SHARE

Best of Croatia from Dubrovnik to Zagreb – Custom trip Annemarie

Croatia-dubrovnik-old-town-tours-adventure-cycling

Best of Croatia from Dubrovnik to Zagreb – Custom trip Annemarie

 

This tour can be considered as the best of Croatia with classic highlights and extras that we believe are worthy of visiting during 15 days in Croatia.

This tour covers all the popular regions in Croatia, with a few hidden gems, from Castles in the North, across the Istrian peninsula, national park, and Dalmatian coast and islands.
We always try to do signature trips and provide more of the country for the complete experience in a period of time.  You will visit  Old towns, medieval fortresses, and learn all about Croatian history and culture – local specifics of the areas you are visiting, the uniqueness of the architecture, and local legend and stories. You will see two of the eight National parks ( Plitvice and Krka), six of the twelve  UNESCO sites( Poreč basilica, Plitvice, Zadar walls,  Trogir, Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Dubrovnik Oldtown, and Ston as the place on the UNESCO access list, Islands of the Adriatic sea, Hvar, Korčula, charming Elafiti and more.

Why us and why this tour?

Why us and why this tour?  We will take you to places you would not see on your own and try to the avoid crowd as much as possible!

This covers a lot of Croatia, and you will it see-through local eyes and learn about it. It is done by local-born, experienced, and awarded licensed guides who mostly work via word of mouth because we care and give flexibility like no other. All pictures are our own, 100% authentic, and represent the trips as it is! The trip can be done for 2 people only, and it is great for a group of friends.

This trip can be done as a self-guided version as well!

View Tour Gallery

HIGHLIGHTS

    • National parks Plitvice lakes and Krka
    • Istria and its gems, Rovinj, Pula, Poreč Motovun, and small hill towns
    • Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik Old towns
    • Ston and Pelješac peninsula
    • Hvar and Korčula island
    • UNESCO sites and hidden gems

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day Activities Location Overnight
1 Arrival in Croatia (Dubrovnik) Dubrovnik Dubrovnik
2 Dubrovnik old town and the city walls Dubrovnik Dubrovnik
3 Day trip to Kotor bay ( Montenegro) from Dubrovnik Kotor bay Dubrovnik
4 Pelješac peninsula and Ston and Korčula Pelješac and Korčula Korčula
5 Visit to Hvar town and island Hvar Hvar
6 Explore Hvar or visit neighboring islands Vis and Biševo Hvar Hvar
7 Split and Diocletian's palace Split Split
8 Explore National park Krka National park Krka Skradin
9 Visit to Šibenik and Zadar Šibenik and Zadar Zadar
10 Exploring and hiking Plitvice Lakes National Park Plitvice lakes Plitvice lakes
11 Leaving Plitvice and visit to Kamačnik canyon and Hum Istria Istria
12 Explore medieval inland of Istria Rovinj and Pula Istria
13 Explore Rovinj and Pula Inland of Istria Istria
14 Explore Zagreb Zagreb Zagreb
15 Departure from Zagreb

FULL ITINERARY

Best of Croatia from Dubrovnik to Zagreb – Custom trip Annemarie

Day 1: Arrival in Croatia (Dubrovnik)

Dubrovnik and city walls
Welcome to Croatia! You will be welcomed at the airport ( Dubrovnik) by the local representative and transferred to your accommodation. There is no schedule on an arrival day. Feel free to walk through Old Town and get familiarised with the area. Once again, WELCOME! 

Day 2: Dubrovnik old town and the city walls

Dubrovnik and city walls
Dubrovnik- as titled - The Pearl of the Adriatic, UNESCO site with the biggest walls in Europe. You will be introduced to a rich history of Dubrovnik on a guided tour if preferred, where you will be encouraged to ask any questions you might have about this fascinating place. You will walk the main street Stradun, see Onorfious fountain, Rectors palace, Old port, Orlando's column, and more. We suggest walking the city walls, the second biggest in the world. At places, the wall is approximately 75 ft high, which makes it a great sightseeing point to take photos of beautiful scenery. We also recommend visiting Mt SRĐ, where at the very top of the hill still proudly stands a fortress Imperial built at the beginning of the 19th century by Napoleon’s army. At the top of the hill, you will see Dubrovnik and the area as on your palm. You can take the cable car to go to Srđ, hike up, take a taxi, or you will be taken there if part of your program! We are sure you would like to explore the city, so do not be afraid to get lost in many stone streets. The town is quite small and where ever you go you will end with the walls, or just go down and you will always end on the level of the main street. In the last couple of years, Dubrovnik gained some popularity by being Kings Landing in the series Game of Thrones, so you might recognize a few movie locations as you walk around. Dubrovnik is full of restaurants and there are lots of options to choose from for lunch or dinner. If you would like to go for a swim, on both sides of the Old town there are pebble beaches! Enjoy!

