Autum in Croatia
12 – Day Tour
Experience the Lifestyle on the Islands
Tour Dates: 4 - 15 May 2009
\ 14 - 26 September 2009
Monday 14 September 2009
We depart from O R T International Airport and fly to Zagreb. The route to Zagreb might differ depending on which airline we book with. This is due to availability and any changes will be communicated.
As Croatia’s capital and biggest city, Zagreb is the heartbeat of this nation. One in four of the nation population lives here, they enjoy a wide verity of restaurants and shops and a vibrant cultural scene throughout the year. This Croatian political and cultural capital is a lively and stimulating city, with fine examples of Austro-Hungarian facades, interesting museums and many cafes. Tomorrow will be spent exploring this Central European gem’s main sights and history. After arrival at our overnight accommodation, a scrumptious meal awaits us.
Tuesday 15 September 2009
This is the Official Start of the tour. After breakfast, we discover Gornji Grad. This area is the oldest part of Zagreb and is located on a wooded hill. It is an attractive district of old houses and cobbled streets, with several interesting sights. Gornji Grad itself is compact and best explored on foot. Some of the highlights in today’s itinerary include but is not limited to the Burglar’s Towers, St. Mark’s Square, Zagreb History Museum, St. Catherine’s Church and the Stone Gate. Dinner will be enjoyed at our overnight hotel. We will have a free afternoon.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Today we travel from Zagreb to the Plitvice Lakes. Combination of continental and coastal climate in National Park Plitvice Lakes has resulted in pleasantly warm summers and snow rich winters. Fresh Springs and colorful autumns have been attracting visitors for a long number of years. Plitvice Lakes is a destination you can visit during all four seasons and you will always have an impression that you have come for the first time. Sixteen turquoise interconnected lakes make a unique image created by nature. The lakes decant one into the other through many waterfalls. You can walk around them using numerous bridges and paths or take a boat cruise. Also, one of the phenomena is the transparency and clearness of the lakes so you can see as far as 8 meter down through the water. Although the lakes and waterfalls are the main attractions, most of the park consists of Karst limestone covered in forests of beech, fir, pine and maple. This unique ecosystem attracts a wide range of fauna and flora. The rivers and lakes teem with trout, newts, frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards and water snakes. Around 140 species of birds have been identified, including black stork and several varieties of woodpeckers. Brown bears, wolves and lynx inhabit the mountains.
We start with our walk, which should take at least 6 hours, immediately on arrival. Afterwards we proceed to our hotel for supper and overnight.
Thursday 17 September 2009
After breakfast we travel to Zadar. The morning should be free, and in the afternoon we will discover the mark that Roman, Byzantine and Venetian rulers have left on his 2000 year old city. This vibrant and modern city is also the ancient capital of Dalmatia, and we will visit the world renowned Sea Organ and the “Gold and Silver of Zadar”. We return to our hotel for dinner.
Friday 18 September 2009
Today we are travel from Zadar to Sibenik. The two places that we are going to visit is the Katedrala Svetog Jakova, also known as St. James’s Cathedral and, Kastel Svetog Mihovil also known as, St. Michael’s Castle. We will return to our hotel for dinner.
Saturday 19 September 2009
Today after Breakfast we will leave early for an excursion to KRKA Waterfalls.
National Park Krka is situated on the most beautiful Croatian Karst River Krka. The river represents a sort of Karst phenomenon, which, on its way towards the sea, forms numerous lakes, waterfalls and currents. From Roški waterfall onwards, the river Krka forms a long Visovačko lake. In the middle of this lake stands an island called Visovac with a church and Franciscan monastery, which give the lake additional sense of mystery. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful segmented waterfalls in Europe. The afternoon will be free to explore on your own or perhaps take a swim in the ocean.
Sunday 20 September 2009
We travel by from Sibenik to Split.
Split is Croatia’s second largest city where we will be spending the next 2 days. Split has a very unique city center. It is housed within the walls of the ancient palace and faces the harbor in which so many ferries depart daily for the surrounding islands. For a sense of the original palace layout we will visit the underground chambers. Stari Pazar (Old Bazaar), outside the eastern gate of Diocletian’s palace.
