TurlyCroatia.com
Experience unique and traditional experiences and adventures along the way. Highlights include the Istrian peninsula, Plitvice, Zadar, Split, Hvar, Peljesac, Mljet, and last but not least Dubrovnik. This tour can be customized to your interests, preferences, travel dates, and preferred budget.
Zagreb
Motovun
Rovinj
Pula
Opatija
Plitvice Lakes
Zadar
Šibenik
Split
Hvar
Blue and Green Cave
Pelješac
Ston
Mljet
Dubrovnik
Day 1 - Zagreb
Upon arrival to Zagreb airport, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon to settle in before ending the day with a traditional Zagreb dinner.
What’s Included
- Zagreb airport arrival and private transfer to hotel
- Traditional Zagreb welcome dinner
- 2 nights accommodation in a 4* or 5* hotel, including breakfast and tourist taxes
Day 2 - Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and economic center of Croatia. Spend the day exploring Zagreb life as a local. Start the day with a private walking tour where the guide will show you the wonders of the old fortified Upper town, the Cathedral of St. Stephen, the famous St. Mark’s church with its multicolored roof, and the bustling town market ‘Dolac’.
We will end with a panorama tour by car to Zagreb’s most famous cemetery, Mirogoj. The central Zagreb cemetery is located on the mountain Medvednica and is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe. Mirogoj is also a beautiful park and art gallery. During this panorama tour, we will pass by green Zagreb, its parks, fountains, and monuments spread over eight parks forming a “horseshoe” with walks lined with gardens, parks, and flowers which cover the city’s center.
What’s Included
- Private guided tour of Zagreb
Day 3 - Zagreb - Motovun - Rovinj
Motovun is a charming hilltop village famous for its Venetian architecture, fortified walls, and amazing views. Croatia’s “Tuscany” region is famous for its wines, Istrian prosciutto, and truffles. Motovun is situated in the middle of the heart-shaped peninsula of Istria, on the northern end of the coastal region of Croatia. This medieval village of Motovun has a history dating back over 2,300 years.
Rovinj is an absolutely gorgeous seaside town on the western heart shape of the Istrian peninsula. The city is rich in history, full of stalls and markets, and a bustling town with locals, artists, and visitors. The buildings around Rovinj seem to be growing out of the sea and the traditional stone laneways, steps, and buildings will make you fall in love with this town.
What’s Included
- Private Driver from Zagreb to Motovun to Rovinj
- Truffle hunting experience and light lunch
- Motovun guided city walk
- 2 nights accommodation in a 4* or 5* hotel, including breakfast and tourist taxes
Day 4 - Rovinj - Pula - Rovinj
The stunning fishing port of Rovinj is known for its picturesque beaches, cobbled Old Town, and lively bay area. Venture beyond the tourist hotspots and discover the historic town through the eyes of the locals. Explore the lower and upper towns, take in the views from Saint Euphemia’s, and find out the best places to stroll, shop, and most importantly dine.
Pula, once a luxurious retirement home for Roman veterans, then the headquarters of the Austrian Royal Navy in the 19th and today one of the insider spots in Croatia, is still spared by the huge tourist crowds. Enjoy a private walking tour in the ancient old town of Pula and visit the 5th best-preserved Amphitheater in the world.
What’s Included
- Rovinj Guided City tour
- Excursion to Pula and city tour with private driver
Day 5 - Rovinj - Opatija - Plitvice
Opatija is a town filled with parks, historic buildings, and picturesque paths along a coastline of crystal-clear beaches. Opatija is a city offering a range of memorable sights and experiences. Its roots go back to Roman times but its modern popularity is attributed to a rich merchant from Rijeka who built and founded Villa Angiolina in 1844. It became a very fashionable and luxurious place to be when the Austrian Imperial family and nobility came here for their vacations. Luxurious hotels and villas were built here and still, today have never lost their charm.
Spend the afternoon at Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with an amazing 15 acres encompassing the National Park. We will embark on a journey along the wooden paths to the breathtaking waterfalls that cascade from one level to another. Board a boat on the largest lake in the park where you will take in the serenity and feel like you have escaped from the stress of everyday life. Don’t forget your camera!
