Chef Richard Gruica and Captivating Croatia Tours cordially invite you to join us and our Chef-Host, the acclaimed Chef Mark Allison and escape with us to exotic Croatia for a week-long, food-centric vacation of a lifetime. Come, experience the ultimate culinary adventure which will take place from Saturday, September 3rd to Saturday, September 10th. Get ready to explore one of the most beautiful places in the world, as we visit Dubrovnik and the areas surrounding Croatia’s most storied city, brimming with history and lore, while enjoying the very best food, drink, and sights alongside Chef Mark. Experience a luxury holiday unlike any other in the style you deserve. Get ready to Eat-Drink-Explore! 

TRAVEL AND CORONAVIRUS:  

A MESSAGE TO OUR FUTURE GUESTS

COVID-19 has devastated the travel and hospitality industry worldwide. 2020 was a year to forget, however, there is hope for travel in 2022, and the entire Captivating Croatia team remains committed to providing the best small group experiences for our guests. In fact, our trips have always been about the private group experience, so we are still absolutely ready to give you an amazing vacation. As with all other companies, we are shifting and evolving in response to the Coronavirus. We are creating new policies and protocols in order to maintain the utmost safety of our guests so that you can have a worry-free experience. I have always told our guests, that once you step off that plane, I want all your worries to go away and that continues to be my belief. We know that things are constantly shifting, evolving, and changing and want you to know that the one constant is our resolve to give you the best experience possible, regardless of the circumstances. 

Many people are unaware that Croatia, was the first European country to open its borders for American’s during times of COVID-19. They love American’s and so look to having you as their guest. 

In response to the current environment, and in a show of total support for you and your comfort, I have revised our policies to give you 100% confidence and flexibility in your decision-making.

For COVID-19 related cancellations, we are offering a FULL REFUND, minus a $100 fee to cover administration purposes, transactions, and other misc. fees. Medical documentation will need to be provided for all participants seeking a refund for COVID-19 reasons. Full Refunds will also apply if Travel Restrictions are in place preventing your tour to take part. All payments can also be applied as credits for future tours with no blackout dates or expiration.

Culinarily yours,

The Captivating Croatia Team and 

Chef Richard Gruica

DAY 1-Saturday, September 3rd 

WELCOME TO DUBROVNIK...THE GYPSY TABLE AWAITS

Welcome to Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the host location for your amazing adventure with Chef Mark Allison and Chef Richard Gruica with Captivating Croatia. Feel the warm Dalmatian breeze and sun on your face, let it refresh you. Relax and put your thoughts of home away. We will be staying at the famed Hotel More (pronounced Morehh, meaning Sea in Croatian), which is a boutique 5-Star property built on the seaside of Lapad Bay, just outside of the walled Old Town of Dubrovnik. The Hotel More is special in several ways, not only is it an amazing hotel, but it has a Cave Bar that was voted one of the top 50 bars in the world, but Chef Richard happened to spend his summers just down the street at his family house and the area is very near and dear to him. We can’t think of a better way to start, other than with a wonderful cocktail from the famed Cave Bar followed by a dip in the Adriatic Sea. Relax and enjoy before the group departs for a truly special day in the lesser-known and lesser frequented Konavle Valley, just south of Dubrovnik. Before that, we will visit Cavtat for a walk around the charming sleepy seaside town near Konavle, with a stop for a light lunch at one of our favorite spots before heading out to a fully functioning stone mill in the countryside, where we will step back in time to see how things used to be. We will view how water was used to operate the mill in many ways and sustained the local community for ages. 

Then, get ready to experience The Gypsy Table, Chef Richard’s pop-up event concept. The location and menu are secret, the only thing we can say is that there will be copious amounts of amazing wines for everyone to enjoy. As well as, the edible delights being prepared by Chef Mark, Chef Richard and the guest chefs taking part. What a wonderful way to start the Taste Croatia Tour!

Overnight Stay-Hotel More 5-Star

http://www.hotel-more.hr/ 

DAY 2-Sunday, September 4th 

THE PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC AWAITS…GET TO KNOW KING’S LANDING

After a wonderful breakfast at Hotel More, our day begins inside the famed walls of Dubrovnik, where we have arranged for a walk along the famed walls of the Old Town. Be prepared to take the BEST selfies ever! Afterward, you will experience another project of our founder, Chef Richard Gruica on his “Sights and Bites” food and wine/history walking tour, where you will be expertly guided through a tasting of the Old Town of Dubrovnik by our Foodie/History Guide. Prepare to be seriously wowed by the city’s fairytale-like setting enjoying its shiny white limestone streets, and enchanting narrow alleyways all while you eat and drink your way through the otherworldly Old Town. Enjoy some free time after the foodie tour to explore Dubrovnik further on your own. Please bring comfy walking shoes/sneakers/sandals!!!

Overnight Stay-Hotel More 5-Star

http://www.hotel-more.hr/

DAY 3-Monday, September 5th 

WINE COUNTRY AWAITS

Check-Out

Get ready to head out to wine country, along the way we will enjoy an amazingly scenic drive along the coastal highway. We will be staying on the Peljesac Peninsula, one of Croatia’s most superlative spots for wine sipping and stunning scenery. Our hotel for the stay is the Aminess Grand Azur Hotel, which is a 4-Star property situated along the Adriatic Sea in Orebic. On our way, we will stop at The Arboretum, the oldest one in Europe, for a brief tour of the scenery and to indulge in some light bites prepared by a food historian that specializes in keeping the old Dalmatian traditions and recipes alive, before heading to Peljesac (this will be the longest drive of the trip, about 90 minutes). After settling into our hotel, we will gather for a private wine tasting and homemade dinner with one of our favorite winemakers. 

