Best of Croatia and Slovenia

Upon your arrival to Zagreb, you’ll take private transfer to your hotel in the capital city. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure – we suggest taking time to refresh and then doing as the locals do by heading to a café. The vibrant street life includes a thriving café culture, bringing the opportunity to mingle or just enjoy some great people watching while unwinding after your long journey. You’ll often find events in the parks with live music, pop-up markets and food stalls.

Follow our expert local guide to Zagreb’s highlights for a sightseeing tour. Witness landmarks like the Croatian National Theater, House of Parliament, and 13^th-century St. Mark’s Church with its colorful roof, while learning about the history behind them. Marvel at Zagreb Cathedral, the most monumental sacral Gothic-style building southeast of the Alps and the country’s tallest with two twin spires that rise above the skyline. You’ll also visit Dolac Market with its row upon row of fresh regional cheeses, with a delicious tasting included.

After breakfast, head to your next destination with your driver/guide stopping in Ljubljana for a tour. You’ll walk through the storybook Old Town with its baroque buildings and the farmer’s market, marvel at the St. Nicholas Cathedral and medieval fortress that towers over the city. Enjoy lunch and local draft beer before continuing toward Lake Bled with its picture-postcard looks, surrounded by the stunning Julian Alps. Your driver will deliver you to your hotel in Bled where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Leaving Slovenia, take your private transfer to Rovinj on the west coast of the Istrian Peninsula, rising in the hills above the Adriatic. It oozes elegance, with a romantic feel due in part to the strong Venetian influence you’ll notice throughout the city. This is Croatia’s most Italian town, known for producing fantastic olive oils, wines, and truffles. After checking into your hotel, get a great view over it all by climbing to the St. Euphemia Church tower which marks its highest point.

Your driver/guide will pick you up for an inspiring tour that begins by walking through Rovinj, including Grisia street with its many art galleries and pleasant buildings that are a mix of gothic, baroque, neoclassical and Renaissance styles. Hop in the car and drive to the medieval hilltop village of Motovun where you’ll enjoy a truffle demonstration followed by a tasting of truffle products. Next, visit the world’s smallest town, Hum, where you’ll enjoy sightseeing and a tasting of local specialties.

This morning your private driver will transfer you from Rovinj to UNESCO-listed Plitvice Lakes National Park, made up of 16 interconnected lakes in hues that range from deep emerald to brilliant turquoise. You’ll take a self-guided tour along the network of paths and wooden boardwalks that wind through the lush forest, with the lakes divided between the Upper and Lower Lakes and nearly 100 waterfalls between them. Afterward, check into your Plitvice hotel and enjoy dinner on-site with a panoramic view.

Your private driver/guide will transfer you to Split today – you can choose to go directly or take an optional private tour in Trogir first. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s like an open-air museum with many impressive Renaissance and Venetian landmarks. Learn about the history behind them and stroll the promenade to view 15^th-century Kamerlengo, a castle/fortress. After reaching Split, check into your hotel and then find an enticing café or restaurant in the palace complex or along the waterfront for dinner.

Continue to Split with a full day of touring along the way. Visit the walled coastal city of Sibenik, established over a thousand years ago, famous as the home of one of Croatia’s most important cathedrals, the gothic-Renaissance Cathedral of St. James, before driving inland to Plastovo. In this picturesque rural village, you’ll get to know the Sladic family’s high-quality wines alongside Croatian cheeses, homemade olive oil, bread, prosciutto, and more. Conclude by enjoying the serene Dalmatian countryside on the back roads to Split.

Rise early to savor your last moments in Split before transfer to Hvar Island by catamaran. This long, sunny island is famous for its yacht-filled harbor, drawing VIPs, celebrities, and all sorts of international jetsetters to enjoy the legendary beach bars, world-class eateries, and lively nightclubs. Upon your arrival, you might want to soak up the sun on a beautiful beach or explore the sights in the historic center, including Europe’s oldest public theater, before delving into the buzzing nightlife.

Embark on an exciting speedboat tour of the Pakleni Islands which lie just off the southwest of Hvar. You’ll get an introduction to these emerald treasures and a great view of Hvar while sailing off to the archipelago. Soak up the sun and sip wine while surrounded by magnificent scenery. Famous for their secluded beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, your captain will search out one of the best so that you can jump in for a swim and enjoy sunbathing along the shore.

Explore more of Europe’s sunniest island, including vineyard- and lavender-covered landscapes, on an optional half-day wine tour with lunch or enjoy a day of leisure on your own. The tour brings the opportunity to try some of the island’s best local products while exploring charming historic villages. You’ll get to meet passionate winemakers, learn about the history of Croatia’s winemaking process and enjoy a freshly prepared homemade lunch, put together by a master chef and served in a spectacular setting.

It’s time to say farewell to Hvar and take catamaran transfer to Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” One of Croatia’s most popular cities, it’s a favorite among “Game of Thrones” fans with many scenes from the series shot here, as well as history buffs and romance seekers. After checking into your hotel, a short walk will bring you to beaches for sunbathing and swimming, or take advantage of the facilities, perhaps relaxing spa treatments or relaxing around the pool.

This morning you’ll explore Dubrovnik’s medieval center with our local expert guide. Start at the imposing 16^th-century Pile Gate and walk through the marble paved streets while learning about the city’s history. Some of the landmarks you’ll get to see include Onofrio’s fountain which has provided drinking water for nearly 600 years and Franciscan Monastery which hosts one of Europe’s oldest still active pharmacies, dating back to the 14^th-century. This evening, you’ll head to a family home to enjoy dinner with the locals.

Enjoy a full day to yourself in Dubrovnik. See more of the Old City by walking atop the stone walls which stretch for nearly 1.5 miles. You’ll get a panoramic view of the Adriatic on one side, and on the other, the centuries-old buildings. Or ride the cable car to the top of Mount Srd which overlooks it all. Another option is to join a kayak tour that paddles to nearby Lokrum Island with a lush nature reserve, beaches, and wildlife.

After over two full weeks taking in the best of Croatia and Slovenia on this private tour, your journey comes to an end this morning. You can choose to extend your time in Dubrovnik and perhaps visit neighboring Montenegro, taking private transfer to a local hotel, otherwise your private driver will bring you to Dubrovnik’s airport to catch your flight home. With so many amazing places around the world to experience, we hope you’ll travel with us again soon.