Spend unforgettable 8 days in Croatia! Step into the millennial history of the Dalmatian cities Zadar, Klis, Split and Trogir. Enjoy a day in nature and explore the beauties of the world famous Plitvice lakes and Velebit mountain far away from the city crowd.

Zadar – National park Plitvice – Rastoke – Nature park Velebit – Klis – Split – Trogir 

8 days, 7 nights (7 overnights in Zadar)

ABOUT DESTINATION:

Zadar is among the oldest cities in Europe, continuously inhabited for 3,000 years. The old town is located on a peninsula and has been the capital of Dalmatia for centuries. Thanks to its favorable position in the center of the Adriatic coast, Zadar boasts an archipelago with hundreds of islands and islets. Throughout history, Zadar has been a point of interest for many foreign conquerors. The city was ruled by the Venetian Republic, the Austrians, Napoleon and the Italians, and all of them left their mark not only in the history of the city but also in gastronomy, dialect and tradition. Symbol of the city, the church of St. Donatus from the 9th century, is the most valuable monument of Pre-Romanesque architecture in Croatia, and in the lately Zadar has gained world fame thanks to the unique, modern installations Greeting to the Sun and Sea Organ, located on the waterfront.

Plitvice National Park is the oldest and most visited national park in Croatia. There are 16 turquoise lakes in the park which are interconnected by numerous magnificent waterfalls. Due to its natural beauty (waterfalls, cascades, caves, forests), Plitvice Lakes and its surroundings have been on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List since 1979. The lake system is divided into Upper and Lower Lakes. The highest waterfall in the park is Veliki slap, which is 78 m high and is also the highest waterfall in Croatia.
Only 30 minutes drive from Plitvice, are located Rastoke, also called “Small Plitvice”. Rastoke is a small village with centuries-old wooden water mills, completely located on the river Slunjčica and waterfalls that are associated with many legends.

Velebit is the longest mountain and the largest protected area in Croatia because the whole mountain has been protected as a nature park since 1981. Velebit is known for its preserved natural diversity and pristine wilderness, therefore it is often called the “center of endemism”, so it is not surprising that it is the most important mountain in Croatia, if not in the Mediterranean.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia situated in central Dalmatia. The city dates back to the time of the Roman emperor Diocletian (4th century) who decided to build his palace there and to spend the last years of his life. Diocletian’s Palace is located in the historic center and is one of the best preserved monuments of Roman architecture in the world, therefore, is protected by UNESCO.

Klis is one of the most important Croatian fortifications and military strongholds. Klis Fortress was originally built in the 9th century on a top of a cliff, overlooking the city of Split and its surroundings. Over time, it was extended several times, and today the fort has three levels and is surrounded by a triple ring of defensive walls. It became especially significant during the Ottoman conquests when it was the target of frequent attacks.

Trogir is a small town located on an island and by a bridge connected to the mainland and the island of Čiovo. The old town was formed within the ancient walls during 13th – 15th century, and is under UNESCO protection. For that reason Trogir is considered as one of the most beautiful Romanesque-Gothic cities in Europe. Some of the sights that stand out are the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, which was constructed more than 400 years, master Radovan’s portal, the Gothic palace Ćipiko, the tower Kamerlengo, the tower of St. Mark and many others.

TOUR PLAN:

Day 1: Arrival in Zadar

Check in at the airport and transport to the hotel in Zadar. By arriving at the hotel you have some free time until dinner. Welcome dinner will be served in a restaurant in Zadar old town and after tasting delicious traditional specialties, you will return to hotel.
Transfer: from Zemunik Airport to hotel in Zadar 20 kilometers / 30 minutes
Accommodation: Hotel 4 *
Meals: Dinner at the restaurant at 19:00