Day 3: Day trip to Kotor bay ( Montenegro) from Dubrovnik

Today you will visit the neighboring country of Croatia- Montenegro. You will leave Dubrovnik in the early morning hours to avoid border crossing crowds. You can travel with a rental car, but due to parking, we recommend having a private English-speaking driver and car. Please make sure you have valid passports since you need to cross the border! After crossing the border you will drive through  Boka Kotorska bay and the first recommended stop is at the little place Perast. Perast has two little islets in front of the town with a church on them which is possible to visit! After Perast you will visit a small UNESCO site Kotor. In Kotor, you will walk the narrow Mediterranean streets, experience the multiculturalism of Kotor and you can  hike up to the fortress above Korot for beautiful views. A local guide in Kotor can be organized upon request We suggest taking a daily backpack and 1,5 liter of water per person since it will be hot hiking to the fortress if you decide to do it.  

Day 4: Pelješac peninsula and Ston and Korčula

DSC1441 54
Today you will explore Pelješac, the second biggest Croatian peninsula and a synonym for red wines, or as the locals call it- black wine. Pelješac is situated in Dubrovnik county known for its natural beauty and for 2 brands, Ston and Dingač. Ston is one of the very rare 100% planned and built Croatian cities on the Croatian coast, known for  - the longest fortified system in Europe, Ston city walls, -oldest active salt plant on the whole Mediterranean, still active and still producing salt as they did in the 14th century and for -a long tradition of growing oysters and mussels. After Pelješac you will continue to Korčula. Korčula is one of the nicest south Croatian islands, and as the name stands for 2 things- Island Korčula and the town Korčula. Old town Korčula is on the UNESCO waiting list, and Croatia hopes to get another member on the world heritage list soon! The name itself derives from the Greek -Korkyra, which gives you an idea that this island was inhabited in B.C in Greek times and even before as in one of the settlements, Vela Luka, archeologists found proof of human presence older than 7000 years. Korčula today is known for its beauty, hidden beaches, and authentic indigenous local white wines, Grk and Pošip. The Old Town Korčula is one of the finest examples of Venetian architecture on the Dalmatian coast, and most likely the birthplace of Marko Polo, since it is known that the Polo family originates from this place. Small as it is, Korčula town is great for exploring by foot!   You would have a flexible schedule today, depending on your preferences.

Day 5: Visit to Hvar town and island

Soul-of-croatia-hiking-cycling-hvar-tours-adventure-walls
Today you leave Split and explore the Dalmatian coast.  You will visit Hvar, one of the most popular Croatia islands. More than on average 2700 sunny hours yearly makes this island a desirable place to be on and to enjoy all the beauties of the Mediterranean climate. Island has a long history, and has been inhabited for thousand years, as there is a lot of material proof of the old settlements on the island. One of the most important ones is the Old fields in Stari Grad (Old town), being in untouched shape for about 2000 years. or to be more precise since 284 B.C. Today, fields in Starigrad are under UNESCO protection as one of 12 UNESCO locations in Croatia. You will explore the Old town of Hvar, and suggest walking to the fortress above the town for the best scenic view of the whole town and the sea in front. The fortress, called Fortica(Španjola) is mentioned first in the 13th century, and it is part of the gratification system around Old town Hvar. Swimming or wine tasting is always an option while on Hvar. Enjoy!

