Spend spring in Zadar, in nature with a guide, searching for wild asparagus, vegetables known as a “nutritional gem” and learn how to prepare delicious asparagus specialties. During 5 days you will visit Pag and taste award-winning cheese, discover scattered islands in a private boat trip, walk on wooden bridges in Krka National Park and taste Dalmatian prosciutto on a family farm. 

Zadar – Pag – National park Krka 

5 days, 4 nights (4 overnights in Zadar)

Asparagus is known as a nutritive bomb and it is considered to be among the healthiest food in the world. They were cultivated by the Chinese more than 5.000 years ago, and were brought to Europe by Romans via Egypt and Greece. Asparagus gained popularity during Roman period, when due to its high nutritional value, servants went to harvest asparagus for the emperors, so it got the nickname “Imperial vegetables”.
Asparagus grows as a wild plant only in Croatia’s coastal part, and the harvest season begins in March and April. With the first days of spring, locals start going outdoors for picking asparagus, and afterwards they prepare real culinary delicacies from them. Mostly asparagus is prepared as an addition to salads, risottos and pasta, or with scrambled eggs and as a side dish to meat and fish.
Interesting fact is that one cup of asparagus contains only 43 calories, as most of it is water (93%), but its greatest value is in its richness with minerals and vitamins. It contains high amounts of potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium and magnesium. Besides, in asparagus can be found trace elements of an iron, copper, zinc, fluorine and iodine. Asparagus is an excellent source of folate and vitamin C, and a good source of thiamine and vitamin B6.
Consumption of wild asparagus helps against chronic bronchitis, kidney stones, anemia, diabetes, removes jaundice and cleanses the kidneys and bladder.

TOUR PLAN:

Day 1: Arrival in Zadar

Arrival in Zadar and check-in in the accommodation. Sightseeing Zadar old town for 2 hours with an assistant that will take you to different locations where you will put on Virtual Reality glasses in order to experience never seen moments of Zadar’s history. Afterwards you will have free time for exploring the city on your own. In the evening attend dinner in a traditional restaurant where you will taste delicious Dalmatian meals prepared with fresh local products.
Accommodation: hotel 4*
Meals: welcome dinner
Activity: 2-hour guided sightseeing, not physically demanding

Day 2: island of Pag and Cheese tasting

In the morning departure towards the island of Pag with a guide that is a driver at the same time. Pag is the fifth largest island in Croatia, an hour of driving from Zadar, connected to the mainland with a bridge. The island is characterized with unusual rocky and karst landscape and beautiful coves overlooking Velebit mountain. The guide will take you through amazing nature and explain how to pick wild asparagus. Afterwards, you will drive to Kolan, charming town where you will stop to take a tour through family owned cheese factory named Gligora. You will enjoy 25-min guided tour during which you will hear story about cheese from the island of Pag (Paški sir), the most awarded cheese in Croatia. You will get to know the production facility, visit the ageing room in the factory cellar, and at the end of the tour you will taste various types of cheese in the upper floor where is situated tasting room with a breath-taking view.
After tasting the cheese, you will head to the town of Pag, and before entering the town, you will stop at the lookout point with the most beautiful panoramic view of Pag.
After cheese tasting, you will head to the town of Pag, and there you will take a tour in town to get to know the most important sites such as the parish church of Mary’s Assumption, the Rector’s Palace, the Salt Magazine with a permanent exhibition of solar, Pag Lace Gallery (protected by UNESCO), and the former Old Town of Pag with Romanesque church of St. Mary, only a kilometer away from the city center. Before entering the city, you will stop at a lookout point with the most beautiful panoramic view of Pag. Lunch in a restaurant in Pag. Afterwards visit to the former town of Pag and its Romanesque church of St. Mary, situated only 1 km from the city.
Return to Zadar in the afternoon.
Accommodation: hotel 4*
Meals: breakfast in a hotel, cheese tasting
Activity: Full day tour to the island of Pag, not physically demanding
Distance: 136 km

Day 3: Panoramic drive with a boat through Zadar archipelago

Half-day boat trip from Zadar to nearby islands of Zadar archipelago. You will be able to see Zadar and the Sea Organ from a different perspective, looking from the sea. You will enjoy a relaxing boat ride on a small traditional boat to the islands of Ugljan and Pašman, ideal place to relax without stress. The island of Ugljan is often mentioned as a “suburb” and garden of Zadar, and it got its name due to the lush vegetation and its vicinity to Zadar. The silence of a hidden corners of the island may be just what you need.
You will discover charming island towns with stone houses, while beautiful nature and atmosphere of the island wont leave you indifferent.
The guide will take you through the island and you will follow paths to the top of the hill, where you will discover enchanting view of the city of Zadar, sea and nearby islands.
During the walk, pay attention and you may spot wild asparagus to pick. While on the island, don’t miss to enjoy traditional dishes typical for this area, which are usually served in a Dalmatian tavern (konoba).
After the tour return to Zadar and free time for personal programs.
Accommodation: hotel 4*
Meals: breakfast in a hotel, lunch in a restaurant on the island
Activity: 6-hour boat tour, not physically demanding

Day 4: Krka waterfalls National park and “House of Prosciutto”

After breakfast departure towards Krka National park. The guide will take you through the park and the tour will last 2 hours. You will follow circular path 1900 m long, along numerous wooden bridges that cross the travertine barriers. You will see the longest and the most popular waterfall – Skradinski buk. Do not miss to admire amazing panoramic view from the Imperial viewpoint, and pay special attention to the remains of Hydro Power Plant Krka, one of the first alternative current power plants in the world. Take a look at the ethno presentation and mills from the 19th century, which present the grinding of cereals and washing cloth, forging horseshoes, weaving bags, preparing food in the old kitchen, etc.
After tour in Krka National Park, departure to the family estate “Roca – prosciutto house”. On the estate you will see a pig farm, a vineyard with selected sorts of grapes, a fig trees, an olive grove, production facilities and an ethno room. You will taste gold-awarded prosciutto, homemade bread baked under the oven and other delicious dishes.
After lunch on the family farm, in the afternoon return to Zadar and in the evening cooking class where you will prepare delicious asparagus dishes with local chef.
Accommodation: hotel 4*
Meals: breakfast in a hotel, lunch on a rural estate, dinner and “Cooking class”
Activity: not physically demanding, easy 2-hour walking tour
Distance: 160 km

Day 5: Zadar – departure
After breakfast check out from the hotel. Free time in the city until departure.

THE PRICE: From 1.400,00 EUR per person

Min. number of people: 2

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Accommodation in a hotel Almayer 4* in the old town – 4 nights with breakfast
• Sightseeing the city “Virtual Reality of Zadar’s history”
• Welcome dinner in a restaurant in the old town
• Permission to harvest wild asparagus
• Driver and transfers Zadar-Pag-Zadar and Zadar-NP Krka-Roca-Zadar
• Licensed local guide
• Gligora cheese factory – sightseeing and degustation
• Sightseeing of the town of Pag with a licensed guide
• Entrance tickets for Salt museum and Lace gallery in Pag
• Lunch in a restaurant in Pag
• Private half-day boat tour across Zadar archipelago
• Lunch in a restaurant on the island
• Entrance tickets for Krka National park
• Guided sightseeing of Krka National park
• Lunch on a rural estate “Roca – Proscuitto house”
• Asparagus “Cooking class” dinner
• Costs of organization
• Insurance
• VAT

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

• Transport to the hotel
• Lunch or a dinner unless marked otherwise (for example during full-day trips)
• Tickets for additional attractions (museums, exhibitions etc.) unless marked otherwise
• Personal consumption
• Travel health insurance