Spring 2018 FAM Trip to Croatia

Itinerary

Day 1: April 18, 2018 | Zagreb

Arrival day. Private transfers from the airport to hotel will be provided per scheduled arrivals.

Free time until welcome reception and dinner that evening at Zinfandel Restaurant.

Included: transfer from the airport to the hotel, dinner.
Hotel: Hotel Esplanade

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Day 2: April 19, 2018 | Zagreb

Full-day Excursion to Plitvice Lakes

Between Croatia’s capital of Zagreb and the Adriatic coast, the country’s interior offers one of Europe’s most exotic walking routes, Plitvice Lakes National Park. Many compliments have been paid to this splendid natural tourist attraction – “top tourist attraction in Croatia,” “Croatia’s Eden,” “the most beautiful place on the planet” – and with more than 1 million visitors annually from all around the world, this wonderful nature preserve is the “No. 1 Must-See Attraction” in Croatia. The park consists of about 115 square miles of protected land with a river running through the center. Sixteen blue, green and emerald lakes on different levels are formed where the river flattens out, all flowing into one another with foaming cascades and pounding waterfalls to create an amazing natural spectacle you won’t soon forget!

During your guided walking tour you will hike through the most attractive parts of Gornja Jezera (Upper Lakes), followed by a magical boat ride animated by the sound of the waterfalls to Donja Jezera (Lower Lakes). The tour includes the two most photographed sites in the Park: the 230-foot tall Great Waterfall, Croatia’s largest, and immense Lake Kozjak, the deepest lake in Plitvice National Park.

Traditional lunch at Ethno Houses Plitvica Selo followed by a site inspection and return to Zagreb.

Independent dinner

Included: breakfast, lunch, private touring per itinerary.
Hotel: Hotel Esplanade

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Day 3: April 20, 2018 | Mali Losinj

Panoramic Sightseeing & Transfer to Mali Losinj

In the morning, following breakfast and check-out of the hotel Esplanade, private transfer through the mountain region to the island of Krk where we will embark on a short ferry ride to the island of Cres. In Cres, we will stop for a delicious traditional lunch to refresh before continuing our panoramic ride and crossing the bridge to reach Mali Losinj.

Free afternoon upon arrival for Spa treatments

Welcome dinner at Alfred Keller Restaurant

Included: private transfer, ferry, lunch, dinner.
Hotel: Boutique Hotel Alhambra

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Day 4: April 21, 2018 | Mali Losinj

Tour of Mali Losinj

We will meet in the lobby of the Hotel Alhambra at 9AM to start the touring for the day. Breakfast will be independent, at the hotel restaurant before the touring.

Hotel inspection is followed by sightseeing of Mali Losinj with a tour of the Museum of Apoxyomenos.

Kvarner Palace, situated on the seafront of the town of Mali Lošinj, is the home of the Museum of Apoxyomenos and the permanent address of Apoxyomenos, the bronze statue of a young athlete which was found in 1996 on the seabed in the vicinity of Mali Lošinj. It is an extremely well-preserved and beautifully crafted Greek work of great artistic value which is presumed to date back to the 2nd or 1st century BC.

A great number of collaborators, designers, architects, visual artists, engineers and many other experts have participated in the realization of the Museum of Apoxyomenos in the context of its architecture, restoration, exhibition display, and realization.

After the museum you will continue to Veli Losinj for lunch.

Late afternoon is reserved for some free time to enjoy the beauties of Cikat bay in the exclusive oasis of luxury that is the elegant Hotel Alhambra.

Lunch at one of Veli Losinj’s restaurants

Free time for Spa treatments until dinner

Dinner at Bava Restaurant

Included: lunch, dinner, private transfers per itinerary, entrance tickets for the Museum of Apoxyomenos.
Hotel: Boutique Hotel Alhambra

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Day 5: April 22, 2018 | Split

Sibenik & Wine Pairing at Bibich Winery

After breakfast and check-out of the Boutique Hotel Alhambra, all participants will be treated with a private flight from Mali Losinj airport to Zadar airport to reach the mainland.

From Zadar, we will embark on a 1-hour ride towards the south and the town of Sibenik. What makes Sibenik very special is that unlike the rest of the cities on the coast that were founded by the Illyrians, Greeks, or Romans, this is a true, native, Croatian city founded by this Slavic tribe upon their descent into the area. It has also been the seat of Croatian king Petar Kresimir and its unique position on the mouth of river Krka, boasting as many as 240 reefs and islands in the channel surrounding it, make Sibenik a stunning gem in the heart of Dalmatia.

The most important is the Cathedral of Saint James that is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a Gothic-Renaissance construction built entirely from stone from the island of Brac. It was built in three phases, by three architects, between 1431 and 1535. Its style started out as Venetian Gothic, but was turned to Renaissance by the two latter architects – Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus and Niccolo’ di Giovanni Fiorentino.

Wine pairing lunch will be served at the renowned Bibich Winery.

Upon arrival in Split and check-in at the hotel, free time until dinner.

Dinner at Uje Oil Bar that will serve delicious Dalmatian tapas.

Included: transfers, lunch, dinner.
Hotel: Hotel Park

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Day 6: April 23, 2018 | Split

Private Tour of Split & Trogir

Unveil the secrets of Diocletian’s Palace in Split with an overall orientation and introduction to the regal, 1,700-year-old dwelling place of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that never ceases to amaze. On this full-day tour you will discover the city’s most beautiful monuments, and the places where locals like to go. The Cathedral of St. Domnius is a sight to see, claiming to be the oldest cathedral in the world. A little further along you will find yourself at the heart of the palace, the Peristil, Split’s largest piazza. Today it is used as a space for events and serves as a natural stage for many musical and dramatic spectacles.