Day 6: Explore Hvar or visit neighboring islands Vis and Biševo

Soul-of-croatia-custom-trips-private-hvar
Today your schedule is flexible and you can choose what to do. One of the most popular things to do is to visit VIS island as well as Biševo. Vis is known as the possible first land in the Adriatic inhabited by Greeks. Vis got its name from the Greek word ISSA, which was the same name as the home of Greek sailors. We recommend visiting Komiža, a unique fishing village on Vis island. While on Vis we highly recommend doing a Jeep military tour of the island, which will give you a great overview of the island. Although the tour covers the whole island it is called a military tour as the island VIS was not traditionally a tourist destination like Hvar, but a military base, where the former Yugoslavian army built tunnels for boats all over the island. You will also have a chance to explore neighboring islands such as Biševo and visit the famous Blue Cave. You will get to Vis and Biševo islands with a private skipper and speed boat.   The cave entrance fee and Possible VIS tour are to be paid on the spot. OPTION 2: You can spend an easy day on the beach, swim, and snorkel or you can be active. Stroll the streets of Hvar, and have a slow coffee break as people in Croatia do. This means you sit and drink espresso for hours. Or just enjoy ice cream in the shade. One of the options is to take a rental car or private driver to see the rest of Hvar, and places like Vrboska, Jelsa, and Starigrad and check small towns, and wineries around the island! The third option is to do cycling on Hvar.

Day 7: Split and Diocletian's palace

split-soul-of-croatia-tours-dalmatian-coast-private-trip-diocletians-palace
Today you will explore the biggest town on the Dalmatian coast called Split. Split is known for Diocletian’s palace, built as a retirement home for Roman emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD as a haven. Although the palace has changed its appearance over the centuries, with its surroundings becoming a medieval city, it is still one of the best-preserved examples of antique palaces. Some not-to-be-missed sites within the palace include the Peristil, Golden Gate, and St Gregory statue, and the cathedral and local promenade. Diocletian’s palace is built in the 4th century and since 1979 it is on a UNESCO heritage list as one of 12 UNESCO locations in Croatia. The picturesque center is perfect for sightseeing and long walks among its numerous streets and historical monuments, beautiful architecture from Roman to modern times. We suggest visiting the substructures of the palace since they are very well preserved and in original size as in Roman times. 

Day 8: Explore National park Krka

soul-of-croatia-tours-hiking-krka-skradinski-buk
Today you will explore another beautiful highlight of Croatia, the National park Krka. Krka is the name of the 72.5 km long river and the river itself with 7 waterfalls for most of that length is a National park. After exploring the biggest waterfall, Skradinski Buk, you will drive to see another waterfall and area called Roški slap. Roški slap is a less busy area, and it offers an opportunity for nice walks or hikes in the area. For the end, we suggest visiting little Islet Visovac in the middle of the river with a still active Franciscan monastery on it. You probably will not see any monks but the local guide will take you on a 20 min tour of the island. Apart from the beautiful waterfalls, the Park is also well known for its multiple endemic species of birds, fish, and amphibians. Did you know: You can also visit, as part of the park, a place which used to host the oldest power plant( 1895) in Europe. People in the neighboring Šibenik area were the first ones in Europe with electricity.  

Day 9: Visit to Šibenik and Zadar

Zadar-soul-of-croatia-tours
After Skradin, you will go to Šibenik, as in Croatia called Krešimir town by the Croatian king whose headquarters were here. Šibenik is the proud owner of 2 UNESCO material sites, St.James Cathedral which you can visit, and St.Nicola fortress- A masterpiece of war architecture in the 16th century! In Šibenik you can visit 2 fortresses above the town and enjoy the views of a bay. Another one of the places that are worth visiting in Dalmatia is the historic peninsula of Zadar. Zadar is a unique place and the biggest north Dalmatian town. In Zadar, you can see a lot, as we say layars of history, from ancient Roman ruins that you can walk above on the glass floor to modern buildings and one of the best ice cream places in Dalmatia. Zadar is gaining popularity more and more lately thanks 2 unique modern pieces of art: Greeting to the Sun and Sea pipe organs. After Zadar, you will drive to Plitvice lakes for overnight.

