EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Sample a selection of distinctive wines and olive oils produced in Nadin, an ancient inland community revered for its environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Despite having a population of just a few hundred, Nadin boasts an extraordinary number of environmentally sustainable farms and vineyards. You will visit two of the most renowned ones, beginning with the organic winery Škaulj. The wines for your sampling will include some that are produced using sustainable methods and others that aren’t, allowing you to really taste the difference. You can expect the wines to be paired with local delicacies such as smoked ham and cheese. Nadin’s olive oil is also highly touted as you will discover at the Vrsaljko mill. The oil produced there bears a unique flavor that reflects the organic farming practices and the way the olives are pressed within 24 hours of being harvested. Your host will further explain the olives’ characteristics during the tasting that follows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit what may be Croatia’s most environmentally friendly agricultural community.
• Tour a winery and an olive mill known for their outstanding organic products.
• Sample local wines and olive oils thoughtfully paired with Croatian delicacies.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Beautiful landscapes, rich cultural and historical monuments await you on the Sibenik Riviera. You’ll visit the charming town of Sibenik, meet the locals in the village of Burni and sample a traditional Dalmatian meal.

Sibenik was founded by the Croats more than a thousand years ago. Its well preserved historical center and many of its grand monuments have earned the town, high marks in Croatian construction heritage. Follow your guide through its narrow streets leading to attractive squares where you’ll find modern shop windows intertwined with the classic architecture of centuries gone by. Visit the Cathedral of St. Jacob – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important architectural monument. Walk past the City Hall, the baroque Orthodox Church, as well as the historic center with its cobbled streets, commercial and crafts center.

Drive inland to the Primosten area and the small picturesque village of Burni, passing interesting landscapes. You’ll be impressed with the ingenuity of the people of this area, who transformed this rocky terrain into an oasis of fertile, hospitable living. Acquaint yourself, with a typical Dalmatian village, its inhabitants and traditions. After visiting some of the village homes, your hosts dressed in national costume will treat you to an authentic lunch and entertain you with local songs and music to complete your genuine Dalmatian experience.

Settle in for a spectacularly scenic ride around Zadar in a tuk-tuk, an open-air vehicle that resembles a golf cart. While driving through the city’s outskirts, you will be treated to uninterrupted views of one beautiful beach after another. Much of Zadar borders the sea, including its iconic sphinx statue. A wealthy resident built the concrete sculpture in 1918 as a tribute to his wife, who died prematurely. According to legend, a treasure is buried beneath the sphinx, which somewhat emulates the more famous one in Egypt. You will also pause at the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun, two other unusual seaside attractions. The former plays music as seawater rushes through underground pipes fitted with whistles. The latter uses solar panels to collect energy that powers an imaginative light show each evening. For a historical understanding of Zadar, you will walk through Old Town, an area settled in the 9th century BC.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Ride around Zadar in a tuk-tuk, a motorized vehicle that looks somewhat like a golf cart.
• Stroll the wonderfully atmospheric, pedestrian-only streets in Zadar’s Old Town.
• Behold Zadar’s iconic sphinx, a strangely incongruous concrete statue built in 1918.
• Hear the Sea Organ play music as seawater rushes through its underground pipes.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Immerse yourself in nature and enjoy magnificent views through the karst Sibenik home to the beautiful Krka River waterfalls. Located in Krka National Park, the falls form 17 natural cascades providing a spectacular display of nature’s creativeness. This is one of seven national parks in Croatia and it covers an area of over 35,000 acres. This region is rich with endemic species - vegetation, as well as birds and fish. Due to very strong laws on natural preservation, this extraordinary area has been preserved in its original form.

You’ll see the most attractive part of the park – the Skradinski Buk waterfalls. The highest fall is approximately 151 feet (46 meters) high, which makes it the highest gypsum barrier in Europe. Above the falls there is a large plateau that offers spectacular views and a perfect photo opportunity. You’ll also have a chance to visit the small ethnological exhibition and the old mill which still functions today. Around the falls there is a path for you to explore further independently.  

Embrace the pristine natural beauty of Paklenica National Park during this scenic and invigorating hiking excursion. Drive to Starigrad Paklenica, a picturesque town and harbor located on the southern part of Velebit Mountain and continue to Paklenica National Park. It spans approximately 37 square miles (95 square km), and is highlighted by a legendary peak, Anica Kuk, on its 1,312-foot (400-metre) face. Its summit offers spectacular vistas of the coast, sea, Paklenica and the peaks of Velebit Mountain.

