The Best of Croatia!
(Option: Customized Itineraries)
Zagreb-Rovinj-Plitvice Lakes-Zadar-Split-Dubrovnik, Croatia - 14 nights
Available year round
Has Croatia been on your radar for some time now? It has become quite popular and always somewhat of a secret but it has now turned into a fascinating destination for people from all over the world. Active Gourmet Holidays has designed this 14 night tour for those who want to experience "the best of the best" in this beautiful country. Of course the tour can be customized but we believe we have included all of the elements from this diverse land so as to enable you to enjoy a fantastic discovery of Dalmatia!
Your tour will include such places as Zagreb, Rovinj and Plitvice Lakes, Split and Dubrovnik which are all UNESCO World Heritage sites. You will see castles, taste incredible foods and wines, have a cooking class, go on a truffle hunt and stay in 4 and 5 star accommodations.
So if you have two weeks to explore, then we highly suggest this incredible escape to a European gem!
ITINERARY
Day One
ARRIVAL ZAGREB
Transfer from the airport to your 5 star hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening to rest after your long journey.
Overnight at your hotel.
Wecome to Croatia!
Day Two
ZAGREB-TRAKOSCAN CASTLE-VUGLEC BREG WINERY WINE TASTING
After breakfast, departure to one of the most beautiful locations in Croatia - Trakošćan Castle site. It is a 13th century hilltop castle and has been renovated in the neo-Gothic style in the 1850s. Explore the museum inside and imagine how splendid it must have been to live in the castle. Enjoy a walk in the park with a lake below the castle.
After the tour of the castle your next stop will be one of the best wineries in Croatia - Vuglec Breg. Located in the middle of Zagorje region, it produces sparkling wines with a traditional champagne method, which have won numerous awards including Decanter, as well as other traditional wine sorts of continental Croatia such as Chardonnay, Riesling, and other indigenous varieties.
A wine tasting, after the tour of the winery, will offer a great introduction in the world of Croatian wines and will provide a background in the history of the wine producing tradition as well as a contrast to different varieties of coastal Croatia. For lunch traditional roasted duck and other local dishes will be served.
Return to Zagreb in the evening.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
Day Three
ZAGREB
After breakfast a private guided tour of Zagreb will be organized. A modern city with Medieval roots, rich with history, culture and filled with museums, Zagreb is truly a Central European capital becoming a tourist destination of itself.
After the tour lunch will be organized in one of the top Zagreb restaurants.
Free afternoon for shopping and enjoying strolling in many of the beautiful Zagreb parks.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY FOUR
ZAGREB - ROVINJ
After breakfast departure to Rovinj in Istria. After settling in your hotel and some resting time private guided tour of Rovinj will be organized.
Rovinj is one of the most romantic and most photographed places in the Mediterranean. The town of Rovinj is the right destination for all seeking a sentimental atmosphere of the times that have forever gone by. The town was founded on an island, later connected to the mainland, with its restricted area resulting in crowded houses, narrow streets and small squares, still untouched by modern urbanism, just perfect for late night walks. Old town is dominated by the Baroque St. Euphemia’s Church with the seaside part of the town protected by cliffs, houses built directly on them, and mainland protected by wall.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY FIVE
ISTRIA EXPERIENCE - TRUFFLE HUNTING, MOTOVON - WINERY VISIT
In the morning you will go and meet your private truffle hunter and his dogs, your companions in your treasure hunt in the local woods. Experience firsthand what it is like to search for this amazing mushroom which enriches dishes to sublime quality.
Later you will go to Motovun, overlooking the Mirna River valley, surely the most famous and attractive Istrian medieval town. This captivating hilltop town is one of the characteristic symbols of the Istrian peninsula. Motovun is surrounded by vineyards from which the finest Istrian wines, white wine Malvasia and red wine Teran, are produced. After the tour of Motovun you will have your truffle-based lunch in a traditional tavern. There you will have a traditional lunch which incorporates world famous Istrian truffles.
Following lunch, you will visit an excellent local winery where you will have a tasting of Istrian wine and olive oil.
Return to Pula in the early evening.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY SIX
ROVINJ - NP PLITVICE LAKES
After breakfast transfer to Plitvice Lakes area and to your hotel. Free afternoon and evening.