Day 10: Exploring and hiking Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice lakes soul of Croatia hiking
Today you will explore Plitvice lakes, the most famous Croatian National Park. The lakes of Plitvice are a unique design of nature famous across the globe for their beauty. Since 1979 the Park has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage register. Plitvice is home to about one-third of all known orchids in Croatia and more than 150 species of birds. During this day you will walk the chosen paths, through mostly beech forests, and see many waterfalls. You will experience the best sights the park has to offer which will provide a great opportunity to take many photos. In the national park, there are 16 named lakes, and many small ones, that you will walk around, however, it is only 2 % of the park in total. The rest of the park is forests, and some places are not even allowed for visitors. It takes about 4-5 hours to do the loop of the lakes from Lower lakes to Upper and back! 

Day 11: Leaving Plitvice and visit to Kamačnik canyon and Hum

soul-of-croatia-custom-trips-kamacnik
Today you will go towards Istria and along the way you can have a few interesting the beaten path stops. The first one we recommend visiting is Kamačnik canyon Kamačnik is a small river. Along the river, there is an easy hiking /walking path from a place called Vrbosko. You would walk on the well-marked path and wooden bridges "there and back" along the river to the river source. Your start and endpoint will be a small restaurant at the place where the Kamačnik river goes into the Dobra river, and it would be a great option for lunch as well.   The second stop is the “smallest town in the world”- HUM. Hum is a small charming place in the middle of Istria known for “glagoljica” colony and the fact it meets the requirements to be called a town although it is a tiny place. Glagoljica is a Croatian letter that is not in use anymore but places like this one are important for understanding ancient Croatian history. There is a tiny and only restaurant in Hum, where you can have lunch before continuing on.  

Day 12: Explore medieval inland of Istria

Soul-of-croatia-cycling-istria-tours-adventure-motovun-hill
Today you will explore the inland of Istria. Istria is the biggest Croatian peninsula, known for its great history, olive oil, wines, and truffles! Istria is also the most developed region in Croatia, including tourism as well. The western coast of Istria with towns, Umag, Novigrad, Poreč, Rovinj is the most popular part. However, the inland of Istria, sometimes called the Little Tuscany, is what makes Istria what it is. Little Town on the top of the hills, vineyards, and olive grows, makes this part of Croatia look like a fairytale. Interesting fact: Istra has been declared as the best Olive region in the world several times in a row! You will start exploring from the Buje area, and then take the route through villages Grožnjan and Oprtalj. Grožnjan is a small charming place on the top of the hill known for its artistic colony. Oprtalj is a great place on your way to stop and have lunch at family restaurant next to city loggia. You final destination today will be  Motovun, the biggest of the small medieval towns and  on the top of the hill in middle Istria, Motovun origins from the 13 century and  It is known for 3 layers of city walls that were used for protection, and also known for the longest staircase in Croatia. From Motovun, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the local scenery. Did you know that Istria and especially the area around Motovun had the highest density of truffles in the ground? One of the biggest truffles ever was found in this area. If you would like to taste local specialties, truffles are definitely at the top of the list. Enjoy!

Day 13: Explore Rovinj and Pula

soul-of-croatia-istria-pula
Today you will explore Rovinj and Pula, probably the two most famous towns in Istria. Rovinj is known for its little charming peninsula which is easy to walk around. At the top of the peninsula stand the patron church of St.Euphemia. Legends say when St.Euphemia was 15 years old, she was arrested by Diocletian's soldiers, (the same Diocletian whose palace you will visit in Split) and when she refused to give up Christianity, she was tortured with cruelty (on a wheel). She still remained loyal to Christ and was thrown to the lions who eventually killed her but did not devour her body. Her body was brought in Rovinj in year 800 ad. and since then we have had a connection the town After Rovinj, you would go to Pula. Pula is the biggest town in Istria and it is famous for the Roman amphitheater which was built in the 1st century, and it is a trademark of Pula as one of the top 10 biggest amphitheaters the Romans built! Together with the amphitheater, there are a few other ruins in Pula that we recommend visiting, such as the August temple, Arch of Sergii, and more.

Day 14: Explore Zagreb

soul-of-croatia-private-tours-zagreb
Today you will explore Zagreb on your own or learn something about local history on a private city tour ( optional)! Zagreb is the capital and the biggest city in Croatia, the administrative center of the country with about 800 000 people living in it.  The city center is easily walkable,  and there are no worries to get lost. You will walk the upper town and walk by the cathedral, Dolac Market, St.Marks square and Lotršćak tower as some of the attractions. Please feel free to ask you to guide any questions you might have about Zagreb! If you like unusual places, we believe that the Museum of broken relationships on the Upper town is definitely one of the places which are interesting to visit! Easy afternoon on your own!