The park also features a pair of picturesque canyons, Mala (Small) and Velika (Large) Paklenica. Its defining characteristic is the steep drop from Anica Luka. The karst is an area of exceptional natural beauty and various geological formations. Cliffs, caves, holes and cracks abound and the dissolution of soluble rock has created natural works of art known as 'skrape'.

After receiving safety instructions, begin your guided hike through Paklenica's Karst River Canyon, located in the foreground of the magnificent Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons. Your hike winds through the river canyon uphill towards Anica Luka, with a few stops en route to admire the landscape and catch your breath. Once at Anica Luka, stop for refreshments, snacks and panoramic views of your surroundings. Afterward, commence the 1.5 hour return walk back to the valley.

For the adventurous traveler, we offer an opportunity to explore the extreme splendor of nature and her expert geological craftsmanship. Immerse yourself in an underworld of beauty.

Paklenica National Park is an area of exceptional natural beauty and various geological formations where cliffs, caves, holes and cracks are numerous and where drops of water created examples of pure works of natural art.

Explore Modric Cave, in the vicinity of the park, it was discovered in the early eighties and opened to visitors in 2004. This is not a typical attraction but a true, natural cave for you to explore. There are no steps, paths or lighting inside, just the natural cave. Therefore, you’ll need to wear the provided overalls and helmet with a carbide lamp.

Follow your professional guide through the halls, narrow corridors and gaps of the 920 yards (840 meters) long cave filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites created over millions of years ago. Your guide will provide you with an insight into the power of nature and her artistic flair for unique beauty. Following this underworld adventure, relax and enjoy some refreshments with your fellow explorers.

Magnificent views of the Adriatic Coast, Zadar’s countryside and local flavors are the highlights of this mostly panoramic tour. On your scenic drive along the coast, you’ll pass picturesque villages and islands as you head to the Banovi Dvori family farm in the village of Dubrava. This farm and old village home is 150 years old - the owners work the land producing olive oil and products typical of this area. After visiting this rural estate you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine and local produced specialties such as smoked ham, cheese and freshly baked bread.

Along the road, you’ll stop to admire the views from Odmoriste Krk, one of the most attractive rest areas on the Adriatic Coast. It is situated on the left of the river Krka where the bridge connects two banks, on the rocks from which a beautiful view extends over Lake Prokljan, the river Krka and the town of Skradin. Surrounding the rest area are fields of plants, lavender, rosemary, sage and hundred year old olive trees.

Learn the secrets of making Dalmatian prosciutto, enjoy a taste at the old tavern and discover the historic town of Zadar. A bus drive along the scenic Adriatic Coast takes you to the village of Stankovci. Visit the House of Dalmatian Prosciutto located in a beautiful old building among olive groves and vineyards. Watch and learn about the methods and specifics of producing this gastronomic delight. Enjoy snacks at the old tavern here and you’ll even be able buy the products, right where they're produced.

Zadar’s Old Town is located in a small peninsula surrounded by small islands. It’s full of architectural treasures, which span some 2,000 year. Between Renaissance, Baroque and Medieval architecture, you’ll find signs of modernity too. Visiting Zadar is like peeling back layers of time. Enjoy an orientation walking tour, followed by free time to explore on your own.

Descubre una de las ciudades más interesantes del Adriático, donde el modo de vida anticuado y la vida moderna conviven en perfecta armonía. Sigue a tu guía por las calles pintorescas del centro histórico de Zadar para conocer sus tesoros.

El primer asentamiento en Zadar fue durante el período neolítico y ha sufrido desde entonces numerosas invasiones de diferentes civilizaciones. Todas ellas dejaron rastros arquitectónicos de diferentes períodos y estilos, lo que resulta en una combinación ecléctica de tesoros arquitectónicos. Sus cafés, bares, museos e iglesias fueron restaurados y ahora puedes aprovechar todo lo que tiene para ofrecer esta hermosa ciudad.

Tu tour a pie comienza en el corazón del magnífico casco antigu, e incluye una visita a la Catedral de Santa Anastasia, el ejemplo más bello de arquitectura románica de Zadar. En el camino pasarás por la Iglesia de San Donato, que se cree fue construida por el Obispo Donato sobre cimientos romanos a principios del siglo 9. Visita la Iglesa de Santa María con su campanario de estilo románico construida a principios del siglo 12 por el rey húngaro-croata Koloman. Verás muchos tesoros en el camino. Disfruta algo de tiempo libre para recorrer por tu cuenta, hacer compras o tomar un café o una copa de vino en un café.