Croatian National Parks

Day 1: Zagreb - Plitvice Lakes

Arrival to Zagreb airport. Pick-up car. Drive to the Plitvice Lakes, check in at the hotel, overnight.

Day 2: Plitvice Lakes - Zadar

Sightseeing of the Plitvice Lakes, consisting of 16 smaller and larger crystal blue-green lakes interconnected by foaming cascades and deep falls. A walk along the forest trails and little wooden bridges next to extraordinary scenery consisting of the lakes, the falls, and rich flora and fauna. Continuing trip to Zadar and sightseeing of the old town: St.Donat Church, the Cathedral of St. Stosija , Five Wells Square, St.Mary Church with the Benedictine convent , St Rocco Church, the Renaissance City Court, the Renaissance Town Gate, the Great Arsenal, the Roman Triumphal Arch and many more. Check in at the hotel, overnight in Zadar.

Day 3: The Kornati Islands

After breakfast, a daylong excursion by boat to the Kornati islands, situated in the middle part of the Croatian Adriatic. Most of the islands were declared a national park in 1980, because of their extraordinary beauty, interesting geomorphology,  extreme indentedness of the coastline and especially because of the rich underwater life. Today the National Park Kornati covers an area of around 220 square kilometers and includes a total of 89 islands, isles and cliffs with close to 185 kilometers of coastline. In addition to this, the land portion of the park represents less than ¼ of the total area, while all the rest is the marine ecosystem. After the sightseeing of the national park, back to the hotel, overnight in Zadar.

Day 4: Krka Falls

After breakfast, departure for the national park Krka. The river Krka created an impressive canyon through the mountain Dinara on its way to the sea. The most interesting parts of the canyon are the falls surrounded by the dense vegetation, the largest and the most beautiful of which is Skradinski Buk. Also worthy of a visit is the tiny isle of Visovac at the part where the river Krka created a lake, a real oasis of peace and silence with a ranciscan monastery from 15th century. Continuing on to Sibenik with a sightseeing of the old town: the Saint Jacob Cathedral , The Rector's Palace, and many more Renaissance and Gothic structures. Return to hotel, overnight in Zadar.

Day 5: Paklenica - Opatija

After breakfast departure towards the national park Paklenica, which offers abundance of many natural peculiarities and phenomena. This is a region of a unique and extraordinary harmony of the sea and the mountain, rich with forests of beech trees and black pine, with deep canyons vertically cut into the main mountain ridge of the Velebit, with unique  relief and numerous caves and hollows. After sightseeing of the national park, leaving towards Kvarner Bay, overnight in Opatija.

Day 6: Brijuni Islands

After breakfast, departure for Brijuni. The Brijuni Islands are a combination of natural richness and cultural and historical heritage. Due to the mild climate and favorable geographic conditions, bays deeply set into the coast and well protected land,  these islands were inhabited from ancient history to the present time. On this relatively small space, slightly larger then 7 square kilometers, there is evidence of approximately one hundred localities and objects of archeological, cultural and historical values, ranging from the first New Stone Age settlements in the bay of Soline to the creation of a luxury summer resort and spa at the beginning of the last century, and the presidential residence frequented for 25 years (1954-1979) by many statesmen  After sightseeing of the Brijuni islands, a short excursion to Pula (roman amphitheater)  Departure for Motovun, Hum, Svetvincenat or some other small town of rich historic heritage. Optional lunch/dinner in a typical Istrian tavern. Return to the hotel in Opatija. Overnight.

Day 7: Opatjia - Zagreb

A free morning for a walk in Opatija, once Austro-Hungarian  winter resort, today fashionable summer resort whose beauty inspired many of the rich and famous. Early afternoon drive to Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Short sightseeing. Overnight in Zagreb.

Day 8: Zagreb

Drop-off car at Zagreb airport. Return to US.

Prices include:  7 nights in Croatia in 3* hotels, breakfast, local tax, entrances for NP Plitvice and Krka, full day excursion to NP Kornati (lunch included), half day excursion to NP Brijuni  & NP Paklenica with professional guide.

 Extras:             

**airline ticket (at lowest prices - all US gateways)
**car rental  (from $55.00 a day, tax, insurance included)
**extra nights possible upon request in each city
**single supplement