Check-In and Overnight Stay-The Aminess Grand Azur 4-Star 

https://www.aminess.com/en/aminess-grand-azur-hotel

DAY 4-Tuesday, September 6th

FROM WATER TO WINE

Today, we will venture through the wine region of Dingač and hop on a couple of boats. The boats will take us out to experience the azure waters of the Adriatic. We will be joined by a local fisherman who doubles as a freediver and spear-fisherman. After he demonstrates his craft, feel free to jump into the Adriatic with him and cool yourself down. In addition to fishing, we’ll go hunting for delicious sea urchins and other edible Adriatic surprises. After some time exploring the coastline, we will go back to shore and take our spoils to a leafy hidden gem to grill off our catch. We will also savor stewed octopus and black risotto, two Dalmatian specialties, and enjoy a relaxing meal under the trees while sipping on wines produced by the owner and his family. After the meal, we will return to the hotel to take some free time and refresh before we head to the peninsula’s top winery for a sunset toast of bubbly. We will then take part in a tour of the winery. Today concludes with a degustation dinner at the winery’s gourmet restaurant, followed by a beautiful surprise. 

Overnight Stay-The Aminess Grand Azur 4-Star 

https://www.aminess.com/en/aminess-grand-azur-hotel

DAY 5-Wednesday, September 7th

KRAZY FOR KORCULA…MARCO?

This time we will hop onto a car ferry as we head to the historic island of Korcula, the ancestral home of Marco Polo, and you thought he was Italian! Our adventure in Korcula begins with a guided tour of the city and its narrow streets, followed by lunch at the famed one Michelin starred LD Restaurant, showcasing the fusion of the finest gastronomic products available in Croatia and the gourmet stylings of Chef Marko Gajski, one of Croatia’s top chefs. After, we will then visit one of the island’s most famed wineries for a tasting. Our visit to Korcula concludes with some free time for shopping and grabbing a bite on your own before heading back on the ferry back to the hotel. 

Overnight Stay-The Aminess Grand Azur 4-Star 

https://www.aminess.com/en/aminess-grand-azur-hotel

DAY 6-Thursday, September 8th

ONE WITH THE LAND

We are very excited to be able to offer wonderful new experiences for our guests now that mainland Croatia is now connected once again due to the opening of the Peljesac Bridge. Today, we will venture to the agricultural heartland of Southern Dalmatia and experience the Neretva Valley. We will visit the famed mandarin groves and have a rustic lunch along the Neretva River before experiencing a wine tasting at one of the top wineries in the area. Our night will be capped off with a pizza/pasta meal under the stars before heading back to the hotel! 

Overnight Stay-The Aminess Grand Azur 4-Star 

https://www.aminess.com/en/aminess-grand-azur-hotel

DAY 7-Friday, September 9th 

OUR PRIVATE ISLAND ADVENTURE

Check-Out

We begin the day with a visit to Mali Ston, a seaside village that is famed for its oysters and mussels. We will ride on a boat along the pristine waters, taking in the rustic villages and tall craggy mountains, where we will get a demo on oyster farming and production, a tradition that has been happening here since antiquity. The oysters here are so good, even ancient Roman emperors used to put in delivery orders! We will venture out to a private island for a seafood feast prepared by Chef Mark, Chef Richard, and our local hosts, with loads of free time to frolic in the sea or even a nap. The rest of the time is ours to enjoy until our return to Dubrovnik.  We will check back into Hotel More our previous home in Dubrovnik and we will gather for a short trip to the top of Srd Mountain for a view of the sunset overlooking Dubrovnik and a Sparkling Wine toast to the trip. Cheers to an amazing week or as they say in Croatia…Zivili! We will end our trip at one of our favorite restaurants in Dubrovnik for our farewell dinner. 

Check-In and Overnight Stay

Hotel More 5-Star

http://www.hotel-more.hr/

DAY 8-Saturday, September 10th  

TILL THE NEXT TIME…

Check-Out

Guests will gather for breakfast at their leisure, before departing for the Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) via private transfer to the airport.

_______________________________________

-As with any trip of this nature, we are at the discretion of Mother Nature and the schedule might change based on weather or other variables outside of our control. Captivating Croatia strives to give all guests the best possible experience, so rest assured that even if things happen you are in very capable hands.

We look forward to hosting you alongside Chef Mark…

TRAVEL AND CORONAVIRUS:  

A MESSAGE TO OUR GUESTS

COVID-19 has devastated the travel and hospitality industry worldwide. 2020 was a year to forget, however, there is hope for travel in 2022, and the entire Captivating Croatia team remains committed to providing the best small group experiences for our guests. In fact, our trips have always been about the private group experience, so we are still absolutely ready to give you an amazing vacation. As with all other companies, we are shifting and evolving in response to the Coronavirus. We are creating new policies and protocols in order to maintain the utmost safety of our guests so that you can have a worry-free experience. I have always told our guests, that once you step off that plane, I want all your worries to go away and that continues to be my belief. We know that things are constantly shifting, evolving, and changing and want you to know that the one constant is our resolve to give you the best experience possible, regardless of the circumstances. 

Many people are unaware that Croatia, was the first European country to open its borders for American’s during times of COVID-19. They love American’s and so look to having you as their guest. 

In response to the current environment, and in a show of total support for you and your comfort, I have revised our policies to give you 100% confidence and flexibility in your decision-making.

For COVID-19 related cancellations, we are offering a FULL REFUND, minus a $100 fee to cover administration purposes, transactions, and other misc. fees. Medical documentation will need to be provided for all participants seeking a refund for COVID-19 reasons. Full Refunds will also apply if Travel Restrictions are in place preventing your tour to take part. All payments can also be applied as credits for future tours with no blackout dates or expiration.

Culinarily yours,

The Captivating Croatia Team and 

Chef Richard Gruica