like the Amphitheatre - imposing Arena, the 6th largest in the world, one of the best preserved Roman Amphitheaters in the world, the most significant monument in Pula. Your private guide will show you all the beauties of Pula and tell you interesting stories of its history. Driving back to the hotel, overnight at the hotel in Rovinj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8    LIM CHANNEL - RASTOKE - PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK 

After the breakfast, in twenty minutes’ drive north of Rovinj you will visit a flooded canyon valley - Lim Channel, also known as Lim Bay or Lim Fjord. Lim Channel is one of the most beautiful natural resources of the Istrian peninsula. Lim Bay is 10 kilometers long and 30 meters deep and its widest part is around 600 meters wide. From both sides very steep mountains rise, in some parts even up tp 100 meters. On the southern side, don’t miss to visit the Romualdo's cave where during the 11th century and later church ceremonies were held. Leaving Istria and Kvarner region and entering Lika region – our next stop is Rastoke village, known for its well-preserved mills and the picturesque little waterfalls along the Slunjčica river which flows into the river Korana at this place. Here you can have an excellent lunch – don’t miss to try local cuisine and home-made dishes in one of the local tavern situated by the river and waterfalls. Before dinner time, arriving at our destination – National Park Plitvice Lakes, accommodation and overnight at the hotel in Plitvice Lakes National Park area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9    PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK - ZADAR

After the breakfast, you will enter world famous and one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe, largest in Croatia and UNESCO Site - Plitvice Lakes National Park, arranged in cascades, the world of green forest and crystal water. The 16 lakes that can be seen from the surface are grouped into the 12 Upper Lakes (Gornja jezera) and the 4 Lower Lakes (Donja jezera). The network of paths and bridges permits pleasant and safe walking during the visit and sightseeing is also organized by tourist train and boat rides. You will see many small streams and spill into each other in cascades and thundering waterfalls but as well as the highest waterfall - the Large Waterfall (78m). Every season has its own unique charm and the Plitvice Lakes with their alternating colors and every new awakening, both trapped in ice or in the shade of the trees, will leave you with a very distinct, unique and invaluable impression. After the tour, driving direction Zadar, overnight at the hotel in Zadar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 10  KORNATI NATIONAL PARK - TELASCICA NATURE PARK

In the morning, before the departure for Kornati National Park and Telascica Nature Park, discover the town of Zadar this ancient three thousand years old city on your own or optional: take a private tour guide to tell you all about main historical and cultural monuments. After the sightseeing, take a whole-day boat tour to explore Kornati National Park, often mentioned as "nautical paradise" due to the 89 unforgettable islands, islets and reefs. With their raw beauty, they remained intact of the development of the modern time, located between two quite different areas, the northern Adriatic, and the southern Adriatic, Kornati islands is an archipelago with the highest density on the entire Mediterranean where highest cliff is 82m high. The Kornati form part of TelašÄ‡ica Natural Park. Boasting the safest, most beautiful and largest natural port on the Adriatic, the scenery is characterized by rocks plummeting into the sea from a height of 160 meters and the only saltwater lake on the Adriatic, Lake Mir. After day spent on the boat and on the fresh sea air with a sound of waves, have a healthy dinner and take a rest. Overnight at the hotel in Zadar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 11  VRANA LAKE NATURE PARK - SKRADIN - KRKA NATIONAL PARK - ŠIBENIK

After the breakfast, first stop is Vrana Lake Nature Park, located between the two historical cities of Zadar and Šibenik, a natural phenomenon, the largest natural lake in Croatia. Vrana Lake is one of the rare intact natural habitats of water birds, precious for its fresh water springs and immense biodiversity. This karst valley filled with brackish water and below-sea-level is unique for its location and characteristics. Next stop before entering Krka National Park is a picturesque old town Skradin, found at a point where the river passionately embraces the sea, simply magical in its each and every detail. Skradin is also the entrance to National Park Krka. The Krka River is a natural and karst phenomenon and entering National Park Krka you will for sure be impressed by the beauty of  its seven travertine waterfalls. Take the opportunity to discover these wonderful waterfalls by walking over the wooden bridges and familiarize yourself with many cultural and historical monuments. After the tour and good lunch, in half an hour we arrive in Šibenik. Overnight at the hotel in Šibenik.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 12  ŠIBENIK - SPLIT - MARJAN PARK 

After the breakfast, take a short sightseeing tour of Šibenik and visit world famous The Cathedral of St James, UNESCO World Heritage Site, built entirely from stone using unique construction techniques but also illustrate the successful fusion of Gothic and Renaissance art. After the city tour and one hour of driving, we will arrive in Split. Before the accommodation in the hotel our first stop is Marjan park, the green oasis and lungs of the town of Split. There are many walking trails through the park located just above the sea. You can enjoy in breathtaking view on the city and nearby islands from one of the many viewpoints. Upon check-in, you can have a traditional Mediterranean lunch and drink a coffee in one of the many coffee shops on Split waterfront. After the lunch, you will meet your local guide to take you to private guided sightseeing tour of Split where you will hear all about the Diocletian Palace, an ancient palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD. A walk through the ancient city takes you through time, along the great examples of ancient architecture like Peristyle, the middle aged Romanesque Church and Gothic Palace and many others. Overnight at the hotel in Split.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13  NERETVA VALLEY - DUBROVNIK

