VIA TOURS CROATIA
FAM TRIP TO CROATIA Trip itinerary September 16 th 27 th Zagreb Croatian Zagorje National Park Plitvice Lakes Pula National Park Brijuni Zadar Split Ston Dubrovnik Buckle up as we are departing to Croatia, new and upcoming European destination. They also call it a hidden gem of Adriatic and you are about to find out why. This is not going to be just a regular overwhelmed FAM tour but rather an enjoyable journey with Via Tours Croatia as a host. Explore history, nature, culture, food & wine through hands-on activities to get better understanding of this tremendous destination. We are happy to say that you will get a chance to meet and greet with directors of local tourist board who will hold short but very informative presentations about the region you are going to be visiting. Please look at the itinerary and mark your calendars because we are going to have a blast. Trip highlights: Local workshops at the destinations Food & Wine tastings / Farm to the table food Island hopping in Dubrovnik 2 National Parks visits Earn Croatia Specialist Certification DAY 1 16 th SEPT Start of the magnificent journey to Croatia. Fly out of the USA. DAY 2 17 th SEPT Arrival to Croatia, Zagreb. Airport pick-up. Meeting with the tour director and departure to the hotel, check in. Welcome dinner in authentic restaurant. Overnight in Zagreb. MEALS: dinner DAY 3 18 th SEPT
After breakfast meeting with the local guide. Your day will start with magnificent cup of coffee in the oldest coffee shop in Zagreb situated on the main square overlooking the statue of Ban Jelacic. Croatians are very sensitive about the coffee and coffee drinking in local coffee shops is part of the culture. After morning relaxation and chatting with your colleagues, you will take a walk with your local guide and start exploring Zagreb. Guide will tell you all the interesting stories about the city and give you recommendations and main attractions of the city which you can later use as selling points to your clients. After dinner we will have short presentation from Zagreb Tourist board to find out more about the destination and how to present it properly to the US consumers. Overnight in Zagreb. DAY 4 19 th SEPT After breakfast departure to the region of Croatian Zagorje. Sightseeing of Neanderthal Museum in Krapina. The new Krapina Neanderthal Museum is located near the world famous site of the Neanderthals Hušnjakovo, a fact which makes it a unique visiting complex. The museum is set us as a virtual journey through the time so you could understand how humans developed over the time. At the end we have set up a workshop where you will get a chance to experience the life of Neanderthals and try to use their hand made weapons and start a fire with the rocks. After Neanderthal Museum, we will travel to Trakoscan castle which is one of the most attractive and most visited castles in Croatia. It is located on the hills of Croatian Zagorje overlooking beautiful untouched nature. Continue to Ethno village Kumrovec which is the biggest open-air museum in this part of Europe and a birth place of world famous leader Tito. It is one and unique in the Republic of Croatia because this museum shows not only the architecture of a time, but also the history related to the area, and the manners of living of the people of Zagorje. The great experience will be the workshop where you will be able to learn how to make licitar, a colorfully decorated biscuit made of sweet honey dough. It comes in numerous forms and intricate designs, such as horses, cherries and birds, but most often in the shape of a heart. You will have a chance to make your own in a shape of heart and you will decorate it yourself. Usually, people put someone s name on it and it is a perfect souvenir from Croatia. If Croatia steals your heart away, take Croatia's heart with you. That will be your dearest souvenir brought from Croatia because you made it. After Kumrovec, we are taking you to a local farm and tourist village for dinner. Croatia is well known for its food and every region has a different cuisine which you will get a chance to taste. Dinner will be organized with live music and entertainment famous for this region. Overnight in Croatian zagorje.
DAY 5 20 th SEPT After breakfast departure to National Park Plitvice Lakes. The beauty of the National Park lies in its sixteen lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. Take a walk with a local guide through this heaven on earth. Enjoy scenery of beautiful waterfalls and untouched nature. And don t forget to make a wish under the largest waterfall as it is supposedly making your wishes come true After visiting NP Plitvice, we will have a dinner in local restaurant Licka kuca. Continue to Istria region and city of Pula, city famous for UNESCO protected Roman Amphitheatre. Overnight in Pula. DAY 6 21st SEPT After breakfast Pula sightseeing with the local guide. The most famous and important monument, popularly called the Arena of Pula, which was once the site of gladiator fights. It was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, at the same time as the magnificent Colosseum in Rome. After sightseeing of Pula, continue with a boat ride to National Park Brijuni. The Brijuni or the Brijuni Islands are a group of fourteen small islands in the Croatian part of the northern Adriatic Sea, separated from the west coast of the Istrian peninsula by the narrow Fažana Strait. Brioni has always been an attractive destination for members of the European and world aristocracy. Choosing the islands for the residence of Josip Broz Tito, Brijuni were again hosted many famous names. Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Gina Lollobrigida... are only some of the famous people who have walked the island of Brijuni. After returning to the coast continue to the local family owned winery. Our friendly hosts will serve local wine, cheese and truffle flavored honey, pate and other truffle delicacies which you can also buy at the estate. You will also have a chance to find out more about region of Istria from representative of the Tourist board of Istria who will be joining us for this lovely dinner. Overnight in Pula.
