Croatia Discovery Sample program By: Secret Dalmatia
Day 1 Zagreb Private guided walking tour of Zagreb s historic center followed by welcome dinner Welcome to Croatia! Upon arrival to Zagreb airport meet your chauffeur for a private transfer to your hotel Esplanade 5*. Housed in an elegant and distinguished building originally built in 1925 and designed to accommodate passengers from the Orient Express, the Esplanade Hotel is known for its impeccable service and luxurious accommodations. Esplanade is one of the finest hotels in the region and has received numerous awards for the consistent quality. Meet your local guide in the afternoon hours for guided walking tour of Zagreb s historic center. Founded in the Middle Ages, Zagreb began life as two separate entities, Kaptol and Gradec, which today comprise the historic Gornji Grad (Upper Town). Centered around the city's landmark cathedral, Kaptol was a religious center, while Gradec was home to craftsmen and merchants. Outsiders collectively referred to the settlements as Zagreb (meaning 'behind the hill'), although they were not officially united as the City of Zagreb until 1850. Boom time followed with the late 19th century characterized by the arrival of the railways and the construction of Donji Grad (Lower Town). Afterwards, take a short walk to one of the finest restaurants in Zagreb for a welcome dinner. Return to hotel on your own. Hotel: Esplanade 5* Meals: dinner Day 2 Zagreb Castles of Zagorje & Varaždin tour Meet your chauffeur and guide after breakfast for departure to Trakošćan Castle in the picturesque Zagorje region and Varaždin town. Zagorje is a hilly region filled with Medieval and Renaissance fortresses and numerous Baroque castles all blending into a memorable, romantic landscape. Explore the most famous of all Zagorje castles, Trakošćan, which was originally a small medieval observation fortress until it was turned into a castle for noble families. Given the beauty and the mystical atmosphere of Trakošćan, it comes as no surprise that several members of the Drašković family are known as pioneers of photography in Croatia! Today, Trakošćan features an impressive weapons collection, music salon, integral architecture and décor of its noble times and innumerable picture-perfect moments throughout the estate. Our tour further takes you down the baroque and rococo lane, in the lovely town Varaždin, the best preserved Croatian example of those lively times. A stroll through the Old Town reveals its baroque facades, parks and palaces, and the Old Castle, an old feudal fort, is the highlight of our visit. Contrasting the picturesque sceneries of Zagorje hills, the rural feel and an air of joy arising from the simple way of life, with remarkable architectural complexes of Trakošćan castle and Varaždin town, this tour is a unique insight into the rich history of this extraordinary region, much responsible for its present day allure. After the tour of Varaždin, enjoy sumptuous traditional late lunch from Zagorje region before returning to Zagreb in the afternoon hours. Hotel: Esplanade 5* Meals: breakfast, traditional lunch
Day 3 Zagreb Plitvice NP Split Private guided walking tour of Plitvice lakes Check out from the hotel after breakfast. Meet your chauffeur and head south towards the sunny shores of Dalmatia and the city of Split. En route, you will stop at Plitvice Lakes National Park for a walking tour of the park with a local guide (approximately 2 hours drive). According to legend, the Plitvice lakes were created after a long drought. The "Black Queen" took pity on the people and animals that cried for water. Heavy rain began to fall and continued until they formed the lakes we see today. The natural attributes of the Plitvice Lakes NP, uniqueness and sensibility of that phenomenon, deserve the full attention of our visitors. The recreational aspect of a stay and the amazement with beauty of the area that conquers by its natural diversity and harmony of shapes and colors in any of the seasons, is based on many mutually conditioned natural characteristics. The Plitvice lakes, known as the "Falling lakes", have enjoyed the status of a national park since 1949 and since 1979 they have been under the protection of UNESCO. After the tour continue to Split. Arrival late in the afternoon (approximately 2-3 hours drive). Upon arrival, check in to the centrally located Hotel Judita Palace 4*. A hotel for lovers of culture is an extensive four-storey building, on the elevations of which the fundamental historical and cultural periods of medieval and modern Europe can be observed: Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance. On the eastern elevation it is easy to see the features of the Romanesque and the Gothic, while the northern elevation facing onto Pjaca has Renaissance features. The access to this spacious patrician home is through the internal court, in which even today there is an old wellhead, while the staircase leads to the upper floor that is meant only for guests of the Judita Palace Hotel. From the hotel balcony, guests of the Judita Palace can enjoy the view of Pjaca, always interesting and never the same. Enjoy evening in Split at leisure. Hotel: Judita Palace 4* Meals: breakfast
