Croatian Rhapsody Food & Wine Small Group Tour; Zagreb to Dubrovnik 8nts (Fridays)

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Zagreb
Location: Zagreb, Istria, Plitvice and the Dalmatian Coast
Duration: 9 days (Fri-Sat)
Availability: FRIDAYS, monthly departures (except July)
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Activity Level: 1
Comfort: 4
Departs From: Zagreb
Location: Zagreb, Istria, Plitvice and the Dalmatian Coast
Duration: 9 days (Fri-Sat)
Availability: FRIDAYS, monthly departures (except July)
CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

For all Dates and Prices click here

Highlights

Mediterranean historical towns, wrapped in exquisite taste of unique gastronomical experiences
Zagreb, Istria - Opatija, Pula, Rovinj, Zadar, Split & Trogir, Ston, Dubrovnik
Divine Alpine fresh air, world famous Plitvice Lakes
2 high quality gastronomical experiences: Zigante Truffle tasting / Restaurant Tragos
2 wine experiences: Bibich winery / Pelješac winery
Travel by modern air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking Tour Manager
Finishes in Dubrovnik on a Saturday so you can join up with a cruise
Small Group - only 25 passengers!

Book now (obligation free) pay later

9 days from Zagreb, Opatija, Pula, Rovinj, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Split, Trogir, Ston and to Dubrovnik

Recommended for food and wine lovers!
This tour is ideal for the more independent traveller to combine with other tours in Europe.
Comprehensive 8 nights escorted small group tour with maximum 25 passengers.
Includes accommodation, meals and sightseeing.
Can combine with a cruise from Dubrovnik on Saturday or Sunday

Itinerary

Fabulous small group tour. Maximum 25 passengers!

Open-age small group tour. Double/twin rooms available. Solo travellers must book a room for solo use.

A small group sightseeing tour recommended also for food and wine lovers thanks to the rich gastronomic experiences offered day by day. Live a charming Mediterranean experience in a 9 day tour from the capital city Zagreb to the enchanting 'pearl of Adriatic' Dubrovnik. Through the journey you will be surprised by the diversity of landscapes, historical sites, natural beauties that otherwise one would have to seek in larger areas of Europe, and indeed the world.

Ideal to combine with a Cruise from Dubrovnik:
https://discovercroatia.com.au/cruises/?departs=Dubrovnik

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INCLUSIONS AND FULL ITINERARY:
9 days from Zagreb, Opatija, Pula, Rovinj, Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Split, Trogir, Ston and to Dubrovnik

Hotel list:
Zagreb: Hotel Dubrovnik, Academia 4star or similar
Opatija: Hotel Admiral, Imperial 4star or similar
Plitvice: Hotel Degenija, 16 Lakes 4star or similar
Split: Hotel Cornaro, Fermai 4star or similar
Dubrovnik: Hotel Lero, Lapad 4star or similar

INCLUDED:
• 8 nights Accommodation in 4 star hotels
• English-speaking Tour Manager
• Modern vehicle with air-conditioning
• Porterage and hotel taxes
• Shared arrival and departure transfers

Meals Included:
• 8 buffet breakfasts
• 1 lunch in a local restaurant
• 4 dinners in hotel restaurants
• 2 high quality gastronomical experiences: Zigante Truffle tasting / Restaurant Tragos
• 2 wine experiences: Bibich winery / Pelješac winery

Sightseeing Included:
• Guided Walking Tours of Zagreb, Zadar, Trogir, Split, Dubrovnik
• Entrances included: Pula Colosseum, Plitvice Lakes NP, Diocletian Palace Split, Franciscan Monastery Dubrovnik

NOT INCLUDED:
• Drinks / Meals not listed
• Tips and gratuities
• Transfers on other days

ITINERARY:
Arrival in Zagreb anytime and transfer to hotel. Check-in to your room from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags at Reception until their room is ready. Late arrivals are possible.