Day 2: Zadar-National park Plitvice Lakes-Rastoke-Zadar
After breakfast departure to the most beautiful Croatian national park Plitvice Lakes. There you will have a 3-hour guided tour through the National Park. Plitvice Lakes are among the most attractive national parks in the world and the only park in the world where travertine barriers grow up to 90 centimeters in 30 years, while the world average is only a few centimeters. For this reason, it was named “Land of the Falling Lakes where the stones grow”.
After sightseeing Plitvice you will take a short ride to nearby Rastoke watermills village. There will be served lunch in a local restaurant while the fish swim in the streams under your feet. Rastoke is a suburban town of Slunj situated on the river Slunjčica. It was originally as a  settlement of water mills for grounding wheat and a laundry for woolen items. , the village is tourism oriented and definitely worth seeing. Later you will have free time to explore Rastoke on your own. After that you will return to Zadar and rest until tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hotel 4 *
Meals: breakfast at 7:30 am, lunch around 2:30 pm
Activity: easy, 11 hours
Transport: 400 kilometers, approx. 4 hours drive

Day 3: Free time and Virtual Reality of Zadar’s history 

After breakfast, free time for exploring the city on your own. Stroll through the old town which spreads on a peninsula, surrounded by the sea. Climb the city walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enjoy the view of the harbor and head to the main city square. People’s square is the center of public life and the main meeting place for the citizens of Zadar. The city is adorned with another unusual Five Wells Square which is actually a large water cistern, built in the 16th century during the danger of siege by the Ottoman army. Visit the picturesque port of Foša where local fishermen held their boats, and be sure to pay attention to the Land Gate, which is known as one of the most beautiful monuments from the time of Venetian rule in Dalmatia. In the immediate vicinity, there is the first public park built in Croatia, Queen Jelena Park.
Through the main city street Kalelarga, head to the church of St. Donatus, which was built in the 9th century on the remains of a former Roman forum, whose structures are still visible today. Zadar’s Forum is the largest Roman forum built on the eastern coast of the Adriatic.
You should not miss the opportunity to listen to the unusual melody played by the unique Sea Organ and see the unusual installation Greeting to the Sun, which projects colorful light effects after sunset.
In the afternoon, follows “Virtual walk through Zadar” with tastings of Maraschino, a traditional Zadar liqueur. The assistant will guide you through the old town. You will visit several places and after you put on virtual reality glasses, you will discover what Zadar looked like in the past. You will see how the Romans walk through the city, find out how they lived, experience the attack of the enemy battleships on the city and many other interesting events from the turbulent history of Zadar.
For lunch and dinner, visit some of the excellent restaurants in Zadar that offer a great selection of local specialties.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*
Meals: breakfast

Day 4: Jeep safari on Velebit mountain

After breakfast, you will set off on a jeep safari along the longest Croatian mountain – Velebit, which separates continental Croatia from coastal Croatia, and at  the same time, the continental climate from the Mediterranean climate on the coast. Almost the entire Velebit Mountain is a protected area with two national parks, one nature park and two protected reserves. On Velebit you will see unique peaks recognized by the film industry who filmed some of the world famous films on Velebit. The most famous is certainly the film about the Indian chief Winnetou, who was filmed on Velebit on several occasions.
Accommodation: Hotel 4 *
Meals: Breakfast 7:30 am, Mountain lunch around 2:00 pm
Activity: easy, 8 hours
Transportation: 130 kilometers

