Itinerary
Your Croatian adventure begins in the Capital, Zagreb. Relax and settle in or perhaps head for the romantic chestnut-lined Stross Promenade for your first views over the city. Join your Travel Director for dinner, with the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers over a pleasant evening with wine.
Join your Local Expert to explore the two-tiered capital of Croatia. Take a walk to see the Art Pavilion, the Academy of Sciences and Arts, and pass by Zrinjevac Park. Then board the city's funicular to St. Mark's Church and the Lotrščak Tower, before walking back down through the Stone Gate and returning to the Square. The afternoon is at leisure—relax and enjoy your hotel's amenities, or perhaps take an Optional Experience to Kumrovec, the birthplace of 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-metre tall Brilliant, the cave's most beautiful stalagmite. Return to Croatia to your hotel on the Opatija Riviera
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-coloured bars and sidewalk cafes.
Enjoy the scenery of the Adriatic coast in the morning, journey past sparkling deep blue seas, studded with rocky islands, before heading inland to visit one of Europe's great natural wonders. Join a Local Expert to explore Plitviče Lakes National Park and learn how the site actively carries out research to monitor the natural habitat of species.
Later meet one of the women behind the Tara Community Centre, who produce handicrafts, enabling employment and engagement in the community.
The green forests of Plitviče 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. Travel through Mediterranean olive groves on your way to Trogir, a city founded by the Greeks in 3rd century BCE. Admire the cathedral and Renaissance Čipiko Palace before continuing to the historic city of Solin. 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 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 and villages of Hvar Island. Spend time discovering Hvar Town, known for its elegant harbour, historic architecture and lively atmosphere. Wander the marble streets of the Old Town, climb to the Venetian Fortress for sweeping views over the Pakleni Islands, or relax by the waterfront and enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant. You may also wish to explore the boutiques and cafes lining the yacht-filled marina, long a favourite playground of the rich and famous.
For those looking to delve deeper, an Optional Experience invites you to uncover some of Croatia's oldest settlements, including the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad and Vrboska, with a visit to a local wine cellar for a tasting complemented by local specialities.
Cruise back to the mainland and continue your journey to the island of Korčula, 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.
In the morning, join a knowledgeable Local Expert for a walking tour of the Old Town. Marvel at spectacular views of the mainland as you stroll towards the main square of Korčula where the Cathedral of St. Mark dominates the ancient skyline. Hear about local legends and history from your Local Expert, stopping by the Town Museum, the Bishop's Palace with its treasury collection and the Town Hall. Visit the ruins of the house where according to local legend Marco Polo was born.
The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the narrow streets, beautiful churches and magnificent palaces of this charming medieval town.
Journey to the beautiful southern slopes of the Pelješac Peninsula. Weather permitting, cruise the tranquil waters of the bay of Mali Ston and admire the surrounding untouched natural beauty, as you enjoy a glass of traditional Croatian brandy. Stop at a shellfish farm and meet a local oyster farmer, to learn about the cultivation and harvest of oysters. Enjoy a delicious Sea-to-Table tasting of the fresh shellfish, accompanied by a glass of wine.
Continue to the walled town of Dubrovnik to 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 Saint Blaise's Church, and marvel at the grandeur of the cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery. With the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps enjoy the luxuries of the five-star Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, your home for the next three nights.
Spend the day at your leisure or enjoy an optional visit to Montenegro, travelling 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. Savour authentic flavours of local specialities over dinner with your fellow travellers.
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast.
Trip Inclusions
- 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 kilometres 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.
- Pula: Visit one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres still standing, built in the 1st century CE under Emperor Augustus. You'll stand inside a structure that once held around 20,000 spectators for gladiatorial games and public events, with the outer walls and tiers still clearly defined.
- 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.
- Split: Cruise to the sunniest island of the country, Hvar, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy beautiful views and crystal waters on this two hour ferry crossing.
- Split: Sightseeing with your Local Expert continues through the old town. Walk through the Jewish Quarter to reach Narodni Trg, the centre of Old Split. Continue to Trg Braće Radić, translated as the Square of the Radić brothers, but better known to the locals as Vocni Trg, or the Fruit Square.
- Split: Explore above and below the Roman Emperor Diocletian's palace. A Local Expert guides you through labyrinthine streets to see St. Duje's, the Golden Gate and the Cellars.
- Hvar: Enjoy a panoramic orientation from the comfort of your coach as you travel from the ferry port in Stari Grad to your hotel in the heart of Hvar Town.
- Hvar: Cross the central Dalmatian channels with clear views of neighbouring 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 harbour.
- 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.
- Plitvice Lakes National Park: Join the ladies of the Tara Centre, 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.
- Air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- 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 a local specialty representing the destination.
- Complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi where available
- 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 favourite moments and say goodbye over Croatian dishes.
- Dining Summary: 6 Dinners (D), 13 Breakfasts (B)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Trip Reviews (13)
Every included meal on the program was a hotel buffet read more except in Korcula where we are in a little restaurant in the old town. It doesn't give you an authentic feel for the destination eating dinner in your hotel. Plus, you get are limited to 2 x 100ml glasses of wine with these meals. (on our Country Roads of Portugal tour, the wine was free flowing). Wine in Croatia is cheap!!
Unless you wanted to pay for the optional excursions, this tour is basically transport, accommodation in the cheapest rooms, and a local guide for a couple of hours at most towns (that you have to tip). The only included activities on the programme were the caves visit, The waterfalls and oyster tasting. (We did another oyster tasting in the same town a couple of weeks later and it was far superior with a lot of food and wine)
We did the first optional excursion in Zagreb thinking we were going to eat in a family home in the country, only to find out it was us and several other bus loads all having dinner in a mass produced commercial environment in the country outside of Zagreb. This turned us off paid optional dinners for the rest of the trip.
I personally hate the add-ons and would prefer to pay more up front and have it included in the programme rather than having a feeling of resentment being that if you don't pay, you miss out on the best bits. You basically HAVE to buy the extras to bring it up to standard expectations. These add-ons cost an extra $1200AU per couple!! Plus the expected top about for tipping is an additional $600AU per couple, making these tours very expensive.
This, along with no name tags or travel documents indicates that Insight are tightening their budget. Others in our group expressed the awkwardness of not knowing each other's names. Insight said it was their no plastic policy, but clearly, name tags can be paper stickers or simply plastic ones recycled.
This will be our last Insight tour.
Croatia is beautiful in general, it’s a good time of the year to visit Croatia as read more it’s not overly crowded, but expect some not-so-great weather (cold and rainy). Booking the tour through Global Journeys has been hassle free and easy. Thanks for the great experience.
There were a couple of early starts but the benefits of what we covered outweighed what some may have felt tiring. The travel day into Dubrovnik would be improved by having lunch prior to the walking tour. I would highly recommend travelling with Insight and booking through Global Journeys. Hannah was efficient, informed and professional covering all areas needed for stress free travel. We saved by booking through Global Journeys and at all times were made aware of all details needed to be covered. Thank you Hannah and Global Journeys.
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Insight Vacations Europe, Britain & the World (2026-27)
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