Highlights
- Admire the natural beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park with a guide
- Join a local family for a pottery class and traditional Croatian lunch
- Ride in a traditional "batana" boat around Rovinj at sunset
- Wander the medieval Istrian towns of Motovun and Grožnjan with a truffle lunch
- Soar over Lake Bled from the basket of a hot-air balloon
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Zagreb (Croatia), City Walking Tour | Zagreb |
| Day 2 | Free Time in Zagreb, Half-Day Trip to Samobor | Zagreb |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Plitvice Lakes via Rastoke, Plitvice Lakes National Park Tour | Plitvice Lakes |
| Day 4 | Free Time in Plitvice Lakes, Pottery Class at Family Estate | Plitvice Lakes |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Rovinj, Sunset Boat Ride on a Traditional Batana | Rovinj |
| Day 6 | Explore Medieval Istria: Grožnjan & Motovun with Truffle Hunting Experience | Rovinj |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Bled (Slovenia) via Food & Culture Tour of Piran | Bled |
| Day 8 | Hot-Air Balloon Flight Over Lake Bled, Visit Lake Bohinj | Bled |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Ljubljana, Local Beekeeper Honey Tour | Ljubljana |
| Day 10 | Depart Ljubljana |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Zagreb (Croatia), City Walking Tour
Welcome to Zagreb! Nestled between the slopes of Medvednica mountain and the lush plains along the Sava River, Croatia's capital is where old and new collide. Its Gornji Grad (Upper Town) is filled with cobblestone streets and medieval architecture, including the iconic St. Mark's Church and Lotrščak Tower. This contrasts with the dynamic energy of the contemporary Donji Grad (Lower Town), making Zagreb a timeless European destination. On arrival at the airport, meet a private driver for a transfer to your hotel.
Chock-full of museums, great architecture, trendy neighborhoods, and nightlife, this afternoon, you'll be immersed in Zagreb's delights on a private guided walking tour of the city's top sights. Start at Ban Jelačić, the main square, and wind through the oldest part of Zagreb. Visit Dolac, a buzzing historical market, the Cathedral, Tkalčićeva Street, the Kamenita Vrata (Stone Gate), and St. Mark's Church with its famed multicolored roof. Visit the Lower Town) next, for spacious parks and boulevards and the neo-Baroque Croatian National Theater.
Day 2: Free Time in Zagreb, Half-Day Trip to Samobor
Experience Zagreb's café culture with a slow morning in the capital. Head north of the city's main square and find Tkalčićeva Street. This famous, vibrant strip is filled with small boutiques, traditional stores, and places to eat and drink, making it the perfect destination to visit any time of day to experience a laid-back Croatian meal while reflecting on the city's beauty.
Later, meet your private guide for a half-day adventure to Samobor. Only a short drive from Zagreb, this calm and picturesque town has become a center of artisans, culture, and intellectual parties. Your guide will take you on a tour of its most important landmarks and tell you all about its history and legends. Along the way, you'll enjoy two unique local tastings—sweet wine and the famous Samobor custard cream cake—in the main square. After, enjoy free time to explore on your own before returning to Zagreb with your driver.
Day 3: Transfer to Plitvice Lakes via Rastoke, Plitvice Lakes National Park Tour
Today, a private driver will take you on the two-hour drive south to Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of Croatia's most popular national parks. You'll pause at Rastoke, a picturesque watermill village set on the small Slunčica River. This fairy-tale hamlet is filled with wooden houses with colorful facades, surrounded by beautiful nature and the sound of cascading falls. In the late afternoon, you'll reach Plitvice Lakes, where you'll get settled into your hotel and then venture right into the UNESCO-protected park with a private guide.
Plitvice is home to 16 glassy emerald green and blue travertine lakes, more than 90 cascading waterfalls, and numerous caves. The terraced lakes are surrounded by beech and pine forests and are home to extensive wildlife. Choose one of eight different hiking trails, ranging from three to eight hours in duration, and follow winding boardwalks through the watery landscape.
Day 4: Free Time in Plitvice Lakes, Pottery Class at Family Estate
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Early morning is one of the best times to visit Plitvice Lakes, so if you didn't get enough of the pristine national park yesterday, you could return early this morning to see the lakes and waterfalls at first light. There are plenty of hikes within the park, so there will be more to see that you missed yesterday, and an early visit means you're more likely to avoid the crowds and have the enchanting landscapes all to yourself.
Before lunch, you'll venture out to the remote village of Plaški, where you'll join a pottery class and enjoy a delicious traditional Croatian lunch with a local family. Meet your friendly hosts at their estate in the Lika mountains, where you'll learn how traditional pottery is made and make your small souvenir using the local clay. They'll show you a few simple techniques on how to work with clay and guide you in your artistic creativity. Before or after the pottery class, you'll sit down for a traditional lunch together, with Croatian dishes made using local ingredients.
Day 5: Transfer to Rovinj, Sunset Boat Ride on a Traditional Batana
It's time to continue your journey toward the coast today, as a private transfer collects you for the three-hour drive to Rovinj. This small jewel on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula is one of the centers for good food in Croatia. Check into your hotel, then use the rest of the afternoon to simply relax. Walk through the narrow streets and visit the Church of St. Euphemia, the defense walls, and the town clock. Wander along the colorful Grisia Street, where you might find an open exhibition of local painters.
