Departure: Sept 15 from lax + or - one day due to flight arrangements DAY 1: Sept 16 Arrival of guests to Split airport. Meet and greet by Gulliver guide and transfer to the hotel. Check-in. At the beginning of the evening transfer to Split city center and walk through narrow streets of this lively Mediterranean town. Accompanied by a professional guide the guests will do a short sightseeing tour of the old part of Split, a city founded more than 1700 years ago. Split is a lively Mediterranean town founded 17 centuries ago. Monumental imperial palace built by the Roman emperor Diocletian, which has been declared an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, joins with medieval, renaissance and baroque additions. Split prides itself with the title of the city with greatest number of Olympic medals per capita in the world, and has spawned a whole series of extraordinary sportsmen like Toni Kukoc, Goran Ivanisevic, Dino Rada and many others. Dinner in a restaurant overlooking the City harbor. D DAY 2: Sept 17 Full day excursion to Krka River National Park Krka River National Park is a spacious, largely unchanged region of exceptional and multifaceted natural value, and includes one or more preserved or insignificantly altered ecosystems. Proclaimed a national park in 1985; it is the seventh national park in Croatia. After a tour through the National Park you will embark on a boat that will take you to Skradin, famous for its marina in the canyon of Krka. *Possibility of running along the Park. Lunch will be served in the Ethno village. Follow the story of old generations who succeeded to survive on the rocky land and left us reminders of the XIX century life in the village of Pakovo Selo. On the way back to Split stop in Sibenik to see magnificent piece of Renaissance architecture St Jacob s cathedral. Dinner in the restaurant in Split. B,L,D DAY 3: Sept 18 Cetina river canyon River Cetina, the most famous river of the Dalmatian coast, along its 100 km long course has created one of the most beautiful canyons of Croatia. Its mouth in Omis has further marked this town,that rightly bears the name of pirate s nest. Upon arrival to Omis embarkation to little wooden ships and sail up the stream. Unique opportunity for photos of this little historic town and steep banks of the canyon. Arrival to Radman mills- in the past times used for grinding grain, thus providing the food for the large area of Dalmatian hinterland. Traditional welcome and lunch in Radman mills followed by a return to Omis Free time for swimming at the sandy beach. Return to Split and dinner in the hotel or local restaurant. B.L,D
B,L,D = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner OPTIONAL ACTVITIES IN CETINA RIVER CANYON (in case boat tour is too soft ) Cetina river rafting Rafting is a discipline designed for the adventurers. It is necessary to have strong will and swimming skill to go down the foaming river. By listening the skipper s instructions on how, when and how hard you have to row or when you have to throw yourself at the boat and hold tight, you will experience an adventure that you will keep in memory for a long time. Arrival by bus to Radman mill where your expert guide will give you the necessary instructions and distribute the equipment. Now you are ready to experience this unique adventure. During a 10km long descent you will enjoy the swirling rapids, easy waves and do your best to skip obstacles just like real adventurers! Lunch will be served in Omis, return to Split hotel for dinner. B,L,D Zip line and canyoning Thousands and thousands of years the river Cetina flowed persistently through the canyon creating magical shapes in its bed. The Cetina is crystal clear and pleasant for bathing. Today it represents the genuine experience of the intact nature with its cliffs up to 180m high, its waterfalls, lakes, subterranean tunnels and 50m high waterfall called Gubavica. Find out your adventure gene. Let s walk through the canyon, its rocks and white water rapids.descent from the canyon s sides or fly by one of three zip lines. There is no better reward for your efforts then a delicious lunch in the town of Omis. Afternoon return to your hotel. Dinner in a restaurant. B,L,D DAY 4: SPLIT DUBROVNIK - Sept 19 After the breakfast departure to Dubrovnik. It takes only 3.5 hours to span the distance fromsplit to Dubrovnik. Ride by the highway will take you from rocky mountainous area around Split and Vrgorac down to Bacina Lakes where you will reach the old Adriatic road. Following it you may admire unforgettable scenery of Peljesac peninsula, archipelago f Elaphite islands and picturesque villages that are following one another on the way to Dubrovnik. The citizens call it The Pearl of Adriatic not without the reason. Just a brief view to this simple,elegant city made of shiny white stone and surrounded by mighty city walls will leave you breathless. Check in in the hotel. In the afternoon hike to the Mount Srdj 400m above the sea. Refreshment and dinner in a restaurant on top of the hill. Overnight in the hotel. B,D