Diocletian’s Palace is divided into four quarters, accessed by gates named after four different metals: Gold, Sliver, Bronze, and Iron. Moving along you will explore the picturesque tangle of narrow streets, bound by the old palace walls that enclose well-preserved Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque palaces. After a tour of Split, you will continue towards Kastela, for a stop at Babe winery. This is a family-owned winery that produces renowned Kairos wines. Located on the hill overlooking Split, here you will get to taste what they believe is Zinfandel’s ‘first cousin’ – Crljenak.

Lunch at Fetivi Konoba in Split

Next is Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built entirely of pale limestone, gives you the feeling of walking around in an open-air museum. As you stroll through this magical city, you will notice many masterpieces by local sculptors. The center of Trogir boasts its finest building, the famous Cathedral of St Lawrence. Not far away is the Fortress Kamerlengo that looms above the city walls. Following your walking tour of Trogir, you will be taken back to your hotel in Split.

Dinner at Bokeria Kitchen & Wine

Included: lunch, dinner, private touring per itinerary, transportation per itinerary.
Hotel: Hotel Park

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Day 7: April 24, 2018 | Hvar

In the morning, following breakfast, a site inspection of Hotel Park will be arranged.

Free time until 1:30PM when we will leave to catch the hydrofoil to Hvar island.

Upon arrival in Hvar, check-in at the hotel and a site inspection of the property.

Dinner at Dalmatino restaurant

Included: dinner, private transfers per itinerary.
Hotel: Amfora Grand Beach Resort

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Day 8: April 25, 2018 | Hvar

Hvar Off Road Tour

If you have just one day to see Hvar, this tour will help you get the most out of your visit and enhance your appreciation of the island’s aesthetic and architectural highlights. For those planning a longer stay, the tour provides the perfect introduction to the sunniest island in Croatia.

The tour starts in Malo Grablje, a small village founded in the 16th century that was abandoned decades ago. After a short, guided walk through the picturesque village, you will continue on to Velo Grablje and Vidikovac for the best view of the deepest bay on the island. This region boasts the oldest inhabited town in Croatia, founded by the ancient Greeks. Another stunning panorama can be admired from St. Nicholas, the highest peak on the island. It offers an unobstructed, 360-degree view of Hvar and across to the islands of Brac, Korcula and Vis.

On a sloping, sunny hillside below St. Nicholas lies our next stop, Sveta Nedilja. The village is famous for their top quality red wine, produced from indigenous plavac grapes. Now it’s time for lunch in the abandoned, medieval village of Humac. Driving down the hill to Tavern Humac, all the glory of Hvar is displayed in the vineyard-covered hills, olive groves and undulating fields of rosemary and lavender.

Lunch will be a traditional experience featuring fresh, organic vegetables and a choice of meats (octopus, lamb, veal or chicken), grilled under the bell-shaped lid (“peka”) that is covered with live coals. After lunch your road trip continues along the north coast to Vrboska, a 15th century fishing town best known for the fortress church of St. Marija.

Lunch will be served in a traditional konoba

Independent dinner

Included: lunch, private touring per itinerary, private transfers per itinerary.
Hotel: Amfora Grand Beach Resort

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Day 9: April 26, 2018 | Dubrovnik

Peljesac Wine Tour

Check-out of the hotel in Hvar after breakfast and embark the private speedboats to Orebic where our driver will be waiting to take us to Dubrovnik through the Peljesac peninsula. Our first stop will be the Saints Hills Estate where we will tour the wine production followed by a delicious 6-course wine pairing lunch. A brief stop at Edivo winery to see their special ageing process in amphorae, stored under the sea before we continue to Dubrovnik.

Free time upon arrival until dinner.

Dinner will be at Azur restaurant in Old Town.

Included: lunch, dinner, private transfers per itinerary.
Hotel: Hotel Excelsior

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Day 10: April 27, 2018 | Dubrovnik

Walking Tour of Dubrovnik & Silk-Atelier

In the morning, after breakfast, we will embark on a tour of the Old Town, followed by a little excursion to the countryside.

For decades the spectacular beauty of the Konavle and Cavtat regions, located south of Dubrovnik, on the border with Montenegro, has attracted visitors from all over the world who come to enjoy the magnificent views and colorful heritage.

From Dubrovnik you will venture to a very beautiful region called Konavle. Here, you will visit the gallery of a local artist and then tour an artisan workshop where silk is still produced as it has been since the 15th century. This is one of the very few places in Europe where silkworms are still raised; your guide will explain how this is done and how the silk fabric is woven.

The tour concludes with a memorable gastronomic experience in the village of Cilipi. Upon arrival, an ample platter of prosciutto and homemade cheeses will be served. The main dish will be veal and seasonal vegetables, all of it cooked in the fireplace under the traditional iron bell known as a “peka.”

Upon return to the Old Town, free time until farewell dinner.

Farewell dinner will be served at Villa Dubrovnik.

Included: lunch, dinner, private touring per itinerary, private transfers per itinerary.
Hotel: Hotel Excelsior

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Day 11: April 28, 2018 | Departure Day

Check-out of the hotel. Private transfers to the airport per scheduled departure flights.

Included: private transfers to the airport.