Close to sunset, you'll set off on a special journey along the Rovinj coast in a batana, a traditional fishing boat designed to navigate shallow waters. Its construction is similar to the famous Venetian gondola. Start your aquatic adventure from Mali Mol at sunset, and watch as night begins to fall and each batana becomes illuminated by lights traditionally used for night fishing. After a serene boat ride along the Old Town center, you'll enter a spacio, a local version of a tavern, where you'll taste delicious wines and homemade dishes.
Day 6: Explore Medieval Istria: Motovun & Grožnjan with Truffle Lunch Experience
Today, you'll visit an area of Istria sometimes called "Croatian Tuscany," thanks to its picturesque medieval hilltop towns, forests, and vineyards. A private driver and guide will take you to Grožnjan, a hilltop town that was once an important Venetian stronghold. The town's importance went into decline with the 18th-century collapse of the empire, and more recently, it's become a town of artists. Lose yourself in the maze of narrow and cobblestone lanes, stopping to pop into one of the numerous art studios and galleries.
Continue toward Motovun, an ancient sleepy town located atop a 909-foot (277 m) hill whose city walls date back to the Middle Ages. For lunch, you'll visit a family estate for a special truffle lunch. Meet a truffle hunter to hear how truffles are found, prepared, and served. You'll snack on homemade products such as cheese with truffles, truffle oil, and truffle honey, as well as a truffle fritaja (scrambled eggs with truffles) which you'll help prepare. The family will share local wines and brandies, then you'll join their dogs on a stroll through the forest on the quest for the rare white truffle.
Day 7: Transfer to Bled (Slovenia) via Food & Culture Tour of Piran
Surrounded by the clear turquoise water and with a fairy-tale castle topping the nearby hill, Slovenia's Lake Bled is certainly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This morning, a private transfer will collect you for the three-hour drive across the border, making a special stop at the Slovenian coastal town of Piran en route. Piran is defined by its Venetian influence, and a local guide will introduce you to local wine, truffles, and olive oil as you explore the charming town's architecture and narrow winding streets.
After, continue to Bled. Located in the Julian Alps, the town of Bled revolves around the picture-postcard lake and its island, so check into your hotel, then go for a relaxed stroll by the water. Use your afternoon to savor a traditional cream cake and visit the oldest castle in Slovenia on the hill, where you can have dinner with a breathtaking view over the lake and Bled Island.
Day 8: Hot-Air Balloon Flight Over Lake Bled, Visit Lake Bohinj
Rise before the break of dawn for an exciting and romantic way to welcome the day—a scenic hot-air balloon ride. Meet your pilot and climb into the basket ahead of an epic flight over Lake Bled and the surrounding rural terrain, soaking in every moment as the sun crests the Julian Alps and Karavanks. This landscape looks like something out of a children's storybook. You'll drift peacefully overhead while taking in the scene below of quaint villages, rolling hills, Slovenia's oldest golf course, and the bluish-green Lake Bled and its namesake island and cliff-clinging castle.
After the flight, help your pilot deflate the balloon, then head to an elegant rooftop terrace for coffee and cake with a panoramic view over Lake Bled. With the rest of the day free, you could make a memorable trip to Lake Bohinj. Set in Triglav National Park, this lake is less famous than Lake Bled and is only 18 miles (29 km) away. The route from Bled to Bohinj is very scenic, and the quieter lake offers a more peaceful atmosphere and idyllic nature. Once at the lake, you can go kayaking, standup paddleboarding, or hiking, or take a cable car up to Mount Vogel.
Day 9: Transfer to Ljubljana, Local Beekeeper Honey Tour
Enjoy a slow morning in Lake Bled before a private driver collects you for a transfer to Ljubljana, Slovenia's charming capital. The drive is only an hour, but en route, you'll stop for a honey tour. Did you know that Slovenia has the most beekeepers per capita in the world? Meet the local beekeeper and learn about bees, honey, and its production with a short tour. Visit bee panels, learn about the bee life cycle, and find out how honey is extracted with beekeeping equipment. After the tour, taste different types of honey and products made with the golden nectar before continuing to Ljubljana.
Once you arrive in the capital, check into your hotel and then set out to explore one of Europe's greenest cities. Stroll around and feel the relaxed atmosphere of the colorful streets and Prešern Square. Pass by the Three Rivers fountain, visit the Cathedral and Franciscan Church, and enjoy the view of the Ljubljanica River from the Dragon Bridge. Pause for a potica cake and cup of coffee on the Petkovšek embankment, the most popular riverside promenade in Ljubljana. Later, head to the Ljubljana Castle for a special meal in the restaurant and to celebrate your final night on tour.
Day 10: Depart Ljubljana
Make the most of your final morning in Ljubljana, enjoying breakfast at a riverside café or taking a stroll around the Old Town. When the time comes, your driver will collect you for the 30-minute private transfer to Ljubljana Airport. Safe travels onward or home!
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