We will overnight in Split.
Monday 21 September 2008
We are going to explore this ancient city that has always been at the center of travelers between Dalmatia and the rest of Zagreb. We will visit the City Museum. The Diocletian’s Palace is the place where you could enjoy our picnic lunch. We also visit the Golden Gate and the City Museum. Dinner will be back at the hotel.
Tuesday 22 September 2009
After Breakfast, we will travel by ferry boat from Split to the island of Korcula. This is an island of vineyards, olive groves and oak forests is best known for its capital of the same name, a perfectly preserved gem of a Venetian walled town.
Korcula is the second biggest town on the island with, and with population of about 3000 inhabitants. With its numerous buildings and monuments, cafes, hotels, restaurants, galleries, cinema etc, Korcula is very popular for visitors as central location from which they explore the rest of the island. Korcula is an administrative center of the area, where most of people from surrounding villages come to work at daytime.
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Today we transfer from Korcula to Orebic via the ferryboat and then travel by road to Dubrovnik.
Our visit will begin as we enter the old town over the Iron Bridge at Pile Gate, within 200 yards we will reach Dubrovnik’s main thoroughfare known simply as Placa. This is effortlessly one of the most beautiful streets in the world. Inside this town we will find the Onofrio Fountain, Franciscan monastery, Sponza Palace and St Blaise’s Church just to mention a few. Founded 1300 years ago by refuges from Epidaurus in Greece, medieval Dubrovnik was the most important independent city-state on the Adriatic after Venice. Until the Napoleonic invasion of 1806, it remained an independent republic of merchants and sailors. This perfectly preserved old town, is unique because of its marble-paved squares, steep cobbled streets, tall houses, convents, churches, palaces, fountains and museums, all cut from the same light-colored stone. We will have dinner and also overnight in Dubrovnik.
Explore Dubrovnik’s galleries, museums, shops and the city’s top highlight – an unforgettable walk along its 80-foot high walls. For nature over culture, we can take a quick trip with a ferry that shuttles hourly in summer to lush Lokrum Island, a national park with a rocky nudist beach, a botanical garden and the ruins of a medieval Benedictine monastery.
- Boats depart regularly from the Old Port in Dubrovnik, taking just 15 minutes to reach Lokrum. The price of the Boat Ticket includes entry to the Lokrum nature reserve.
The walkway around the ramparts offers unrivalled views over Dubrovnik and is a must for first-time visitors to the city. A full circuit of the walls is around 2km and takes about an hour, excluding rest and photo stops. There are cafes and stalls selling cold drinks in summer, but it is advisable to take water, as the walk can be hot and tiring.
Thursday 24 September 2009
Today we enjoy a full day excursion to the neighbor country of Montenegro and return to our hotel in Dubrovnik for dinner.
Friday 25 September 2009
After breakfast we enjoy a full day excursion to the neighbor country of Bosnia -Herzegovina and we return to our hotel in Dubrovnik for dinner.
Saturday 26 September 2009
After breakfast we check out of our hotel van depart from Dubrovnik International airport.
Price:
The full price for the 12 day tour amounts to R 25,500 per person sharing. There will be a single levy of R1 800.00 per single person not sharing accommodation. The price was calculated at the current exchange rate of R 1.80 PER 1 Kuna.
The price includes the following:
Cost of return flights from South Africa to Europe as well as flight to Zagreb
Airport Taxes
All accommodation
All meals as per the itinerary (two meals per day – breakfast and dinner)
We would like to mention that we take more or less 750 photos during the tour.These photos will be placed on CD and made available free of charge to tour members. You will also receive a complimentary high quality DVD of the tour with photos, music and captions. The duration of the DVD is more or less 45 minutes.
Complimentary DVD of the entire tour
All entrance fees to places of interest as set out in the itinerary
© Paul Botha / Destination RSA
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Meerensee
Richards Bay 3901
Tel: 035 753 3677/ 753 3962
Fax: 035 753 5875
Web: www.destinationrsa.co.za
