Dear Mr. Singh,
You will find below your travel itinerary for Croatia, a stunningly beautiful country with a deeply complex history. Croatia’s coastline is known as the Riviera of Eastern Europe and inland, the mountains are equally as dramatic. The seafood is some of the freshest around, the wine delicious as well. Your days here will be spent exploring the hundreds of islands off the coast, visiting Roman ruins, and learning about the country’s dramatic (yet promising) recent history.
Day 1: Arrive Split
Upon arrival in Split (SPU), a representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall. You will be privately transferred to the newly refurbished Hotel Park.
Your local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby this afternoon for a guided walking tour of the historic old town.
Once the walled summer residence of the Emperor Diocletian, Split became a city after Salona, the Roman capital of Dalmatia, was destroyed in the 7th century. Fleeing refugees were given asylum inside of the seven-foot thick walls of the palace, and over the next 1,000 years, the “city” of Split was a safe haven that never grew beyond the same walls that exist today. As a result, a remarkable ensemble of Roman, Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and other architectural remains are still here.
Diocletian’s Palace, the ancient heart of Split, is one of the best-preserved Roman royal residences on the planet. Built on the coast around 295 AD, the structure features sixteen towers, three temples, and an emperor’s mausoleum. The harbor front was once Diocletian’s back door, with no embankment in front of the palace, the water came right up to the entrance.
A few steps away is a temple dedicated to Jupiter, the Roman God of sky and thunder. The temple is believed to have been constructed between 295-305 AD.
Day 2: Dalmatian Hinterland
After breakfast this morning, a one-hour transfer by car brings you inland, where you will spend the day exploring with a private guide. The majority of Croatia’s population resides on the coast, and the rural, rocky, and remote hinterland provides a stark contrast to life on the Adriatic.
Pick up your bikes in a local village and head out on a cycling adventure, which will take you through lush valleys, along mountain trails, and past rivers, waterfalls, and clear springs. The scenery is striking, and it is unlikely that you will encounter anyone but a handful of local farmers (and sheepdogs!).
End your day with a homemade picnic lunch featuring cured meats, homemade cheese, fresh seafood and fine wine.
Day 3: Salona, Trogir, Klis
Today’s journey through ancient history begins in Salona, the largest Croatian site of antiquity-era monuments, which has earned the title of “Croatia’s Pompeii”. Salona was once the capital city of the Roman province Dalmatia, and one of the largest cities of the Empire, situated at the crossroads of sea and land routes of the ancient Mediterranean. The size, prosperity and splendor of the ancient city is attested by the remains of the imposing walls with tower sand gates, a forum with temples, a theater, an amphitheater, as well as the unique structures of Episcopalian early Christian churches and several shrines honoring martyrs.
A short drive from Salona brings you to the medieval town of Trogir, encased in 15th century walls. The town offers a blend of well-preserved Romanesque and Renaissance architecture, and is an excellent example of a medieval town conforming to the layout of a Hellenistic and Roman city.
This afternoon you will enjoy lunch at the 13th century home of one of the region’s most talented and charming chefs. Your hostess’ cooking brings the essence of Dalmatia to life–everything is simple, delicious, and prepared with the freshest local ingredients.
End the day with a visit to the medieval Klis Fortress, situated above the village of Klis and built into a large rocky mass, making it barely noticeable from a distance. Due to its location on a pass that separates the mountains Mosor and Kozjak, the fortress served as a major source of defense in Dalmatia, especially against the Ottoman advance. Game of Thrones fans—this is for you!
Day 4: Split-Hvar-Korcula
You will see the old town of the glamorous Hvar island from your private boat (approximately 45 minutes from Split), after which you will stop for a swim in one of the many crystal clear bays of the Pakleni archipelago. Break for a fresh seafood lunch overlooking the water and tucked away amidst lush vegetation. The seafood is straight from the Adriatic, and the vegetables are grown in the restaurant’s garden—a memorable meal indeed!
After lunch, continue another 1.5 hours by boat to Korcula, where you will check in to your hotel, which occupies an 18th century bishop’s palace and five medieval cottages.
Day 5: Peljesac Peninsula
Meet your host for the day, a renowned organic wine-marker, and embark on a private wine tour of the Peljesac Peninsula. The tour is comprised of a trio of wine tastings at some of the country’s most respected wine cellars, visits to vineyards that cling to the slopes of the peninsula, and a traditional Dalmatian lunch at Mario’s family winery.
Return to Korcula this afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 6: Korcula to Dubrovnik
Transfer by private boat this morning from Korcula to Dubrovnik.
Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Excelsior.
Famously referred to as “the Pearl of the Adriatic”, few cities in the world are so brazenly gorgeous as Dubrovnik. A magnificent curtain of thick medieval walls surrounds marble streets and baroque buildings, churches and monasteries. Behind the beauty there are complexities and contradictions, scars and repairs made after the Balkan War of the 1990’s.
Despite the herds of cruise ship passengers that flock to the Old Town on a daily basis, there prevails a blissful sense of calm here. As a general rule, the further away from the main street (Placa) you go, the more interesting the sites, delicious the food, and better the shopping.
Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby this afternoon for a private walking tour of Dubrovnik’s old town.
Day 7: Mostar
After breakfast this morning, your driver will meet you at the hotel for a two-hour transfer to Mostar, Bosnia.
Mostar allows you to experience the sites, sounds and tastes of the ancient Ottoman Empire. Spanning a deep valley of the Veretva River, Mostar was developed in the 15th century as an Ottoman frontier town, and has been most famously known for the Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which the town is named. The area around the bridge is an outstanding example of a multicultural urban settlement, with its pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and western European architectural styles.
Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, Mostar was the most heavily shelled of any Bosnian city during the Bosnian War of the ‘90’s. Airstrikes destroyed numerous important buildings and structures, including Stari Most, the city’s cultural icon. Reconstruction of the bridge was completed in 2004, and you may see a daring local or visitor taking the plunge, although the first recorded dive dates back to 1664!
After lunch this afternoon, return to Dubrovnik.
Day 8: Depart Dubrovnik
A quick transfer brings you to the local airport this morning to meet your flight home.