Croatian Winter

After a hearty buffet breakfast starts the walking tour. Our guide will meet you at the reception to take you through this in many ways exceptional city. Starting with the elegant architecture of Zagreb's Lower Town and its Austro-Hungarian buildings, parks, charming pedestrian streets and squares, we continue to the historic parts of Zagreb's Upper Town where each street tells its own story from the past; the Stone Gate, Grič Cannon, St. Mark's Church and the oldest Croatian script on the wall of the Cathedral. Before leaving Zagreb for Čazma – the Christmas village, we shall stop at the Ban Jelačić Square, Zagreb's most traditional Christmas Market to warm up with a hot mulled wine and homemade sausage. The afternoon romantic adventure starts with an hour drive, in the place nearby city of Čazma. 2,5 million Christmas lights and lamps decorate 60.000 square meters of private property, plants, trees, bridges, animals and houses. The Idyllic Christmas Story is told by the Family Salaj and their illuminated fairytale is already known throughout Europe. Let's get lost in this most Romantic European Christmas Village, as we like to call it. After enjoying the fireworks as a last surprise in the evening hours we return to Zagreb. Drop off at your hotel. *If the Advent and Christmas have already passed, after the sightseeing we are going to visit Samobor a charming, small city in the vicinity of Zagreb, located in the Sava River Valley is known for its skilled crystal cutting industry, the Carnival, good food and extremely popular „kremšnita“ – custard slice. Before taking a tasty lunch we are going to take a walk to a traditional gingerbread and candle making family workshop whose gingerbread Christmas decorations are decorating Christmas trees all over the world and are lovely souvenirs and decorations. Lunch at a local restaurant, for the main course you are going to try the famous Samobor cutlet and for desert of course the custard slice. Return to Zagreb. The rest of the afternoon free at leisure. Overnight

Buffet breakfast. Departure with our guide to Rastoke, a watermill village, the hidden jewel of Croatia's inland where nature and human hand have created a magical place. After a walk and photo stop, we will continue to National Park Plitvice Lakes, one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe, the oldest and largest national park in Croatia added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the greatest natural wonders of Europe hides sixteen beautiful lakes connected to each other by cascades and waterfalls. Lunch at a local restaurant and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon we are going to visit the lakes and take a boat ride on the biggest lake in the national park Lake Kozjak. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight.

Buffet breakfast. Today we are heading for the Croatian coast and the European best destination 2016, the city of Zadar. But before leaving the biggest Croatian region called Lika where we have enjoyed the relaxing and peaceful atmosphere of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, we will go to a family farm and learn more about this traditional rural area, a synonym for non-contaminated land, pure rivers and long lasting and cold winters with a lot of snow. Every Croat when mentioning Lika gets a picture of plum and apple trees, potatoes, sheep sort „pramenka“, cheese „škripavac“ and a healthy life for centuries. With our guide we continue towards Zadar. Possibility for a lunch with typical Mediterranean dishes and a rest afterwards. Moments in late afternoon are booked for „the most beautiful sunset in the world“ according to Alfred Hitchcock and famous Sea organs an architectural sound art object and a musical instrument, which plays music as the sea waves are moving and blowing the wind into tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps. Next to sea organs is a monument dedicated to our galaxy, “Greeting to the Sun”, which symbolizes communication with nature through lighting elements installed in a circle underneath. Overnight

After the breakfast we depart for the Northern Adriatic and the oldest Croatian tourist resort, Opatija. To reach Opatija we will go through Rijeka, Croatia biggest harbour. On the arrival we are going to visit Trsat, a steep hill, 138 m high, about a kilometer away from the sea; today a major Christian pilgrimage center and home to a statue of Pope John Paul II who came to Trsat as a Pilgrim in 2003. After lunch we are going to take a walk to the Church of Our Lady of Trsat, the oldest Croatian sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the hilltop castle (fortification), one of the oldest castle-fort in Croatia. Transfer to downtown of Rijeka known for its promenade, Korzo, lined with Habsburg-era buildings, monuments from the Roman period, shops, café bars, restaurants. Rijeka citizens are loyal to Korzo, the place where they gather, move apart, hang out, do business, make acquaintances. Let's check why Rijeka was selected the European Capital of Culture in 2020. Return bus ride to Opatija. Overnight

Breakfast. Opatija, in complete harmony with nature, with well-maintained public gardens, the illuminated 12-km long coastal promenade called „Lungomare“, the contrasts of the sea and mountains, blue ocean, relaxing climate, a fashionable resort of the Austrian, Italian and German aristocracy in the 19th century, a resort where the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph used to a stay few months for holidays every year and many other reasons justify a visit to this „Queen of the Adriatic“. Take a walk through the city famous park Angiolina. Do not miss to take a photo with the Maiden with the seagull which has turned into one of the symbols of Opatija. Take a swim in pools with heated seawater overlooking the sea and islands, enjoy the Turkish baths, Finnish saunas, Jacuzzis, fulfill your most sophisticated wishes. In the evening, spoil yourself in one of the fine local restaurants and taste the best of famous Croatian cuisine. Overnight.

After a hearty breakfast, departure with our English speaking guide for the biggest Croatian peninsula Istria. Our destination is the walled ancient city of Motovun in Central Istria. This captivating hilltop town, overlooking the Mirna River valley is one of the symbols of the Central Istria. Recognizable through its medieval shape and great climate, cultural features from different historical periods and surrounded by vineyards from which the finest Istrian wines are produced, Motovun became a major tourist attraction, one of the most popular tourist destinations and the best photo stop on the entire peninsula. After a walk along the city walls and taking photos of the amazing nature, we are going to visit a private olive oil producer, holder of international recognition for a top quality product and taste one of the world's best olive oils. The Motovun Forest covers one thousand hectares of land along the Mirna River and differs completely from the karst forests that surround it. The moist soil of the Motovun forest is the Kingdom of the white and black truffle, expensive underground mushroom growing in a mysterious symbiosis with tree roots at a depth of 10 – 30 cm. Various possibilities of using truffels in culinary art can be tasted in local restaurants called „konobe“. Being in Istria and not enjoying at least one dish with truffels would be unforgivable. Return to Opatija. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight.

Buffet breakfast or breakfast boxes. Depart with your guide back to Zagreb.