In the morning, driving direction Dubrovnik with a stop above amazing Neretva Valley where you’ll have the “wow effect” of a vast plain panorama. It is a delta, a place where the river Neretva is entering the Adriatic sea. Known by many as the “mandarin valley” the Neretva basin’s rich soil, from years of sediment, and a constant supply of a fresh water has brought many a successful harvest. Driving to our destination, “The 'Pearl of the Adriatic”- Dubrovnik. Before check-in, be amazed with breathtaking view on the Old City of Dubrovnik, Adriatic Sea and numerous island and enjoy in a great lunch from the top of SrÄ‘ Hill, a hill rising above the city, today world famous tourist spot where the Museum of the Patriotic war is situated. After the lunch and check-in, you will meet the local guide which will take to private sightseeing of Dubrovnik, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will hear all about famous Dubrovnik’s history and explore the Old Town’s central street Stradun, the Franciscan Monastery (with one of the oldest pharmacies in the world), the renaissance Rector’s Palace, town walls, Lovrjenac Fortress as well as many picturesque squares and churches of this amazing town. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik.        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14  MLJET NATIONAL PARK - STON

After the breakfast, you will take an full-day excursion to Island of Mljet, called „Green Island“ and eighth largest Croatian island, situated near the peninsula of Pelješac. You will be amazed with a beautiful scenery, crystal clear sea, lakes, islands, rich cultural heritage make the island  truly paradise on earth. Our first stop is Mljet National Park, the oldest marine protected area in the Mediterranean, and spans over almost a third of the island. Two deep bays filled with seawater, known as Malo Jezero and Veliko Jezero (Small Lake and Great Lake) are the most famous locations of this area and an important geological and oceanographical phenomenon. You can visit some of numerous archaeological finds and the heritage, the Benedictine monastery located at one of the most beautiful locations in these areas, on the island of St. Mary on Veliko jezero, or hike along marked walking trails. Town of Ston is on our way back. It is very famous by its oysters so you can have delicious late lunch with a glass of high quality wine from Pelješac at Ston. After the lunch, you can admire its medieval architecture, since once it was a military fort of the Ragusan (Dubrovnik) Republic, and take a walk along The Ston wall, the longest fortification walls in Europe. Back to Dubrovnik, overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 15  ISLAND OF LOKRUM - ELAPHITI ISLANDS

In the morning, take a boat ride to visit Island of Lokrum, the Nature Reserve, inhabited since prehistoric times. There you will discover many horticultural sites, interesting history and historic buildings. Discover why Lokrum’s gardens hold a special place in the Dubrovnik and Croatian heritage of park art. After the lunch in Dubrovnik, take private boat tour to Elaphiti islands, a small archipelago consisting of several islands stretching northwest of Dubrovnik. On this private boat tour you can explore 3 biggest Elafiti Islands: hopping from Koločep to Lopud and Šipan. The islands are covered with characteristic Mediterranean evergreen vegetation and rich in history, nature and beauty. Lopud, traditionally an island of Dubrovnik seamen and captains, is famous by its sandy beaches, Franciscan monastery, early-medieval architecture and the beautiful Arboretum, while Šipan, the largest of the Elafiti islands is rich in summer manors. Koločep is the smallest settled island in the Elafiti Archipelago and it is famous for the fishermen, coral, pine tree forest and sandy beach. Enjoy panoramic views of the walled city of Dubrovnik on your way back to Dubrovnik harbor. Overnight at the hotel in Dubrovnik.             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 16  DEPARTURE (DUBROVNIK AIRPORT)

Transfer from your hotel in city center to Dubrovnik airport. Departure to home-journey.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Istria and Kvarner region:

  • Rovinj, Pula, Motovun, Opatija, Fužine
  • Brijuni National Park, Lim Channel, Motovun forest, Učka Nature Park, Kamačnik Canyon, Zeleni Vir spring, Vrelo Cave
  • Roman Amphitheater in Pula
  • Truffles hunting, truffles, wine & olive oil tasting

Dalmatia region:

  • Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Šibenik, Skradin, Ston
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik, The Cathedral of St James, Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian, Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • National Parks: Krka, Kornati, Mljet; Nature Parks: Telascica, Lake Vrana; Park Marjan, Neretva Valley, Mt. SrÄ‘, Island of Lokrum Nature Reserve, Elaphiti Islands

Other regions:

  • Zagreb, the capital, Samobor, Krapina, Rastoke
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site: Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Nature Park Medvednica
  • TrakošÄ‡an Castle, Krapina Neanderthal Museum
  • Thermal Spa: Terme Tuhelj

 

PRICE PER PERSON

$ 2.200

starting from:

The price shown is approximate for a private tour based on a group of 4  people. Final price is depending on your specific query, special needs or interests and traveling date.

INCLUDED IN PRICE:
  • Private Car & Driver service for all road transportations including airport transfers
  • Boat ride to National Park Brijuni and Island of Lokrum
  • Private boat ride to National Park Kornati, Nature Park Telascica  and Elaphiti Islands
  • Private local licensed English speaking tour guide for sightseeing: Istria tour, Pula, Split, Dubrovnik, Zagorje tour, Učka Nature Park, Gorski kotar tour
  • Entrance tickets: TrakošÄ‡an Castle, Krapina Neanderthal Museum, NP Brijuni, Amphitheater in Pula, Kamačnik Canyon, Zeleni Vir spring, Vrelo Cave, Diocletians Place Split, NP Krka, NP Kornati, NP Telascica, NP Plitvice Lakes, Island of Lokrum
  • Truffles hunting and tasting in Istria
  • Wine & olive oil tasting in Istria
  • 24 hour assistance
  • VAT & tourist taxes
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:
  • Airline tickets
  • Accommodation
  • Additional health insurance
  • Meals 
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything else not mentioned in the inclusion

 

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