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- Day 1 Welcome to Zagreb Arrive in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, where 19th-century park-lined boulevards of the Lower Town lead up to the historic Upper Town around Ban Jelačić Square and Dolac Market. Meet your Travel Director and your small group over dinner, sharing dishes and getting to know the people you’ll be traveling with across the country. Locations Visited: Zagreb HR.
- Day 2 Explore Cultural Zagreb Start with an experience at Kolekcionart Gallery, meeting the curator and a local artist to hear how they collaborate on presenting contemporary art in Zagreb. Join your Local Expert to explore Zagreb’s compact center on foot, starting with the Art Pavilion, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the tree-lined paths of Zrinjevac Park. Ride the short funicular up to the Upper Town to see St. Mark’s Church and the Lotrščak Tower before descending through the Stone Gate towards the main square. The afternoon is at leisure to follow Zagreb’s cafe-lined streets, visit a small museum or return to Dolac Market, or join an Optional Experience into the countryside at Kumrovec. Locations Visited: Zagreb HR.
- Day 3 Postojna Caves and On to the Coast Leave Zagreb and cross into Slovenia to visit the Postojna Cave system, one of Europe’s best-known karst landscapes. Travel by underground train and on foot through a sequence of vast chambers, where stalactites and stalagmites show how water shapes this limestone plateau over millions of years. Continue to the Adriatic and arrive in Opatija, a former Habsburg resort town on the Kvarner Gulf. In the evening, walk the lungomare and choose a seafront restaurant for grilled fish or Kvarner prawns, or look for a simple konoba, a traditional Croatian tavern, tucked behind the villas. Locations Visited: Zagreb HR, Postojna SI, Opatija HR.
- Day 4 Roman Pula and Rovinj in Istria Travel into Istria with your Local Expert, a region shaped by Roman, Venetian and Habsburg rule. In Pula, visit the 1st-century Pula Arena, one of the world’s largest surviving Roman amphitheatres, once hosting crowds of up to 20,000 for gladiatorial games. Walk the stone terraces and look out towards the harbor that kept this port connected to the wider empire. Continue to Rovinj, a former island town later linked to the mainland. Narrow cobbled lanes climb towards St. Euphemia’s Church, while working fishing boats still line the quays. Use the rest of the day to wander the peninsula, climb to the church square or follow the waterfront paths towards the beaches. Locations Visited: Opatija HR, Istria HR, Pula HR, Rovinj HR, Opatija HR.
- Day 5 Plitvice Lakes National Park Leave Opatija and follow the Adriatic coast, with views of bays, islands and small harbor towns, before turning inland through the forests and karst scenery of the Lika region. On arrival at Plitvice, Insight Choice offers two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences. Join a Local Expert in Plitviče Lakes National Park to learn about habitat conservation and the work taking place to protect this UNESCO-listed landscape, or meet women from the Tara community at your hotel to hear their stories and see the traditional handicrafts they create. Locations Visited: Opatija HR, Plitvice Lakes National Park HR.
- Day 6 Zadar’s Roman Streets, Trogir Lanes and onto Split Leave Plitvice and travel back towards the Adriatic, arriving in Zadar, a city where Roman ruins, medieval churches and everyday markets share the same compact peninsula. Walk past the remains of the Roman forum and through the market, where stalls stack local cheese, smoked ham and seasonal fruit. Afterwards, use free time to listen to the Sea Organ on the promenade, step into St. Donatus Church or climb a bell tower for harbor views. Continue south to Trogir for an orientation with your Travel Director, taking in St. Lawrence’s Cathedral and the Cipiko Palace, before reaching Split. In the evening, perhaps choose a local konoba, where simple Dalmatian dishes offer a clear taste of everyday cooking in this part of Croatia. Locations Visited: Plitvice Lakes National Park HR, Zadar HR, Trogir HR, Split HR.
- Day 7 Inside Split’s Diocletian’s Palace and Across the Sea to Hvar Meet your Local Expert in Split where you’ll explore Diocletian’s Palace, the 4th-century fortified retirement complex that still forms the heart of the city. Walk through its cellars and Peristyle as you hear how an emperor from nearby Salona reshaped this harbor. You’ll visit St. Duje’s Cathedral, once his mausoleum, then continue to the Golden Gate at the northern edge of the old town. There’s time to find lunch in a palace courtyard or along the Riva. Board your ferry to Hvar and settle into one of Croatia’s best-known island harbors. Before dinner at the hotel, there may be time to walk the waterfront, taste local wine from the island’s vineyards or climb to the hilltop fortress for views across the Pakleni Islands. Locations Visited: Split HR, Hvar HR.