What’s Included
- Private Driver from Rovinj to Plitvice Lakes
- Stop in Opatija for a walk and free time for brunch
- Plitvice Lakes National Park visit including entrances and guide
- 1 night accommodation in a 4* hotel, including breakfast, dinner, and tourist taxes
Day 6 - Plitvice - Zadar
Zadar is the urban center of northern Dalmatia, situated just at the heart of the Adriatic sea. Often shadowed by more famous destinations along the Croatian coast, it’s a city of exceptional history with a modern and welcoming attitude. In the peninsular Old Town traces of the past are still visible in the layout of the streets and in the Mediterranean architecture and Roman ruins popping up among cozy cafes and traditional eateries.
Visit the spectacular St. Donatus church, the ancient Roman forum, and the famous Sea Organ and Installation to the Sun, both contemporary Zadar attractions. Be sure to catch the sunset by the sea organ!
What’s Included
- Private driver from Plitvice to Zadar
- Stop in a local vineyard for wine tasting and lunch
- Zadar City Tour
- 1 night accommodation in a 4* or 5* hotel, including breakfast and tourist taxes
Day 7 - Zadar - Šibenik - Split
Following Zadar, we will head further south to the city of Šibenik. Šibenik is the oldest Croatian town on the Adriatic coast. Šibenik was the residence of the Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV, who was one of the greatest rulers of ancient Croatia. The town boasts St. Jacob’s Cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Split is Croatia’s second-largest city and the largest on the Adriatic coast, Split is a coastal city filled with history and atmosphere. In the 3rd century, the Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to spend his last days in the sunny harbor of Asphalatos where he built an amazing palace (UNESCO-Heritage listed) whose walls have stood through the centuries and are still a part of the old City. There are now 220 buildings within the palace walls and the labyrinth of the streets will guide you through a blend of ancient roman, old Christian, and modern cultural life. The palace and some of its chambers have been converted into bars, shops, and restaurants.
What’s Included
- Private driver from Zadar to Šibenik to Split
- Šibenik City Tour & free time for lunch
- Split City Tour
- 2 nights accommodation in a 4* or 5* hotel, including breakfast and tourist taxes
Day 8 - Split
Split is a Dalmatian metropolis, with a history, culture, gastronomy, and lifestyle so diverse and unique that you could think that you’re visiting a 2 million people city rather than a 200,000 one. Gastronomic pleasures are hidden and kept a secret, as part of the tradition and passed along through generations. Let us take you on a journey of Croatian, and specifically Dalmatian, food and wine. Visit a private estate featuring a wine cellar, small urban garden, and summer kitchen. Once you arrive on the estate we will welcome you with a cold refreshing drink after which we make snacks to pair with a short wine tasting and cook a fabulous meal and enjoy the sound of the river flow and view of the mountain. Recipes and vendors will change as the season dictates, we will use only the freshest seasonal ingredients in our cooking class.
Later in the day, join a spectacular sunset stand-up paddle evening tour, combining the sea and river outside Split. This special adventure includes special LED lighted boards changing everything you experience around and beneath you while paddling.
What’s Included
- Wine Tasting and Cooking Class
- Sunset Stand-up Paddle Guided Tour
Day 9 - Split - Hvar
Hvar is one of the most fascinating towns in Europe. Home to the oldest public theatre in Europe, a beautifully restored 14th-century Arsenal that was used to outfit Venetian galleys, the birthplace of the ‘father of fingerprinting’, an ancient tradition of lace-making that is now a protected cultural heritage by UNESCO and so much more.
Besides its history, Hvar is a natural paradise whose fields are famous for their grapes and olives, producing world-class products. Ride from Stari Grad through the Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to Vrboska, known locally as Little Venice. After a ride along the seashore to Jelsa, we will stop for a short wine tasting with top-quality wine and olive oil. On our way back, we will visit a family farm where you will enjoy traditional lunch made of organic food and wines. After a wonderful half-day exploring Hvar island, the tour ends with a car transfer back to your hotel.