Day 1: ZAGREB - Arrival (D)
Transfer anytime from the airport to the tour hotel in Zagreb. Remainder of day at leisure. Meet in Hotel Reception around 7pm for the group Welcome Dinner in the hotel restaurant. Overnight in Zagreb.
# Included: Welcome Dinner at hotel

DAY 2: to OPATIJA (B, D)
After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Zagreb with an English-speaking guide. In the fortified, medieval Upper Town, you will see its most prominent sights such as St. Mark’s church with its multicolor tiled roof, Parliament, the government palace, and many fine old buildings. After the sightseeing we proceed to the picturesque Kvarner Bay, more precisely to Opatija, the cradle of Croatian tourism and the city which used to be the favourite spa resort of the Habsburgs and the European aristocracy including famous personalities such as Mahler, Chekhov and Isadora Duncan. (Driving time 2:30hrs). Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Opatija.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Walking Tour of Zagreb

DAY 3: ISTRIA Excursion; OPATIJA (B, T)
Today it's time to get to know the Istrian Peninsula. First a visit the 2000-year-old Roman Colosseum located in Pula. Afterwards, we head to Rovinj, which many consider the most beautiful city in Istria and is the inspiration of many artists. Time at leisure to explore Rovinj on your own, then we depart for the famous hilltop town of Motovun for a sample of one the tastiest Istrian treasures, the truffle. Afterwards, we return to our hotel in Opatia. There are many restaurants to choose from along the seafront promenade for dinner this evening on your own. Overnight in Opatija.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Truffle tasting
# Included: Excursion: ~approx; departure at 9:00hrs, return around 18:00hrs to Opatija.

DAY 4: to PLITVICE LAKES (B, D)
The most beautiful and the oldest national park in Croatia under UNESCO protection consisting of 16 lakes connected by magnificent waterfalls. The park is located in the mountainous region of Lika and visited mostly on foot. – however, the entrance includes a boat ride across the Emerald Green Lake “Kozjak”. The visit of the park grounds takes approximately 3 hours and reveals a special turquoise magic. (Driving time 3hrs). Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Plitvice area.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Guided Tour of Plitvice Lakes

DAY 5: to Zadar and SPLIT (B, T)
After breakfast at the hotel, we drive via the coast towards the city of Zadar. The historic town of Zadar is rich in cultural and historical monuments. Here you can see The Roman forum dated to the 1st century AD, the church of St. Donatus dated to the 9th century AD. Of special interest is the famous Zadar Sea Organ, one of a kind in the world. From Zadar we continue to a local winery in the Dalmatian hinterland. We will taste the authentic Dalmatian wines and international Cuvees accompanied with delicious Croatian style Tapas. Departure towards Split for late afternoon arrival. (Driving time 4-5hrs). Overnight in Split.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Wine tasting
# Included: Walking Tour of Zadar

DAY 6: In SPLIT - Trogir Excursion (B, L)
Today’s Split is the handiwork of seventeen centuries of men and women building and remodelling, adding, tearing down and touching up, so that 18th century houses intersect with ancient Roman walls, and fourth century chambers now house the twentieth century apartments. At the core of this sprawling cityscape is the palace the emperor Diocletian built for his golden years at the turn of the fourth century. Today's lunch will be a traditional Dalmatian dish prepared for us at the Tragos restaurant in Trogir. The town of Trogir, a UNESCO site, has a fascinating 2300 years of continuous urban tradition. Its rich culture was created under the influence of old Greeks, Romans, and Venetians. With the high concentration of palaces, churches, and towers, as well as a fortresses on a small island, Trogir is sometimes referred to as the 'floating museum town'. Return to Split in the afternoon. Overnight in Split.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Lunch at restaurant
# Included: Walking Tour of Split
# Included: Walking Tour of Trogir

DAY 7: to Ston, and DUBROVNIK (B, T, D)
On our way to Dubrovnik, we will stop near the town of Ston to visit a local winery and taste the famous “Plavac Mali“ wine, a very close relative to the Zinfandel. In this winery the traditional wine making business has been passed on for generations, offering a unique story everyone wants to hear. The wine tasting includes a wine presentation on all the specifics of the wine-making process, wine tasting and a snack. Afternoon arrival to Dubrovnik. (Driving time 5hrs). Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Dinner at hotel
# Included: Wine tasting

DAY 8: in DUBROVNIK (B)
Completed in the thirteenth century; the old city Dubrovnik has remained basically unchanged since. Its medieval ramparts encircle the Old Town which can be entered through one of the two gates. Once you cross a stone bridge under the watchful gaze of the city’s patron Saint Blaise (Vlaho), you will find yourself joining the walk down the broad, stone- paved promenade known as 'Stradun'. After the sightseeing tour, you have free time to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel
# Included: Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

DAY 9: DUBROVNIK (B) - Departure
After breakfast, the land tour ends with everlasting memories of Croatian highlights. Transfer to Dubrovnik Airport or Port included.
# Included: Breakfast at hotel

B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner; T-Tasting
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Accommodations

Great accommodations are provided.

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]