This morning we will leave towards Istria, the most developed tourist region in Croatia. Istria is all about good food, great wines, and olive oil!
To prove this to you, we will make a couple of stops that will include visits to the winery & olive oil press. After tasting wine and olive oil produced on hilly Istria, you will become a devout friend of this region and Croatia.
We will also visit, have some time on our own in the "pearl" among the small towns of Istria, Motovun. The town will be ours to explore for a couple of hours before we head to our hotel. Dinner and overnight are in Istria, Croatia. 

 Today our focus is National Park Plitvice! We will leave Istra and head towards Dalmatia. On the way, stop for few hours for a visit to Plitvice Lakes. The national park is comprised of lakes and waterfalls. There are 16 named and several smaller unnamed lakes, cascading one into the next, lakes are interconnected by many waterfalls and watercourses above and below ground. The park is primarily covered in forest vegetation, and the entire park covers an area of nearly 300 sq. kilometers (115 sq. miles). Our visit here is about 4 hours! Tonight we are in our hotel in Dalmatia, Zadar area. 

Good morning in Dalmatia! This morning our exploring of Croatia will take us first to Zadar! In the historic town center, one can see about 70 surviving monuments of culture, including the famous church of St. Donat from the IX century, the archaeological excavations from the Roman period, Kalelarga, the church of St. Anastasia, various monasteries, and Five Wells Square. We will see the Greeting to the Sun and the Sea Organ from the more modern cultural monuments. In the early 1960s, even Alfred Hitchcock claimed that Zadar has by far the most beautiful sunsets. The next city tour today will be of the city of Sibenik. We will head south to enjoy the charms of Šibenik. We will enjoy the walk around this old town filled with a vivid, rich history. We will visit St. Jacob's Cathedral and its beautiful gardens dating back to the middle ages, both under UNESCO protection. After our tour of Šibenik, we will make our way to Split. Check in to hotel, dinner, and overnight in the "capital" of Dalmatia! 

Today we stay in Split and surrounding attractions! We continue on our Dalmatian trip with a short stop at Trogir. We drink our morning coffee in this 3rd Century Greek colony, surrounded by the 12th -15th Century St. Lawrence Cathedral, the Great Ćipiko Palace, the town gates, and the city hall. After a delicious lunch at a local konoba (tavern), we make our way towards Salona. The story of Salona and Split are very closely related. Salona was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. This is a beautiful archeological site where the history covers ancient Greek, Roman, and then new settlers Croatian people! Later in the afternoon, we are in Split, Spalatum! City of Split emerged around the grandiose palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the 4th century. Diocletian's time leads us to the Temple of Jupiter, the vestibule, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Sv. Duje), the Peristil square, and historic basements. 

After a delectable dinner, we relax and get plenty of rest for the following day.

Today, all the way to the most southern part of Croatia. Our goal is Dubrovnik. Our drive will be along the Adriatic Coastal Road most of the time, with breathtaking scenery, sea, islands & peninsulas, mountains, rivers...
Upon arrival in the afternoon to this most famous landmark of Croatia, we will embark on a city tour that hides many exciting stories within its past and has been under UNESCO protection for more than 40 years. During our walking city tour, we will see Stradun, Rector's Palace, St. Francis Church, Sponza Palace, Orlando's Column, the first pharmacy in Europe, as well as lovely churches and narrow old town streets. Dubrovnik is a treasure and a museum itself, as it has so far managed to preserve all its historic buildings. Dinner and our first night in Dubrovnik. 

 Today we are after a slow morning and breakfast on the way to Old port of Dubrovnik. From here, we embark the ship for a few hours cruise along the outer city walls of Dubrovnik and islands which in the past belonged to the City Republic Dubrovnik about which you will be listening so much during your two days visit here. In the afternoon, you are back in the old town, free time before farewell dinner, typical dalmatian, Mediterranean cuisine with excellent local wines.  

Our sweet & quick Croatia tour is over! Transfer to Dubrovnik International airport, flight back home.
Have a safe flight back home!