DAY 1: Departure from USA
- Depart the USA for Zagreb City in Croatia. Your international flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment.
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DAY 2: Welcome to the capital of Croatia
- Welcome to Zagreb to a charming city with Austro Hungarian past that is felt everywhere, from architecture to cuisine. Despite that, it is frequently overlooked by tourists, which makes this destination more exclusive for us.
- At the airport you are welcomed by our English-speaking guide. After check in and a short break, we make our first acquaintance with Zagreb and feel the laid back atmosphere of this cosy city with its cobblestoned streets.
- We get to know the main sights of Croatian capital Upper Town, National theater, St. Mark Church with its mosaic roof, perfectly preserved Stone Gates, and the Cathedral of the Assumption, towering into the sky.
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DAY 3: The greenery of Zagreb and its charming funicular
- We continue to explore Zagreb today. This city is blessed with ample parks and other green spaces. After breakfast we have a walk in one of such spaces, in the park Josipa Jurja Strossmayera. It is one of the nicest and at the same time the most underrated parks in Zagreb. The park is named after Josip Juraj Strossmayer, a politician, bishop, and benefactor, and also bears his statue on the Strossmayer Square. We also visit King Tomislav Square. A monument dedicated to Tomislav, Croatia first king, dominates the square carrying his name.
- Afterwards we take a ride by the smallest funicular in the world, however it is one of the most beautiful in Europe. For over 120 years this charming cable car has been transporting citizens of Zagreb and its guests between the Upper and Lower Towns. The funicular brings us directly to the Lotrscak Tower. Once the main city fort, it is now the best preserved building within the city defensive system. Our guide will let you know in memory of what event from Zagreb history the cannon fires from the top of this tower exactly at noon, every day, for over hundred and ten years. Then we visit the Gric Tunnel, which is part of the mysterious network of Zagreb tunnels under the Upper Town. Stories and legends speak of secret underground passages all over the city. One of them tells of the great 1880 earthquake when, as it is said, most of the tunnels disappeared, together with gold hidden in them.
- This afternoon you have free time and can discover new highlights of the city on your own. But of course our guide can give you some interesting advice. For example, you can go to the historical Mirogoj Cemetery a Gothic wonderland adorned with impressive tombstones and lavish cloisters. It is a real architectural treasure worth of visiting. Or you can visit the unusual Museum of Broken Relationships, which is situated in the historical part of Zagreb. At first the idea of such a museum was a kind of joke of two Zagreb based artists after their four year love relationship came to its end. However three years later they started asking their friends to donate objects left behind from their break-ups and so the first collection was born and shown to the public. Now besides the anticipated teddy bears and letters, the collection also includes a few poignant and sometimes unsettling surprises a tiny bottle filled with woman tears, an axe and taser gun, and perhaps the strangest offering, a prosthetic leg.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 4: Zagorje village from the beginning of the 20th century
- After breakfast we leave Zagreb and go to the Folk Village of Kumrovec Staro selo an open air ethnographic museum, nestled in the Sutla River valley. The museum shows the authentic look of Zagorje villages, people way of life, as well as customs and crafts that were part of the everyday life of ordinary peasants from this region, at the beginning of the 20th century. With about 40 restored buildings of traditional architecture, we can discover how people lived here.
- The village was also the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito, the former president of Yugoslavia. His house is now a museum. In this traditional country setting you can also learn about manufacture
- of traditional wooden toys, which are by the way inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- In the afternoon we are back in Zagreb and you can enjoy the city on your own.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 5: Full Day Plitvice lakes
- We are heading today to the main natural wonder of Croatia Plitvice lakes. It is an area with an exceptional natural beauty, it is the oldest and the largest national park in the Republic of Croatia. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- It is just gorgeous here. These crystal cascades and waterfalls were created by 16 different lakes. Quite a unique feature of these lakes is the altitude difference: the highest point is at 1,280m, the lowest at 380m.
- Lakes, waterfalls, cool boardwalk trails all work magically together to create a very unique destination. Around every bend is another beautiful view. We will walk through some touristic routes to fully admire Mother nature finest work. Be prepared to ooh and aah and take lots of photos.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 6: Full Day Castle Veliki Tabor and Castle Trakoscan
- Our first stop for today is one of the most beautiful Croatian fortresses Veliki Tabor. Built by Croatian nobility in the 16th century, it is a romantic collage of towers and tiny windows. It was originally built as a fortress with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Among the owners was a famous Croatian painter, Oton Ivekovic, whose brush depicted the castle and the picturesque scenery around in numerous paintings.
- Then we reach the fairytale castle Trakoscan. You will feel the romantic atmosphere of this place. The first written mention of the Trakoscan castle dates back to the XIV century (1334).
- The small citadel served as an observation post. Over the centuries, the castle was rebuilt several times and became more beautiful. The modern look of Trakoscan is usually attributed to neo gothic (romantic stylistics). Beautiful romantic gardens and a large lake in front of the castle are something you should not miss.
- In the afternoon we come back to Zagreb, where you can still have some time to explore the city by yourself.
- Meal: Breakfast
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DAY 7: Departure
- On this day, our journey comes to an end. You will take home unforgettable memories as well as the feeling of having experienced something special.
- Transfer to airport for your departure flight.
- Meal: Breakfast
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