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, an electric 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.

OVERVIEW

Start your journey with a scenic walk from the port, allowing you to view landmarks that showcase contemporary Zadar and ancient life when Romans and Venetians ruled the city. The Sea Organ may well be the quirkiest, most unexpected modern attraction. It is a lengthy set of marble steps that lead into the water and play discordant melodies as seawater rushes through underground pipes fitted with whistles. The sound is particularly resonant at high tide. The pedestrian-only Old Town is more like a living museum as it contains architectural treasures such as the ruins of a Roman forum and Saint Donat church, which was constructed during the 9th century with stones from the dismantled forum. Most everywhere you turn, there will be historical churches, leafy piazzas and fortifications such as the harbor-facing defensive walls that the Venetians built. Free time in Old Town will allow you to discover even more about Zadar’s past. Or as an alternative, you could simply shop and dine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hear the Sea Organ play music as seawater rushes through its underground pipes.
• Enjoy a guided walking tour through Zadar and then stroll its atmospheric Old Town at your leisure.
• See Roman ruins, historical churches and other architectural treasures.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear sunglasses and flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the joys and attributes of Croatian wines at a wine workshop and tasting at an ancestral estate whose roots date back to 1307. While touring the Ražnjevića Dvori estate in the village of Polača, parts of which have been converted into a heritage hotel, you will see the vineyards and olive groves that source its premium wines and olive oils. The workshop and tasting will be held in the estate’s 16th-century chapel, a wonderfully atmospheric setting that will enhance the experience. The terroir of Ražnjevića Dvori is especially well suited for Zinfandel grapes, also known as Primitivo grapes. As you will discover during the sampling, the resulting red wines are robust, full-bodied and intensely aromatic. A selection of extra virgin olive oils will also be served, as well as local specialties that pair perfectly with them. The snacks may include chickpea pâté and soparnik, a savory pie filled with Swiss chard.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a centuries-old country estate, its vineyards and olive groves.
• Gain an understanding of the estate’s terroir, which is ideal for growing Zinfandel grapes.
• Sample an inspiring selection of wines and olive oils in the estate’s 16th-century chapel.
• Enjoy local specialties such as pâté, smoked ham and feta cheese wrapped in zucchini.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Experience a unique blend of old and new cultures and architecture during this full day excursion to Split and the Diocletian Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A scenic drive of approximately 2 hours takes you to Split. Today’s city is the product of 17 centuries of building, renovating and remodeling that has produced an eclectic blend of old and new. In the heart of this sprawling cityscape you’ll find a spectacular Roman palace, built by Emperor Diocletian at the turn of the 4th century. Built as an imperial residence and fortress, today you’ll find an intriguing labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets, where pre-Romanesque churches stand next to Gothic chapels, museums, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.

The Old Town of Split surrounds the Diocletian Palace, and you’ll follow your guide on a stroll through the palace's well-preserved cellars, which offer a unique insight into palace life. Outside the palace, you’ll see magnificent structures like the Golden Gate, Silver Gate, Peristyle Square and more. If time permits, you’ll have some free time for independent exploration before lunch at a restaurant near the Diocletian Palace.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Zadar, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Selfie sticks are also available. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Zadar, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Queen Jelena Madijevka Park
• Land Gate
• People’s Square
• Local Market
• Roman forum
• Sea Organ

HELPFUL HINTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Zadar.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Pose in front of the ancient Roman forum and Old Town’s 16th-century Land Gate.
• Visit the captivating Sea Organ promenade.
• Browse a bustling market that carries every sort of merchandise imaginable.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for an immensely scenic drive around Zadar in an electric limousine that is as environmentally friendly as it is comfortable. The limo ride will begin at the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun attractions. One plays music as seawater rushes through pipes fitted with whistles, the other features a solar-powered light show each night. Other sights also offer spectacular water views, including the 19th-century Oštri Rat lighthouse, where you will pause for photos of this beacon with an atypical open-air staircase that winds around its exterior. Another photo stop will be made at the rather unexpected sculpture of a sphinx patterned after the more famous one in Egypt. Once a Roman colony, Zadar is also home to real ancient landmarks such as the city’s Roman-built fortified walls and a forum constructed during the reign of Augustus. The intricately carved 16th-century Land Gate into Old Town is wonderfully historical as well.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through Zadar and its suburbs in a luxurious electric-powered limousine.
• Stop for photos at historical landmarks such as the 16th-century gate into Old Town.
• See attractions such as the forum that attest to Zadar once being a Roman colony.
• Behold Zadar’s iconic sphinx, a strangely incongruous concrete sculpture built in 1918.
• Drive through affluent neighborhoods, past marketplaces and along the gorgeous coast.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Participate in a hands-on cooking class using ingredients from a bustling market that you will visit while exploring the peninsular city center. The Old Town dates to the 9th century B.C. and portions of the Roman-built defensive walls still stand. Zadar has long been known for its outstanding seafood, some of which you will select at a popular fish market for the culinary experience that follows. An acclaimed chef will meet you at the cooking venue and describe the attributes of the local cuisine. The dishes that you will prepare will be determined the day of the class, but they will likely be baked sea bass and mussels alla buzara, in which the shellfish are cooked in a white wine sauce with olive oil, herbs and breadcrumbs. The chef will offer helpful tips for each step so the meal will come out perfectly, making your lunch more enjoyable.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Join a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Croatian dishes.
• Drop by a popular fish market near the waterfront and select some of the ingredients.
• Follow the chef’s tips to ensure that your meal is perfectly prepared and cooked.
• Enjoy the seafood dish for lunch along with a glass of local wine.
• Discover the charm of historical Zadar while exploring the Old Town.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Settle in for an immensely scenic drive into the countryside, a bewitching landscape of river canyons and voluminous caverns that provide a perfect contrast to downtown Zadar. Along the way, you will pause at carefully chosen vantage points that will offer sweeping views of the natural beauty. The Zrmanja River Canyon is particularly spectacular as the surrounding terrain is remarkably pristine. Chances are, you will see rafters floating downstream. You will also behold the wonders underground at the Cerovac caves, the largest such complex in Croatia. It lies within the Nature Park Velebit, all of which is majestic. The upper cave that you will explore is full of dramatically illuminated rock formations. Later, while driving over the Maslenica bridge, you will enjoy panoramic views of the sparkling strait that it spans. An enlightening walkthrough the heart of Zadar rounds out the adventure and lends historical context to your exploration.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive deep into the mountainous countryside and behold its natural beauty.
• Pause at scenic lookouts that showcase the Zrmanja River Canyon.
• Walk through a cavern within the largest cave complex in Croatia.
• Enjoy the panoramic views while driving over the Maslenica bridge.
• Explore Zadar on foot as the guide describes the key landmarks.

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.