When it comes to tailor made and unique experiences, Vetus Itinera Travel Agency has just about the most exclusive options for you to partake in. A leader in innovative travel, we are here to bring you one of their most unparalleled tours yet – a UNESCO tour of Croatia.
This tour is exactly what it is named: a tour through Croatia, visiting every UNESCO site in sight. This tour spans over 8 days, starting in Zagreb and making your way down to Dubrovnik. A group tour filled with history, architecture, and some of the most stunning landscapes in Europe, here is the tour itinerary.
Day 01 ZAGREB – OPATIJA: You will meet at the Zagreb airport followed by a private transfer to Opatija in Kvarner Bay on the Northern Adriatic. Opatija was the summer resort of the Austro Hungarian empire right up until the outbreak of WW1, then popularized by Wilhelm II, Franz Joseph, Empress Sissy, Gustav Mahler, Isadora Duncan and Chekov. Opatija also has magnificent luxury villas, and many neoclassical and art nouveau hotels. You will have a welcome dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 02 OPATIJA – ISTRIA TOUR – POREC – OPATIJA: You’ll have breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day excursion to the Istrian Peninsula. The first stop will be the medieval hilltop town of Motovun rising over the Mirna River valley. Following the scenic route to the seaside and passing the town of Groznjan, we will reach Porec and visit one of the most famous religious monuments, the Euphrasian Basilica (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997). The final stop before returning to Opatija will be a walking tour of Rovinj.
Day 03 OPATIJA – PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK – ZADAR: Breakfast and departure to Zadar with an en-route stop to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Plitvice Lakes were declared a National Park in 1949, and since 1979 they have been on UNESCO’s list of World Natural Heritage. From there you will continue to Zadar for an overnight.
Day 04 ZADAR – SIBENIK – SPLIT: You’ll have a morning walking tour of Zadar, seeing the church of St. Donat, originally built in 9th century in Byzantine style, and the cathedral of St Anastasia constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries in Romanesque style. You’ll depart for Split with en-route stop to Sibenik to visit the famous cathedral of St. James (UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000). Overnight in Split.
Day 05 SPLIT – TROGIR – SPLIT: You’ll start with a walking tour of Trogir – the town museum (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997). Afterwards you’ll depart to Split for walking tour of historical center and Diocletian’s Palace remains (UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979), built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries A.D. 12th and 13th century Romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, 15th century Gothic palaces and other palaces in Renaissance and Baroque style make up the rest of the protected area. Overnight in Split.
Day 06 SPLIT – STARI GRAD: You’ll depart from the Split on a ferry boat transfer to the town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. You’ll take a short walking tour of the StariGrad Plain (UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009), which is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Pharos in the 4th century BC. Afterwards you’ll transfer to the town of Hvar for a brief walking visit before returning to Split for overnight.
Day 07 SPLIT – STON – DUBROVNIK: You’ll have a morning departure to Dubrovnik with an en-route stop in Ston for walking tour. The Dubrovnik Republic built the town of Ston in the14th century in the form of a two-fold fortification system (Large and Small Ston), aiming to protect the salt plants, one of its major economic resources. A 12 kilometer long wall (the world’s second longest wall after the Wall of China) connects two fortified cities: the first was built in order to protect the salt plants and the second as the salt export harbor. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 08 DUBROVNIK: A half day tour of the Old City – included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list (since 1979). This walk will take you to the Rector’s Palace, the Dominican Monastery, the Franciscan Monastery among other intriguing sites. After the city tour, the guests are free to continue exploring the Old City and its Walls on their own. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Day 09 DUBROVNIK departure: Breakfast at hotel and departure transfer to the airport for outbound flight.
Everything is included in the tour so as to make your experience seamless and stress free. For a more detailed itinerary and any additional inquiries or booking, you can visit the Vetus Itinera website here.
