ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Arrival to destination – Dubrovnik

Our adventure starts in ancient town of Dubrovnik. We advise to arrive a day before or in early morning, so you have enough time to explore UNESCO protected Old Town and do some shopping. Ice cream or coffee taste best in open air bistros along Stradun, Old Town’s main street and promenade. In the evening we will meet for orientation and group dinner in Zaton Bay.

Accommodation: homestay in Zaton Bay; Drive: 30 min

DAY 2 – Zaton Bay Sea kayaking

Today we explore 2 km deep Zaton Bay, its surrounding cliffs and caves by sea kayak. Check out stunning views of the Elaphiti Archipelago and challenge yourself to do cliff jumping. After casual lunch on the beach we will continue our trip to Montenegro, a tiny country featuring stunning 5 national parks. Depending on the road and border traffic, arrival to picturesque Zabljak at the foot of Durmitor Mountain is expected by 7 pm. Accommodation in Zabljak area, dinner.

Accommodation: guesthouse in Zabljak; Sea Kayaking: 3-4 hours, easy/moderate; Drive: 3-4 hours 

DAY 3 – Hiking Durmitor National Park

After waking up next to amazing mountain tops, get ready to hike one of them. Durmitor National Park is home to 23 mountain tops over 2300 metres of altitude. Together with its black pine forests, glacier lakes, caves and deep river canyons, Durmitor region is protected by UNESCO from 1980. We will hike one of the many routes that pass this exciting terrain. After you will be in for a good night sleep, but in the evening don’t miss out to explore Zabljak, popular outdoor destination. Dinner at your accommodation.

Accommodation: guesthouse in Zabljak; Hiking: 4-6 hours

DAY 4 – Rafting Tara River

After breakfast we will head towards Scepan Polje, a field where rivers Piva and Tara feed into Drina River. Drina served as a natural border between the Eastern and Western Roman Empire and today between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Raft through the impressive Tara River Gorge which is 1,300 metres (4,300 feet) deep, crazy right? After an exciting, splashy rafting tour on this clear emerald river, we will finish off with a delicious lunch and relax at Wild River huts and campsite.

Accommodation: huts at Scepan Polje campsite; Rafting: class III, 3 hours, moderate; Van ride: 1h 30 min to Scepan Polje 

DAY 5 – Mostar visit and canoeing on Trebizat River

We have an early start today as we drive from Montenegro and head out to Mostar, over five centuries old town on the Neretva River. The famous Old Bridge (Stari Most) is a symbol of peaceful coexistence of three cultures but also a place where locals show off their diving skills. In the afternoon we will drive to Ljubuski and enjoy a trip on the narrow Trebizat River surrounded by lush forests. Our tonight’s accommodation is a friendly family-run hotel by the river serving traditional meals and local specialties.

Accommodation: hotel in Ljubuski; Canoeing: 1 hour, easy; Van ride: 3 hours to Mostar, 1 hour to Ljubuski

DAY 6 – Split visit

This morning we drive north towards Split, the largest coastal town of Croatia and major tourist hub. Once you immerse yourself into its medieval streets and Roman cellars you will understand where the hype is. Take free time to walk on the popular palm tree promenade and visit the Roman emperor Diocletian’s palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 4th century. If you are up for some refreshment you can also visit the popular Bacvice beach, where the local game of “Picigin” often takes place. All you need is a fist size ball and locals will show you how to do it. Later in the afternoon we continue towards the town of Skradin and our hotel.

Accommodation: hotel in Skradin; Sightseeing: 3-5 hours; Van drive: 2 hours to Split, 1 hour to Skradin

DAY 7 – Krka National Park cycling

Today we will cycle around the Krka River National Park famous for its fantastic karst formations and travertine waterfalls. We will start with our bikes from the hotel and continue by local roads to the viewpoint over the Visovac Lake. In the middle of the lake is Visovac Island with the Franciscan Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy and the Church of Our Lady of Visovac, dating from the 15th century. Today we will enjoy an excellent traditional Dalmatian prosciutto lunch. After cycling, we return to the hotel. Enjoy a late afternoon and dinner in Skradin on your own.

Accommodation: hotel in Skradin; Cycling and walking: 3-5 hours, easy/moderate. 