What’s Included
- Private transfer from Split hotel to port
- Tickets to fast ferry from Split to Hvar
- Private Guided Cycling Tour with wine tasting and lunch
- Hvar City Tour
- 2 nights accommodation in a 4* or 5* hotel, including breakfast and tourist taxes
Day 10 - Hvar - Blue Cave Boat Experience - Hvar
Starting in the morning from Hvar town, the first stop is the Green Cave on Ravnik island, close to Vis. We will have some free time for swimming, snorkeling, and cliff-jumping there. Afterward, we are headed to the Blue Cave on Biševo island. The magnificent cave is definitely a highlight of the tour, with its blue lightning effect that takes your breath away. Due to sea and wind conditions, the cave entrance can sometimes close without advance notice. Cave tickets are purchased locally. Our third stop is another jewel of Vis island Stiniva cove. The beach was voted the most beautiful in Europe in 2016, and it is very well known for its amazing cliffs on the sides and tiny entrance to the bay. Depending on the group’s wishes, weather conditions, and the captain’s recommendation, it can be Budikovac island, Stončica bay, the military tunnels of Vis island, or maybe some lone beach for you to enjoy. On our way back to Hvar, we will stop at Palmižana bay, considered the most beautiful among the Pakleni islands. Enjoy free time for lunch at one of the local restaurants in the bay before returning back to Hvar town.
What’s Included
- Private Speedboat Tour to Blue and Green Caves
- Skipper, fuel, water, and snorkeling gear
Day 11 - Hvar - Dubrovnik
Learn about Dubrovnik and its surroundings, history, and contemporary life. Visit the famous Dubrovnik Old Town with a licensed guide. Visit the old town’s historic buildings such as Onofrio’s Fountain, Pile Gate, Franciscan Monastery, Stradun main street, Sponza Palace, Rector’s Palace, Cathedral, Saint Blaise Church, Old Town Port, Farmers’ Market. Hear stories about these special places, which will make them come to life. Experience views and excellent photo opportunities outside the Old town from the hill above the town and Dubrovnik Bridge. In a mere 3 hours, get a real feel of Dubrovnik's history.
What’s Included
- Tickets to fast ferry from Hvar to Dubrovnik
- Transfer from Dubrovnik port to hotel
- Dubrovnik Above and Beyond, Srdj hill panorama, and guided Old Town tour
- 3 nights accommodation in a 4* or 5* hotel, including breakfast and tourist taxes
Day 12 - Dubrovnik - Pelješac Region Wine and Oyster Experience - Sea Kayaking Adventure - Dubrovnik
Let our local fisherman take you with his boat to his oyster beds where you will try the most delicious oysters accompanied by his homemade wine. Let your experienced guide immerse you in the history and culture of this area, and learn about the oysters and wines paired with them. Visit one of the family-owned Pelješac wineries and learn about their wine production, visit their cellars, and taste their wine and liqueurs.
Experience Dubrovnik’s beauty at sunset. Kayak beneath the city walls until you reach a hidden cave and beach. Enjoy a swim and snorkel. Continue towards Lokrum Island and explore its caves. Enroute to Dubrovnik, enjoy a magnificent sunset in the direction of Elaphite islands.
What’s Included
- Private van and driver, fuel, tolls, and parking
- Visit an organic farm in Orasac and experience village life and how olive oil was produced in the past.
- Wine tasting some of the finest homegrown wines and vineyards
- A peek into the local salt works and learn about the largest preserved salt works in Europe
- Experience a short boat ride for oyster picking & oyster tasting in Mali Ston Bay
- Sunset Sea Kayaking Adventure
Day 13 - Dubrovnik - Mljet Speedboat Adventure - Dubrovnik
Situated just an hour and a half from Dubrovnik by speedboat, near the peninsula of Pelješac and the island of Korčula, Mljet is one of the many must-see locations of the South Dalmatian coastline. Home to the oldest National Park on the Adriatic, Mljet is the quintessential paradise island: peaceful, unspoiled, and home to fascinating plants and wildlife. Come and explore this majestic island and forget about the bustle of modern urban life.
What’s Included
- Private speedboat experience from Dubrovnik
- Family-friendly snorkel into Odysseus cave Visit National Park and Salt Lakes Swim in crystal clear Adriatic Sea
- Pickup at your accommodation, private skipper, boat, and fuel
- Wi-Fi, Go-Pro camera, towels, masks & snorkels, floaties for children
- Water, Beer, Wine & Sodas
Day 14 - Dubrovnik Departure
After breakfast, meet your driver for your final transfer to Dubrovnik airport. We look forward to welcoming you back one day soon. Sretan put!
What’s Included
- Private transfer from hotel to airport