Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure begins in Zagreb
Begin your adventure in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, where grand Austro-Hungarian architecture meets leafy parks and lively cafe terraces.As many flights arrive late into Zagreb Airport, we have a welcome briefing tomorrow morning.Want more time in Zagreb? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.Upgrade to a premier king room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 2
Highlights of Zagreb tour • Stroll past lakes and spot wildlife in Maksimir Park
After breakfast, say bok (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers as we gather for the first time to get to know each other and hear more about the adventure ahead.Then, set out on foot to uncover the highlights of Zagreb’s Upper and Lower Town. We pass grand squares, the colourful roof of St Mark’s Church, and the lively Dolac Market, gaining insights into the city’s past and present. The Upper Town retains its medieval street plan and gothic churches, while the Lower Town is a showcase of 19th-century architecture, with sweeping boulevards inspired by Vienna.In the afternoon, we stretch our legs in Maksimir Park, one of the oldest public parks in Europe. Opened in 1794, it was designed in the English landscape style and is home to a baroque pavilion and Zagreb zoo. With tranquil lakes, shaded pathways, and protected wildlife to spot, including plenty of birdlife, it’s a refreshing contrast to the city streets.Your tour leader then ensures a big Croatian welcome by arranging a group dinner at a local restaurant, where we enjoy our first taste of regional flavours.Upgrade to a premier king room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Dinner
Day 3
Discover the tumbling waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes • To Krk island
Bid farewell to Zagreb, as we transfer (two hours) to Plitvice Lakes National Park, among the most celebrated natural wonders in Croatia.A World Heritage site, it’s home to a chain of 16 terraced lakes, connected by tumbling waterfalls. With our expert tour leader guiding the way, we walk wooden boardwalks and trails to admire the park’s karst landscape and spot the varied wildlife.After, we transfer (three hours) by minibus to Krk island, staying in the picturesque seaside town of Malinska, our home for the next four nights.Upgrade to a superior double room with sea-side balcony – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Hike through vineyards and olive groves near Vrbnik • Wine and prosciutto tasting
A 20-minute transfer takes us to Vrbnik, a clifftop town famous for producing Žlahtina, a crisp white wine unique to this part of Croatia. Our circular walk passes through the vineyards where this indigenous grape grows, weaving between dry-stone walls and olive groves before reaching a viewpoint above the Adriatic.We end with a well-earned wine and prosciutto tasting back in Vrbnik, raising a glass with the winemakers and learning how they create their excellent produce.Upgrade to a superior double room with sea-side balcony – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Follow stone-lined paths through olive groves on Cres island
Take the 30-minute ferry from Krk to neighbouring Cres, an island where centuries-old olive trees are still tended by local families.Our hike today follows stone-lined paths through these groves, with glimpses of the sea in the distance.Back in the small harbour town of Cres, enjoy free time for a coffee or perhaps a swim before returning to Krk for the evening.Upgrade to a superior double room with sea-side balcony – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Free day on Krk for boating, swimming or hiking
Today is free to enjoy the wonders of Krk. You may wish to swim in one of the island’s many coves, take a boat excursion, or simply relax in Malinska.For hikers, there’s the option to follow the Paradise Path, an easy 6mi (10km) coastal trail linking Malinska and Porat. Passing pine woods, seaside chapels, and the stone Fumak Cross, the route offers plenty of shady spots and inviting swimming stops.Upgrade to a sea-view room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Walk the most beautiful section of the renowned Lungomare promenade • To Zagreb
Head north (1hr 30min) to Opatija, once the favoured retreat of Viennese nobility. Here, we hike the Lungomare promenade, a seafront path built in the late 19th century as part of the area’s transformation into a fashionable spa resort under the Austro-Hungarian Empire.Our route takes us along the most beautiful section of the trail: from Opatija through Ičići and Ika to Lovran, where we pause for lunch. Known for its seafood taverns and atmospheric old town, it’s a fitting finale to our coastal walks.Later, we return by bus (two hours) to Zagreb, where we can enjoy a farewell dinner together – a chance to remember highlights of the tour.Upgrade to a premier king room today – speak to your sales representative for more details
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Adventure ends in Zagreb
You’ve walked among waterfalls at Plitvice, sampled wines in Vrbnik, and strolled the elegant promenades of Opatija, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.
Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our wide range of extension options.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
Croatian cuisine is a mixture of fine seafood, grilled meat, pizza, pasta and salads, with influences from central Europe, Italy and the Balkans. Delicacies we highly recommend include squid-ink risotto and octopus salad.
For breakfast, expect a large continental buffet with meats and cheeses, bread, jams and pastries, plus tea and coffee.
Plitvice Lakes National Park Walk
Discover a World Heritage treasure as you walk wooden boardwalks through a fairytale cascade of 16 terraced lakes and tumbling waterfalls. The turquoise water, limestone cliffs, and moss-clad passages create a dreamlike palette of blues and greens.
Learn how travertine formations build natural dams and pause at viewpoints of Veliki Slap, the park’s highest waterfall. Beech and fir forests, darting trout, and cool spray on your skin complete a sensory immersion in Croatia’s most celebrated national park.
Vrbnik Vineyards Hike & Žlahtina Wine Tasting
Walk coastal paths and hike through vineyards and olive groves to the clifftop town of Vrbnik, where stone lanes tumble toward the Adriatic. Dry-stone walls frame views across Kvarner Bay as your guide reveals the rhythms of island life.
Meet local producers to sample Žlahtina wine, a crisp, mineral white unique to Krk, paired with Krk pršut and often local cheeses. Hear how sea breezes and limestone soils shape each vintage while toasting the island’s time-honoured traditions.
Cres Island Olive-Grove Hike
Escape to Cres and follow stone-lined paths weaving through centuries-old olive groves still tended by island families. The scent of wild herbs rides the breeze as silvery leaves shimmer against a deep blue horizon.
Trace dry-stone walls (gromace), listen for sheep bells, and enjoy glimpses of Kvarner Bay. Look up for griffon vultures often soaring above Cres’s cliffs before returning to the harbor’s pastel facades and bobbing fishing boats.
Lungomare Coastal Walk: Opatija to Lovran
Breathe sea air as you walk the Lungomare promenade, tracing the shoreline from Opatija to Lovran between polished rocks and Belle Époque villas. Wave-washed paths, palm fronds, and elegant pavilions frame constant Adriatic views.
Hear tales of Austro-Hungarian spa heritage while passing Villa Angiolina’s gardens and sculptures like the Maiden with the Seagull. End amid Lovran’s stone lanes and seafood taverns, where the coastal rhythm sets an unhurried pace.
Zagreb Welcome Dinner with Regional Flavours
Meet your Tour Leader and traveling companions at a warmly lit local restaurant to sample regional dishes from central Croatia. Seasonal salads, grilled specialities, and bakery-fresh breads set an inviting table.
Savor favorites like zagorski štrukli alongside pours from the nearby Plešivica wines district. Conversations flow as your leader outlines the journey ahead—an easy, convivial introduction to Croatian hospitality.
Krk Island Coastal Boat Excursion & Swim Coves
Cruise the Adriatic along Krk’s rugged shoreline, gliding past limestone cliffs to secluded bays where you can swim in crystal-clear water. The boat’s open deck serves up sun, sea breeze, and island panoramas.
Skippers share coastal lore as pine-scented coves and pale pebble beaches come into view. Snorkeling stops may be included. This is an optional experience bookable on tour at additional cost; your Tour Leader can assist with timings and reservations.
Zagreb Farewell Dinner
Celebrate the journey with a convivial farewell dinner at a traditional Zagreb tavern, where wooden beams, local wines, and easy conversation set the tone. Expect hearty central Croatian flavours and a relaxed, end-of-tour mood.
Your Tour Leader selects a welcoming spot serving seasonal plates—think market-fresh salads, roasts, and classic pastries. This is an optional experience bookable on tour and is paid locally, ideal for one last toast together.
Zagreb Walking Tour & Maksimir Park Nature Stroll
Explore Croatia’s capital on foot as you join a guided walking tour linking the Upper and Lower Town. See the storybook tiles of St Mark’s Church, pass through the Stone Gate, and browse the bustle of Dolac Market amid elegant Austro-Hungarian boulevards and green squares.
Trade city streets for greenery as you wander Maksimir Park, a serenely landscaped retreat in the English landscape style (1794). Meander beside tranquil lakes and shaded pathways, spot birdlife in the treetops, and sense how this beloved urban oasis shapes daily life in Zagreb.
