Country Roads Of Croatia

Transfers to your hotel depart from Zagreb airport. Join your travel director for a welcome dinner, with the opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers over a pleasant evening with wine.

Join your local expert to explore the two-tiered capital of Croatia. Take a walk and see the art Pavilion, the academy of Sciences and Art and pass Zrinjevac Park. We then board the city's funicular to St. Mark's Church and the Lotrscak Tower, take a walk back down through the Stone gate and back to the Square. The afternoon is at leisure. Relax and enjoy your hotel's amenities or perhaps take an Optional Experience to the Zagorje region to learn about the local traditions and visit the house of Marshall Tito.

Venture into Slovenia to visit the world-famous Postojna Caves. Step aboard the cave train and descend into a subterranean world of stunning stalactites, stalagmites, columns and curtains. Marvel at the five-meter tall Brilliant, the cave's most beautiful stalagmite. Return to Croatia, where your hotel is in Rijeka.

Cross the heart-shaped peninsula to explore the Jewels of Istria with your local expert. Visit the well-preserved first-century arena at Pula, scene of brutal gladiatorial battles in Roman times. Continue to the charming old town of Rovinj, rising directly from the sea. Wander through the cobbled streets lined with tempting shops, pastel-colored bars and sidewalk cafes.

Explore Plitvice with Insight Choice. Choose between two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences: Join a local expert to explore Plitvice National Park and learn how the site actively carries out research to monitor the natural habitat of species. Alternatively meet the industrious women of the Tara Community Center, who produce handicrafts, enabling employment and engagement in the community.

The green forests of Plitvice Lakes National Park give way to pebble-dashed shores lapped by turquoise waters. Walk through the Roman Ruins and market to see the sea organ of Zadar. Witness the dramatic change in landscape, as you travel through Mediterranean olive groves on your way to Trogir, a city founded by the Greeks in 3rd century B.C. Admire the cathedral and Renaissance Cipiko Palace before continuing to the historic port of Split. In the evening, don't miss the opportunity of dinner in a traditional konoba.

The Roman Emperor Diocletian built his palace here, and today it forms the heart of the Old Town of Split. With your local expert, explore the 1,700 year-old palace cellars and learn the story of the infamous emperor. Continue through the labyrinthine streets and arcaded squares to see St. Duje's- originally Diocletian's Mausoleum, and the Temple of Jupiter, which today is a baptistery, as well as the Golden Gate. Your island-hopping adventure begins here. Cross the azure waters of the Adriatic to spend two nights on Hvar, famed for being the sunniest island in the country and boasting an interior dotted with lofty mountain peaks and aromatic fields of lavender.

Enjoy a full day at leisure, as you explore the hidden coves, secluded beaches, old monasteries and villages of Hvar. Perhaps stroll around seaside Stari Grad, known for being one of Europe's oldest towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maybe visit the local museum with its impressive collection of archeological finds dating back to Greek antiquity or enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant. You could even see the glitz and glamour of Hvar Town with its yacht-lined marinas, famous for being the trendy playground of the rich and famous.

Cruise back to the mainland and continue your journey to the island of Korcula, known for its grace, history and rich culture. The perfect place for relaxing, the island is filled with quiet coves and small beaches that dot the south coastline. This evening, dinner will be at the hotel.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces of this charming medieval town.

Continue to the walled town of Dubrovnik, "paradise on Earth" according to George Bernard Shaw. Join a walking exploration of the city, guided by a local expert. Get a glimpse into local life, as you explore the stone-paved streets inside the 16th century bastions of the Old Town. Walk past Onofrio's Fountain, see the Old Jewish Quarter and the synagogue, and marvel at the grandeur of the cathedral and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. With the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps enjoy the luxuries of the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, your home for the next three nights.

Spend the day at your leisure or enjoy an optional visit to Montenegro, traveling along the coast to the pretty port town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A photographer's dream, capture one of the most beautiful parts of the bay and learn about some of the compelling history of this area. Return to Dubrovnik and enjoy an evening at your leisure. Perhaps start at a trendy wine bar, followed by dinner at a romantic sidewalk cafe.

Make the most of a day at leisure in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Relax by the pool, shop in the markets or perhaps take the opportunity to visit Cavtat, one of the most enchanting seaside resorts in Croatia. This evening, should weather permit, you're invited to embark on a dazzling cruise around the fabled bay of Dubrovnik. Start your celebration dinner with the national favorite drink, a glass of grappa. Savor authentic flavors of local specialties washed down with locally produced wine.

Your journey draws to a close after breakfast. You will depart from Dubrovnik airport.