GRAND TOUR OF CROATIA

A snap shot of it all

Croatia is a fascinating country with one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world and a rich cultural heritage. Since we launched our Essentially Prestige, Love Croatia programme, we have been asked about escorted tours that include some of the treasures of Croatia and also those of her neighbour to the east, Bosnia & Herzegovina following independence some 20 years ago.

We are delighted to include this Grand Tour by coach for 2012 – departure dates are 6th & 20th May, 3rd & 17th June, 1st July & 2nd, 16th & 30th September*.

Please note that travelling by coach is just that – with some hours spent every day on the road, and it can be tiring when staying at a different hotel every night, but that is what it is! This tour is operated by Elite Travel, our valued partners in Croatia using a fleet of air-conditioned vehicles with an experienced driver and an English speaking tour leader. Commentary on board and guiding is in a maximum of two languages including English.

Accommodation is in three and four star hotels on half board basis (breakfast and dinner) based on two people sharing a room and also includes a snack (not drinks) at the Ethno selo (village) Stara Kapela. Single rooms may be available at a supplement. We regret that it is not possible to upgrade room types or offer alternative hotel accommodation during the tour. There is some walking involved (sometimes in narrow streets or over cobblestone paving) and this tour is therefore not suitable for persons of restricted mobility.

STARTING AND ENDING IN DUBROVNIK

DAY 1 – Sunday – Dubrovnik
Arrive at Dubrovnik airport from a selection of UK airports and transfer to the tour hotel. Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik area. Your hotel may be located on the Dubrovnik riviera within a 20 minute drive of Dubrovnik.

DAY 2 – Monday – Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo
Morning departure to Mostar, city of bridges, where the traveller from the south gets the first glimpse of the continent beyond. Free time for lunch. Departure to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo is one of the historically most interesting cities in Europe. It is the place where the Western & the Eastern Roman Empire split and where the people of the Orthodox East, the Ottoman south and the Roman Catholic West met. City tour of Sarajevo upon arrival. Dinner and overnight in Sarajevo/Sarajevo area.

DAY 3 – Tuesday – Sarajevo – Osijek - Vukovar
Morning departure to Osijek, the largest city in eastern Croatia, beautifully settled on the banks of Drava river. Osijek remains a popular tourist destination for its Baroque style and open spaces. Located in one of the most fertile and most certainly the biggest agricultural area of Croatia, the town is its semi-official gastronomic capital. The tour passes by the Cathedral and the Tvrdja (Old Fort). Departure towards Vukovar. Vukovar is the biggest Croatian river port located at the confluence of Vuka river and the Danube, a town also known as a symbol of the Croatian war for independence. Dinner and overnight in Vukovar/Vukovar area.

DAY 4 – Wednesday – Vukovar – Zagreb
Morning departure to Djakovo. The first thing you see when approaching Djakovo from either side is the brightness of the bricks of the two towers and cupolas of its Cathedral. After the visit, departure towards Zagreb followed by a visit to the Ethno Village of Stara Kapela for a snack (no drinks included). Upon arrival sightseeing tour of Zagreb, Croatia’s capital city, with the opportunity to see the fortified Upper Town, the city’s historical centre, St Mark’s church with its multi-coloured roof, the Cathedral, Croatian National Theatre and the University. Dinner and overnight in Zagreb/Zagreb area.

DAY 5 – Thursday – Zagreb – Plitvice – Trogir - Split
Morning departure to Plitvice National Park, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour of the 16 crystal – blue lakes cascading into 92 spectacular waterfalls. Walk on the wooden promenades. Departure to Split with a short stop in yet another one of the UNESCO protected sites, the small walled town of Trogir. Dinner and overnight in Split/Split area.

DAY 6 – Friday – Split – Dubrovnik
After breakfast a guided tour of Split will uncover the secrets of the UNESCO protected Diocletian’s Palace from the 3rd/4th century with the Peristyle, Jupiter’s Temple and the Cathedral. Departure to Dubrovnik. City tour of Dubrovnik, the UNESCO protected pearl of the Adriatic, with a visit of its Cathedral (no entrance to Treasury). Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik/ Dubrovnik area.

DAY 7 – Saturday – Dubrovnik
Today is your day for leisure. Enjoy the beautiful pebble beaches, explore the Old Town and maybe walk its famous walls. Dinner & overnight in Dubrovnik/ Dubrovnik area.

DAY 8 – Sunday – Dubrovnik – departure Transfer to Dubrovnik airport for flights home or continue your journey onward in Croatia.

*Departures from Split are also available on a Saturday.

For 2012 we offer a four night/five day tour of Croatia starting in Zagreb and ending in Dubrovnik, taking in Zagreb the capital, Plitvice Lakes, Trogir, Split and Dubrovnik. This runs from Wednesday to Sunday with coach travel, three star hotel accommodation and half board throughout together with a tour leader. Please contact us for details.

We can also offer Discover the Western Balkans 2012 Coach Tour 2012 that includes Slovenia. More details can be found here...