Overnight at your 4 star hotel.
DAY SEVEN
NATIONAL PARK PLITVICE LAKES
In the morning, after breakfast, you will start your tour of Plitvice Lakes. Breathtakingly beautiful, Plitvice Lakes is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the oldest national park in Croatia. The waters flowing over the limestone and chalk have, over thousands of years, deposited travertine barriers, creating natural dams which in turn have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls. Walk on wooden bridges and drive on electric boats so that you can experience firsthand this nature's wonder.
A traditional lunch will be organized after your tour. Free afternoon and evening.
Overnight at your 4 star hotel.
DAY EIGHT
NP PLITVICE LAKES - ZADAR
*Optional: Instead of city of Zadar it is possible to organize a direct transfer to Split and add the island of Hvar as a destination or one day trip from Split. Hvar island can include experiences such as wine tastings, a boat trip to Blue Cave and a cooking class with a Master Chef
You will have a private guided tour of Zadar in the afternoon after settling into your hotel. One of the high points of the tour will be a visit to Museum of Ancient Glass. There you will experience a demonstration of an ancient method of blowing glass and manufacturing with the only master currently in Croatia.
Your final stop of the tour will be world famous location of sea organs where your will enjoy this unique music created by the sea overlooking one of the best sunsets in the world, as sunsets In Zadar were once described by Alfred Hitchcock. After sunset dinner will be organized in a nearby restaurant, one of the best in Zadar.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY NINE
NIN - ZADAR
Just a short ride from Zadar a tour of Nin, the oldest royal town in Croatia will be organized. It is also known as the town of salt which used to be a source of wealth throughout the city's long history. We will start the tour by visiting the salt pan where the tradition of salt making has been present since ancient times.
After the visit to the Museum of salt, we'll head back to Nin city center and explore the town's impressive number of ancient monuments dating back to 9th century AD. After Nin we will head back to Zadar hinterland for wine tasting and a traditional “peka” lunch. Free evening.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY TEN
ZADAR - NP KRKA-SIBENIK - SPLIT
Pick up in the morning and transfer to nearby National Park Krka. You will travel with your luxury Mercedes vehicle to Skradin where you will relax at your own pace exploring the stunning Krka National Park and strolling among amazing waterfalls. After the National Park you will visit a local winery and have your own private wine tasting and stroll through the vineyard. With expert guidance of the winemaker you will learn about local wine varieties, some of the best in Croatia, and how the Skradin area because of its climate and terroir is ideal for wine production. Your next stop in Šibenik was Croatia’s first major coastal and coronation city dating to the 11th century, but also a city where the most important Croatian King Petar Krešimir 4th ruled for almost 20 years.
We'll take you through this medieval town and show you its most important sightings including the most valuable cultural monument in town, Cathedral of St. James protected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There after the tour we will organize lunch in one of the best restaurants in Croatia-Pellegrini, holder of a Michelin star located right next to the cathedral. Arrival in Split in early evening.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY ELEVEN
TROGIR - SALONA - SPLIT
After breakfast your first stop of the day will be ancient Salona, just 5 min away from Split. Colonia Martia Iulia Salona was the title of the ancient Roman capital of the province of Dalmatia. The great size, the prosperity and opulence of the ancient city is attested by monumental ramparts with towers and gates, a forum with the temples, a theatre, an Amphitheatre, as well as the unique structures of Episcopal complex and of early Christian churches erected at the cemeteries where Salonitan martyrs were buried. After the barbarian invasions, Croats settled in part of the ruined and abandoned Salona.
After Salona our next stop will be Trogir, just further 20 min away. Trogir has a long and a tumultuous history. The wealth of its archaeological findings shows an uninterrupted continuity of habitation from prehistory to today; there are traces of life in this area dating from the year 2000 B.C. The ancient Greeks founded a colony called Tragurion. After arrival of Croatians it became a Croatian city and finest example of Croatian Romanesque and Renaissance architecture, none more visible that on world famous cathedral of St. Lawrence. Return to Split for lunch and finally tour of Split old town.