DAY 7 22nd SEPT After breakfast departure to Zadar, city voted to be the best European destination for 2015, - a city monument, surrounded by historical ramparts, a treasury of the archaeological and monumental riches of ancient and medieval times, Renaissance and many contemporary architectural achievements such as the first sea organs in the world. Hotel check-in. In the afternoon, meeting with the local guide and Zadar sightseeing. While walking with your guide through the city of Zadar, the ancient Forum, symbol of the city-church of St. Donat, St. Anastasia, monuments and palaces, you will learn all about the rich history of this beautiful old town. Tour of the Land Gate and city walls, Square of Five Wells, People's Square and of course the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun. Walk along the waterfront with sounds of the sea organ, that are unique in the world, will make your experience complete. According to Albert Hitchcock Zadar is the city with the most beautiful sunset in the world and you will have a chance to be a part of it. Dinner will be served in authentic restaurant. Special guest will be representative of Zadar tourist board who will introduce you to this amazing city and the region. Overnight in Zadar. DAY 8 23rd SEPT After breakfast departure to Split, the second largest city in Croatia and the city that has it all: Roman ruins and grand museums alongside fashionable cafes and trendy shops. On our way to Split we will stop at Etnoland Dalmati typical Dalamtian village. You will take a short walk through the village and our hosts will make a presentation about the village. Also, they will serve local wine, cheese and prosciutto. After Etnoland Dalmati continue to Split. Meeting with the local guide and Split sightseeing. Our journey through ancient history starts with the fact that the Roman emperor Diocletian was born in nearby important Illyrian center and the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia - Salona. He ordered to build one of today s most preserved palaces of that time in the nearby town Split. With a professional city guide we are continuing our journey and sightseeing the 1700 year old Diocletian`s palace in Split, UNESCO protected site, imagining how the life of Diocletian was like, within the walls of the palace. During the tour we will stop by to see the Cathedral of St Duje, one of the most beautiful cultural wonders on the Adriatic coast but also the ancient cellars, Peristyle in center of the palace,
Roman temples the famous Golden Gate and the big statue of Grgur Ninski. On this walking tour you will get to know Split and its history in an interesting way. Free afternoon. Overnight in Split. in hotel DAY 9 24 th SEPT After breakfast, departure to Ston, Gothic medieval city, surrounded by 6 kilometers of city walls and its famous salt pains and oysters (Second largest city walls after Chinese wall). Located in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. The bay of Mali Ston has been famous for seashell cultivation since the days of the Roman Empire as it hosts the largest oyster cultivation facilities in the Adriatic. Oyster production in the family that we will take you to has been a long tradition which they have developed over the years into an exceptional tourist attraction. The excursion starts with a panoramic boat ride on a beautiful wooden boat through the Bay of Mali Ston all the way down to the oyster beds. You will not only have the opportunity to see and learn something about the oyster production but also to taste some oyster, local wine and rakia in these amazing surroundings. Continue to Dubrovnik. On the way to Dubrovnik, we will stop in a tavern and have a dinner and wine tasting. Overnight in Dubrovnik. DAY 10 25 th SEPT After breakfast morning sightseeing of Dubrovnik. Local guide will take you to the most wonderful and hidden streets of the city. Explore Dubrovnik City Walls (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE) and enjoy a unique view of the Old Town of Dubrovnik including its narrow streets and small squares. In the early evening embark on a boat and explore Elaphiti islands and Blue cave. Since the ancient times, the islands were a place of comfort, vacation, and delight. All this due to well preserved nature, clean and clear sea, sandy beaches, beautiful pine forest, olive gardens, numerous promenades and footpaths. Those are the scenes that remain forever in people's memory and landscapes that make the people come back again. The crew will show you hidden beaches, caves and secret places that your future consumers will absolutely love. Also, you will enjoy tasty dinner on a boat. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
DAY 11 26 th SEPT After breakfast day at leisure (OPTIONAL: Day trip to Montenegro). After returning to the hotel prepare for special Goodbye dinner in one of the most famous Dalmatian restaurants called "Konoba" where you will be able to try delicious local dishes and listen the sounds of traditional Dalmatian group so-called "Klapa". Overnight in Dubrovnik. DAY 12 27 th SEPT Fly out of Dubrovnik.
PRICE Room ½ double occupancy $899 Room 1/1 single use $1199 TOUR INCLUDES: All transfers (including airport transfers upon arrival and departure) English speaking director throughout Accommodation for 10 nights in 4* hotels 10 breakfasts and 1 dinner in hotels Sightseeing tours with local guides in Zagreb (2 hours), Pula (2 hours), Split (2 hours), Zadar (2 hours), Dubrovnik (2 hours) Dinner in a tourist village in Croatian Zagorje Entrance fee for Pula Amphiteather Entrance fee to NP Brijuni Entrance fee to Ethno Village Kumrovec Entrance fee + local guide in Neanderthal Museum in Krapina Entrance fee and local guide to National Park Plitvice Lakes Entrance fee to Diokletians Palace + local guide Boat ride on oyster farm in Ston + oyster degustation Entrance fee to Dubrovnik city walls Welcome dinner in Zagreb Entrance, presentation, wine and prosciutto tasting in Etnoland Dalmati Dinner in Konoba in Dubrovnik Dinner in Zadar Dinner in Licka Kuca near Plitvice Lakes Dinner in restaurant in Zagreb Dinner and truffle tasting in Pula Dinner and wine tasting in tavern near Dubrovnik Boat excursion with lunch included in Dubrovnik All local taxes PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: International flights (possible to provide) Travel insurance Meals not indicated in the itinerary Any other items not mentioned above
Excursion to Budva and Montenegro - Explore the beautiful scenery of Montenegro on this personal private tour. Visit the Bay of Kotor, and the historic old walled Adriatic cities of Budva and Kotor. Price: $ 35 per person (min. 20 people need to apply for the tour to go)