Day 4 Split Classic Secret Dalmatia walking tour of Split Meet your expert local guide in the morning for a private walking tour of Split. The palatial walled summer residence of the Emperor Diocletian, Split became a city after Salona, the Roman capital of Dalmatia just 6km north, was sacked in 7 th C. Fleeing refugees were given asylum inside the two meter thick walls of the palace and over the next 1000 years, the city of Split was such a safe haven, it never grew beyond the same walls that exist today! As a result, the remarkable ensemble of Roman, Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and other architectural remains are all still here and so are more than 3,000 people still living inside these ancient walls. Return to hotel on your own. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Hotel: Judita Palace 4* Meals: breakfast Day 5 Split Exclusive Secret Dalmatia Cooking Class with chef Tatjana in Trogir Where better to discover the secrets of Dalmatian cuisine than with one of the most creative, charismatic and charming chefs in the region, cooking within the walls of her 13th century palace home? Meet your chauffeur in the morning and depart for your exclusive cooking class in Trogir, a UNESCO-protected islet town close to Split, to learn more about the art of food Dalmatian-style. Your host, Tatjana, is possibly one of the most charming people you will ever meet and her cooking class is definitely a not-to-be-missed opportunity for all culinary enthusiasts. Tatjana will bring the food, the philosophy of food, and the essence of Dalmatia to life, as she takes you on a journey of discovery and indulgence of your senses. Much more than a simple cooking class, this is about learning how to live like a local in a historic town, whose impressive history has contributed to the way food is produced today. Your culinary tour starts with sourcing the ingredients. Join Tatjana at the local farmer's market, fish market and local butcher's (depending on your preference) to purchase the core ingredients of your meal at source but also witness one of the core activities of everyday living here and see Tatjana in her natural surroundings as you learn how to see, smell and touch freshness in produce. The cooking class is a hands-on introduction to every stage of the Dalmatian food preparation process, ranging from making homemade pasta, cleaning fish, preparing traditional Dalmatian entrees, side dishes sauces and marinades. Preparation in the local way, with local ingredients, in the company of locals. You will feel like a true Dalmatian by the time you have finished your lunch! Return to Split in the afternoon and enjoy your evening at leisure. Hotel: Judita Palace 4* Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 6 Split Stari Grad (Hvar Island) Exclusive Secret Dalmatia Wine tour of Hvar with dinner in an abandoned village Leave to Hvar Island on board late morning public ferry to Stari Grad. Blessed with 2724 hours of sunshine every year, the lavander island of Hvar is called Croatian Madeira. As the oldest town in all of Croatia and a former Greek colony, Stari Grad is still one of the most charming towns on the Croatian coast. Originally called Faros, it was once the capital of Hvar and is the oldest town in Croatia. The ancient pedestrian town, with a postcard scene around every corner, leads you to the town's premier cultural attraction, the impressive Tvrdalj fortress, home of the legendary poet Petar Hektorović, complete with fishpond and stone inscriptions in Croatian and Latin. Upon arrival check in to the small boutique Heritage Villa Apolon 4*, which is a blend of the exquisite traditional with modern. Its seven rooms are spacious and among the nicest accommodation on the island. The terrace views from the rooms are spectacular, overlooking the harbor. Meet up with your local guide in the afternoon hours for exclusive wine tour of Hvar. Hvar wine tradition has been documented as early as the Greek times with an agricultural colony known today as the UNESCO site of Stari Grad Plain, has continued uninterrupted since their arrival. By now, wine making has almost been perfected on the island; hence it is almost unthinkable to leave Hvar without a face-to-face encounter with their wines. The island's winemakers are undergoing something of a renaissance, and nowhere more so than in the heart of the wine country, in the town Jelsa, where two of Croatia's outstanding winemakers welcome you with their contrasting styles. After a busy afternoon of wine appreciation, enjoy traditional dinner in an abandoned village of Malo Grablje, one of the most atmospheric settings and authentic gastronomic experiences in Croatia. Accommodation: Heritage Villa Apolon 4* Meals: breakfast, dinner Day 7
