Grand Tour of Croatia: Coast, Islands, Lakes & Old Towns

Today you explore elegant Zagreb with your local guide. You discover the historic Upper Town (Gornji Grad), with its cobbled lanes, the colourful tiled roof of St Mark's Church, the twin-spired cathedral, the atmospheric Stone Gate shrine and the medieval Lotrscak Tower, riding the world's shortest funicular between the upper and lower towns. You take in the bustling Dolac market with its red parasols, the grand Ban Jelacic Square, and the elegant boulevards, parks and Habsburg architecture of the Lower Town, and might visit one of Zagreb's fine or quirky museums, from the Museum of Broken Relationships to the Mimara gallery. You join locals for coffee at a pavement cafe, a cherished Zagreb ritual. As the day ends, the city glows in the evening light. This evening, dine on hearty Croatian specialities in a traditional restaurant. Rest well, for tomorrow you head into the mountains to the magical lakes of Plitvice.

Today you leave the capital and head into the mountains to the emerald lakes of Plitvice. You journey south through the green Croatian countryside, the city giving way to hills, rivers and deep forest, arriving at Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Croatia's most beloved natural wonder. With your guide you explore its fairy-tale landscape of sixteen terraced turquoise and emerald lakes linked by a cascading chain of some ninety waterfalls, hiking the wooden boardwalks that wind right across the astonishingly clear water and past the tumbling falls, the light glinting on the travertine barriers and darting fish, taking an electric boat across the largest lake, and standing before the mighty Veliki Slap. You breathe the cool, pine-scented forest air. As the day ends, you settle into your accommodation near the park amid tranquil forest. This evening, savour the peace and fresh mountain air. Rest well, ready to reach the coast at ancient Zadar tomorrow.

Today you descend from the mountains to the coast at ancient Zadar. After a last look at the lakes, you journey down to the Dalmatian coast, arriving at Zadar, a lively walled seafront city of Roman ruins, marble streets and lively squares wrapped by the turquoise sea. With your guide you wander the old town, taking in the Roman forum, the lovely round Byzantine church of St Donatus and the cathedral, learning the long, layered history of this seafront city. As the golden hour arrives, you head to the waterfront for the magical sea organ, listening to the waves make a haunting, ever-changing music, and see the glowing Greeting to the Sun as you watch what Hitchcock called the most beautiful sunset in the world. As the day ends, you savour the seafront glow. This evening, dine on fresh Dalmatian seafood and crisp local wine. Rest well in ancient Zadar, ready for the waterfalls of Krka and the Roman city of Split tomorrow.

Today you journey down the coast to Split, pausing at the beautiful waterfalls of Krka. You leave Zadar and travel south, stopping at Krka National Park, a beautiful stretch of the turquoise Krka river where it tumbles over mighty travertine waterfalls into clear pools amid green forest; you follow the boardwalks past the spectacular, wide Skradinski Buk cascade and cruise the clear river, perhaps pausing near the historic town of Sibenik to see its magnificent stone cathedral. You continue to Split, the vibrant heart of Dalmatia, arriving in the afternoon, and settle into your hotel, taking a first stroll along the palm-lined Riva waterfront and into the atmospheric lanes of Diocletian's Palace. As the day ends, Split glows in the evening light. This evening, savour the buzz of the Dalmatian city and fresh seafood in a konoba. Rest well in Split, ready to explore its Roman heart and walled Trogir tomorrow.

Today you explore Split and its extraordinary Roman heart, and nearby Trogir. With your guide you wander Diocletian's Palace, the vast seafront palace built for the Roman emperor around 300 AD and now a living UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing in the colonnaded Peristyle courtyard, gazing up at the emperor's octagonal mausoleum (now the cathedral) and climbing the soaring bell tower for sweeping views, then following the buzz of cafes, shops and homes woven among the ancient stone. In the afternoon you visit nearby Trogir, a jewel-like walled town on its own islet, a UNESCO site with a magnificent cathedral portal, Venetian palaces and a Kamerlengo fortress. You return along the Riva at golden hour. As the day ends, Split glows. This evening, dine in a konoba on Dalmatian specialities such as peka and local wine. Rest well, for tomorrow you begin island-hopping to chic, lavender-scented Hvar.