The first inhabitant of Split was the Roman emperor Diocletian who started to build his palace in this friendly bay around 293 AD. After his abdication he withdrew to this luxurious palace of about 30 thousand square meters. The town overgrew the walls of the palace and its authorities kept changing - from Croatian kings in 10th century AD, Hungarian and Venetian administration, to French rulers and Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Such past left its traces combined in the town everyday life. The city, however, went on remaining the center of this part of the coast until our day.
Dinner in Split.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY TWELVE
SPLIT COOKING LESSON
Located in the center of Split, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, your cooking class starts by walking through Split's green and fish market. Popularly known as "pazar", green market is the informal center of the town. Rich sights and sounds intertwine with strong characters of produce sellers, locals doing their everyday shopping for lunch and bystanders observing this Mediterranean heart of the city. Same can be said of the fish market. Local fishermen brings in the catch of the day and early in the morning this vibrant and colorful exchange of words - banter starts and ends when you pick your fish.
Your walk with the Chef will include him teaching you his "insider" secrets on how to pick fresh seasonal ingredients and the best fish of the day.
Depending on the market and offer of the day you will continue to prepare 3 course meals. Along with food selection, Croatian wine will be served.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY THIRTEEN
SPLIT - DUBROVNICK - GOURMET FOOD & WINE PAIRING
In the morning after breakfast and checking out of your hotel you will continue to Dubrovnik. On route to Split, you will stop in one of the best wineries in Croatia located on the hills rising from the Adriatic Sea. After the tour of the cellar and the winery you will enjoy a unique gastronomic experience of combining fine food with excellent wines all produced in the vineyard located around you.
In the late afternoon, you will arrive to Dubrovnik and after checking in your hotel you will have a free evening to familiarize yourself with this amazing city.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY FOURTEEN
DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is one of the most recognizable destinations in Europe and World.
In the morning after your breakfast, you will have a private walking tour of Dubrovnik’s city center. Irish author George Bernard Shaw wrote, “Those who seek paradise on Earth must come to Dubrovnik.” The Old Town protected by city walls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A walk along the ramparts reveals a different view of the Elafiti Islands and Old Town. On your tour with your local guide you will see Onofrio fountain, the city bell tower and numerous medieval buildings. '
After the tour you will have the rest of the day free for exploration of the Old Town and afterwards your driver will transfer you back to your hotel.
Option: In the evening it is possible to organize a cable cart ride to a small hill over Dubrovnik where dinner can be organized overlooking entire Dubrovnik. Truly one of the most magical places to dine in all of Croatia and an experience to remember.
Overnight at your 5 star hotel.
DAY FIFTEEN
DEPARTURE
Depending on your flight details, we will organize a transfer to Dubrovnik airport for your outbound flight.
*The content or order of the itinerary may change depending on dates, availability of services or activities, local festivals/holidays, weather constraints, etc. Menus are samples and may vary according to the season
GROUP SIZE
A minimum of 2 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 7 participants. (Please inquire about larger groups)
(The number of participants refers to how many persons are required to run the tour, not to how many persons you must have in your party. Please inquire.)
HOW TO ARRIVE
Closest Airport/Train Station:
Airport: Zagreb Airport - 30 minutes to city center
Train Station: Zagreb train station ("Glavni Kododvor") - located in the city center so about a 10 minute ride by public transportation or private car, depending on hotel
2025 Fees Per Person
Double Room/Please inquire
Single Supplement/Please inquire
*Please inquire about lower pricing based on 4 or more persons
*Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation
Deposit
After availability is confirmed, a 30% non-refundable deposit per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 75 days before your arrival date.
2025 Dates
Available year round upon request for 2 or more participants. Based on availability.
Included
(Zagreb 3 nights 5*, Rovinj 2 nights 5*, Plitvice Lakes 2 nights 4*, Zadar 2 nights 5*, Split 3 nights 5*, Dubrovnik 2 nights 5*)
*All transfers with English speaking drivers in Mercedes vehicles
*All guides and tickets to sights as stated in itinerary
*All meals and wine tastings as stated in the itinerary (5 dinners and 7 lunches) -truffle hunting
*Four (4) winery visits (one gourmet pairing)
*One (1) cooking class in Split
*VAT taxes
Airfare, tips, personal expenses and optional activities are not included.
For further inquiries or to register, click here.
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CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
Furnished upon request
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