Hvar Dubrovnik Private transfer from Stari Grad to Dubrovnik via Sućuraj and Drvenik ferry ports with en route stop in Ston for oyster tasting and sea food lunch Classic Secret Dalmatia private walking tour of Old Town Check out after breakfast and meet your chauffeur for private transfer to Dubrovnik via Sućuraj and Drvenik ferry ports. En route, stop in the town of Ston, famous for its magnificent city walls fortification complex dating back to the 14th century and its long tradition of harvesting oysters. Your host will meet you in a Mali Ston bay and show you how his family has been harvesting fresh oysters for generations before taking you by motor boat for a fresh oyster tasting and sea food lunch (mussels and oysters) served on a private island in the middle of Mali Ston bay a truly one-of-a-kind & memorable experience! Of course, all accompanied by their great homemade wine! Continue to Dubrovnik after lunch. Upon arrival check in to Hotel Lapad 4*. With a quiet location and views of Gruz Harbour, the Hotel Lapad is in a historic building surrounded by a large outdoor pool and palm trees. Clear lines are combined with luxurious fabrics in the modern rooms. All of them are air-conditioned and feature flat-screen satellite TVs, mini-bars and tea and coffee-making facilities. Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel free of charge. The Lapad hotel is only 2 miles from the old town of Dubrovnik, which is easily reachable by a local bus which runs every 10 minutes or taxi. Meet your local guide in the afternoon and enjoy a pleasant walk through Dubrovnik Old Town including two of the most beautiful museums. George Bernard Shaw was so enchanted by this beautiful city, about which he said "those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik and see Dubrovnik", as well as famously describes it as "the pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik truly is a stunning city with its amazing Old Town, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. A magnificent curtain of walls surrounds marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is a mélange of cafés and shops with outstanding monuments at either end. Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition. Rest of the day will be at your leisure, allowing time to browse, explore, getting to know this magical city and all it has to offer. Hotel: Lapad 4* Meals: breakfast, oyster tasting and seafood lunch Day 8 Dubrovnik Enjoy this day at leisure, explore Dubrovnik on your own. Suggestion: Take the cable car ride to the top of Srdj Mountain. Resting high above the Old Town, this is the ideal spot for a spectacular panorama view of the town and surrounding islands that is guaranteed to take your breath away! Along you can visit the Croatia Civil War Museum located up there. Of course, Dubrovnik experience would not be completed without exploring magnificent Old city walls, so make sure you visit them! Hotel: Lapad 4* Meals: breakfast
Day 9 Dubrovnik Departure day Private transfer to Dubrovnik Airport. Farewell until we meet again! Meals: breakfast *** End of program *** Program cost includes: 2 nights in Zagreb, Hotel Esplanade 5* 3 nights in Split, Hotel Judita Palace 4* 1 night in Stari Grad (Hvar), Heritage Villa Apolon 4* 2 nights in Dubrovnik, Hotel Lapad 4* Breakfasts daily, all taxes and VAT 24-hour emergency service Professional English speaking chauffeurs and local guides for your transfers and tours Basic travel insurance coverage Private transfer from Zagreb Airport to Hotel Esplanade 5* Classic Secret Dalmatia private guided walking tour of Zagreb followed by welcome dinner Castles of Zagorje & Varaždin tour with traditional lunch Private transfer from Zagreb to Split with en route private guided walking tour of Plitvice NP (entrance tickets included) Classic Secret Dalmatia walking tour of Split (entrance tickets to two museums included) Exclusive Secret Dalmatia Cooking class in Trogir with Chef Tatjana (lunch with wine included) Public ferry transfer Split Stari Grad (ferry tickets included) Exclusive Secret Dalmatia private wine tour of Hvar Island with dinner in an abandoned village
Private transfer from Stari Grad to Dubrovnik via Sućuraj and Drvenik ferry ports with en route stop in Ston for oyster tasting and sea food lunch Classic Secret Dalmatia private walking tour of Old Town (entrance tickets to two museums included) Private transfer from Hotel Lapad 4* to Dubrovnik Airport The cost does not include: Meals and drinks not included in the cost (other than those listed) Air fare, Insurance Gratuities Personal expenses