A journey through the treasury of Eastern Europe

Croatia, represents art and the art of living. It includes islands in a clear blue sea and pretty seaside resorts with a rich heritage. Human-sized cities and overwhelming natural beauty. A strange but irresistible mix of cultures.

This experience trip takes you from the pleasant, lively capital Zagreb to the 'Pearl of the Adriatic', Dubrovnik. An itinerary dotted with Unesco World Heritage Sites and spectacular landscapes. From fascinating historical cities with Venetian palaces, picturesque markets and trendy neighbourhoods, to charming coastal towns with beautiful beaches.

A true exploration of 2,000 years of history, full of cultural and gastronomic highlights.

Day 1: Departure to Zagreb

Once you have arrived in Zagreb and collected your rental car, your journey can begin. For the first two nights you will stay at a Caractère hotel in Zagreb. Head into the city today for your first exploration, which promises to be a wonderful start to a memorable holiday.

Day 2: Zagreb

The adventure begins in the historic city of Zagreb with its cosy upper town and monumental lower town. The Kaptol district used to be the city's religious centre. Nowadays, pointed towers poke up in the company of the archbishop's palace that is sometimes compared to the Kremlin. The Gradec district is green with squares, fruit-coloured baroque and with remnants of the city walls. The appearance of the lower town was determined by a Viennese architect and this is noticeable in the straight street pattern and stately buildings that housed the most important museums.

Day 3: The Lakes of Plitvice

Today you will visit a unique National Park, where a magnificent landscape unfolds over eight kilometres and with sixteen lakes, which feed each other in tiers. After this visit, you set course for Zadar where you will spend the night in one of our hotels.

Day 4: Zadar

Zadar is the former capital of Dalmatia: four centuries of Venetian rule have left their mark there, but St Donatius Church in particular is the city's symbol. Take a nice walk along the promenade Riva Nova to the 'Sea Organ' and the 'Greeting to the Sun' by artist Nikola Bašić. Alfred Hitchcock elevated Zadar's sunset to the most beautiful on earth when he stayed here in 1964...

Day 5: Šibenik - Trogir - Split

Šibenik has a cosy medieval centre where the maze of alleys and staircases evokes an Italian charm. St James' Cathedral is a World Heritage Site. Trogir, on a small island, with its Venetian palaces and remains of the medieval city wall, is one of Dalmatia's most beautiful coastal towns. You will stay three nights in Split.

Day 6: Historic Split

On the programme today: a visit to the fascinating historical city, Split. A walk through this city is a journey through 2,000 years of history. Colonnades, Venetian palaces, Austrian buildings, picturesque markets, as well as trendy neighbourhoods define the unique cityscape. A highlight is the impressive Diocletian's Palace, which is now the heart of the city.

Day 7: Further exploration

On day 7, you are completely free to explore Split and the islands even further. Opt for a day trip to Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina), a gem of medieval Ottoman architecture with a Christian and Muslim section, and you'll find yourself in a different world. En route, you can stop at the devout pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. You then return along the Neretva delta, a huge fertile valley, with villages built along waterways. Each house has a jetty and a boat, which is used to transport fruit and vegetables, and in the harvest season, farmers sell their produce along the road.

Day 8: Dubrovnik

Your journey continues towards Dubrovnik. You can do several stops along the way, for example you can drive up to the green and mountainous Pelješac peninsula with spectacular landscapes. Pelješac is the Mecca of gastronomy with its oysters and mussels from Ston, its delicious wines, its rich variety of fish and its salt pans. You can also stop in Orebič, which is a quiet and prosperous coastal town with a promenade shaded by palm trees and villas hidden under lush vegetation. You can take the pedestrian ferry arriving at the historic heart of the magnificent fortified town of Korčula, the 'little Dubrovnik'. A must-see is not only the Icon Museum of the All Saints' Fraternity, but also St Mark's Cathedral. Finally, you will arrive in Dubrovnik, where you will stay for three nights at one of our top hotels in the city.

Day 9 and Day 10: Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic

The former Ragusa (Italian for Dubrovnik) sits on a cliff surrounded by high ramparts and is one of the most beautiful fortifications in the world. A walk in the walled city with its impressive city gates or along the Placa will show you the most extraordinary sights: the Onofrio Fountain, the Franciscan and Dominican Monastery and Cathedral, the Square of the Loggia, the Sponza Palace and the Rector's Palace. Also fun are the terraces at the old port or a walk on the ramparts.

Day 11: Going home

Your adventure in Croatia has unfortunately come to an end, today you will return your rental car. Don't feel like returning home yet? We will gladly arrange an extension of your stay in one of our boutique hotels in Dubrovnik. Would you also like to visit Montenegro? No problem, we can arrange a visit to Tivat or the Bay of Kotor for you.