Grand Tour of Croatia

Board your overnight flight from Chicago to Zagreb, routed with one convenient stop.

Welcome to Croatia! Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting for your private transfer to Hotel Dubrovnik Zagreb, set in the town center within easy reach of Zagreb's main square and historic Upper Town.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to settle in and begin exploring the capital at your own pace.

Meet your driver at the hotel for a private day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park covers nearly 300 square kilometers of forest, lakes, and waterfalls, and is home to deer, wolves, bears, eagles, and other rare species.

Wooden plank pathways lead through a landscape of turquoise, gray, and green lakes connected by cascades. Veliki Slap, the highest waterfall in Croatia at roughly 100 feet, is one of many highlights.

Your driver waits nearby while you explore at your own pace, then continues to Rastoke, the charming watermill village known for its small cascades and traditional houses.

Entrance tickets to Plitvice Lakes must be booked at least two days in advance for a set entrance time; your advisor can assist with the purchase.

The morning is free to explore Zagreb on your own. The city has beautiful churches, museums, and café-lined squares worth discovering at an unhurried pace.

This afternoon your driver picks you up at the hotel for a private transfer to Ljubljana, the compact and elegant capital of Slovenia.

A full day at leisure to enjoy this beautiful Slovenian gem. Ljubljana's pedestrianized center, riverside cafés, castle-topped hill, and open-air markets are best explored on foot.

Meet your driver in the lobby for your private transfer to Pula, with a stop at Postojna Cave en route.

Postojna is one of the largest and most impressive karst cave systems in Europe, with nearly 24 kilometers of passages, tunnels, and galleries. A small train carries visitors deep inside, where stalactites, stalagmites, and vast ancient halls create a fantasy-like atmosphere.

Entrance tickets must be booked in advance for a set entrance time; your advisor can assist with the purchase. After the visit, continue to Pula and your hotel on the Istrian coast.

Pula has more than 3,000 years of history, making it one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic. Its strategic location has made it an important port and cultural center since antiquity.

Your guided walk covers the Arch of the Sergii, the Temple of Augustus, the Hercules Gate, Giardini Street, the Twin Gate, and the Pula Arena—one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world and still the sixth-largest surviving example.

The tour also takes in Titov Park, Kandlerova Street with the Cathedral of the Assumption, and the hilltop Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria for panoramic views over the city.

Transfer to Pula ferry port on your own and board your first-class ferry to Zadar. Upon arrival, make your own way to Art Hotel Kalelarga in the heart of the Old Town.

The remainder of the day is at leisure. A stroll through the old town to the Sea Organ at sunset is highly recommended.

A speedboat carries you from Zadar to Sakarun Beach on Dugi Otok, one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the Adriatic. The cruise passes islands and rocky coastline, with a stop to snorkel around a sunken ship from the 1970s near Lagnići island.

Continue past the Veli Rat lighthouse, built in 1847 and still the tallest in this part of the Adriatic, and into the Golubinka sea caves, accessible only by boat.

Sakarun Bay sits on the uninhabited side of Dugi Otok. Its pristine white sand and turquoise water are regularly listed among the best beaches in the world.

Your driver picks you up this morning for the roughly one-hour drive to Cerovac Caves, the largest cave complex in Croatia and one of the most magical natural sites in the Lika region.

Visit the caves on your own and return to Zadar with your driver. Entrance fees are not included.

A private car transfer brings you to your hotel in Split. The remainder of the day is at leisure to begin exploring the city built inside the palace of a Roman emperor.

Start with a walking tour of Diocletian's Palace, led by an experienced guide. Walk the 1,700-year-old cellars, the Vestibule, the Peristyle, and all four gates, stopping at the statue of Grgur Ninski, Split's good-luck charm.

Continue by luxury van to Klis Fortress, perched high above Split with panoramic views of the Adriatic coast and surrounding mountains.

Then onward to Trogir, a beautiful historic town on a small island connected by bridges. Walk its narrow stone streets, medieval walls, and the main square dominated by the Cathedral of St. Lawrence before returning to Split.

Escape the crowds and discover some of Croatia's top natural attractions by boat. The highlight is Biševo Blue Cave, famous for the ethereal blue light that fills the interior when the sun penetrates through an opening in the ceiling.

Continue to the Blue Lagoon and Vis island, with a lunch stop on Hvar. Hvar's architecture, cultural heritage, beautiful nature, and mild climate make it one of the most celebrated islands on the Adriatic.

Transfer to Split ferry port on your own and board your first-class ferry to Dubrovnik. Upon arrival, make your own way to Hotel Excelsior, set just outside the city walls with sweeping views of the Old Town and the Adriatic.

The evening is at leisure. A ride up the cable car to Panorama Restaurant for sunset is highly recommended; reservations are advised.

Dubrovnik's Old Town is the crown jewel of Croatia. Jutting into the Adriatic with a backdrop of rugged limestone mountains, it is one of the world's finest and most perfectly preserved medieval cities.

Your guided walk covers Pile Gate and the Minčeta Tower, the Franciscan Church and Monastery with its old pharmacy, Kolorina Bay, Stradun and Onofrio's Fountain, the Jesuit Church and its stairway, the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Rector's Palace, the city harbor, and Luža Square with Sponza Palace and the Church of St. Blaise.

After the tour, consider a walk along the city walls on your own. The uninterrupted 6,000-foot course offers some of the best views of the Pearl of the Adriatic and can be entered from any city wall gate.

A full day at leisure to enjoy Dubrovnik as you wish. Walk the walls, take a boat to Lokrum, explore the museums, or simply watch the light change over the harbor from a marble-paved café.

Private departure transfer to Dubrovnik airport for your overnight flight to Chicago, routed with one stop.