- Day 8 Exploring the Island of Hvar A full day on Hvar gives room to explore the island at your own pace. Around Hvar Town’s main square, you’ll find cafes and bars for a morning coffee, bakeries serving burek and konobas offering grilled fish, black risotto and simple seafood lunches. Coastal paths lead to small swimming coves or boats out to the Pakleni Islands. Inland, visit the Franciscan monastery or browse shops for lavender, olive oil and local wine. Alternatively, join an Optional Experience to Stari Grad and Vrboska, including a visit to a wine cellar to taste island specialties. Locations Visited: Hvar HR.
- Day 9 The Islands of Dalmatia Leave Hvar by ferry, crossing back past the central Dalmatian islands towards the Pelješac and Korčula channels. On arrival in Korčula Town, you’ll settle into a compact walled center set on a small peninsula, with streets fanning out from St. Mark’s Cathedral. There is time to explore at your own pace: walk part of the walls or find a swim spot just beyond the Old Town. In the evening, come together for dinner at the hotel, with a chance to try Dalmatian dishes and local Korčula wines. Locations Visited: Hvar HR, Korčula HR.
- Day 10 Discover Korcula In Korčula Town, you’ll join a Local Expert for a walking tour inside the compact walled Old Town. You’ll see St. Mark’s Cathedral and the main square, then continue past the Town Museum, the Bishop’s Palace and the Town Hall, where Venetian coats of arms still show centuries of rule from across the Adriatic. You’ll also visit the ruins linked to Marco Polo’s birth house, hearing how this long-standing tradition grows around the island’s trading past. The rest of the day is free to walk the seafront walls, swim from nearby platforms, or find a konoba for grilled fish, brodet or a glass of local Pošip. Locations Visited: Korčula HR.
- Day 11 Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic Leave Korčula and travel along the Pelješac Peninsula, an area known for vineyards and shellfish farms. Weather permitting, board a private boat across the bay to Mali Ston and begin with a glass of traditional brandy. At a local shellfish farm, meet an oyster farmer, learn how Ston Bay oysters and mussels are cultivated and taste fresh shellfish with a glass of local wine. Continue to Dubrovnik and join a Local Expert for a walking tour of the Old Town, passing Onofrio’s Fountain, St. Blaise’s Church, the cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery. Afterwards, time is free to turn into the side streets, walk a section of the city walls or take the cable car to Mount Srđ for views over the harbor and islands. Locations Visited: Korčula HR, Peljesac HR, Dubrovnik HR.
- Day 12 Dubrovnik, Your Way Enjoy a full day in Dubrovnik with the choice to explore independently or join an Optional Experience to Montenegro. If staying in the city, you’ll find quieter corners beyond the Old Town: walk or take a local bus to the Lapad peninsula for an easy coastal path, spend time on beaches such as Uvala Lapad or Sveti Jakov, or join a sea-kayaking trip along the coastline. In town, you might visit the Rector’s Palace or Franciscan pharmacy, or look for local sweets such as rožata in a small bakery. Alternatively, you can travel to Montenegro, following the Bay of Kotor to Kotor, a UNESCO-listed town. Locations Visited: Dubrovnik HR.
- Day 13 Dubrovnik at Leisure Spend your final full day in Dubrovnik at your own pace. Return to the Old Town’s limestone streets, walk a section of the city walls or browse for local products such as olive oil, sweets or handmade textiles. Those looking to slow the pace can head for one of the city’s swimming spots or take a quieter route along the coastline outside the walls. In the evening, weather permitting, you’ll have the chance to join a short cruise across the Bay of Dubrovnik before sitting down to dinner together with your small group, marking the end of your journey through Croatia. Locations Visited: Dubrovnik HR.
- Day 14 Farewell Dubrovnik Transfer to Dubrovnik Airport after breakfast, saying goodbye to your Travel Director and small group, and bringing your journey through Croatia to a close. Locations Visited: Dubrovnik HR.
Name: Country Roads of Croatia - Small Group
Brand: Insight
Quality: Superior First Class
Tour Type: Escorted
Start City: Zagreb
End City: Dubrovnik
Location Summary: Zagreb, HR
Postojna, SI
Opatija, HR
Istria, HR
Pula, HR
Rovinj, HR
Plitvice Lakes National Park, HR
Zadar, HR
Trogir, HR
Split, HR
Hvar, HR
Korčula, HR
Peljesac, HR
Dubrovnik, HR
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Highlights
- Dining Summary - 6 Dinner (D). 13 Breakfast (B).
