​Croatia & The Dalmation Coast

​September 16-26 2024

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​Day One 
September 16
​​Capital of Croatia, Zagreb
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​Welcome to Croatia and its lovely capital, Zagreb. Take your time to settle in and walk the streets of one of our favorite capitals. Croatians love to sit and visit over coffee. Grab yourself a spot and watch the locals go about their day. There is also excellent shopping and wonderful bakeries. 

Meet us later in the afternoon for our welcome introduction over drinks. We will introduce ourselves and tell you more details about your trip. Later we will walk to dinner together to one of our favorite spots. 

Boutique hotel in Zagreb center/ Introduction meeting with drinks/ Dinner together/ Overnight Zagreb
"5 Star Tour Guides -

They put together and excellent trip with
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just the right cadence of activities and free time.
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They use boutique hotels and everything is first class.
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We will surely travel with them again!"

Barbara and Doug C.
Iowa U.S.A.
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​Day Two
Plitvice Lakes
This morning we will have our private tour of Zagreb. We will enter the 13th- century Zagreb cathedral, stop by the plentiful main food market, tour the medieval upper town, see the colorful tiled roof of the church of St. Mark, take the funicular, plus so much more! Our local guide will be on hand to show us the insider secrets of Zagreb. 

Lunch is on your own at any of the many restaurants this town has on offer. 
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Later, our private driver will be on hand to transport us to the Plitvice Lakes region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can sit back and relax as we view the heartland of Croatia.  

We will arrive later to one of our favorite lodges, very close to the park. You may settle in, have a drink by the pool, or go for a walk nearby. Dinner tonight is together in the lodge with local specialties. 

Breakfast/ Private tour of Zagreb/ Private transportation to the Plitvice region/ Dinner together/ ​UNESCO World Heritage Site Plitvice Lakes National Park/ Overnight near Plitvice National Park
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"Touring with Patricia & Manolis is the only way to go
​ if you want your trip to be experience of a lifetime."
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Laura A. Davis, Bentleyville, OH
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​Day Three 
​Zadar, Croatia
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​We are up very early for our tour of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the home of many lakes, waterfalls, and stunning natural scenery. Our private guide will be on hand to take us around and show us why this is such a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are places within the park for lunch on your own. 

We are off later in the day for the city of Zadar, right on the Dalmatian coast on the Adriatic Sea. After we visit the famous Sea Organ and the Monument to the Sun down by the seaside, we will walk to dinner together for local specialties.

Breakfast / Walking tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park/ Private guide/ Seaside walk/ The Sea Organ/ The Monument to the Sun/ Dinner together/ UNESCO World Heritage Site Plitvice Lakes National Park / UNESCO World Heritage Site List Zadar/ Overnight Zadar
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​Day Four 
​Zadar Croatia
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Today we have a private tour of Zadar. We'll see the Roman Forum, the 9th-century Byzantine church of St. Donates, and other memorable parts of the town. Lunch on your own at any of the great spots in town. 

Then the afternoon is yours. You can take an optional cruise to the Kornati Islands, a national park, to see the unspoiled area off the coast of Zadar, or hit the nearby beaches. 

Dinner on your own with recommendations from us.

Breakfast / Private Tour of Zadar/ Optional boat tour of Kornati Islands** / UNESCO World Heritage Site List Zadar / ​List for UNESCO World Heritage Site-Kornati Islands /Overnight Zadar
**not included in tour price
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Day Five
The Island of Hvar

We take off inland for our trip to the small island town of Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a small quaint town. Trogir (called Trau by the Venetians) is a lovely walled city boasting both Romanesque and Renaissance buildings. Our guide will be on hand to take us around and then show us some spots for lunch on your own. 

Afterwards, we are off to Split with its walled city, Roman palace, and palm-lined streets. We’ll delve into the role this city played in Roman history. We will tour the Diocletian's Palace, erected by the Roman emperor in the 4th century. Once home to thousands, it still has more than 200 buildings within its enclaves. Then we are off to the cathedral of St. Domnius, one of the best standing Roman ruins in existence today. For those who want we, can climb up the belfry to catch the sights of the town below us.

In the afternoon, we will head with our ferry to the lovely island of Hvar, renowned for its beautiful harbor town and wineries in the hinterland villages. Be sure to sit seaside right outside of our hotel for cocktails as the sun sets. Optional-rent a boat or a paddle board.

Join us later for dinner together in a spot that we love!

Breakfast/ Private Transportation to Trogir and Split/ Ferry to Hvar/ Guided tour of Trogir and Split/ Dinner together/ UNESCO World Heritage city of Trogir/ UNESCO World Heritage city of Split/ Island of Hvar/ Overnight Hvar
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​Day Six
Island of Hvar
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Join us as we take a walking tour of the fortressed town of Hvar, the site of an ancient Illyrian settlement (500BC).

We will then take to the road to explore some of the outposts of the island, with stops at a local winery for a tour and a tasting.

After our tour, you can have lunch on your own with plenty of recommendations from us.

In the afternoon, you can do several things. Shop, sit in a seaside cafe, or go for a swim just down the way. Hvar will be yours to explore.  Optional-rent a boat or a paddle board.

