8 DAYS JEWELS OF THE ADRIATIC

Arriving into Zagreb, enjoy an afternoon Zagreb walking tour (3.5 hours). Sandwiched between the Medvenica Mountain and Sava River, explore Central Square, Zrinjevac Park and Lower Town areas. Take a funicular to the Upper Town with its multi-coloured roofs of St. Mark’s Church. Visit Ban’s Court, Croatian Parliament, neo-gothic cathedral, Tkalciceva street, Dolac green market and an atmospheric wine bar (closed on Sun) for tasting of four wines with a Sommelier paired with a platter of Croatian cold-cuts, cheeses, olives and breads.

Set off 45 minutes for Samobor walking tour (2 hours). Stroll Gradna River, sample Bermet Liqueor and Samobor Mustarda at Filipec Cellar, admire gingerbread cookies crafts at a local licitars store, bite Samobor Cream Cake at a local café in the main square with Baroque structures, and work off those delicious calories with a 10-minute hike up to Samobor Castle for a panoramic view.

Continue 30 minutes to family-owned Korak winery in Plesivica to sample their best labels and optional lunch by the world’s best female chef Ms. Ana Ros (additional cost applies). Another 2 hours’ drive brings us to a 1.5-hour Rastoke walking tour where you will stroll through charming bridges and hidden viewpoint from a private estate overlooking the little waterfalls and watermills of Sluncjcica River. After another 30 minutes of driving, we reach to your hotel to rest.

Set in the deep woodland with 16 interconnecting lakes brimming in distinctive azure, green and blue colour, enjoy a 3-hour walking tour of Plitvice Lakes (UNESCO), including a panoramic train ride and boat ride on Kozjak Lake. Transfer 3 hours for a 1.5-hour Split walking tour (UNESCO) through the historic cobblestoned streets, Riva waterfront promenade, Peristil square, Vestibul, Golden Gate and Baptistry of St. John (Jupiter’s Temple). We have also included admissions to St. Duje Cathedral’s bell tower and the Diocletian Palace’s underground vaults.

At 9am, board on a 50-minute ferry ride to Croatia’s longest and sunniest island (please be ready 30 minutes before departure) for a 1.5-hour Hvar walking tour around the St. Stephen’s Square, Dalmatian Renaissance Theatre, Cathedral of St. Stephen and the hilltop Fort Spanjola for panoramic old town view. Continue via the old lavender road with views of the island’s highest peak of St. Nikola and Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO), the world’s oldest continuous agriculture landscape.

Enjoy winery tour and four-course tasting at Dubokovic winery before we head for a late afternoon picnic lunch at a local olive grove with three-course menu prepared by Hvar’s best olive oil producer over an open fire. Thereafter, we transfer 20 minutes to the Stari Grad town for your two-hour ferry back to Split.

[Please note that ferry transfers are limited during the off-season month of Nov-Apr, in which case we can alternatively arrange day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Trogir and Sibenik.]

Keep your passport handy today as we cross border to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a 1.5-hour Mostar walking tour visiting Main Square, Old Bazaar with cute Ottoman-styled shops and the UNESCO-listed Old Bridge over the Neretva River. We have also included entrances to Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque and Turkish House. Just 15 minutes away, continue with a 1-hour Blagaj walking tour with entrance to Dervish Monastery, set on the beautiful Buna River. Afterwards, we cross the border back into Croatia, transferring 3 hours into Dubrovnik.

Embark on a 4-hour Dubrovnik walking tour (UNESCO). Set at the foot of a grizzled mountain, start from the Sponza Palace, enter the Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik City Walls and take a cable car to Mount Srdj for panoramic views of the city. The afternoon is free at your leisure or consider optional trip to meet Ston oyster farmer to taste your own oyster fresh out of water (cost applies).

Get your passport ready this morning to cross into Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor (UNESCO). Start with a 1-hour Perast walking tour, followed by a boat ride to Our Lady of the Rock island and its beautiful church.

Just 20 minutes away from Perast, enjoy a 3.5-hours Kotor walking tour with entries to Kotor Cathedral, Maritime Museum and hike 1,350 stairs to St. Giovanni Castle. Admire the view of the entire bay from the above. Afterwards, we transfer to your hotel to rest.

Start this morning with a 45 minutes’ drive to the queen of Montenegro tourism. Enjoy 1.5-hour Budva walking tour through the Old Town with admission to the Budva Citadel. Depending on your flight schedule, if time permits, we can also do a 1.5-hour walking tour at Bar Old Town with its medieval archaeological site and the Old Olive Tree over 2,000 years old.

Transfer 1 hour to Podgorica airport where you will board your flight home.