• Activity Level:  1
  • Comfort:  4
  • Departs From: Zagreb
  • Location: Zagreb, Opatija, Rovinj, Pula, Plitvice, Split
  • Duration: 6 days (any day, any time)
  • Availability: DAILY, private tour
  • CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

  • Independent Tour that still includes all hotel accommodation, transfers as listed and breakfast daily (no group!)
  • ALL the Northern Croatian Highlights, including Istria
  • Guided walking tours of Zagreb and Split
  • Day trip of discovery of Istrian peninsula on Day 3, including Rovinj, Pula and the beautiful hilltop town of Motovun
  • UNESCO Heritage listed Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Finish in Split just in time to join up with a Dalmatian coast cruise
Book now (obligation free) pay later

6 days; Zagreb 1 night, Opatija 2 nights (Excursion to Rovinj, Pula), (via Plitvice Lakes), and to Split 2 nights

Fantastic tour to combine with a cruise.
Our Northern Croatian Highlights Private Tour has the best of everything!
Experience all the highlights of Northern Croatia in this fabulous 5 night tour, from Zagreb to Split.
From the Croatian capital, travel to beautiful Opatija with a full day Istria excursion exploring Rovinj and Pula.
Then on to the famous UNESCO Natural Heritage site of Plitvice Lakes for a few hours sightseeing, then head to the Dalmatian coast to finish in Split.
Transfers, hotels, breakfast and excursions included

Itinerary


6 days; Zagreb 1 night, Opatija 2 nights (Excursion to Rovinj, Pula), (via Plitvice Lakes), and to Split 2 nights

Daily departures from April to October; Independent Tour. AVAILABLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.


This is a one of a kind tour, and one of the few Independent Tours that incorporates Istria and can combine with a cruise from Split. A great way to see the north of Croatia before your cruise. Please note that this 'tour' is totally independent and you are provided with hotels, transfers and public walking tours where you meet the guide at a central location point. There is no guide for Plitvice Lakes and you only have a few hours there. If you want more time at the Lakes please consider this before booking this tour. For most clients a few hours is enough to do one 'end' of the Lakes, but not enough time to do the full loop of top and bottom lakes. If you want a guided tour, then we suggest looked at our Escorted Tours range instead.

Open age Independent Tour. You will be with just your own group of friends or family, there is no guide with you the whole way, and no public group departures. Double bed or twin bed rooms available. Most triple rooms are a double bed with a single bed. Solo travellers must book a double/twin for solo use with a solo use supplement. Transfers, local sightseeing and hotels are all booked for you as a package, so all you need to do is relax and enjoy your time in each city. Bed and breakfast included.


CROATIA FAQ: https://discovercroatia.com.au/before-you-go/

Combine with a cruise from Spit: https://discovercroatia.com.au/cruises/?departs=Split
Similar tour, including the islands: https://discovercroatia.com.au/details/11511/15/croatian-highlights-zagreb-istria-split-dbk-10nts/
Similar tour with Slovenia: https://discovercroatia.com.au/details/11511/325/zagreb-to-split-via-slovenia-private-tour-5nts/


INCLUDED:
• Accommodation in hotels in Zagreb, Opatija, Split on bed and breakfast basis
• Shared local transfers to/from airports / ferry ports and to/from hotels
• Vehicle transfers as per itinerary (one driver for Day 2, a different driver for Day 3, and another driver for all of Day 4). If nobody else is doing the tour the same day as you, then you will be on your own with the driver.
• Day trip of Discovery of Istrian Peninsula on Day 3 (with vehicle and driver). If nobody else is doing the tour the same day as you, then you will be on your own with the driver.
• Tickets to guided public Walking Tours of Zagreb, Split included (approx 1-2hrs). Entrances not included
• Entrance to the Plitvice Lakes National Park which includes road train and boat ride (private tour guide not included)

HOTEL LIST:
Hotel Astoria 4star, Zagreb or similar
Hotel Astoria 4star, Opatija or similar
Hotel Art 4star, Split or similar

NOT INCLUDED:
• Optional tours/activities
• Tips/gratuities
• Private tour guide for Plitvice Lakes (optional extra)
• Entrances to any sites except Plitvice Lakes



ITINERARY:

Check-in to your room from 14.00hrs. Passengers who arrive earlier can leave their bags at Reception until their room is ready. First overnight in hotel, so late arrivals are possible.

