Self-Drive Independent Tour of Croatia & Slovenia; Zagreb to Dubrovnik or vice versa Dbk-Zag 12nts

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Zagreb
Location: Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice, Postojna, Bled, Zagreb
Duration: 13 days
Availability: DAILY, April - October
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Zagreb
Location: Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice, Postojna, Bled, Zagreb
Duration: 13 days
Availability: DAILY, April - October
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

Dubrovnik
Split
Plitvice Lakes
Postojna Cave
Lake Bled
Ljubljana
Zagreb

Book now (obligation free) pay later

13 days from Zagreb, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Bohinj, Postojna, Porec, Rovinj, Pula, Opatija, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Dubrovnik (Montenegro)

Follow the itinerary of one of our most popular Tours every year. See the best of Croatia and Slovenia. Combine with a cruise from Dubrovnik and have the best of both worlds, land and sea. Including hotels with bed and breakfast and car hire (manual vehicle).

You can do either direction, Zagreb to Dubrovnik or the reverse, Dubrovnik to Zagreb

Itinerary

13 days from Zagreb, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Bohinj, Postojna, Porec, Rovinj, Pula, Opatija, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Dubrovnik, Montenegro and finish in Dubrovnik

Self-drive tour available in either direction Double/twin or triple rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually a double bed with a single bed. Solo travellers must book their own room for solo use with a solo use supplement.

Similar itinerary available as a private guided tour with daily departures Dubrovnik to Zagreb: https://discovercroatia.com.au/details/11511/106/private-tour-dalmatian-sunshine-dbk-zag-8nts/
Similar itinerary available as an Escorted Tour Dubrovnik to Zagreb (set departures): https://discovercroatia.com.au/details/11511/1/dalmatian-sunshine-croatia-and-slovenia-tour-8nts/
Combine with a cruise from Dubrovnik: https://discovercroatia.com.au/cruises/?departs=Dubrovnik

FAQ: https://discovercroatia.com.au/before-you-go/

SUGGESTED ITINERARY ZAGREB TO DUBROVNIK (SOUTHBOUND). Also available in the opposite direction Dubrovnik to Zagreb for the same price.

ITINERARY:

DAY 1, ZAGREB – ARRIVAL
Arrival at Zagreb airport and pick up car. Overnight at the hotel in Zagreb.

DAY 2, ZAGREB (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy in the morning walk on lovely and colorful streets of Zagreb. Take a stroll in the historic Upper town and see St. Mark church, St. Catherine church, the cathedral, the Parliament and the Government palace. Overnight at hotel in Zagreb.

DAY 3, ZAGREB - LJUBLJANA (B)
Breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy in the morning walk on lovely and colorful streets of Zagreb. Take a stroll in historic Upper town and see St. Mark church, St. Catharine church, the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Government palace. At the afternoon leave Zagreb and direct yourself towards Croatian neighbor country Slovenia and its capital – Ljubljana. Arrival at the hotel and start the visit of the city and its most significant sights such are the central open market, the triple bridge, both designed by the famous architect Joze Plecnik, the town hall and robba’s fountain. Overnight at the hotel in Ljubljana.

DAY 4, LJUBLJANA (BLED & BOHINJ DAY TRIP) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we suggest you to visit one of the most beautiful alpine lake – The Bled lake. You can climb up to Bled castle and embark a pletna boat to the small island on the Bled lake. Not far from Bled is also Bohinj that you might want to see. Return to Ljubljana and overnight at hotel in Ljubljana.

DAY 5, LJUBLJANA – POSTOJNA – OPATIJA (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Opatija, city on Croatian coast. On the way, we suggest to stop in Postojna and visit one of biggest caves in the world. Fees are not included. After visit, continue to Opatija. Upon arrival, check inn in hotel. Overnight in Opatija.

DAY 6, OPATIJA (ISTRIAN DAY TRIP: PULA – ROVINJ – POREC) (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. We suggest that you make a tour around the biggest Croatian peninsula – Istria. Visit city of Pula wioth it’s Roman amphitheater. Continue to the west side and visit cities: Rovinj and Porec. Rovinj is picturesque city on peninsula and Porec basilica Euphrasiana is under UNESCO protection. Return to Opatija and overnight in Opatija.

DAY 7, OPATIJA – ZADAR (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Zadar, city on Croatian coast. On the way, we suggest to stop in Senj and visit one of biggest castle’s in the world. Fees are not included. After visit, continue to Zadar. Upon arrival, check inn in hotel. Overnight in Zadar.

DAY 8, ZADAR – PLITVICE LAKES (or KRKA NATIONAL PARK) - SPLIT (B)
Breakfast at hotel. This morning leave Zadar and drive south towards Split. Visit the UNESCO Heritage listed Plitvice Lakes or Krka National Park, or make a stop break in towns Sibenik and Trogir. All these cities (Sibenik, Trogir and Split) are under UNESCO protection and full of historical and cultural sights. In Split we recommend to visit famous Diocletian palace. Arrival at the hotel in Split, Check inn. Overnight in Split.