DAY 8 – Zrmanja River Kayaking

This kayaking trip is an expedition down the magnificent Wild West-like canyons of the Zrmanja River in Velebit Nature Park. Perfectly clear and green waters, rapids and waterfalls, hidden swimming pools and steep sided canyons will make this excursion an unforgettable experience. We use 2-seat inflatable kayak boats. Rafting boats are used during the high water season (usually before May and after September, but the water level can vary a lot in spring and in autumn). After an amazing day on the river, we will return to our vans and drive to Korana Village, in the Plitvice National Park.

Accommodation: Korana village homestay; Kayaking: class II-III, 4 hours, easy/moderate; Van drive: 1 h 10 min to Zrmanja river, 2 hour to Korana Village

DAY 9 – Plitvice Lakes National Park Visit

We start our day early to avoid the crowds. Walk along the wooden paths and bridges in and around Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s premier national park. Its exquisite series of 16 emerald green and opal blue travertine lakes, more than 90 waterfalls and numerous caves makes it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lakes are surrounded by beech and pine forests and are home to extensive wildlife. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the pure, untouched nature. A panoramic boat and train ride will take us back to the start. Later in the afternoon we drive to Postojna, Slovenia for the evening.

Accommodation:Postojna area hotel; Hiking: 4-5 hours; easy, well marked paths; Drive: 3 hour 30 min to Postojna, Slovenia. 

DAY 10 – Postojna Cave visit and drop off Ljubljana or Zagreb

This morning we will visit Postojna Cave and its remarkable subterranean world, cave formations and diverse fauna. After a 2-hour tour and the walk around the park, we will continue to Ljubljana and then Zagreb. Feel free to choose where you would like to end your tour. If you decide to spend more time in Slovenia or Croatia, our guides will be happy to recommend other beautiful places to visit – especially those you won’t find in tourist guide books.

Drive: 45 min to Ljubljana, 2 h 15 min to Zagreb

Note on Itinerary:
This itinerary is subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, weather, water levels, special events of interest, etc. Raftrek Guides and Trip Leaders will do their utmost to ensure the best possible experience for their clients without compromising safety at any time. This may mean changing the original itinerary to avoid discomfort or risk which could be caused by exceptional situations. Raftrek reserves the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.

TRIP NOTES

What’s included

• 9 nights accommodation
• meals as per itinerary (9 breakfasts, 6 dinners, 2 lunches)
• use of equipment for activities
• 8 days of organized activities
• local taxes and permits
• National Parks entrance fees
• ground transportation (private transport throughout)
• transfers from Dubrovnik airport, harbour or bus station on arrival
• transfer to Ljubljana or Zagreb airport, bus or train station on departure
• English speaking tour leader and assistance
• insurance

Not included

• beverages
• meals not listed in the itinerary
• international airfare to/from Croatia
• items of a personal nature and gratuities to your guide(s)

Group size

Min 4 – max 16 people per group; larger groups are on request. Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. In case the minimum number of participants is not met but the guest/s still want to do the trip, the price increases by a percentage depending on the final number of participants.

Accommodation

During this trip you will be accommodated in 3*** star hotels with fully equipped rooms and in 3*** private guesthouses.

Air Travel

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate. Early arrivals / Extended stay notes – we include two transfers with each trip. These are usually the transfers on the first and the last day of the trip. In case you are arriving a few days earlier or extending your stay in Croatia after your trip with us, we can provide additional airport transfers.

Arrival transfers: Arrivals are recommended by 3 pm. Transfers for arrivals by 6 pm are included, but you may miss group dinner and orientation. Arrivals after 6 pm may be subject to surcharge for transfers or overnight on land.

Departure transfers: Drop off is possible in Ljubljana around noon and in Zagreb after 2 pm. Airport drop off can also be arranged but we advise flights from Ljubljana after 2 pm and from Zagreb after 5 pm.

Meals

Meals tend to be fairly heavy on the meats and sausages, bread and pastries, pasta and dumplings. If you have special dietary needs, please let us know as soon as possible. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated but we recommend that you bring along with you some of your favorite protein snacks.

PRICES

All prices are per person in EUR

Minimum age: 12 years if accompanied by parent(s)

Children discount does not apply

Single use rooms are available upon request, with 20% surcharge. Sharing a room with another person of the same sex is possible