Day 15: Departure from Zagreb

soul-of-croatia-private-tours-zagreb
Today is your departure day. You will be transferred to the airport in accordance with your schedule! Thank you very much for visiting Croatia, hope you had a nice time while exploring, and that you will go home with nice memories! Those who are staying extra time in Croatia will be given instructions according to their schedule.  
Additional notes
All of our trips as private ones at the moment. Any of our trips can be customized towards individual wishes, preferences, and budget! This trip can be done in a self-guided version as well! Feel free to request a call for more details.
Included
Not included
    • International airfare to/from Croatia
    • Food and drinks
    • Optional trips
    • What is not mentioned as included
Price

    Please contact us for pricing info at info@soulofcroatia.com

    The price depends on the time of the year, number of people and level of accommodation.

Contact

Think outside the box. Your trip can be anything you choose it to be. We can customize any kind of itinerary, so feel free to choose any combination of activities or places or add something from your bucket list and contact us to create your perfect trip.







    Reviews

    Nov 9. 2023 byCindy C

    The real deal

    If you are coming to Croatia I heartily recommend Roberto P / Soul of Croatia to make your trip memorable and trouble free. Robi is an excellent organizer and very knowledgeable guide. He designed a cycling trip that gave me and my husband just the right amount of challenge and I finished feeling great. Croatia is so beautiful and he is incredibly generous with true insider info and connections. I will never forget the experiences and memories he made for us - and I have never before laughed so hard on a guided trip. I truly felt like he brought the Soul of Croatia to us.

    Oct 24. 2023 byJoanneK

    Amazing vacation in Croatia

    First time that we've been moved to make a post like this but just returned from a week long cycling trip in Croatia that is easily among the best vacations we have ever taken largely due to the expert organization and guidance provided by Robi of Soul of Croatia. Every day was truly a new adventure highlighted by beautiful rides, exceptional views, gorgeous weather, wonderful local food and people and Robi's commitment to ensuring that we fully enjoyed and appreciated the diversity and rich history that this beautiful country offers. Like everybody else in our group, we cannot wait to make a return trip and highly recommend Robi/Soul of Croatia to any others contemplating a trip to this part of the world. Thanks again Robi and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Michael and Joanne K

    Oct 24. 2023 byMaggie

    A Most Amazing Cycling Trip

    Our cycling trip with Roberto was one of the best trips I have ever taken. And this is the second cycling trip I have done with Roberto. I didn’t possibly think he could outdo the excellence of the first trip, but Roberto did. The second trip also exceeded all of my expectations. Our group of eight friends were taken on a private Cycling tour carefully customized to meet all of our needs. Roberto picked daily Cycling adventures which brought us to exquisitely beautiful places in Croatia, and each day was more beautiful than the last. Roberto’s knowledge of Croatia, his connections to the local people, his passion for the history and customs of every place that we visited, could not be replicated by anyone else. Roberto personally took us on a tour of the old city of Dubrovnik, as well as the city of Ston, and he constantly provided us with knowledge of the local areas. Roberto chose restaurants for us, which were excellent and which served traditional delicious Croatian cuisine. Roberto had personal connections to many of the restaurants and wineries we visited which meant we were provided with the highest level of service. Both before, and after our trip, Roberto assisted us with any other excursions and bookings we were interested in. After our trip was complete he personally took us on a boat tour where we swam in amazing caves. It was an exceptional trip, and I cannot recommend Roberto and Soul of Croatia highly enough to anybody who would like to experience Croatia as it should be experienced.

    SEE ALL REVIEWS CREATE YOUR OWN REVIEW

    Featured Trips

    7 Days

    7 Days: Multisport active – South Croatia and Dubrovnik

    7 Days

    7 Days: Cycling in Southern Croatia – Dalmatian Islands, Dubrovnik and Ston

    11 Days

    11 Days: Classic highlights of Croatia: inland, islands and coastline