Highlights
- Hike past fields of wildflowers, deep pine forests, charming mountain huts and the picturesque villages of this amazing Unesco World Heritage Site
- Admire the dramatic jagged peaks formed by fossilized coral reefs
- Enjoy hearty and delicious Tyrolean-Italian fusion cuisine
- Explore the picturesque villages of the Val Gardena and Val d’Ampezzo
- Tour the remains of WW I bunkers and tunnels and learn about the area’s fascinating history
- Experience authentic South Tyrolean cuisine, from dumplings and strudel to hearty pastas
- Learn about the traditional Ladin culture, who even have their own language
Trip price includes
- 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels
- 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- all visits and transfers as per itinerary
- at least 1 bilingual guide to accompany you throughout the week
Not included
- 7 lunches and 2 dinners
- drinks other than water at meals
- anything not mentioned in the inclusions
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Split
Arrive independently in Split, which is well connected to European hubs with standard as well as low-cost airlines. Meet your guide for a walk around the city this afternoon and learn about its fascinating history. Roman Emperor Diocletian was originally from here, so after he retired (the only Roman emperor to do so!) he returned and built a lavish place in 295 AD. It covered some 30,000 sq.ft. and included temples, reception halls, and private apartments within its imposing walls. After Diocletian’s death the palace was abandoned and the current city gradually grew up around it. Meet up again this evening for drinks followed by dinner together. Overnight Split.
Days 2 – 5: Brac, Hvar and Vis
Explore three different islands while returning every night to your hotel in elegant Hvar town. The first, Brač island, has a stonemason school, an interesting museum, and the highest point in the Adriatic. Hvar Island is always on everyone’s “most beautiful island” list and is famous for its lavender, which blooms in June. We can walk up to the old medieval fortress or spend a day out on sea kayaks. We can also spend a day out on a sailboat or catamaran to head over to remote Vis island, which many Dalmatians say is their favorite. 3 nights on Hvar island.
Days 6 – 7: Korčula, the Peljesac Peninsula and Dubrovnik
Continue south through the islands with a transfer this morning to Korčula, where we explore the birthplace of explorer Marco Polo. This part of the Mediterranean was under Venetian control for centuries, which explains why Marco sailed under the flag of the Doge of Venice. The next day we make our way to the Dingač Peninsula, where some of Croatia’s finest wines are made. We can have a lovely walk high above the sea and then stop for a wine tasting. We can also sample the region’s famous fresh oysters and visit the twin bastions of Ston and Mali Ston, which are connected by a 3 km defensive wall that is second in length to the Great Wall of China (by a LOT, obviously!). A short transfer takes us to our final destination, the dramatic walled city of Dubrovnik. 1 night Korčula and 1 in Dubrovnik.
Day 8: Tour Ends
Enjoy a guided tour of Dubrovnik this morning and then have a final lunch together before we say good-bye. The trip ends after lunch in town so your onward arrangements are not included.
Getting there and away: Both Split and Dubrovnik are serviced by the national carrier (Croatia Airlines) as well as low-cost flights to other European hubs. There are also ferries with Italy if that makes an appealing stopover.