We will be on hand to recommend a restaurant for dinner on your own.

Breakfast/ Guided Tour of Hvar town/ Winery stop and tasting / Overnight Hvar
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​Day Seven
​​Island of Korcula
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​We are off by boat to the charming island of Korcula for a two-night stay. Full of vineyard and olive grove delights, it offers the finest in island living. Said to produce the best white wines in all of Croatia, we will sample them for ourselves, to see.

There are all kinds of spots to do a little of your own exploring, including the chance to rent kayaks or go paddle boarding.

We will have an orientation walk of the old town and afterwards we will enjoy a lovely dinner together.

Breakfast/ Ferry to Hvar/ Exploring Hvar/ Ferry to Korcula/ Cooking demonstration/ Dinner together/ Overnight Korcula
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​Day Eight
Island of Korcula
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Today is a day for you explore the medieval town of Korcula. There is shopping and sweet shops and even a trip to a local beach if you would like.

Serenity is sitting in a coffee shop and people watching.
Also Korcula is know for it's water sports so you can kayak or paddle board. There are also wineries where we can book a wine tasting for you. Either way whatever you choose, we will be on hand to facilitate it.

We have plenty of recommendations for dinner on your own. All in all, a great relaxing day for exploring.

Breakfast/ Facilitating your exploring options / Overnight Korcula
"Best vacation ever!"
Linda & Jim H.
Ohio, U.S.A.
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​Day Nine
​Dubrovnik, Croatia
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We take to the seas by ferry boat to chart our course for the medieval fortress city of Dubrovnik. 

Dubrovnik, once known in Italian as Ragusa, suffered a devastating earthquake in the 1600s, and shelling during the Yugoslav war in the 1990s, but is still considered the jewel of the Adriatic. Many films have been shot here including Games of Thrones. 

After we check into our hotel, we will have an orientation walk of this town. We will be on hand for dinner recommendations for dinner on your own tonight.


Breakfast/ Ferry transfer to Dubrovnik/ Farewell Dinner/ UNESCO World Heritage Site -Old City of Dubrovnik/ Overnight Dubrovnik
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Day Ten
​Dubrovnik, Croatia
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After an early breakfast you will have your tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide which will include a walk on the walls. The guide will also point out the many places where Game of Thrones was filmed. 

Dubrovnik is all yours for further exploring after your tour. 

We can also recommend kayak/ stand up paddleboarding tours and other options for a delightful afternoon. Join us later tonight for our farewell dinner!

Your tour includes- Resort hotel just outside Dubrovnik/ Ticket and guided tour of the walls of Dubrovnik/ Dinner recommendations/ UNESCO World Heritage Site -Old City of Dubrovnik/ Overnight Dubrovnik
 
Day Eleven
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You say good bye to Dubrovnik and Croatia today, as you head to the airport for your departure to the United States.

Breakfast*
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​* That is if your flight does not leave too early. Breakfast in our hotels usually start at 7:30 a.m.
What do you get with this tour-

5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Zagreb
Zadar
​Plitvice Lakes National Park entrance & tour
Island of Trogir
Split
Roman Palace of Diocletian
Island of Hvar
Island of Korcula
The old city of Dubrovnik
Wall walk Dubrovnik
Fast ferries
Private bus transfers
Coastal touring
​10 full breakfasts
7 multi-coursed dinners with wine 
Tours with local guides
Winery visit
Wine tastings
Comfortable centrally located hotels
All transportation from the beginning of our tour except when you are on your own
Guides with 22+ years’ experience
Attention to detail

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-What is your responsibility?
Airfare to the start of our tour and returning at the end of our tour
Any other transport you might use during time on your own
Communication costs/ any medicines needed/ any medical needs or illness during your tour/ the costs of quarantine for any illness related to COVID-19 or any other sickness or pandemic

Trip Cost-per person with double occupancy
This trip is limited to 16 participants

            14 participants and up- $6380 p.p.             
12 participants and up-$6680 p.p.
10 participants and up-$6880 p.p.
8 participants and up- $7080 p.p.

This trip will not run with less than 8 participants

A $1000 deposit per person is due in order to get a spot on this tour. The remainder of the trip costs
​ less deposit is due by June 30, 2024 (this was changed from June 1).

Your deposit is fully refundable until final trip costs are due. 

This trip is run in conjunction with Lake Erie College but is open to all.

Reserve your spot on this tour!

With our Super Easy Deposit
$1000 gets you a place on this tour
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Totally refundable until final payments are due
​​(June 30 2024)

No questions asked

Who are your leaders?

Manolis Hajifotiou

A native of Greece, Manolis has been leading tours in Europe for 24 years. Besides traveling, his passion is playing his guitar and creating his own music. He also likes to keep up with the stone house he shares with his wife, Patricia, especially trimming their olive trees.  He looks forward to showing you his favorite places and making sure you feel right at home.

Patricia Hajifotiou

A native of the U.S.A., Patricia has been leading tours in Europe for 24 years. She lives on the island of Evia, Greece, with her husband Manolis. When she is not on tour, she lives off the grid in a rock house, powered by the wind and sun. There she likes to spend her time digging in the garden. She looks forward to showing you the places she likes the best.