DAY 5: STON MARATHON - Sept 20 It is back in XIV century that independent city state of Dubrovnik (in those times known under the name Ragusa) purchased Ston and its salt pans in order to export this important product all the way to Otoman Empire. As valid as gold, salt was that important that Dubrovnik decided to construct the walls around the port and prevent that Venice / main competitor in Mediterranean / jeopardize the way to salt factory. Today s marathon will take you through the most beautiful sceneries of Peljesac peninsula. Take a part of the race and after it socialize with locals and other runners around the table serving Ston specialities-oysters, mussles, fish, sea food risotto. Return to Dubrovnik for dinner/overnight in the hotel. B,L,D DAY 6: Sept 21 Option A Elaphite islands tour Soak up the sunshine and gentle breezes as the boat lazily cuts through peaceful waters heading to a world almost forgotten. Green oasis of scented citrus plantations, pine clad hills, sandy beaches and palm trees. As you stroll the promenade it will appear that life on the islands has been in slow motion for a long time with man fishing and chatting in cafeterias or playing cards whilst ladies sitting on the porch and doing their fine needle work or simply spreading delicious aroma of home cooking through windows covered in lace curtains. Many legends and stories of former island s fame will be revealed for you stories of coral divers, ship builders and sea captains that will wake up these dreamy islands for you if only for a day. Ideal possibility for trekking or running on islands of Kolocep and Lopud. OPTIONAL: Sea kayak tour on the island of Lopud. Lunch will be served in a restaurant by the sea. B,L,D Option B-Konavle wine tour After the breakfast drive to Konavle Valley- the Valley of hard working people. Experience the traditional and original village ambiance on this marvelous excursion to Konavle. Stop in Gruda- administrative center of the Valley where you will be joined by an expert sport assistant and start your bike ride. First stop will be in a home of a young painter who revived an almost forgotten tradition of silk thread production. See how the thread is woven out of a silk worm cocoon, and feel the ambiance of the home where generations still leave together. Past customs are presented in the village of Ljuta where you visit a mill to see how flour was once produced, and just a few meters on there is another traditional craft on display wool processing. Relish in some of the best wines originating in this part of Croatia in the following two wine cellars/vineyards. You may also find it particularly interesting to pick at the traditional ploughman s lunch of bacon, onions and hard-boiled eggs served in a customary manner of old folks from Konavle who labored in the fields. Delicious lunch will be served in a farm house by the river. On the way back to Dubrovnik stop in Cavtat often called the cradle of Dubrovnik. Return to Dubrovnik for dinner/overnight. B,L,D DAY 7: Sept 22 The sojourn in Dubrovnik would not be complete without the visit of Lokrum Island.This miraculous island was once in position of Benedictines who being forced to leave it put a damnation to this tiny island. See what happened to those who owned the island after them. Walk up to the Napoleon fortress or just enjoy in scents of some of 2000 plants in a botanical garden planted around the Hapsburg s summer residence. Check why the HBO producers choose it as one of the venues for Game of Thrones. Light lunch on the island (salad,cheese,drinks) and return by regular boat (10 min) to the port. Afternoon free or individual walk by the city walls (cca 2000m, lot s of stairs and magnificent view).last chance to take pictures of this great wall that made Dubrovnik UNESCO World Heritage Site. Farewell dinner in a restaurant.overnight. B,L,D DAY 8: Sept 23 After the breakfast transfer to Dubrovnik Airport for the return to USA.
EXTENSION - MONTENEGRO DAY 8: Sept23, DUBROVNIK-TREBINJE-ZABLJAK After the breakfast departure from Dubrovnik. Due to its southern position, Dubrovnik is the neighbor with two more ex Balcan countries: Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro. Enter Bosnia via Trebinje, little town only half an hour drive from Dubrovnik. Visit to the wine cellar Vukoje one of the most awarded wine producers of Bosnia who cuptivated the sun of Herzegovina into the finest red wines. After the wine tasting visit of the monastery Tvrdos, built in XVI century. Continuation to Niksic and further to Zabljak. the center of Montenegrin mountain tourism. Dinner and overnight in the hotel. B,D DAY 9: Sept 24, JEEP SAFARI IN DURMITOR NP From Žabljak we drive in jeeps towards ski center Štuoc. Further we drive to visit highest villages in Balkans (which are inhabited throughout whole year): Bosaca and Mala Crna Gora from where you will see Crno Lake. We will reach the height of 2000m with our vehicles, and then we will go down the Sušica canyon. This canyon divides Piva Mountain and Durmitor and is very famous for its vast population of dark bear. After that we will continue to the Nedajno village and than through Pivska Mountain, Piva plateau we will arrive to village Trsa, where lunch will be served. Return by jeeps to your hotel in Zabljak. Dinner and overnight. B,D DAY 10: Sept 25, ZABLJAK PODGORICA KOTOR After the breakfast we are leaving mountain area of Montenegro in order to continue towards the coast. Stop in Kotor one of UNESCO protected cities due to the XII century Cathedral and Old town surrounded by the City Walls. Kotor was the seat where Boka Navy -a Fraternity organized to care about sailors rightsas early as in IX cent. Drive to Perast and embarkation to the boat for the Island of Our Lady. This island was built by the people of Kotor area after the Apparitions of the icon on the in the middle of the bay. Continuation to Dubrovnik. Arrival check in and Farewell dinner in Dubrovnik. B,D DAY 11: Sept 26, Departure day After breakfast, transfer to Dubrovnik Airport.