Fly from the US to Dubrovnik, Croatia

Upon arrival you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your beautiful coastal hotel. In the late afternoon you will meet your fellow travelers and tour leader for a welcome talk and dinner together. Sleep in Dubrovnik, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace or similar.

We will spend today exploring Dubrovnik, “The Pearl of the Adriatic Sea”. This beautiful Maritime Republic – through the centuries, a worthy opponent of Venice – was able to preserve its independence for hundreds of years. You will enjoy a walking tour of the city with a great local guide. Sleep in Dubrovnik, Hotel Dubrovnik Palace or similar.

Today we will transfer to Orebic, where we will spend the next two nights. En route we'll stop to visit Ston with its awesome fortified walls and enjoy a wine tasting along the way. We will arrive in Orebic in the afternoon in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset. Sleep in Orebic, Hotel Indijan or similar.

Today we'll enjoy a relaxed visit to the island of Korcula, that lies just off the Dalmatian cost. After a short, scenic, boat ride through the Srait of Peljesac, we'll reach the port of Korcula from where we'll start our exploration of its Venetian Renaissance heritage. According to local legend, Marco Polo was born here. From Marco Polo's alleged house of birth, you'll enjoy a breathtaking view of Korcula, stretching from east to west. After a tour of Korcula Old Town, and its splendid Gothic-Renaissance style Cathedral, you'll have lunch in a quaint restaurant. The afternoon is yours to enjoy the pristine beaches nearby. Sleep in Orebic, Hotel Indijan or similar.

This morning, we'll leave Orebic and head to our next destination: Split. On the way, we'll stop to visit beautiful Trogir. Called by many the “little Venice”, it hosts an extraordinary number of art masterpieces and it is arguably the best-preserved Venetian city on the Dalmatian coastline. After a short drive, we'll get into Split, home for the next two nights. This beautiful city was founded by the Ancient Greeks and then conquered by the Romans – and later become part of the Venetian Republic for more than 350 years. Sleep in Split, Hotel Cornaro or similar.

Today, is dedicated to exploring Split and visit the most important sites of the city, including the famed Palace of Diocletian (which is protected by UNESCO). In the afternoon, you'll have time to just relax or shop on your own. Sleep in Split, Hotel Cornaro or similar.

We will enjoy a day of hiking in the beautiful natural setting of Krka National Park with its travertine waterfalls. We will also learn more about the bird and mammal species which populate the park from an informative nature guide, and weather permitting we will also enjoy a boat excursion to the Visocac Monastery that sits on a tiny island within the park. This evening we will travel to the coastal town of Zadar, the oldest inhabited city in all of Croatia. Sleep in Zadar

Today we will explore Zadar with a walking tour of its UNESCO protected historical center, including the Church of St. Donat that sits on the site of the city’s ancient Roman forum. Along the way we will visit the city’s famous market and taste some regional specialties including the local maraschino liquor and cheese from the nearby island of Pag. This afternoon we will travel to the Croatian capital of Zagreb where we will enjoy a traditional meal of the region this evening. Sleep in Zagreb.

Today is dedicated to the exploration of the Croatian capital of Zagreb. Our local guide will show us the hidden secrets of this medieval city, including its main square and cathedral. We will enjoy a ride on Zagreb’s charming funicular which will take us to the upper town of Gradec, one of the two medieval settlements that make up modern Zagreb. From Gradec, we will enjoy the city’s famous promenade, magnificent views and the only surviving city gate. This afternoon you will have time to explore on your own. Sleep in Zagreb

After departure from Zagreb this morning, we will make our way to the very charming settlement of Motovun. The mountain village of Motovun is very different from most of what we have visited up to now. Its medieval origin still exudes from the strong walls and cobble stone streets. The forests around the city are an incredible habitat for truffles – which will be the highlight of our lunch today, together with wine tasting at a family owned cellar! We'll get into the coastal town of Porec in the afternoon where you will have time to visit Porec’s most important monument – the great UNESCO site of the Euphrasian Basilica. Sleep in Porec (Hotel Mauro or similar)

Today we will first head to Pula, a charming city with an important ancient Roman past. We will visit its center and amazing amphitheatre - which is among the best preserved in the world and the best preserved ancient monument in Croatia. It is still in use today for festivals and events and it could seat – in ancient times – around 20,000 people. We will then enjoy a great countryside lunch with local specialties before visiting the coastal town of Rovinj with its small but perfectly preserved historical center, ancient harbor and imposing cathedral with its incredible tower that will surely remain in your heart! Sleep in Porec (Hotel Mauro or similar)

We will head over the boarder to Trieste, Italy this morning where we will visit the Illy coffee factory for a tour and tasting. We will then enjoy lunch just outside of Trieste at a family owned farm house including a wine tasting. We will learn about the traditional food and edible plants of this area. The owners of this farm are very committed to their traditions and are always happy to introduce guests to their heritage. If you are interested we can view traditional clothing items, including the vintage wedding dresses of women of this area. We will then drive back to Trieste in the afternoon where will have an optional visit to magnificent Mirimare Castle. Sleep in Trieste

Fly back to the USA from Trieste or extend your stay! Additional transfers to destinations such as Venice, Italy or Ljubljana, Slovenia can be arranged.