- Well-being - Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.. Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day..
- Additional Included Highlights - Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.. From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.. Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).. If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport..
- Insight Experiences - Zagreb: Meet the curator and a local artist at Kolekcionart Gallery, hearing how they collaborate with younger Croatian artists to present contemporary work. Learn about recent exhibitions and the ideas behind selected pieces as you move through the space, with time to ask questions about their practice and Zagreb’s art scene..
- Top Rated Highlights - Zagreb: Walk with your Local Expert from the 19th-century parks and facades of the Lower Town towards the older streets around the main square. Along the way, you’ll see key buildings such as the Art Pavilion and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, setting out the city’s main landmarks.. Zagreb: Ride Zagreb’s funicular, in operation since 1890 and often cited as one of the world’s shortest public-transport funiculars. The 66 m (217 ft) line links Ilica Street with the Upper Town in around a minute, giving an immediate sense of the change from the commercial Lower Town to the old fortified ridge.. Postojna Cave: Explore Postojna Cave, a karst system with more than 20 kilometers of surveyed passages and one of the first caves in Europe to introduce an underground railway in the 19th century. Inside, discover the cave’s role in karst research and spot endemic species such as the proteus, or “olm”, that live in these underground waters.. Trogir: Join an orientation of Trogir, a UNESCO-listed island town where narrow stone lanes lead to St. Lawrence’s Cathedral and the 15th-century Cipiko Palace, setting out the mix of Romanesque and Venetian detail that defines this small Adriatic harbor. . Hvar: Cross the central Dalmatian channels with clear views of neighboring islands and the Pelješac Peninsula.. Korčula: Follow your Local Expert through the walled Old Town, visit St. Mark’s Cathedral and cross the main square. You’ll pass the Town Museum, Bishop’s Palace and Town Hall, seeing how medieval fortifications and later Venetian details fit together on this small peninsula.. Ston: Board a private boat to cross the bay towards Mali Ston, with clear views of the Pelješac shoreline and its vineyards. Sip a glass of traditional brandy and see how small boats, farms and villages are linked by this sheltered stretch of water.. Dubrovnik: Walk the limestone Stradun with a Local Expert, stopping at Onofrio’s Fountain and St. Blaise’s Church. You’ll visit the cathedral and Franciscan Monastery and see how the compact, UNESCO-listed Old Town sits within its defensive walls beside the harbor.. Dubrovnik: Sail across the bay to see the walled city, fortresses and coastline from the water. As the light changes, you’ll have time on deck for photos and a last look back at Dubrovnik before returning to shore for dinner..
- Insight Choice - Plitvice Lakes National Park: Join a Local Expert to explore Plitviče Lakes National Park and learn how ongoing studies monitor and protect its fragile lake and forest habitats. Hear about habitat restoration, low-impact visitor practices and work to safeguard local wildlife, as staff share village traditions and their own stories of living beside the park. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.. Plitvice Lakes National Park: Join the ladies of the Tara Center, where income from tourism has funded a small community hub for the Tara Citizens’ Association, formed mainly by older women, many once refugees. Hear about local customs and personal stories of the village, and learn about the traditional handicrafts that support their income and well being. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality..
- Authentic Dining - Ston: Meet an oyster farmer and see how oysters grow on ropes suspended in the bay. You’ll learn about the Ston Bay environment, the harvesting process and taste freshly opened oysters or mussels paired with a glass of local Dalmatian wine.. Dubrovnik: Come together with your Travel Director and small group to share a final meal. It’s a chance to look back on the journey from Zagreb to the coast and islands, swap favorite moments and say goodbye over Croatian dishes..
- Choice Highlights - Choose between two carefully selected activities. Plitvice Lakes National Park: Join a Local Expert to explore Plitviče Lakes National Park and learn how ongoing studies monitor and protect its fragile lake and forest habitats. Hear about habitat restoration, low-impact visitor practices and work to safeguard local wildlife, as staff share village traditions and their own stories of living beside the park. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.. Plitvice Lakes National Park: Join the ladies of the Tara Center, where income from tourism has funded a small community hub for the Tara Citizens’ Association, formed mainly by older women, many once refugees. Hear about local customs and personal stories of the village, and learn about the traditional handicrafts that support their income and well being. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality..
