The Backroads of Croatia & Slovenia

Day 1 ZAGREB (Croatia) - Arrival

Our Tour starts in Zagreb, Croatia. Your personal ZagrebTours guide will welcome you at Zagreb Airport and take you to your Hotel where you will spend the first two nights. Spend your afternoon and evening relaxing and acquainting yourself with Croatian capital. Zagreb is a vivid mix of past and present and you will definitely be seduced by its charm. Overnight in Zagreb.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Best Western Astoria / Hotel Dubrovnik

Day 2 ZAGREB - SAMOBOR - THE BEAR MOUNTAIN – ZAGREB

This morning we will take you to experience the unique exploring of Zagreb and its surroundings. We'll reveal you the secrets of the oldest medieval parts of the Upper town. We'll take you to see our Bear Mountain with the medieval fortress Medvedgrad which was always a seat of different noble families. From the highest peak of Zagreb we will enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the area.

We'll also enjoy tasting  some of the specialties of the local cuisine.  At the end we are taking you to for a nice afternoon walk in a little and picturesque town Samobor which was always a popular excursion site for the people from Zagreb. And yes; Don't forget to try the famous Samobor custard slice. In the evening, we are coming back to Zagreb. We suggest that you relax in one of many Zagreb cafes enjoying a glass of wine or a local beer. Overnight in Zagreb.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Best Western Astoria / Hotel Dubrovnik

Day 3 ZAGREB - LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) - LAKE BLED (Slovenia)

Today we are driving from Zagreb to neighboring Slovenia. Our first stop will be Ljubljana, the charming Slovenian capital. We will stroll along the Ljubljanica River where Jason and The Argonauts once fought the vicious dragon. We are going to climb up the Ljubljana Castle and admire the view which is reaching all the way to the Alps which are our next stop. Following the clear blue we are arriving to Lake Bled where we are going to check into a hotel near the lake. We suggest that you spend your afternoon enjoying the amazing views on the high peaks of the Alps. Whether you take a walk around the Lake or visit the old castle above the Lake or enjoy "pletna" boat ride to St. Mary's Island, you will definitely feel like the time has stopped and you are a part of wonderful fairytale. Overnight in Bled.

  Accommodation: Hotel Triglav

Day 4 LAKE BLED - POSTOJNA CAVE (Slovenia) - ROVINJ (Croatia)

We'll spend a little bit of this morning relaxing some more on a fresh alpine air and then we head to Postojna, little town famous for the Postojna Cave. This natural wonder, the underground world of caves is filled with spectacular limestone stalactites and stalagmites which form pillars and take on fantastic shapes and forms. We will take a train ride into the heart of the underground fairyland and admire the greatness of the geological history of the Earth. We will end this day back in Croatia, in Rovinj, a pleasant old port and a beautiful coastal town. We will enjoy the stroll along its narrow and cobblestone streets and see the unforgettable panorama of the old town with the bell tower rising above the church of St. Euphemia. Overnight in Rovinj.

  Accommodation choice: Villa Tuttorotto / Villa Valdibora

Day 5 ROVINJ - GROŽNJAN - MOTOVUN - HUM – OPATIJA

After breakfast, we’ll take you to discover the continental part of Istria – the green oasis with many hills, vineyards and quiet medieval hilltop towns like. Its landscape is often compared to the one of Tuscany or Provence. On our Istrian tour we will also try some of the world known specialties of Istrian cuisine. You will just love the truffles, prosciutto, cheese and famous Istrian wines, Malvasia and Teran. The legend says that the giants built some of the most beautiful towns in the continental part of Istria. Each worked on his top hill and one at the time cities emerged: Motovun – the protector of the Mirna Valley; Grožnjan – the town of artists and many others. Having done all the cities, they remained a little more rock and thus created the smallest city in the world - Hum. In Hum, we'll learn about the oldest Croatian script - Glagolitic and try the famous local medicine - Biska. We are ending this day in Opatija - the Queen of Adriatic. After we check in, take the opportunity to walk along the famous promenade with many old villas, splendid parks and gardens. Overnight at the Opatija Rivera.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Bastion / Villa Kapetanović

Day 6 OPATIJA - SENJ - GACKA VALLEY - PLITVICE LAKES

Today we leave Opatija and drive the scenic route along the rugged coastline of Northern Adriatic. We will visit ancient Senj, a city known for Uskoks and strong wind – bura. We will visit the fortress Nehaj, from which Uskoks went to many battles against the Turkish and Venetian invaders. Carried by he wind, we slowly leave the coastal part of Croatia for a while and we heading to discover one of the best kept secrets of Croatia - the Plitvice Lakes National Park. We would say, so famous but yet so unspoiled and undiscovered. On our way to the Lakes we will stop at Gacka Valley where emerald Gacka River is stretching along the valley and offering great number of cultural and natural beauties.  This clean beauty is among best known trout sites in the world. We will also enjoy some of the known local specialties. Overnight in the Plitvice Lakes area.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Degenija / Pansion Miric