Today you cross to chic, lavender-scented Hvar, the most glamorous of the Dalmatian islands. You take the catamaran across the sparkling channel to Hvar, arriving in its stylish little capital, a port of Venetian palaces gathered around one of the loveliest squares in Croatia, crowned by the marble cathedral of St Stephen and, above, a hilltop Spanish fortress. You settle into your hotel and, with your guide, wander the marble lanes and harbour, breathing in the island's scent of lavender and pine. You might take a boat to the idyllic Pakleni coves just offshore to swim in turquoise water, or relax by the sea. As the golden hour arrives, you climb to the hilltop fortress for a sweeping sunset view over the town and the scattered Pakleni islands. As the day ends, Hvar's cafes and konobas come alive. This evening, dine on Dalmatian seafood and island wine in the stylish town. Rest well on lavender-scented Hvar.

Today you island-hop to historic, walled Korcula, one of the most beautiful island towns in the Adriatic. You take the catamaran across the sparkling channels to Korcula, a compact jewel of honey-coloured stone laid out in a clever herringbone plan on a little peninsula, its cathedral, towers and palaces often called a miniature Dubrovnik and said to be the birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo. You settle into your accommodation and, with your guide, wander its lanes and squares, visit the cathedral of St Mark and the little Marco Polo museum, and climb a tower for the view over the red roofs and blue sea. You taste the crisp white Posip and Grk wines for which the island is renowned. In the evening you might watch a traditional Moreska sword dance, a centuries-old Korcula custom. As the day ends, the walled town glows. This evening, dine on island seafood and wine. Rest well on beautiful Korcula, ready for Dubrovnik tomorrow.

Today you journey to Dubrovnik, the incomparable 'Pearl of the Adriatic', the crowning jewel of your grand tour. You take a ferry from Korcula and travel down the scenic coast, perhaps pausing at Ston on the Peljesac peninsula, famous for its great defensive walls, salt pans and celebrated oysters, which you might taste fresh from the bay with a glass of local wine. You continue to Dubrovnik, arriving in the afternoon, and gasp at the first sight of its honey-coloured walls rising from the sparkling sea. You settle into your hotel and take a first stroll along the marble-paved Stradun as the stone glows in the evening light. As the day ends, the walled city sparkles. This evening, dine in the atmospheric old town on Dalmatian seafood and wine. Rest well in magnificent Dubrovnik, ready to walk the mighty walls and explore the Pearl of the Adriatic tomorrow.

Today you explore the breathtaking old town of Dubrovnik with your guide. You enter through the Pile Gate and walk the marble-paved Stradun, past baroque churches, the Onofrio Fountain, the Franciscan monastery with its ancient working pharmacy, the Rector's Palace and the Sponza Palace. The highlight is walking the complete circuit of the mighty medieval city walls, some two kilometres of ramparts and towers with breathtaking views over the terracotta rooftops, the harbour and the shimmering Adriatic, a walk that reveals why fans know the city as King's Landing from Game of Thrones. In the afternoon you might ride the cable car up Mount Srd for a spectacular panorama over the walled city and islands. As the day ends, the old town glows golden. This evening, dine on fine Dalmatian cuisine in the old town. Rest well in the Pearl of the Adriatic, ready for a final island and coast day tomorrow.

Today you enjoy a relaxed final day exploring the sea and coast around Dubrovnik. You sail across to the beautiful green island of Lokrum, just offshore, to wander its shaded paths of pine and holm-oak forest, meet its wandering peacocks, explore the ruined Benedictine monastery and botanical gardens, and swim in its clear rocky coves and the little saltwater lake known as the Dead Sea. Alternatively, you might cruise the green Elaphiti islands or the secluded Konavle coast, dropping anchor in hidden turquoise coves to swim and snorkel. In the afternoon you have time to explore more of Dubrovnik's old town at leisure, perhaps a museum, a boutique or simply a lingering coffee. As the golden hour arrives, you find a spot to watch the sunset over the sea. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner celebrating your grand journey across Croatia. Rest well in Dubrovnik ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning in magnificent Dubrovnik, perhaps a last stroll along the Stradun, a coffee by the old harbour, or some souvenir shopping, you are transferred to Dubrovnik Airport for your onward international departure. You leave having experienced the very best of Croatia in one grand journey, elegant Zagreb and the emerald lakes of Plitvice, ancient Zadar with its sea organ and the waterfalls of Krka, the living Roman palace of Split and walled Trogir, the islands of chic Hvar and historic Korcula, and the mighty walls and island coves of Dubrovnik, all along a coastline of extraordinary beauty and warmed by genuine hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the waterfalls of Plitvice, the sea organ of Zadar, the Roman palace of Split, the island towns, and the walls of Dubrovnik. Croatia offers beauty, history, coast, islands and warmth in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this beautiful and endlessly rewarding country.