On this tour, there is no guide sitting next to you all the time and yet you’ll have walking tours in the cities to get a great connection with the city from the get-go. Our drivers will take care of transport and our local experiences make sure you get a real taste of Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. No matter if you are simply a traveller, a foodie, a couple, a group of friends or single – everyone will find their rightful place on this tour. For us, the vibe is as important as the destinations themselves.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 1 – Cocktail in Venice
Welcome to one of the world’s most unique and historical places! Ciao Bella, ciao! Get your included drink at the hotel lobby bar and relax after your arrival journey. Today, you’ll have time to set foot in Venice, to adapt, to settle, and to get ready for tomorrow’s first-day adventure of your trip to Italy’s most intriguing city.
Today included
DAY 2 – Small canals paired with Venetian Tapas
After breakfast, you’ll join your local guide for a Venice walking tour. At the end of the tour, you’ll have some delicious Venetian Tapas and a drink on a small square in Venice. Now, as you had a local specialist at hand you know all there is to know to enjoy your free time and get the most out of your day in Venice.
Today included
DAY 3 – Visit a former socialist Alpine fairy-tale
Meet your driver in the hotel lobby in the morning and drive to one of Tito’s favourite places – Lake Bled. Your local guide will tell you more about who Tito was and how he managed one of the most controversial countries in modern history – Yugoslavia. First, you’ll visit the stunning eagle-nest like castle seemingly floating above Lake Bled. Then, you are boarding a “Pletna” (traditional wooden boat) and your Sailor is rowing for you to Bled Island. Afterwards, you’ll have a famous local cream cake called Krempita just at the same Cafe where Tito received famous historical leaders like Che Guevara or Haile Selassie. You end your tour with a walking tour in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana (LOO-BLEE-AHNA). A modern and urban Slavic city. Very representative. We picked a hotel closer to the old town so you can enjoy the rest of your day carefree in the vicinity of the city centre’s offers and vibrant nightlife.
Today included
DAY 4 – Cave & Coast
Hope you had a great time in our favourite Slovenian city Ljubljana! Today, you’ll move on to the next destination where you will stay for two nights in the counter-cultural Croatian port town of Rijeka (REE-YEH-KAH). On your way to Rijeka, you’ll have a guided tour inside the fantastic Škocjan (SHKOTS-YAHN) Caves UNESCO which could easily be a spectacular villain hideout from a James Bond movie. Then, after crawling out of the Slovenian cave area you’ll dive into a fine coastal breeze in charming Opatija (OH-PAH-TEEYA) – a former Austrian health-resort from the 19th century. There, you’ll enjoy a local snack including a drink. Your evening is free to enjoy in Croatia’s port town Rijeka. The industrial feel and the old Austrian warehouses give Rijeka an edgy touch while indulging into the alternative nightlife scene around every corner of the town is quite easy.
Today included
DAY 5 – Truffle hunting in protected Motovun Forest
After breakfast, your guide picks you up at the hotel and takes you on a truffle hunting adventure in Istria. Prepare for great smells, new tastes, and Tuscany-like hilltop towns. You start your day with some art gallery shopping and exploring Istria’s most romantic old town in Rovinj (ROH-WEEN). Then, you’ll drive to Motovun to get a taste of the most expensive mushroom in the world – the white truffle. That’s not all: after the tasting, you go “hunting” the truffle in the forest of Motovun which is protected by the government. Now, as you know how they get the truffles it’s time to try them in a warm Istrian dish. The local speciality is homemade pasta with truffles with parmesan cheese on top paired with the oh so easy flowing Malvazija (MAHL-WAH-ZEE-A) which is the local grape variety and celebrated by most of the Istrians. After lunch, you’ll return to Rijeka for a late afternoon free time stroll in the city.
Today included
DAY 6 – Exploring Croatia’s capital – East meets West
After breakfast, you’ll meet your driver in the hotel lobby for your transfer to Zagreb – Croatia’s cultural melting pot. At arrival in Zagreb, you’ll leave your bags at your hotel and then, you’ll meet your guide for a walking tour through the city. Zagreb is the melting pot between the Balkans and Europe. The main square called “Trg Ban Jelačić” is a combination of Austrian architectural styles paired with local artistry. The Croatians speak Croatian, obviously, but they use lots of German words in Zagreb, too. At the end of the tour, you’ll taste Burek. Shaped like a pizza slice but being several layers thick usually filled with meat, fresh cheese or sweet mashed apples it is THE Croatian street food. We believe that we found the best one in Zagreb. Also, the guide will show to you the most significant corners of the city so you will be able to enjoy your free time just the way you like it.
Today included
DAY 7 – Nature is bliss!
If the Vatikan is the pilgrimage site for Catholics than the National Park Plitvice Lakes UNESCO is the pilgrimage site for lovers of nature. 16 lakes connected through small cascades and waterfalls ensure a wondrous nature-experience with all the shades of green and blue. After breakfast, you’ll pack your bags and meet your driver in the lobby of your hotel. He’ll take you to the National Park where you will have 4 hours time to explore it on your own pace. Lunch options are available, too. After soaking in the beauty of nature you continue with the same driver to Split UNESCO. Here, you’ll do the check-in, you’ll enjoy an evening walking tour in the old town of Split and the evening is yours!
Today included
DAY 8 – Free day in Split
There are many great options available which can help you to explore the islands or National Parks around Split. You can ask us to book them for you or you can just explore the ancient old town and its palace-shaped urbanism. If you are up to you can visit the nearby public beach for a dip into the Adriatic.
Today included
DAY 9 – Transfer to Dubrovnik
Did you have some good time in Split? If you thought that this amazing old town was the highlight then you don’t know what is waiting for you in Dubrovnik. Meet your driver in the hotel lobby for a transfer to Croatia’s most famous destination. After the Game of Thrones series was filmed here the number of people visiting Dubrovnik just exploded so you better prepare for some Venice-like crowds. Nevertheless, it is worth it! You’ll drive down south from Split to Dubrovnik including several photo stops. Once you arrived in Dubrovnik, you’ll do the check-in and meet your guide at the hotel. There, you’ll get the handy Dubrovnik Card that includes a ticket for the local bus and all-access to Dubrovnik’s city walls and museums. Take a ride with your guide on the local bus and join a walking tour in the old town of Dubrovnik UNESCO. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this stunning location.
Today included
DAY 10 – END
After breakfast, your tour officially ends. We hope that you had a blast and that you will come back for more 🙂
Price on request
Trip includes
Optional
You like this itinerary? You would like to do a private tour with friends or family? Send us a Croatia Private Tour request to info@krug-travel.com and we’ll get back to you with our best offer.