Day 7 PLITVICE LAKES - KARLOBAG - PAG ISLAND

This morning, we are discovering the natural wonderland of those fairytale lakes. Like sixteen pearls on a necklace the Lakes are falling into each other and forming a never ending beauty. The simple conclusion is: this is really a unique place. We are leaving the Lakes area in the afternoon and driving back to the coastline across the biggest Croatian Mountain, the mighty Velebit. Some of the views on this journey will be simply spectacular. We are ending this day on Pag Island - a stone island of cheese, lace, lamb meat and salt. Overnight on the Pag Island.

  Accommodation: Hotel Boškinac

Day 8 PAG - NIN - ZADAR

Today we are exploring some of the unique of this Island. We will take you to taste some of the best cheese in the world and reveal you why Pag lace is something that Croatia is very proud of. On our way to Zadar, we will stop in Nin – Croatian Bethlehem; the oldest Croatian royal town. Our last stop for today is Zadar – the city of exceptional history and rich cultural heritage. Before we head for a good night sleep, we will show you the amazing sunset by the famous city monument - the Sea Organ. Overnight in Zadar.

  Accommodation: Hotel Bastion

Day 9 ZADAR - VRANA LAKE NATURE PARK - ŠIBENIK – SPLIT

We are leaving Zadar in the morning and continuing our way further south along the picturesque Dalmatian coastline. We’ll visit the Vrana Lake along the way which is the biggest freshwater natural lake in Croatia and definitely a great natural phenomenon. We will also stop in Šibenik, the oldest autochthonous Croatian town where we’ll visit the unique monument of European sacral architecture – St. Jacobs Cathedral, which has been listed as UNESCO's World Cultural Monument. The Šibenik Cathedral, adorned with 72 stone heads, is the most significant architectural creation in Croatia from 15th and 16th century. In the evening we are arriving to Split where we are going to spend the next two nights. Overnight in Split.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Luxe / Hotel Marmont

Day 10 SPLIT - TROGIR - SPLIT

Today we are visiting Trogir, an old Croatian town first inhabited by Greeks and Romans, is famous for its Romanic and gothic old core with famous Cathedral. We will also stop for a lunch at the traditional Dalmatian Tavern in Trogir and enjoy some of the great local seafood. In the afternoon we coming back to Split. Enjoy the rest of the day by taking a walk through the heart of Split – the famous Split waterfront or Riva where you will feel the friendly and cozy atmosphere of this vibrant city. Overnight in Split.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Luxe / Hotel Marmont

Day 11 SPLIT - CETINA RIVER CANYON - STON - DUBROVNIK

After visiting Split, we are again taking the coastal road and heading towards South part of Dalmatia, to Dubrovnik – the Pearl of Adriatic. On our way to Dubrovnik we will first stop at amazing Cetina River Canyon – a protected landscape where Cetina River has deeply cut into the limestone base thus forming the canyon up to 300 metres deep. We’ll also visit a little town called Ston, on the beginning of the Pelješac peninsula, known for the fortification complex dating from the 14th century and quite unique in its length of 3,5 miles. The Ston area is also known for great seafood especially oysters and muscles which are grown in the Little Ston bay. We won’t miss the opportunity to taste those fruits of the sea depths. In the evening, we will arrive to Dubrovnik and check into our Hotel. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Kazbek / Hotel More

Day 12 DUBROVNIK

This whole day is reserved for exploring and enjoying in our Pearl of Adriatic – the old town Dubrovnik. The great George Bernard Shaw wrote: „Those who seek paradise on Earth must come to Dubrovnik“ and he was as many others overjoyed by the beauty and rich history of this old town under the UNESCO protection. Its glorious walls, with their fortresses and bastions, offer a unique walk with view of the magical Elafiti islands. From the Onofrio fountain to the City bell tower, along its main street, Stradun and in many other small and quiet cobblestone streets, every step in this town will be an experience par excellence. After our walking tour, we are taking you for a lunch in one of Dubrovnik’s taverns. In the afternoon, we invite you to enjoy some more in this beautiful city and to collect more impressions of Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

  Accommodation choice: Hotel Kazbek / Hotel More

Day 13 DUBROVNIK - Departure

Our Tour is ending today. Perhaps you are heading straight home, or maybe you are continuing you trip somewhere else. Whichever the case, we hope you will have fond memories of these spend with us.Thank you and Good bye!