DAY 1 ZAGREB
Arrival to Zagreb Airport. Transfer to hotel in Zagreb. Overnight in Zagreb.

DAY 2 ZAGREB to Opatija (Zagreb walking tour) (B)
Following breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a guided introduction with Croatia’s largest city. With an air of a true European capital, Zagreb charms with its baroque facades and towers, green parks and open-air terraces, quiet courtyards and bustling streets. In the afternoon, enjoy the scenic ride to Opatija, the seaside resort town gracing the shores of Kvarner Bay, exuding a grandeur of its 19th-century vogue. Overnight in Opatija.

DAY 3 OPATIJA (Istrian Peninsula excursion) (B)
Sitting like a gateway to the Istrian peninsula, Opatija is an ideal starting point for a day of discovering Croatia’s largest peninsula. Sometimes referred to as the Croatian Tuscany, along with its heritage, Istria is famed for tasty bits like truffles, wines and olive oils. From hotspot to highlight, marvel at the impressive Roman amphitheater in Pula, the outstandingly charming Rovinj and the mystic Motovun, wrapped in its medieval cloak of walls on top of a lushly green hill. Spend the evening in the graceful Opatija.

DAY 4 Opatija to SPLIT (Plitvice Lakes excursion, Trogir excursion) (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning departure to Plitvice National Park, a well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site (tickets included). Self-guided tour of the 16 crystal - blue lakes cascading into 92 spectacular waterfalls. Walk on the wooden promenades with magnificent views on the waters where every turn leads to a breathtaking scenery and yet another waterfall. Surrounded by dense woods, Plitvice Lakes are a natural phenomenon of rare and unique beauty. After 3 hours or so at the Lakes, meet up with your driver again to head towards the coast with a short stop in yet another one of the UNESCO protected sites, the small town of Trogir, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site. A bundle of narrow atmospheric streets which twist and bend between houses, palaces and churches, the heritage of Trogir is rooted in the Greek and Roman times and showcases some of the finest renaissance architectural works in Croatia, including the incredibly intricate portal of its Cathedral, the Town Loggia and the Cipiko palace. St. Lawrence's Cathedral, located in the old city centre, and its main western portal – masterpiece of Radovan, represent the most significant work of the Romanesque-Gothic style in Croatia. Continue onto Split to your hotel. Overnight in Split.

DAY 5 SPLIT (Split walking tour) (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Set out on a late morning walking tour of Split. Dalmatia’s largest coastal town bustles and buzzes, as it grows more and more popular among travellers for its easy-going spirit, creative food and shopping scene and of course, remarkable heritage. Learn about the Diocletian’s Palace, once the Roman Emperor’s retirement estate and today a lively city center housing 2,000 people! Rest of day at leisure. Overnight in Split

DAY 6 SPLIT (B)
Breakfast at hotel. End of tour. Transfer to port or airport included.

B=Breakfast

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Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Before Your Cruise - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Before Your Island Hopping Tour - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

 

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

 

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

 

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]

 

 

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Itinerary

  • DAY 1 ZAGREB
  • DAY 2 ZAGREB to Opatija (Zagreb walking tour) (B)
  • DAY 3 OPATIJA (Istrian Peninsula excursion) (B)
  • DAY 4 Opatija to SPLIT (Plitvice Lakes excursion, Trogir excursion) (B)
  • DAY 5 SPLIT (Split walking tour) (B)
  • DAY 6 SPLIT (B)