Exclusive Croatia

Welcome to Zagreb and the first of many 4* hotels. You’ll have a chance to check in and relax whilst the rest of your group arrives, before heading out at around 5pm for your immersive history and food tour through the back streets of the town. One of the oldest cities in Central Europe, the architecture, cobbled streets and soaring church spires of Zagreb provide a visual feast, so the stories you’ll hear and delicacies you’ll try will only bring to life the charm of this place even more. On your culinary journey, you’ll stop at La Struk for a traditional Zagreb dish called Strukli, and finally at Bornstein for wine and cheese tasting. Just remember to leave enough room for your welcome dinner at the award-winning and atmospheric Didov San (meaning grandpa’s dream) where you’ll feast on authentic dishes in a timeless setting.

This morning you’ll be taken into Mrežnica, a world of emerald rivers, cascading waterfalls and secluded forests. Here, your thrilling kayaking adventure will take place. Kitted out and aboard your group’s raft, you’ll spend hours paddling atop crystal clear waters and flying down waterfalls, whilst also having the chance to wild swim and leap from white cliffs into deep pools. Eventually, you’ll pull into a gorgeous secluded meadow, where you’ll find a tent and BBQ has been set up for your own private al fresco event. With locals cooking up a veritable feast using fresh local ingredients, spend some time as a group bonding and reflecting on the beauty you’ve already seen in just two days. Sated and ready to move on, you’ll be dropped off at your accommodation for the evening: a series of treehouses in the woods connected by winding wooden bridges.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a region of forested beauty, famous for its shimmering lagoons and waterfalls. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a hugely popular spot (for good reason), but we’ll be getting you up at the crack of dawn so you get to enjoy the area alone (or as near to alone as possible). As the soft morning light begins to intensify and light up the colours of the lakes that are connected by 92 waterfalls, you’ll be taken on a private guided tour by foot and electric boat. Then it’ll be on to Split and the sparkling coast for a totally unique nighttime adventure. As the sun sets and the rest of the tourists head away from the water, you’ll be paddling out to sea on a paddleboard that’s adorned with underwater LED lights. A gentle, ethereally beautiful adventure, the stars will be slowly making their way out above you, whilst nocturnal marine life flits in and out of view beneath.

Today is the kind of day most people dream of when they think of a summer in Croatia: a boat trip to stunning islands and crystalline lagoons – and you’ll get to do it all on your very own private speedboat. Snorkel above a sunken ship near Nečujam on the island of Šolta, explore the archipelago of the Krknjasi islands and swim in the famed Blue Lagoon. Feeling sunkissed and no doubt a little tired from all the swimming, your last spot will be the chic Schkoy Beach Club – where you’ll have a few hours to live the Croatian beach club experience. When you’re ready, you’ll return to Split for an evening to do as you please. 

Today you’ll be making your way from Split to Dubrovnik, but you’ll be stopping en-route for an experience that’s not available to the general public, first. Mali Ston is one of the few last untouched parts of Croatia’s coastline, and here you’ll meet a family of restaurateurs who will take you over to a sea platform to learn about (and taste) the oysters they produce here. You’ll learn about the Adriatic oyster and why it’s one of the best and most sought after in the world and then be transferred to the family’s private island, which they’ve granted us exclusive access to. The restaurant here isn’t open to the public, but it will be to you, and you’ll spend an afternoon alone in paradise, feasting on Dalmatian specialties, fresh seafood, beers and cocktails. 

This might just be the most picturesque wine tour you’ll ever take. In a region set on a hill that slopes upwards from the cerulean sea, you’ll be cycling 20km from winery to winery, overlooking nearby islands and a lush valley. You’ll start at the smallest family winery, before moving to some of the bigger producers. One of the highlights has to be your stop at the Grgić vineyard. One of Croatia’s most famous wine producers, Grgić now lives in California and has seen his wine served in the White House – a huge moment for Croatian wine. Tonight, you’ll have some free time in iconic Dubrovnik, one of the world’s most magnificent walled cities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Get your bearings in its labyrinthine walled old town, kick back with an ožujsko, or head down to the harbour for a twilight stroll.

This morning you’ll be taken on a tour of Dubrovnik by a local who was born within the old city walls. You’ll see the old Franciscan Monastery with its ancient pharmacy, the Dominican Monastery with its enviable collection of medieval paintings, and an endless array of beautiful red-roofed townhouses. At around 3pm, you’ll be picked up and taken 30 minutes into the countryside to meet a local family at their old stone house. They’ll be taking you on a culinary journey as you cook simple, fresh and authentic food with them. After your homemade welcome drink, you’ll go out into the lush garden to pick the required ingredients, and be led through an age-old Croatian recipe, finally getting to dine on the masterpiece you’ve no doubt created.  Local people, local customs and delicious food – what could be a better way to end your exclusive, immersive Croatian adventure?

It’s that time. Bid farewell to your new friends and make your way to the airport, happy in the knowledge you’ve seen a side to Croatia that few others have had the chance to see. A hard feat in today’s much-explored, much-photographed world.