DAY 9, SPLIT (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Today you can enjoy in second largest city in Croatia. Self-explore 1700 years old Diocletian’s palace and visit number of hidden alleys, smallest street in the whole world (“Let me pass” street), World’s oldest cathedral (still in use), Street where murder of the last Roman emperor took place and much more. On the other hand you can also embark on ferry to island Brac or Hvar and explore one of these magnificent islands. Evening return to Split with same ferry. Overnight at hotel in Split.

DAY 10, SPLIT – DUBROVNIK (B)
After breakfast leave Split towards the south of Croatian coast, passing Makarska Riviera. If you would like you can also visit Bosnia and Herzegovina with its town Mostar and famous old bridge. Evening arrival in Dubrovnik. Check inn. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 11, DUBROVNIK (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Today we suggest you to discover the “Adriatic Pearl”. Visit old town and explore city walls. Visit Rectors palace, or simply enjoy in king’s landing from Game of Thrones. We suggest to take cable car to Srdj hill and enjoy in stunning view of this magnificent city. Overnight in hotel in Dubrovnik.

DAY 12, DUBROVNIK (MONTENEGRO DAY TRIP) (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Today we recommend to visit Montenegro. Drive along Adriatic coast and explore the scenic Kotor bay. The fjord of Kotor that goes deep inland, with high cliffs and mountains lies just beyond the border of Croatia. Stop in Perast for visit the island of “Gospa od Skrpjela”. Continue to Kotor for sightseeing this small city enriched its maritime tradition. Return to the hotel in Dubrovnik and overnight.

DAY 13, DUBROVNIK – departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Check out and drive yourself to the airport. Drop off the car. Please count that you’ll need at least 30 minutes to finalise the car hire. Departure.

INCLUDED:
• Accommodation in selected hotels on BB basis and all taxes
• Breakfast daily
• Car Hire, TYPE CMDR; Opel Astra or similar (Manual) - (price on request for different vehicles)

NOTES:
• Clients need to have valid credit card (we accept all major cards) to authorize a guarantee and a valid driving license
• The working hours of car rental office are from 08:00 AM till 20:00 PM. An additional supplement might be charged if the pick up or drop off are outside office and working hours
• This tour can be done also in reverse, without any supplement (remaining the same number of nights in each city)

NOT INCLUDED:
• GPS
• Tips/gratuities
• Meals or drinks other than breakfast
• Parking (most hotels offer parking from 10 EUR/day, some need to be pre-booked)
• Sightseeing Tours
• Entrances
• Rates exclude senior driver fee €6.25 per day (older than 65 years)

STANDARD Hotels
• ZAGREB: Hotel Laguna 3star or similar
• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Park 3star or similar
• OPATIIJA: Hotel Adriatic 3star or similar
• ZADAR: Hotel Porto 3star or similar
• SPLIT: Hotel Slavija 3star or similar
• DUBROVNIK: Hotel Astarea 3star similar

Classic Hotels:
• ZAGREB: Hotel International 4star or similar
• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Austria Trend 4star or similar
• OPATIJA: Hotel Bristol 4star or similar
• ZADAR: Hotel Kolovare 4star or similar
• SPLIT: Hotel Jupiter 4star or similar
• DUBROVNIK: Grand Hotel Park 4star or similar

Premium Hotels (price on request):
• ZAGREB: Hotel Sheraton 5star or similar
• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Lev 4star or similar
• OPATIJA: Hotel Ambassador 5star or similar
• ZADAR: Hotel Kolovare 4star or similar
• SPLIT: Atrium 5star or similar
• DUBROVNIK: Rixos Libertas 5star or similar

Accommodations

Great accommodations are provided.

Essential Information

HOTELS:
STANDARD Hotels:
• ZAGREB: Hotel Laguna 3star or similar
• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Park 3star or similar
• OPATIIJA: Hotel Adriatic 3star or similar
• ZADAR: Hotel Porto 3star or similar
• SPLIT: Hotel Slavija 3star or similar
• DUBROVNIK: Hotel Astarea 3star similar

Classic Hotels:
• ZAGREB: Hotel International 4star or similar
• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Austria Trend 4star or similar
• OPATIJA: Hotel Bristol 4star or similar
• ZADAR: Hotel Kolovare 4star or similar
• SPLIT: Hotel Jupiter 4star or similar
• DUBROVNIK: Grand Hotel Park 4star or similar

Premium Hotels (price on request):
• ZAGREB: Hotel Sheraton 5star or similar
• LJUBLJANA: Hotel Lev 4star or similar
• OPATIJA: Hotel Ambassador 5star or similar
• ZADAR: Hotel Kolovare 4star or similar
• SPLIT: Atrium 5star or similar
• DUBROVNIK: Rixos Libertas 5star or similar

Inclusions

INCLUDED:
• Accommodation in selected hotels on BB basis and all taxes
• Breakfast daily
• Car Hire, TYPE CMDR; Opel Astra or similar (Manual) - (price on request for different vehicles)

Exclusions

NOT INCLUDED:
• GPS
• Tips/gratuities
• Meals or drinks other than breakfast
• Parking (most hotels offer parking from 10 EUR/day, some need to be pre-booked)
• Sightseeing Tours
• Entrances
• Rates exclude senior driver fee €6.25 per day (older than 65 years)

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]