Day 5: Free time for personal programs

After breakfast at the hotel, free time for personal programs. If you love history, visit Zadar’s museums that will take you back in time. The Archaeological Museum in Zadar was founded back in 1832 and is one of the oldest and most important museums in Croatia. Next to the church of St. Mary you will find valuable treasure with the symbolic name “Gold and Silver of Zadar” preserved by the Benedictine nuns for more than 1,000 years, on the other side of the city is the Museum of Ancient Glass, the only cultural institution of such kind in the world, and there you can see a live demonstration of glass blowing.
After sightseeing Zadar, you can head to the nearby historic town of Nin, whose old town is located on an island and by bridges connected to the mainland. Nin is a town that offers numerous cultural and historical sites and beautiful sandy beaches in a such small area. In the old town you will see the remains of a former Roman temple, but also an urban villa. At the very entrance to the city you will notice an unusual wooden boat, which is actually a replica of the historic boat Condura Croatica from the 11th century, which was used by former inhabitants of the area. You will find out more about this boat if you visit the Museum of Nin Antiquities located on the square. Besides walking through the old town, you can also visit the Nin saltworks where you will learn how salt is produced, and with the guidance of an expert guide you can visit the salt fields.
While you are in Nin, make sure to try the dishes with Nin’s Šokol, a cured meat product characteristic of this town.
Accommodation: Hotel 4*
Meals: breakfast

Day 6: Zadar-Klis-Split-Trogir-Zadar (Game of Thrones tour)
After breakfast departure to the Klis fortress located on top of an inaccessible cliff. The fortress had a historical significance in the defense of this area. Klis was the capital and hometown of Croatian kings. Nowadays, it became popular after the Game of Thrones serial. In the serial Klis represented the Meereen, fictional slave land. You will have a guided sightseeing of the fortress and enjoy panoramic views of nearby Split and its islands.
After that you will visit Split known for its cultural heritage and Diocletian, Roman emperor who built a palace there. Diocletian’s Palace is one of the most preserved monuments of Roman architecture in the world. In the Diocletian’s Palace, the Western Roman Empire fall after the last recognized Roman emperor Julius Nepot was murdered. Diocletian Palace is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will enjoy exploring the old town and the palace with your guide. Afterwards you will stop in a local restaurant to have a lunch.
Later you will visit city of Trogir, another UNESCO site. Trogir is situated on a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. It was founded by Greek colonizers in 3rd century BC. It is one of the best preserved Romanesque and Gothic city in Europe and amazes visitors with its numerous cultural and historical monuments, small streets and art collections with many masterpieces. Since 1997, the entire city has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. National Geographic proclaimed Trogir the most beautiful “town-island” in the World. After sightseeing the city with a guide, you will return to Zadar.
Accommodation: Hotel 4 *
Meals: breakfast at 07:30 am, lunch at 1:30 pm
Activity: easy, 11 hours
Transport: 320 kilometers, approx. 3:15 hours drive

Day 7: Free time for personal programs

Breakfast at the hotel and free time for personal programs. Visit some of the many Zadar islands. If you want to be independent of the ferry, visit the island of Pag, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Stroll through the old town of Pag, its streets paved with white stone and discover beautiful church, remains of medieval city walls and palaces. Visit the Lace Gallery in the old town of Pag to see the finely crafted lace, a unique product of Pag women. The art of making Pag lace is on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. Pag is also known for its gastronomy. Pag cheese is made from sheep’s milk and is among the best in the world. This cheese has been awarded many times at numerous world competitions, and is even ahead of the most prominent French cheeses.
In case you want to experience the real atmosphere of the island and ride with the ferry, then the island of Ugljan and the port of Preko are the best choice for you. The island of Ugljan is located directly opposite Zadar, and the port of Preko is the administrative center of the island. Since the island of Ugljan is the closest to Zadar, it is well connected by ferry line and it takes only 20 minutes to reach the island. Once you are on the island, start exploring the place and feel the irresistible Dalmatian charm, walk the narrow streets and admire old stone houses. Climb to the top of St. Michael’s hill and stroll through Medieval fortress. From the top there is a panoramic view of the islands of the Zadar channel and the city itself.
After sightseeing return to Zadar and to the hotel.
Accommodation: hotel 4*
Meals: breakfast

Day 8: Zadar (END OF THE JOURNEY)

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and, depending on the flight, transport to the airport or leisure in the city of Zadar until departure to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast at 08:00
Transfer: to Zemunik Airport from Zadar 20 kilometers / 30 minutes

THE PRICE: